K-Pop boy band THE BOYZ members Kevin, Jacob, Hyunjae Lee, Juyeon Lee and Eric talk about their latest album 'PHANTASY Pt. 3,' how fans inspired them to write their song "Love Letter," why they frequently describe this era like as a new beginning, their possible upcoming tour to accompany the album, the new music coming out from their sub-units, Kevin's love of Beyoncé, how they use TikTok as a creative outlet, they tell us more about themselves in a game of "Who's Most Likely" and more!
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MusicTranscript
00:00 Whenever we come to LA, all our members, they ask me,
00:03 "Hey, where should we go for, you know, a good restaurant?"
00:06 - He never knows. - So...
00:07 - Huh? - He says you never know.
00:09 Exactly. I don't really know.
00:11 Two, three, Best of the Boys.
00:13 Hello, we are the Boys.
00:15 And you are watching Billboard News.
00:17 Hey, what's up? It's Tetris with Billboard News
00:29 and we get to have some fun today.
00:30 I'm hanging out with some fellas from the Boys.
00:32 - What's up? - What's up?
00:34 ♪ Hi, hello My name is what you wanted ♪
00:39 ♪ Respond, respond, respond, respond ♪
00:42 ♪ I'm a big problem ♪
00:43 ♪ So let's stick together, we smile ♪
00:44 ♪ Just everybody, just everybody ♪
00:46 ♪ Just everybody, just everybody ♪
00:49 ♪ Just everybody, just everybody ♪
00:51 We just dropped a brand new project,
00:53 - Fantasy Part 3. - Yes.
00:55 - Yes, part three. - Yes, it is.
00:56 So now that it's all out, I mean,
00:57 you guys decided to release it in three parts,
00:59 but what makes this one different than the first two?
01:01 Well, we took the word fantasy
01:03 and split it up into three different kind of worlds.
01:06 And this one is kind of like a funeral/graduation.
01:10 It's kind of saying goodbye to the past
01:12 and welcoming the future.
01:13 So it's kind of an emotional but hopeful kind of vibe.
01:17 Okay, so can you tell me now, what's part of the funeral?
01:20 What are some things you guys think you're saying goodbye to?
01:23 Well, in a graduation, you're essentially saying goodbye
01:25 to your previous years and, you know,
01:28 letting go of the past.
01:29 If you look at our music video,
01:31 we're actually playing students,
01:33 and we're actually at a graduation.
01:35 And so you can feel a lot of the vibes
01:37 watching the music video.
01:38 We're saying goodbye to our past six years.
01:41 Well, not goodbye, but, you know, just like,
01:43 leave it at it is, and then welcoming our new future, you know?
01:47 - The path ahead. - Yeah, exactly.
01:48 'Cause we're gonna be doing a lot more stuff in the future,
01:52 so I think that's what it is.
01:53 And when you're looking at the future of the boys,
01:55 like, what do you see?
01:57 I see you in it for sure.
01:59 - I'll be there. - I see Billboard, too.
02:02 Okay, we're gonna hit those charts.
02:04 - We're gonna top all the levels. - Exactly, yeah.
02:06 I like that. Let's break down some of the songs
02:08 that you guys have on Fantasy Park.
02:10 Now, the first one that you guys kind of teased
02:12 was actually "Dear."
02:13 ♪ Finally found you, my love, baby ♪
02:19 And you guys showed the performance and everything
02:20 to get people kind of ready for it.
02:22 How was that the first song you guys felt like
02:23 you wanted to test the water with?
02:25 We released a song every December 6th.
02:32 That's for the fan, like, letter.
02:36 - 편지처럼. - Love letter.
02:38 Like, love letter for our fans.
02:41 I think they really appreciate it,
02:43 and it's, of course, being a ballad,
02:45 so is it harder to kind of do the, like, ballad-er songs,
02:48 or do you guys have more fun doing the dance songs?
02:50 - He loves to listen to ballads. - He likes it.
02:52 - I love ballads. - He is a good singer.
02:54 But my job is K-pop idol,
02:59 so I love...
03:01 - Performing? - Yeah.
03:02 - Dance song? - Dance song.
03:04 Dance song, yeah.
03:05 Here's an episode.
03:06 I wrote the lyrics for "Dear."
03:08 - Okay. - Yeah.
03:09 And along with, I think, Sangyeon, Younghoon, you, and Q,
03:13 I came up with a theme of "Dear," like, lyrics,
03:17 putting it in, like, a letter kind of formation.
03:19 It's a ballad song, obviously,
03:20 but as a rapper of the group, it was kind of...
03:23 I had a little difficult time writing the lyrics, to be honest,
03:26 but it turned out really good, and our fans loved it,
03:30 so I'm very happy with it, yeah.
03:33 Thank you for telling us that story.
03:35 That's so interesting to hear, kind of, like, your process,
03:37 and that, like, it was even difficult for you,
03:39 'cause nobody would ever believe that, probably.
03:41 And then let's talk about some of the other songs.
03:43 "Nectar."
03:44 ♪ So sweet like nectar ♪
03:46 ♪ Give it to me, give it to me like this, this ♪
03:48 ♪ So sweet like nectar ♪
03:50 Talk to me about this song
03:51 and why it's a great part of "Fantasy Part III."
03:54 The atmosphere of the song,
03:56 I feel like it fits really well with
03:58 now it turning into spring very soon,
04:01 and also the meaning behind, like, the music video and everything.
04:05 For "Nectar" is the saying goodbye to the past
04:09 and saying hello to the future,
04:11 so saying goodbye to our bittersweet memories
04:13 is what I like to summarize it for.
04:15 And it's our title track.
04:17 I feel like it best displays that whole concept.
04:21 And, Jacob, what was your favorite part of filming the "Nectar" video?
04:24 So it was actually filmed in Jeju-do.
04:28 - Jeju Island. - Jeju Island.
04:29 - Sorry. - Jeju Island.
04:30 I really enjoyed my drum scene.
04:34 I have a drum scene, and I just drummed all out.
04:37 - Oh, there was something like that? - Yeah.
04:39 And it was...
04:40 He's finding out about this now.
04:42 Yeah, I was the last one to shoot that day,
04:45 so the members won't know.
04:47 But there was, like, glitter all over the drums,
04:49 and I was just, like, drumming away, and that was fun.
04:52 The music video is pretty sad.
04:55 - Yeah. - Pretty sad, yeah.
04:56 Because, like you guys said, you're kind of closing a chapter
04:59 and opening up something new.
05:00 So there's a lot of acting in it.
05:02 It's more like a story.
05:05 Cinematic kind of thing.
05:06 More than, like, choreography.
05:08 - Like drama. - There's no choreography in the music video.
05:12 And it's all, like, a drama ties for this one.
05:16 Which is new for us.
05:18 For title track.
05:19 There's a running joke among, like,
05:22 I guess male K-pop idols about wearing school uniforms.
05:25 Oh, yeah, yeah.
05:26 Because we're all, like...
05:28 How old are you?
05:29 - I'm 23. - Our youngest.
05:31 23.
05:32 So it's been a while since he's been in high school.
05:34 - In a school uniform. - Exactly.
05:35 And our oldest member was born in 1996.
05:38 Fans are always wondering,
05:40 "Until when are you guys going to wear school uniforms?"
05:43 And I think it's safe to say that this music video might be our last.
05:48 - I was going to say last, but... - We won't know.
05:50 - For a while. - For a while, for sure.
05:52 I love that.
05:53 And then this title, "Hurt Me Less."
05:55 "Hurt Me Less," I guess it's about emotional pain
06:05 turning into physical pain when it hurts so much that it feels physical.
06:08 The lyrics are quite simple. The hook goes,
06:11 "Hurt me less, love me more."
06:13 It has a very refreshing band sound
06:15 that we've never really tackled on before.
06:17 So I'm really excited to do it live in front of a live audience.
06:21 And how do you guys decide what sounds you want to try?
06:25 At this point in our career, we want to tackle what we haven't done before.
06:29 As 11 members, we're all capable, as a group,
06:33 of tackling on basically everything.
06:35 So we're still experimenting, but still keeping our identity at its core.
06:40 And I want to talk to you also about some of the other fantasies
06:43 and how you did the subunits.
06:45 - Some of the subunits, yeah. - Yeah.
06:47 So talk to me first, my Canadians in the back,
06:50 about "Rat in the Trap."
06:52 So how was it to work on that song?
07:00 So when we first listened to it, we were also like, "Oh."
07:03 'Cause we were thinking more ballad,
07:05 'cause vocal unit, you tend to go more for the ballad side
07:09 to kind of separate from maybe a dance or a rap unit.
07:13 But the fact that it was more rhythmical
07:17 and just had that R&B vibe as well,
07:20 it was very fun.
07:22 Very hard to record, but had a fun time.
07:26 And so do you guys find that you learn more
07:29 when you switch to the other units?
07:31 'Cause I'm assuming as being part of the rap unit,
07:33 you had a difficult time writing a ballad,
07:35 and then you guys then did that.
07:37 So do you kind of try to switch it up every once in a while?
07:40 When we're onstage as a group,
07:42 we kind of do a little bit of everything anyway.
07:45 The only difference was that we were in a smaller group,
07:49 and that gave us more pressure to fill up the stage even more.
07:52 But it's always fun in finding out each other's strengths,
07:56 hidden strengths, because you get more lines in a longer song.
08:00 And then you guys work on "Passion Fruit."
08:02 Tell me about that one.
08:07 It's the very first unit in our group.
08:10 I was very looking forward to promoting.
08:13 So first I heard that song.
08:16 It was very fresh and so pop.
08:19 - Pop-ish? - Yeah, pop-ish.
08:21 So I really want to join this unit.
08:26 So it was fresh.
08:29 Me too.
08:31 The song was really good.
08:33 The first time they performed it was at KCON LA.
08:36 - The very first time. - Without a rehearsal.
08:39 And what you guys don't know, they say no rehearsal.
08:41 I mean, this guy barely made it.
08:43 Yeah, I barely made it that day.
08:45 One hour before the performance. That's crazy.
08:48 We're talking about KCON, but what about performing for your fans?
08:51 Are you guys going to go on tour now that "Fantasy" is complete?
08:54 Yeah, for sure.
08:55 Our fans have been dying for us to go on tour.
09:00 I think it's about time we are going to make that happen this year.
09:05 What's the most exciting part about being out there?
09:08 You were talking about filling out the space and being on stage.
09:11 How do you have fun out there?
09:12 Just interacting with the fans.
09:14 Especially since we haven't been able to perform for them for such a long time.
09:19 Depending on where we go.
09:21 Their energy makes us want to give even more energy back.
09:25 I feel like we're the type of group where if they're hype, we're also super hype.
09:31 Even if they're not, we'll do our best.
09:33 It's just those interactions that make concerts so much fun.
09:37 It's interesting to see different concert cultures in different countries and different cities.
09:42 So, soaking all that in, it's really fun.
09:46 What's one of your favorite concerts you've ever performed?
09:50 Paris? London?
09:52 Paris?
09:54 Oh, the Footstomps.
09:56 Before the show.
09:58 We stomped our feet. We were like, "What the heck is happening? Is there an earthquake?"
10:02 I feel like you guys might not have been on tour right now, but you've maybe visited some tours I've heard.
10:07 What's a show you've been to recently that you enjoyed seeing?
10:10 I attended the Renaissance World Tour.
10:13 Crazy experience. I actually flew all by myself.
10:17 Bought the tickets first and then figured out plane tickets later.
10:20 I was in the sun for 14 hours straight.
10:23 It was one of those uncovered...
10:25 Yeah. My tan is still here.
10:28 That was back in September. It's March now. It's still here.
10:33 But I'd do it all over again.
10:35 For Beyoncé, you gotta do it.
10:37 Eric, you're from right here in LA.
10:39 How is it to have your bandmates here? Do you take them around town?
10:43 How's it been to hit the city?
10:45 Whenever we come to LA, all our members ask me,
10:49 "Where should we go for a good restaurant?"
10:52 "Where should we go for shopping?"
10:54 He never knows.
10:56 He said you never know.
10:58 You never know? Exactly.
11:00 I don't really know because as a person who lives here,
11:03 nothing is too special for me.
11:06 I've been here and there too often that I don't know which place they would like.
11:12 Last year, after KCON, I took my members to my house.
11:16 We had a little pool party.
11:18 We went to my house and had a drink.
11:20 We played beer pong too.
11:22 Nice! Sometimes it's the chill stuff that's more fun than going to do touristy things.
11:27 Has everybody been to Canada?
11:30 Not yet. Unfortunately not yet. We want to though.
11:33 What's the first place you guys are going to take them when they go to Canada?
11:36 I'm going to say Stanley Park.
11:38 First, we have to talk about if we're going to go to Tonga or Vancouver first.
11:42 It depends on the tour.
11:46 I mean, it's LA, Seattle, and Vancouver is right there.
11:49 Vancouver first?
11:51 I mean, New York and then Toronto.
11:53 It doesn't matter.
11:54 I don't know.
11:55 For me, I'd probably take the members to CN Tower.
11:57 CN Tower.
11:58 Because we have Namsan Tower, but CN Tower is way higher.
12:02 I feel like it'd be a quick, fun experience.
12:05 Nice. And I just did my first trip to Korea ever.
12:08 But I loved it so much I want to go back.
12:10 So next time I go, where should I go in Korea?
12:13 What's your favorite place to take them?
12:15 Jeju Island.
12:18 Oh yeah, I haven't been. And everybody says it's so beautiful.
12:21 It is.
12:22 It's beautiful and warm.
12:24 Black pig.
12:25 Very nice food.
12:27 Pork.
12:29 Black pork.
12:30 Do you know samgyeopsal?
12:32 No.
12:33 It's like a Korean barbecue. You know Korean barbecue, right?
12:35 Oh yeah.
12:37 I went to the restaurant that's across the street from BTS' old dorm or something.
12:43 And they brought the hot pork on the plate.
12:45 That's what you're talking about, right?
12:47 It's like steaming.
12:48 Was it spicy?
12:49 Yeah, it was spicy.
12:50 That's jeyukbokkeum.
12:52 It was similar, yeah.
12:53 But Jeju Island is famous for these black pigs.
12:57 And then the pork, the meat itself isn't black, but that's what they're famous for.
13:02 Okay, listen.
13:03 It's really good pork, yeah.
13:04 I have to check it out.
13:05 I want to talk to you guys about TikTok as well.
13:07 You guys like to have a lot of fun over on the KLOCK app.
13:11 So why do you have such an outlet with TikTok?
13:13 For me personally, it's my musical outlet.
13:17 It's where I like to do a lot of covers.
13:19 We don't really get to do a lot of musical production in our group for our own music.
13:25 So I like to kind of just experiment and do things on TikTok.
13:30 [Music]
13:37 And maybe some piano covers as well?
13:39 Yeah, piano covers, MIDI, sampling, and all that fun jazz.
13:45 For me, it's pretty much just for the fans.
13:49 More than just finding stuff to do for fun.
13:52 It's more I just want to do my own.
13:54 Like Kevin, since when we're in a group, I didn't really get to play the guitar
13:58 and just sing for the fans.
14:00 [Music]
14:09 So I use TikTok for my pajama karaoke covers.
14:12 I'm running out of pajamas, so I'm looking for new pajamas.
14:16 You gotta go on Amazon and just start stuff.
14:18 Yeah, I have like 30 pajamas at home, but you should make a quilt.
14:21 I don't want to reuse what I already used.
14:24 I just want to keep that trend going.
14:26 Okay, listen, it's not a bad trend to have.
14:29 And then one thing you guys all have in common is sports.
14:33 Sports, yeah.
14:34 So like how do you guys--
14:36 Do you guys have favorite teams?
14:38 Do you guys fight each other over who's going to win what?
14:41 How does it feel to have so much sports inspiring in your group?
14:45 The funny thing is that we all like different sports.
14:49 He likes basketball, but he also likes volleyball.
14:53 I'm a baseball and a golf guy, and he's a basketball guy.
14:57 He's soccer.
14:58 He's soccer.
14:59 I breathe.
15:00 He breathes.
15:01 I was about to say, what do you do?
15:02 I'm the water boy.
15:03 He's the water boy.
15:05 You just watch them watch sports.
15:07 Yeah.
15:08 All right, and then also I want to play a game with you guys
15:10 before we get out of here where I just want to see
15:12 who's most likely to do certain things.
15:14 Okay.
15:15 So who's most likely to grab a snack in the middle of the night?
15:19 Three, two, one.
15:21 It looks like most people are saying it's you, Eric.
15:25 Eric?
15:26 Eric?
15:27 But what time are we talking, though?
15:28 We're going to say midnight.
15:29 I say middle of the night.
15:30 I'm thinking like 2 in the morning.
15:32 2 in the morning.
15:33 I think probably me because I always eat at like 2 or 3 a.m.
15:38 Always?
15:39 Always.
15:40 Always, always.
15:41 How are you always?
15:42 Every day.
15:43 Every day.
15:44 I have mango juice and ramen.
15:46 I eat that every 2 a.m.
15:48 It's like my routine now.
15:50 Oh, but you're 23, so that's okay for now.
15:53 For now.
15:54 For now.
15:55 I don't have that belly fat yet.
15:58 And who's most likely to play a prank on a bandmate?
16:02 One, two, three.
16:04 Wop.
16:05 Oh, man.
16:06 Everybody said you.
16:08 He's like the class clown of the group.
16:11 He doesn't act like he is, but he is the one.
16:13 He's the prankster.
16:15 Why do you like to play pranks on your bandmates?
16:17 Wait, hang on.
16:20 He's always bored.
16:22 He's bored.
16:23 He's always bored, so he just.
16:24 He's always looking for fun.
16:25 Yeah.
16:26 And he likes to watch people suffer.
16:27 He likes to play pranks on the closest members.
16:30 He messes around with the members he's most close with, whoever he sees in his vicinity.
16:38 Gotcha, gotcha.
16:39 Yeah.
16:40 Now, who's most likely to take the longest getting ready?
16:44 Three, two, one.
16:46 These two.
16:47 These two.
16:48 Oh, both of you.
16:49 Me too, but then him more.
16:50 More than three?
16:51 Yeah, yeah.
16:52 I'm fast.
16:53 No.
16:54 No.
16:55 See, I don't know if it's getting ready or just being late.
16:56 Okay.
16:57 No.
16:58 No, see, no.
16:59 Not being, let's say getting ready.
17:00 Yes.
17:01 I'm always late, and this guy too, but I get ready fast.
17:02 So you're ready.
17:03 You're just on your own time.
17:04 Yeah.
17:05 You don't get there when you get there.
17:06 Yeah.
17:07 Because I get ready the night before, you know?
17:10 Yeah.
17:11 I pack my clothes the day before, you know?
17:14 See, that's getting ready.
17:16 That's taking you a long time to get ready.
17:18 So he takes the longest to get ready.
17:20 Oh, yeah.
17:21 He's out the latest.
17:22 Exactly.
17:23 Of the house.
17:24 You know how many hours I packed for this trip to LA?
17:28 How many?
17:29 So I'm here for about 10 days, right?
17:30 Okay.
17:31 I packed for two nights.
17:33 So first night for six hours, second night for two hours.
17:36 I bet you're very organized, though.
17:38 I am.
17:39 So total of eight hours I packed my golf bag and two trunks.
17:43 Took me eight hours.
17:44 I thought he was moving out of the country.
17:46 Technically, we did move out of the country.
17:49 Yes.
17:50 For 10 days.
17:51 Yeah, for 10 days.
17:52 And do you just love fashion?
17:54 Is that why you take the longest?
17:56 I cannot wake up.
17:58 Oh.
17:59 Yeah, we all have that problem.
18:01 Yeah.
18:02 But I do feel like you guys do love fashion in general.
18:04 So what do you guys feel like inspires your looks, your clothes?
18:07 And what's some of your favorite fashion?
18:08 Is it stage or at home?
18:11 Most of us are at home, wearing what we want.
18:15 Exactly.
18:16 Vibes.
18:17 Whenever we have events where our stylist can potentially dress us in casual clothing,
18:23 we opt for our own clothes instead of our stylist's clothes.
18:26 We like to dress ourselves as much as we can.
18:28 That's super dope.
18:30 Who's most likely to annoy the other bandmates?
18:33 Whew.
18:35 So stressful.
18:37 Yeah.
18:38 Ready?
18:39 One, two, three.
18:40 Yeah.
18:41 I have three fingers.
18:42 Three fingers.
18:43 Also, Hyunjae.
18:45 He has a motor.
18:46 Why?
18:47 Motor mouth.
18:48 Motor in his mouth.
18:49 All different reasons.
18:50 King mouse.
18:51 King mouse.
18:52 What about your Jacob?
18:53 Machine gun.
18:54 He has three different reasons for Eric and me.
18:55 I mean, he, like we said, he likes to just have fun and pick at the members for his fun.
19:01 Him, he's just very organized.
19:04 And at times that makes him, you know, talk a lot.
19:09 You're saying it so nicely.
19:11 And then him, he's just random.
19:14 At times he'll be the quietest guy, but then suddenly he'll be like screaming and unpredictable.
19:20 So in conclusion, Kevin is the most annoying guy.
19:24 I don't think that's what they said.
19:26 That's not it.
19:27 All right.
19:28 Who's most likely to know another band's choreography?
19:32 One, two, three.
19:33 Eric.
19:34 He has good memory.
19:37 And I search and look up a lot of groups, like what they're up to, you know, what music
19:44 they've released and all that.
19:46 He's an avid consumer of the K-pop market.
19:48 I think before the interview, I think I saw you were doing a little bit of the super choreo.
19:52 By 17, yeah.
19:53 Yeah.
19:54 See?
19:55 See, they know you really well.
19:57 Who's most likely to check social media?
20:00 Check social media.
20:02 SNS.
20:03 One, two, three.
20:04 Three, two, one.
20:06 Eric.
20:07 Eric, you are a problem.
20:08 This is Eric.
20:09 I am the problem?
20:10 What's up, guys?
20:11 It's Eric.
20:12 I think you got picked for all of them.
20:13 I think two.
20:14 This question is for Eric.
20:15 Like I said, I'm just keeping myself updated to what the K-pop industry is, how it's rolling
20:26 and how it's going.
20:27 And how people are reacting to you.
20:29 Yeah.
20:30 Positive.
20:31 Do you read the positive and negative comments?
20:33 I tend to read more of a positive.
20:36 Okay.
20:37 But I used to read a lot of negative comments back in like, "Rookies."
20:41 Like when I was a rookie, but now I'm just like, you know, whatever.
20:45 Yeah, because I don't see how you do it.
20:46 I'm K-pop adjacent.
20:47 I'm just a host, and sometimes I'm looking at my comments and I'm like, "I can't read this stuff."
20:51 Oh.
20:52 Oh, God, no.
20:53 It's sad.
20:54 I guess I'm sad.
20:55 I like you guys.
20:56 Now that "Fantasy Part 3" is out, what's the last thing you want to say to your fans?
21:00 I really hope through this trilogy that we got to, you know, really emphasize fantasy
21:07 and that our fans were able to just see a lot of different sides of the boys.
21:11 And as we are ending it off with Nectar, you know, saying goodbye to our BTOB memories
21:17 and just going for our happier new future, I hope you guys just come along with us
21:23 and we'll be able to show you guys what we have in store.
21:25 So, please enjoy.
21:27 We may or may not be seeing you in your own city/country.
21:31 Ooh.
21:32 Ooh.
21:33 Thank you guys so much for coming to Billboard and hanging out.
21:35 I really had fun.
21:36 Thank you for having us.
21:37 Thank you for having us.
21:38 (upbeat music)
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