The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 29

< Verse 3. 888 Crew >

***

OMG. I can’t believe my first fan lives in South Korea.

That was the first sentence of the email from DJ.STANDARD from Denmark.

Sanghyun had assumed Standard was a producer from LA because he’d gained recognition through collaborations with LA rappers, but it turned out he was from Denmark.

The email, written in slightly awkward English, contained various stories. Mostly, it answered questions and expressed interest from the first email Sanghyun had sent.

Sanghyun had been looking for usable rap instrumentals with Junhyung and found the ID DJ.STANDARD on a foreign amateur composer site and sent him an email.

The first thing he checked was Standard’s birthday. Sanghyun, a fan, knew it was the same as his.

‘My birthday? I’ve heard that Asians have strong spiritual beliefs. Oh, a friend of mine from Asia told me that Asian tarot readers can know a lot through birthdays and names. I was born on October 3, 1984. A cool Libra.’

Sanghyun, reading the email with a nervous heart, cheered inwardly. He’d been worried it might not be the Standard he knew, but now he felt certain.

‘If I can get close to him, it would be amazing. But there must be a limit to how much the relationship can progress through email, right?’

Sanghyun carefully read the email several times.

When he was working hard, he could understand English fluently, but after a long break, it was harder to decipher.

‘Of course, this guy isn’t very good at English either.’

Since Danish was his native language, Standard’s English grammar was a bit off.

Sanghyun’s first email contained expressions of respect such as, ‘I listened to your work and became a fan,’ ‘I am a rapper from Korea. I want to share musical ideas with you,’ and ‘If possible, I would like to meet and work with you someday.’

Standard replied very coolly.

‘I’m having a hard time paying my rent in LA right now, but if I become a famous producer, I want to go to Korea. Of course, it’s even better if you come to LA.’

‘I’ve attached the tracks I’ve been working on recently. Feel free to use them. But don’t forget to send them to me after recording. And credit me as Prod [Producer] when you release it.’

Standard attached eight tracks to the email. All of them were sophisticated (relatively speaking in 2005) and Sanghyun liked them a lot.

Sanghyun suddenly envisioned a dream collaboration.

‘DJ Standard,’ a world-class producer who had his songs nominated for the Grammy Awards for 7 years from 2010 to 2016.

‘Ben,’ an MC [Master of Ceremonies, another term for rapper] whose fluent flow and intuitive lyrics Sanghyun admired most in Korea.

‘JoEigh,’ who appeared like a comet in 2013 and swept the praise of critics and the public, eventually conquering Billboard and even the Grammys.

What if he could bring these people, and many other rappers still honing their skills underground, together as one team?

Sanghyun wanted to meet them.

‘As a musician to musician.’

He refused to meet as just a fan.

Even if he had the chance, he wouldn’t meet them unless he was proud of his own music. A rapper’s meeting with another rapper is more a clash of pride and self-esteem than a business meeting. That’s why dissing (attacking someone with rap lyrics) was so common.

‘Thanks, man. Your beat is fucking awesome.’

Sanghyun listened to Standard’s beat and wrote a reply. He wanted to start working with Junhyung soon.

***

-Buzz!

A rough electric guitar sound.

“My own Origin!”

Sanghyun’s rap cut through the sound.

The song that made Sanghyun’s name known in the Gwangju indie band scene, “Run this town,” was echoing in the practice room of the band L&S.

Of course, the band was L&S, and the keyboardist was Miju.

‘Awesome! Wow, it’s really crazy.’

Junhyung, watching, could only admire Sanghyun’s performance of “Run this town.” If he showed this much energy just in practice, what would it be like at the actual performance?

‘That bastard had every reason to be confident.’

Sanghyun’s rap ended, followed by a bass solo, and soon the song finished. Junhyung applauded enthusiastically.

Junhyung had followed Sanghyun to the L&S band practice room near Yangdong Market. The first reason was to greet the band L&S, who knew Sanghyun, and the second was to practice for the upcoming L&S performance.

“You’re Sanghyun’s friend, right? What do you think?”

Junhyung replied cheerfully to L&S bassist Yongjun’s question.

“Amazing, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

“Oh, unlike the arrogant Sanghyun, you know how to socialize? What’s your name?”

“Shin Junhyung, hyung.”

“You’re also from Unsan High School?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow, a direct junior, come here.”

Sanghyun watched Yongjun and Junhyung’s antics while drinking water. He hadn’t learned vocalization or breathing techniques, so he was panting even after singing just one song.

The band L&S was preparing for a performance in preparation for the upcoming ‘Jeonju World Wide Indie Music Festival.’ In other words, it was a dress rehearsal.

The venue was scheduled to be a performance hall called ‘Soft Line’ that had recently opened near the back gate of Jeonnam University.

It was the first performance held at Soft Line, and the first crossover (fusion between genres) performance attempted among Gwangju indie bands.

Two rappers were scheduled to be on stage as guests: Sanghyun and Junhyung.

“We don’t need to practice “Run this town” anymore. Let’s just do a light rehearsal on the day of the performance.”

Everyone nodded at the words of the leader and lead guitarist, Bang Minsik.

“Then shall we practice the next song? That friend is also doing this song, right?”

Sanghyun nodded at Minsik’s question and called Junhyung.

“Hey, Junhyung. Stop messing around and come here and grab the microphone.”

“To call it messing around when seniors and juniors are confirming the bonds of school ties!”

Yongjun, who was chatting with Junhyung, grumbled. Sanghyun smiled and said loudly.

“‘Jun hyung’ isn’t mature yet. Childish.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Junhyung and Yongjun answered at the same time.

The two belatedly realized Sanghyun’s teasing.

If ‘Shin Junhyung’ and ‘Yongjun hyung’ are called without their surnames from Sanghyun’s point of view, the titles sound the same.

“Is it ‘Jun hyung’ or ‘Junhyung’? Do it right.”

Yongjun frowned threateningly. But Sanghyun was not intimidated at all.

“In my opinion, Juuunhyung is not acting his age.”

Miju and Bang Minsik burst into laughter.

Usually, Sanghyun called Yongjun ‘Junie hyung,’ but the exaggerated way of calling him Juuunhyung in a mocking tone was funny.

Yongjun frowned for a moment, looked at Junhyung, and started giggling again, saying that they were the ‘Junhyung Brothers.’

Drummer Hwang Insoo told them to stop chatting and start practicing, and banged on the drums. Miju hit Hwang Insoo on the back, saying it was noisy.

“Ouch! What kind of girl is so rough!”

“It hurts my ears!”

While Miju was nagging, Bang Minsik frowned and cursed Miju in Sanghyun’s ear. Miju managed to notice and hit Bang Minsik on the back as well.

“Ouch!”

It was a mess, but it was a fun mess.

‘It’s fun.’

It was a sincerely enjoyable time.

Sanghyun smiled, showing his teeth, and Junhyung had already become close to Yongjun and was discussing the symbiosis of bass and rap.

< Verse 3. 888 Crew > End

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