Ninety One

The term "Q-pop" was first coined in 2015 by the fanbase of Ninety One - "Eaglez". Fans pointed out the differences they saw in a newly-founded Asian pop genre compared to other countries pop music. The letter "Q" originates from the way country's name, "Qazaqstan", should be written according to the Latin script of Kazakh.

Ninety One, despite immediately winning the hearts of a young, mainly female, Kazakh audience, were met with a huge wave of hostility from the mainstream public. A lot of local celebrities openly bashed and humliated them, going as far as to say Ninety One were corrupting their youth. Make-up, earrings and dyed hair on men were borderline offensive to the eye of a typical Kazakh. Group's style was considered against their mentality. And while having nothing against their music, local "activists", enraged by the group's appearance, tried everything in their power to bring the group down. Apart from receiving various insults and death threats, Ninety One also had to physically defend themselves from some overzealous anti-fans.[5]

On the 21st of June, 2016 Ninety One held their first solo concert in the city of Karaganda as a part of "#91" tour. A big number of group's concerts were cancelled due to the "public's" demand.[6] Protests were held against the group. Staff members and Ninety One themselves couldn't enter the concert venues.[7] On the 23rd of July and up until the 5th of August, 2016 Ninety One and a music group Orda (that their producer is a part of) went together on tour around China. They gave an interview for a Kazakh magazine "Xalhar". [8]

"Mooz" (English: Ice/cold) came out on the 21st of August 2017. "Mooz" is an official ost to Ninety One's biographical movie "91". On the 24th of August, movie «91» was released. Directed by Askar Uzabaev and produced by Assel Sadvakasova and Yerbolat Bedelkhan, this movie has become an acting debut for the members who had to play themselves on the big screen. "91" showcases the difficulties group has experienced: Ninety one's pre-debut and early debut days were marked by the huge backlash they've received from anti-fans and general public.[7] And while some people could argue that it's too early for the group to have a movie dedicated to their story, director Askar Uzabaev was confident that the movie needs to be shot. Director even managed to persuade the group's own producer - Yerbolat Bedelkhan, who once was opposed to the idea as well. Movie "Ninety One" entered the top three Kazakhstani streaming products; for the premiere weekend movie collected 32,672,000 tenge.[9]

On the 15th of March, 2019 on the national Korean TV-channel MNET came out another episode of a popular musical game show "I can seee your voice" but this time around a Q-POP boy group Ninety One made their guest appearance. Group has won the show and got to perform with the popular K-POP group Mamamoo. At the end of the show, they've also performed their debut song "Ayiptama". After the show aired Ninety One released their song "Ayiptama" as an exclusive digital single on Korean musical streaming platforms.[10]

Documentary film by Katherine Suvorova "Петь свои песни" (Kazakh name: Men sen emes), looks into the reasons behind protests against the group and cancellations of their concerts. These events reveal a huge layer of social and cultural conflicts inside the Kazakhstani society - conflict between the urban and rural life, between traditionalism and globalization, between the vertical line of political authority and personal freedom.[11] Film explores these themes through conversations with the band members themselves, their opponents and supporters. Kazakhstani political and cultural scientists, media experts and art historians also explain why do people of Kazakhstan protest against Q-pop.[12]

Producer of the group, with the help of a Kazakh TV channel NTK, decided to create Kazakhstan's first rap show. On the 25th of May, 2018 came out the promotional video for "Qara beri". Members of Ninety One - Zaq and A.Z were mentors on the show. As Yerbolat Bedelkhan said in his interview for NTK:[19]

"- The main goal of the project is to show people of Kazakhstan that we do have hip-hop! That our youth can and wants to write rap in Kazakh. In the 21st century we need to prove that our language can be modern."

Rapper "Ne1tron", winner of the show, signed his contract with Juz Entertainment on the 21st of February.

On May 1, 2019, Yerbolat Bedelkhan together with Salem social media announced a casting for the show "Project X".[20]

"Project X" is a new reality survival show, main goal of which is to create the next boy group of Juz Entertainment. New group should give a healthy competition in the genre of Q-Pop.

Out of more than 2000 people that have applied for the show, only 400 people were invited to the offline casting.

First episode of the show came out on the 27th of May.

• Alem (Batyrkhan Abaıuly Málikov; Kazakh: Батырхан Абайұлы Мәлікoв, born February 18, 1993) – main vocalist, composer
• Ace (Azamat Qaıratuly Ashmaqyn; Kazakh: Қайратұлы Ашмақын, born August 29, 1993) – leader, vocalist, lead dancer, composer, visual
• Zaq (Dýlat Bolatuly Muhametqalı; Kazakh: Болатұлы Мұхаметқали, born February 8, 1996) – main rapper, main dancer, choreographer, lyricist
• Bala (Danııar Qulymshin; Kazakh: Құлымшин, born February 19, 1998) – lead vocalist, kenzhe(youngest), composer

• A.Z. (Azamat Baıbýlatuly Zenkaev; Kazakh: Байбyлатұлы Зенкаев, born September 28, 1993) – leader, lead rapper, lyricist