The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 88

The Rap Star – Episode 88 (88/309)

As Park In-hyuk stepped onto the stage, he felt a strange sensation.

Usually, a stage provides a sense of elevation and distinction. Singers can look down on the audience, and the audience looks up at the singers. This structure gives singers psychological stability and confidence.

‘But…’

This wasn’t such a welcoming stage.

Due to the nature of a baseball stadium, the audience is designed to look down on the game from a high vantage point. The performance stage today was set up in the very center of the baseball field, meaning not a single person was watching the stage from below them.

He hadn’t realized it during rehearsals. He just thought it was incredibly vast. But once the audience, the evaluators, filled that wide space, Park In-hyuk could feel a completely different atmosphere.

“Ugh….”

The sight of over ten thousand spectators ‘looking down’ on him was so imposing that cold sweat ran down his spine.

“What’s wrong? Hyung [older brother or male friend]?”

Sang-hyun, who was checking In-hyuk’s outfit, microphone, and in-ear monitors, asked.

“No, it’s just… it’s so cool.”

He made excuses to the crew members, but In-hyuk’s parents were very famous figures in the legal world. The only reason they were far from the legal world’s golden path in Gwangju was because he wasn’t good at studying.

He entered law school as his parents wished, but he couldn’t even dream of attending the university they wanted. He managed to save face by attending a national university in the region. It would have been better if it had been Pusan National University, though.

‘No, if that had happened, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of doing this.’

That’s why Park In-hyuk loved music, and he loved the 888 Crew.

When he was on stage, he felt proud of himself, like he was becoming someone cool. Having lived under his parents’ shadow from elementary school until his senior year of high school, the applause he received on stage was incredibly thrilling.

That’s why he was angry at Codenamed. Not only was he ignoring and threatening his colleagues, but he was also ruining the culture of hip-hop.

“What’s so cool?”

“It’s just, isn’t rap really cool? Being able to get applause from others just by telling my own story.”

“Hyung, you’re acting strange today. Get a grip.”

“Sometimes, hyung gets sentimental.”

“Getting sentimental right before a performance is a problem.”

Kim Hwan chided him. Park In-hyuk made a ‘tsk’ sound and looked around. The cue sign hadn’t been given yet, so the cameras and lights were off. That meant he could see the surrounding scenery even better.

‘How much longer can I do this?’

In-hyuk would be a senior in college next year. It was already late enough, but from next year, he really had to become a test-taker preparing for the bar exam. And then, whether he became a prosecutor or a lawyer, he would never be able to return to this world. Remembering these times, which he would never forget for the rest of his life, until he died.

That’s why he made a resolution that others didn’t know about whenever he stood on stage. It was like a spell that helped him do his best.

‘Be the Underground.’

The reason he made music wasn’t for money or success. Be the Underground.

He hoped that someone would remember the mark that ‘Park In-hyuk’ had left on the Korean hip-hop underground.

***

-The advertisement is going in for one more time, so we’re delayed by 80 seconds. When the red light comes on the camera, the lights will turn on first, and the beat will start the moment the jib arm lights up. Got it? 160 seconds before the performance. Everyone except the performers, please exit the stage.

The staff’s voice came through the in-ear monitors.

OMB’s ‘Baseball Story’ borrowed the format of FOX’s ‘CHEVY PREGAME,’ which is famous for its opening line, “The Perfect Weather for late October baseball.” It involves dual live broadcasts from the studio and the baseball field, providing commentary on even the smallest details.

Therefore, the 888 Crew’s performance also had to start right after the TV commercial ended.

“Noona [older sister or female friend], I’m going down. Fighting [Good luck]!”

Joon-hyung, who had been trying to ease Min-ji’s tension by talking about various things, was about to go down after hearing the staff’s words. Then Min-ji grabbed Joon-hyung.

“Joo, Joon-hyung-ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Where, where should I look while performing?”

As Joon-hyung was about to leave, Oh Min-ji felt like her vision was going white. Her heart was beating so fast that her chest hurt.

She was nervous at Club Homi too, but this felt completely different. Five cameras and over ten thousand people were watching her.

“Where should you look while performing? Well, of course….”

Joon-hyung was about to tell her to look at the audience, but he realized that would be difficult. The stage here was too wide, and the audience was too far away. She didn’t have the confidence to look at the camera, and looking at the audience meant she had to look up.

-100 seconds before the performance.

Min-ji’s face turned even paler.

Joon-hyung thought for a moment and then said,

“Noona, how many performances have you done so far?”

“If you count the street performances, about five times?”

“Which one was the most fun?”

“Well, Club Homi. No, the street performance we did when we were filming the music video was more fun.”

“Have you ever thought about that performance before going to bed? Like you can remember the faces of the audience who were there that day?”

“Oh? Yeah, I have. I’ve even dreamed about it.”

“Then think of this place as Gushicheong Four-way Intersection. Remember the most fun and enjoyable moment.”

-60 seconds before the performance. Everyone except the performers, please exit the stage right now.

“Or just ignore the camera director and close your eyes and do it. It’ll be easier if you think of Gushicheong Four-way Intersection. Fighting!”

The staff were frantically gesturing for him to go down. Joon-hyung spoke quickly and jumped off the stage. The stage wasn’t very high because it had to be dismantled immediately after the performance.

‘Gushicheong Four-way Intersection?’

Min-ji thought of the street performance during the music video shoot. She opened with the coffee machine part she participated in, and the atmosphere was so good that they even sang Eight, Eight, Eight, which wasn’t planned. She also remembered the high school girls who passed by while she was rapping and said, ‘That unnie [older sister] is so cool.’

-30 seconds before the performance. Lights on.

With a ‘pop’ sound, the lights that looked like electronic billboards turned on from behind. It wasn’t bright because it was daytime, but the orange and green lights made the angle look even cooler.

-10 seconds before the performance. Jib arm lift.

With the sound of a small crane moving, the jib arm camera smoothly rose into the air.

‘The most fun and enjoyable moment.’

Min-ji gripped the microphone tightly. Her trembling hands and knees had calmed down.

-5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Sound on. Microphone on.

Suddenly, a huge beat exploded, so loud that her ears went numb.

The audience, who had been chatting, turned their attention to the stage in an instant. The audience’s cheers erupted.

-Waaaaa!

-Gwangju! Tigers!

Wicoming was based on electronic sounds.

Wicoming’s beat had a charm that made listeners nod their heads for no reason. The audience enjoyed the rhythm by banging their cheering sticks.

The huge beat was heard through the three main speakers.

L&S’s performance cut through the noise.

The band’s real sound filled the empty spaces of the computer sound, creating a solid texture.

Hwang In-soo’s rhythmically gifted drumming danced madly, and Bang Min-sik’s electric guitar elicited pleasure through its fluid melody. Behind them, Yong-joon’s bass and Mi-joo’s keyboard followed, making the beat even richer.

‘Ready to show them?’

It felt like the members of L&S were asking through their performance.

Wicoming’s opening was opened by Oh Min-ji’s simple yet exciting chorus.

Why Come, Why For, Why Stand. Ho-!

888 is here, so everyone scream!

Min-ji’s sharp high notes and Joon-hyung and Hwan’s low notes intertwined, filling the chorus. During the Ho-! part, the L&S members all shouted together through the backup microphones.

Soon the audience started to follow along with the Ho! in time.

Why Come, Why For, Why Stand. Ho-!

888 is here, so everyone scream!

Why did you come here? What did you come for? Why are you standing here now?

At first glance, it sounds like a rapper is asking the audience who came to the performance. And that was actually part of the meaning. There were also lyrics that said, 888 is here, so everyone scream!

But the real meaning of these lyrics was what the 888 Crew members always said when they met in the practice room.

‘Hey, I was going to record today, why did you come? What are you trying to record? Then do it quickly, why are you standing there dumbly.’

When they listen to the members recording, they can’t stand still. Without even realizing it, they write lyrics that fit the song and jump in.

‘Why Why for? Shouldn’t it be What For or For What?’

‘It’s probably poetic license to give a sense of unity with Why.’

‘Push the beat a little bit when you do the Ho! part here, Noona [older sister or female friend].’

‘Push it? In my opinion, it would be better to split the recording and pull it forward completely? Syncopation is a more suitable beat than layback.’

That’s why there were no solo songs in the 888 Crew’s discography. Even if it was a song that they planned and recorded themselves, it contained the inspiration and touch of the members.

Why Come, Why For, Why Stand. Ho-!

888 is here, so everyone scream!

‘The most fun and enjoyable moment.’

Unlike Joon-hyung’s advice, Min-ji wasn’t thinking about the street performance at Gushicheong Four-way Intersection. But she wasn’t ignoring Joon-hyung’s advice.

It’s just that the most fun and enjoyable moment for her wasn’t there.

‘Ah, are you tone-deaf?’

‘Oppa [older brother or male friend], you’re directionally challenged!’

‘Yo! I’m directionally challenged, you’re Oh Min-chi!’

‘Is this human crazy?’

The crew’s always cheerful oppas [older brothers or male friends].

‘Oh, this beat is amazing? Is there a guide out?’

‘Do you want to listen?’

‘What’s the title?’

‘Coffee Machine!’

The reliable younger siblings who always respect and support her. Thinking of them made Min-ji smile.

‘The most fun and enjoyable moment.’

She was thinking of the 888 Crew’s studio.

A place more glamorous than any glamorous stage.

A place more exciting than any exciting performance.

Our space.

Min-ji started rapping.

Before she knew it, her gaze was directed towards the members sitting in a circle in the studio.

Other people’s expectations are sometimes landmines

They grab your ankle and don’t let go.

Behind the performance is the future of my life

Rodin is thinking about it.

Min-ji knew that she was the least skilled in the 888 Crew. Frankly, compared to Joon-hyung or Sang-hyun, even the expression ‘less skilled’ was embarrassing.

So sometimes she felt burdened by the expectations of hip-hop fans who said, ‘Is she also in the 888 Crew?’

I’m Gwangju Not Hongdae, what I showed at Homi is not even half of me

Still bad, scolding others with flow

But the one being scolded is me in the mirror

At first, it was a bit difficult. Thanks to the exemption of being a rare female rapper in Korea, she didn’t receive criticism, but she felt inferior.

But she realized something while watching her teammates. Our opponent is not someone else, but me in the mirror.

The me who was in the studio yesterday is today’s opponent.

Girl in the mirror. I pray to my god

If you take rap away from me, the disease is aphasia

We can’t do as much as others expect

We have to do twice as much to be satisfied.

So just do it. Like Sang-hyun said, money and fame are byproducts of the goal. What they have to do is express themselves. Like people who can’t speak if they take away their rap.

I’m Manuel, I’m possible, life is always like that,

In response, I explore different solutions again

The actions of other kids trying to gauge me are boring

They say I’m stupid, do whatever you want, but shut your mouth

A storm-like 16 bars passed.

Min-ji realized that her rap was over only after spitting out the last word, ‘shut your mouth.’

‘What, what? Is it over?’

She was so surprised that she almost dropped the microphone.

End

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