The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 82

< Verse 13. Circle (End) – End of Volume 3 >

It wasn’t a long walk from Professor Kim Woon-cheol’s lab to Ochi Korean Paper. Sanghyun strolled leisurely, enjoying the nice weather, lost in thought.

Sanghyun had developed a habit lately: organizing his upcoming tasks sequentially.

‘When will the design patent finally come through?’

First and foremost, selling the 888 X 888 product was urgent. Once the design patent was filed, he planned to start selling through domestic brands immediately. He was receiving over ten messages a day on his HiphopLE account, asking when the product would be released.

Next was the Gwangju Tigers performance. When he first collaborated with the Tigers to create the music video, he never imagined things would escalate this much. Sanghyun and the 888 Crew members were incredibly excited, having dreamed of performing “Gwangju UP” at least once.

‘It’s a shame it’s my solo track.’

L&S would join the 888 Crew on stage as the backing band, but it remained Sanghyun’s solo song.

Originally, they planned to split the song into 8-bar segments, with six members performing three verses in total. However, Team Leader Ahn Cheol-seung argued that it would be confusing if the rap in the music video differed from the performance, so Sanghyun ended up handling all the rap parts.

What else was there to do? What was it?

‘Ah, Under Kidd.’

He needed to make time to go to Seoul with Hayeon as soon as possible for the featuring on Under Kidd’s album.

Sanghyun had accepted Under Kidd’s featuring offer. A few days later, Under Kidd also offered Hayeon a feature, explaining that her tone suited the song better than the female rapper who was originally supposed to participate.

‘Come to think of it, Junhyung and Hyuk are also doing a collaboration with Stars Records, right?’

Woo Yeon-woo, a producer from Stars Records, had proposed a collaboration to Junhyung and Inhyuk. They were to participate in Stars Records’ second compilation album, which was scheduled for release soon. The compilation album was already recorded.

So, Stars Records wanted Junhyung and Inhyuk to participate so badly that they scrapped the mixed album tracks. Sanghyun and the crew members were as happy about it as if it were their own accomplishment.

Watching the 888 Crew grow was incredibly enjoyable.

As Sanghyun was lost in these fleeting thoughts, someone called out to him.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes? Me?”

He turned to see a female student in a school uniform. He didn’t recognize her.

“Were you calling me?”

“Um… are you, perhaps, a musician?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m a… a fan. Hi, nice to meet you.”

The girl’s face was flushed as she bowed deeply twice. Sanghyun awkwardly returned her greeting, feeling flustered.

It wasn’t as if no one had recognized him before. Some middle school girls who had seen the Sejong Instruments performance, audience members from Jeonju World DJ Festival, and a few fans near Club Homie had greeted him.

However, the middle school girls had been at the Sejong Instruments performance beforehand, and the World DJ Festival had a limited performance space, so it was inevitable to see the same people. Club Homie was also packed with hip-hop fans who had listened to “Fuck the Show Business.”

So, strictly speaking, the girl in front of him was the first member of the general public to recognize Sanghyun.

“Ah… nice to meet you too.”

Sanghyun greeted her awkwardly, unsure how to react. The girl bowed once more. After the greetings, they stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

“Um, were you on your way somewhere?”

“Home. Ochi Korean Paper is near my house…”

“Oh? I’m heading to a cafe near Korean Paper too…”

It felt strange to part ways after exchanging greetings. Sanghyun and the girl walked towards Ochi Korean Paper together, feeling slightly awkward. Initially, there was some awkwardness, but they soon struck up a lively conversation.

“Wow! So you’re performing at the Gwangju Tigers game this time? With ‘Gwangju UP’?”

“Yes. I spoke with the PR team leader yesterday, and it’s completely confirmed.”

“Wow! Wow!”

The girl, named Kim Hyemi, was a huge fan of the Gwangju Tigers. She had loved baseball since she was young and was involved in various activities, including being a Tigers supporter.

Kim Hyemi had discovered Sanghyun through the Gwangju Tigers website. As the operator of a blog called ‘Supporters Diary,’ Kim Hyemi visited the Gwangju Tigers website to find some information and stumbled upon the music video for “Gwangju UP.”

She fell in love with the song and even searched for performances from “Fuck the Show Business” and Club Homie.

Sanghyun and Kim Hyemi had a pleasant conversation despite the short distance. She was completely ignorant about hip-hop, unaware of the existence of HiphopLE [a Korean hip-hop community website] or the interview with the 888 Crew on the site. In fact, she was hearing the concept of a ‘crew’ for the first time.

“I’ll definitely check out the interview. And I’ll talk to the other supporters and try to make a ‘Gwangju UP’ banner!”

Sanghyun and Kim Hyemi parted ways with smiles.

Amusingly, as Sanghyun watched her walk away, he truly felt like he had become a musician.

After the Gwangju Tigers performance, more people would recognize him, right? As time passed, the public would learn more about the person named Lee Sanghyun.

Someone would start rapping, using him as a role model, and his name would be etched into the history of Korean hip-hop, regardless of his involvement.

‘By then, will the title ‘Rap Star’ be attached to my name?’

Suddenly, Sanghyun thought of a very large circle.

He imagined himself drawing a huge circle, so big that he couldn’t touch it even with his arms fully outstretched.

Perhaps living is about drawing a very large circle? Sometimes fighting and arguing, but ultimately drawing a beautiful circle. A circle that seems impossible to predict, yet turns according to the natural order, as if it were meant to be.

Sanghyun suddenly felt it was ridiculous that he had been afraid of the changes his rap would bring to the hip-hop scene. After all, he was just drawing a small circle within the very large circle of hip-hop.

Within that circle would be Sangmi’s name and the 888 Crew’s name. There was no reason to feel superior just because his circle was slightly larger than others, nor was there any reason to feel inferior just because his circle was smaller than others.

Even without Sanghyun’s foolish worries, the countless musicians he respected were diligently drawing their own circles at this very moment.

When discussing hip-hop culture, the expression ‘drawing a circle’ is often used. It originated from the way people would gather in a circle to watch hip-hoppers perform on the streets.

‘Was I being arrogant?’

Sanghyun reflected on whether he had become intoxicated with his small success. That was why he had such foolish worries. There was no need to worry about anything else. What he could do was very simple.

Many thoughts were organized, and they soon became lyrics. He quickly took out his phone and recorded the lyrics, humming and adding a melody.

He wanted to create a song called “Circle.”

We didn’t do anything wrong

We didn’t do anything right either

We can just step back

But we don’t have the courage

We just have different thoughts

We’re a great team now

But we fight sometimes

So let’s raise our hands-

Circle, circle,

Draw a lot of circles.

Circle, circle,

Draw a lot of circles.

As Sanghyun hummed, he wanted to make music with the members of the 888 Crew. He wanted to respect each other’s opinions, arguing and stepping back as always. But today was a day when everyone was busy and couldn’t get together.

‘Come to think of it, there are six circles in the name 888. That’s a punchline!’

Sanghyun chuckled at the sudden thought, thinking it was a kind of occupational hazard.

As he walked, lost in thought, he saw his house.

He opened the door and the house was quiet. The kitchen light was on, so Sangmi must have been in the studio.

“Sangmi, I’m home.”

“Oh, you’re home?” Sangmi’s voice came from the studio. Sanghyun walked through the narrow entrance to the studio and opened the door.

In that moment, he saw seven people sprawled out.

Sangmi, Hayeon, and Minji were huddled together on the narrow bed, reading comics. Woo Minho was at the computer, clutching his head as he designed something, and Kim Hwan and Junhyung were sitting on the floor, writing lyrics.

“Ah, that’s refreshing.”

Park Inhyuk was walking into the studio.

“Oh, Sanghyun’s here?”

“Oppa, did you just pee?”

“Huh? Yeah?”

“But why aren’t your hands wet?”

“Oh… I dried them with a hairdryer. Call it a hotel-style bathroom?”

“Do you want to get hit and wash up, or just wash up?” Oh Minji shook her fist, and Park Inhyuk grumbled that there was no freedom of cleanliness in the 888 Crew and headed back to the bathroom.

The members grumbled about the dirty hyung [older brother or male friend] and went back to their work. No one paid attention to Sanghyun.

“What? Didn’t you all say you were busy?”

Kim Hwan, who was writing lyrics, answered Sanghyun’s question indifferently.

“I finished my business and was bored, so I came here.”

“Me too.”

“Me too, me too.” Junhyung and Woo Minho nodded.

“I came because Sangmi said she borrowed a new book.”

“Me too, me too.”

“Why? Are you annoyed that I called the unnies [older sisters or female friends]?” Hayeon, Minji, and Sangmi replied.

“I came to do homework. Ugh, midterms are coming up, but there’s so much homework…” Park Inhyuk, who had washed his hands and came in, grumbled and sat down on the floor.

“Where’s the book? You said you came to do homework?”

“The textbook is always in my heart.” Park Inhyuk, who had said nonsense, began to interfere with Junhyung and Kim Hwan’s lyrics. Junhyung grumbled and hid his lyrics as Park Inhyuk’s interference intensified.

Park Inhyuk, who had nothing to do, nudged Sanghyun, who was still standing there, with his foot.

“Can you disappear into the corner? Or get out of the studio?”

“Oppa, go buy some ice cream. I want a Babamba [Korean popsicle].”

“I want a Melona [Korean popsicle].”

“I want an Erona [Korean popsicle].”

“I want a Corona [referencing the beer, a play on words].”

“Huh…?”

Sanghyun, who had finally come to his senses, pushed Park Inhyuk and Junhyung with his feet and squeezed in between them. Inhyuk and Junhyung, who had fallen to the left and right, screamed.

“Ah, what are you doing!”

“It’s cramped!”

“This is my house!”

“Shut up, this is my studio. You know that the concept of ‘mine’ is narrower than the concept of ‘ours,’ right? So go buy some ice cream.”

“Hyung, you buy it!”

“Why should I?”

“Because it’s our house!”

“Ah, I can’t live like this. I should post on HiphopLE that I’m the real Lee Sanghyun.” Sangmi burst out laughing at Park Inhyuk’s joke.

“Oh, Sangmi. Was oppa’s joke that funny? Haha, I guess I’m better suited to be a comedian than a rapper?”

“What are you talking about? I laughed because the comic book was funny.” Woo Minho, who had been listening quietly, burst out laughing. Park Inhyuk laughed awkwardly and then suddenly pushed Sanghyun away. Sanghyun, who had lost his balance, was pushed onto the bed.

“Ah, oppa, are you a pervert? Can’t you see the unnies?” Sanghyun, who was awkwardly holding onto the bed, was chased away again by Sangmi’s scolding. But he wasn’t upset at all. On the contrary, he felt great.

Sanghyun stood in place and looked around the studio. Just looking at them made him smile.

Sangmi shuddered at the sight.

“Oppa, why are you smiling like a pervert? You said you were doing an experiment, did you do a clinical trial for a new drug? Did you take the wrong medicine?”

“Did you take drugs?!” Hayeon, who had been concentrating on the comic book, asked Sanghyun in surprise. Park Inhyuk made up a strange chorus, singing, “Head down, weak man!”

Junhyung, Kim Hwan, and Woo Minho were still focused on their work, not paying attention.

And so, the 888 Crew’s studio was noisy for a long time. As always.

So let’s raise our hands-

Circle, circle,

Draw a lot of circles.

Circle, circle,

Draw a lot of circles.

< Verse 13. Circle (End) – End of Volume 3 > End

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