The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 10

Sanghyun was discharged from the hospital the next day.

The doctor said that the criteria for a complete cure for stress-related illnesses were ambiguous, but Sanghyun was sure that he was completely healed.

It was truly a miraculous thing.

The doctor suggested that he stay in the hospital for a few more days, but he didn’t want to stay any longer, for Sangmi’s sake, who was anxious, and for his own dreams.

He used the weekend to go on a trip with Sangmi to Jeonju, which wasn’t far from Gwangju.

In fact, going somewhere with his younger sister was a little awkward.

Back then, he and Sangmi were just ordinary siblings in Korea, and siblings in adolescence are never as close as friends, no matter how close they are.

“Oppa, are you feeling okay now?”

“About what?”

“You were so stressed that you were even hospitalized. I feel like I shouldn’t have let you out like this because of me…”

From Sangmi’s perspective, it was strange for her immature brother, who had been bickering over trivial things until recently, to suddenly act like a father.

In her opinion, Sanghyun seemed to feel the pressure of becoming the head of the family. It seemed like he was forcing himself to act like an adult for her sake.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. How’s school going these days?”

“Nothing special. Except the teachers are nagging us because the exam period is approaching.”

“Final exams are coming up soon, right?”

“Not that soon. There are still more than twenty days left!”

Sanghyun chuckled.

In his memory, Sangmi wasn’t a great student. But he couldn’t remember if she was genuinely struggling, or if she had given up on going to college early because of their financial situation.

“Sangmi, what’s your dream?”

“Dream? Oh, Oppa, you’re going too far. That’s some serious dad cosplay [role-playing as a father figure].”

Sangmi laughed, and Sanghyun laughed in embarrassment.

However, Sanghyun was sure that this conversation was necessary.

“Sangmi, if the lawyer introduced by Section Chief Oh of the Okyung Group gets the parental insurance money and accident compensation, we won’t be able to live in luxury, but we won’t have to worry about money until we finish our studies. So, what I mean is, I hope you have something you want to learn or do.”

“What do you want to do, Oppa?”

“Well… actually, I want to do music. And I decided in the hospital that I would pursue music in the future.”

Sanghyun was nervous about telling Sangmi about his dream.

It was a time when singers were seen more as entertainers than as idols leading fandoms. Rappers were even more so, and in 2005, hip-hop was less popular than rock music, which people said had ‘died brightly in the 21st century’.

It would be a little later that entertainers would become idols and the number one dream job for teenagers.

Since it’s 2005 now, the genre of ‘K-Pop idol music’ will explode starting next year or the year after. Groups such as Big Bang, Girls’ Generation, and Wonder Girls will debut.

‘Come to think of it, should I buy YG and SM stocks? It’s going to be crazy from next year. Has YG [YG Entertainment, a major K-Pop record label and talent agency] not gone public yet?’

Hip-hop will start to make a definite move in 2008 and will succeed in popularizing itself to the public from around 2012 by actively using various mass media, including audition programs.

However, unlike the United States, the home of hip-hop, the system of ‘the best rapper is the most successful rapper’ will not fully take root.

The importance of skill has increased, but an era is opening up where rappers who are a little less skilled but have marketability are in the spotlight, rather than rappers who are good but boring.

“If it’s music, are you talking about rap?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“What do you mean, how did I know? I saw it at Oppa’s school festival last year. And you’re more famous than you think.”

“Me? Why?”

“You fell on stage. Really badly, too.”

“Ah……”

Sanghyun belatedly remembered the dark history he had forgotten.

Sanghyun’s alma mater, Unsan High School, had a conservative, prestigious high school vibe with strict hair, cell phone, and uniform regulations, but the festival season was an exception.

Unlike other schools’ festivals, where you usually can’t hear the sound well, Unsan High School was equipped with high-end audio equipment that could fill the entire auditorium with sound.

In addition, every year, at least one indie band with some recognition was invited to each festival.

During the festival season, most middle and high school students in Gwangju would visit Unsan High School’s festival even if they didn’t go to their own school’s festival.

‘And I fell really hard on that festival stage, like a dropkick.’

Come to think of it, the ‘Lee Sanghyun Dropkick’ that happened last year is still being teased.

It was only a temporary consideration from friends who were watching his mood after his parents passed away, and it was an event that was often mentioned even when he became an adult and went to alumni reunions.

“I’m doomed……”

Sanghyun’s face turned gloomy.

He should have returned to a year ago.

However, what Sanghyun didn’t know was that the reason he became famous wasn’t simply because he fell. If a student had fallen on such a mediocre stage, it would have ended with some brief teasing.

However, Sanghyun was talked about more because he made an impression on many people with his skills and fell at the same time.

Sangmi knew this fact, but she didn’t bother to correct Sanghyun’s thoughts.

Even if her brother had become nicer, she didn’t want to see him showing off.

“So, you’re going to rap? Are you going to be a singer?”

“Rather than a singer, I’m thinking of being an underground rapper.”

“Can you make a living doing that?”

“If you’re really good, you can make a lot of money, more than just making a living.”

It’s hard to imagine now in 2005, but once you get past 2012, a market will form where you can earn hundreds of millions of won just by doing pure hip-hop music activities.

In some ways, it’s better than idols being exploited by large agencies.

And around 2020, the center of K-Pop will shift from boy groups and girl groups to black music-centered groups, like the Billboard charts after 2010.

“Um, I see.”

Sangmi’s reaction was more lukewarm than he expected. Sanghyun was worried that Sangmi would be surprised, ignore him, or look down on him.

“Isn’t it weird?”

“What?”

“That I’m going to do music.”

Sangmi tilted her head.

“It’s not like you’re going to suddenly drop out of school because you’re doing music, right? You’re still thinking of going to college, right? You may have decided to do music with a serious heart, but no one knows how it will turn out, right?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Work hard in the future. Don’t just act cool.”

Sanghyun felt his head clear up at Sangmi’s words. He had a lot of worries about how to succeed with rap, but his thoughts became more organized.

Yeah, he just needs to work hard. If he works really hard and it doesn’t work out, he can’t help it. That’s also a kind of uncertainty about the future.

“Enough about me, what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“If there’s anything you want to do or learn, tell me. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Sanghyun stroked Sangmi’s hair.

“Since we’re in Jeonju, should we have bibimbap [Korean mixed rice with meat and vegetables] for lunch?”

“I heard that eating bibimbap in Jeonju is the dumbest thing to do?”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It’s like a new couple going to Haeundae [a famous beach in Busan] during peak season.”

“Who said that?”

“My friend.”

“Don’t hang out with them.”