The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 11

더 랩스타-11화(11/309)

< Verse 1. Run this town >

***

Though he had decided to pursue music, Sanghyun’s life didn’t drastically change.

He didn’t drop out of school, and though he hadn’t decided about college, he hadn’t completely given up on studying either. He slowly studied subjects that required memorization, setting aside language, foreign languages, and math because he was confident in those areas.

The only change was that he began seriously discussing music with Junhyung.

“How many crew members have you gathered?”

“Two people are definitely in, about three more said they’d join if a crew is formed, and there are a few more who showed a positive attitude.”

“More than I thought? Are they all students?”

“If including college students in ‘students,’ then yes, they’re all students.”

Sanghyun scratched his chin, pondering. What should he do next?

In truth, Sanghyun didn’t know any ‘optimized way’ for an amateur rapper to grow.

“Are there any other crews in Gwangju right now?”

“No. There’s no way.”

“What about people doing music individually?”

“Those who are really serious probably went to Seoul. I don’t know about the students.”

The crew or label culture of hip hop originated in the United States, but it has been somewhat strangely altered in Korea.

While the original purpose of American crews and labels was to reduce ‘recording costs’ and ‘promotion costs’ (even the original American crew culture changed later), Korean crew culture is a group for ‘performances’ and ‘socializing.’

This Korean hip hop crew culture took root nationwide after 2009 and 2010, and in 2005, only a few crews existed, mainly around Hongdae and Apgujeong-dong.

If Junhyung, a high school student, were to create a crew in Gwangju, it would be a very forward-thinking attempt.

“What’s the plan for the future?”

“I don’t know. I should meet the five confirmed members first, assess their skills, and then create a crew, right?”

“No other specific plans?”

“Just going to dive in and see what happens.”

Sanghyun nodded helplessly at Junhyung’s words.

Either way, Junhyung was someone who would do music his whole life and would eventually succeed with it. Sanghyun had faith in Junhyung’s actions.

“I guess that’s the only way. Well, not every businessman starts a business after securing investment.”

“Tsk, tsk, crazy. You’re crazy.”

Junhyung clicked his tongue and returned to his seat.

Sanghyun spent the entire class thinking about what to do next. As a former venture company CEO, where time was money and the responsibility of decisions was heavier than gold, he felt frustrated just waiting for Junhyung’s actions.

However, he couldn’t come up with any good ideas.

When he talked with Sangmi and resolved to work hard, it felt like something would happen soon, but he didn’t know how to work hard. Make rap, perform. Is that it?

‘How do I make rap?’

The best practice method for vocalists who sing is ‘copying.’ It’s also called covering.

You simply follow and sing the songs you like, the songs you want to sing. If you sing repeatedly, you can add your own feeling and broaden your range of expression.

Having completed the output device called singing ability through this process, the vocalist receives (or creates) a song that suits their expression spectrum and sings it.

However, the situation is slightly different for rap vocalists, commonly called rappers.

Since the beginning of rap history, the greatest virtue required of an MC [Master of Ceremonies] who raps is writing their own rap.

MC stands for ‘Move the Crowd,’ meaning someone who moves the audience. You are not recognized as an MC simply because you rap well. The message and lyrics contained in the rap must be able to move the listener.

That’s why hip hop fans poured out tremendous criticism when it was revealed that a famous rapper had received a song. Rapper Meek Mill even started a beef [dispute], claiming that Drake had used a ghostwriter.

In any case, from Sanghyun’s perspective, who aims to be a rapper, rap must be created.

‘Should I try to make songs that will be hits in the future?’

Just thinking about it makes him feel good. To be the owner of the cheers and praises of famous songs. But it’s not easy. It’s not something I want to do either.

Sanghyun remembers many raps.

His only hobby was listening to rap, and he had a wide spectrum of listening to the point where he could call himself a mania [enthusiast]. He remembered most of the famous songs that had achieved great success.

But the problem was that it was in incomplete memory.

Moreover, Sanghyun was ignorant of composition, and although he knew the singer’s name and song title, he did not know the composer.

‘I can get inspiration, but I can’t plagiarize, huh?’

In order for Sanghyun to plagiarize the hit songs in his memory, he must know three things for sure.

1. Is this song a released song?

2. Is the beat of this song a released beat?

3. If it is not a released beat, can you make the beat of the song?

Surprisingly, the first condition is very tricky. There is no problem with Korean songs, but the mega-hit songs that Sanghyun remembers are mostly foreign songs, which makes it even more difficult.

There are countless demo songs that have slowly become famous among those involved even before the official album is released.

If you plagiarize such a song, you will suffer a great disgrace.

Unless you are a monster like ‘Jay-Z’ or ‘Notorious B.I.G’ who records albums with freestyle (the act of rapping impromptu without writing lyrics) on the spot.

‘The second condition is the most difficult.’

Instrumental or accompaniment in Korean (in an absolute sense, it is closer to Beat than accompaniment). In short, Inst.

It is no exaggeration to say that hip hop is the only genre in which this instrumental market has been formed.

There are many Instrumental Albums (albums containing only beats), and it is also common as a fan service to include instrumentals in the bonus tracks of albums.

In other words, even if you are sure that the song has not been released and plagiarize it, if the beat has been released, that is also plagiarism.

Last problem number 3.

If neither the song nor the beat of the song you are trying to make has been released, you can make a hit song by 찍어서 [creating] the beat. And others will regard it as Sanghyun’s own song, not a copy song.

However, the problem is that Sanghyun is ignorant of composition and cannot explain the song to the beat maker.

It certainly exists in my memory, but how can I express the sound with my mouth?

‘Should I learn beat making? I’m not perfect at rap, so will I have time to do that?’

In other words, the memory of future hit songs is not a cheat key that leads to success, but only an existence that gives inspiration.

Maybe it’s a good thing.

Sanghyun didn’t want to copy the songs of the rappers he respected. If he copied that song, wouldn’t the song that Sanghyun remembers and shares memories with disappear forever?

Also, a life of only copying and succeeding would not be fun.

Sanghyun, who returns home at 4 pm because of his younger sister Sangmi, was the object of envy for other students. However, there is one fact that Sanghyun later learned.

In fact, Sangmi’s school ends at 5:30.

This was because Sangmi learns Go [a strategic board game] as an after-school CA [curricular activity] activity, which she had stopped after the funeral but started again at Sanghyun’s recommendation.

“Welcome.”

Because Sanghyun had time left, he finished school and headed to Chungjang-ro, the best downtown area in Gwangju.

It is usually called downtown, and on the outskirts of Chungjang-ro, there is a music store called ‘Sejong Music Store’ that has been leading Gwangju’s music for a very long time.

It was like Nakwon Arcade in Seoul, but it could not be compared in terms of size.

Nakwon Arcade is literally an arcade where stores selling musical instruments are gathered, but Sejong Music Store is just a large store.

< Verse 1. Run this town > 끝

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