The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 184

< Verse 28. Jaws >

As the Oh Kyung Media trainees stepped out of their vehicle at the broadcasting station, a crowd surged toward them. The now-experienced managers quickly formed a security line, preventing the fans from getting too close.

-It’s Lee Sanghyun!

-Kyaaaa!

The crowd consisted of fans who had gathered to see Sanghyun.

Soon, numerous fans surrounded Sanghyun, showering him with gifts. However, the interesting thing was that the gifts they handed over were very small. They were CDs.

Sanghyun was very, very famous among fans for not accepting gifts easily. There were times when he wouldn’t accept gifts no matter how hard they tried to give them to him, leading to a fan asking him with a sad expression, ‘Do you not like my gift that much?’

However, the fan’s question was wrong. This was because Sanghyun tended to refuse gifts more vehemently the more he liked them. He had learned from experience that the more he liked a gift, the higher its price was likely to be.

There was even an instance where he gratefully accepted a gift that someone claimed was a handmade sweater, only to find out later that it was a super-expensive designer item with the tags removed.

This led to an amusing situation. A strange competition arose among Sanghyun’s fans to post *certifications* of successfully giving him a gift.

The fans’ strategies to win the competition were fierce.

Sanghyun once received a pencil case filled with pens from a fan who said they worked from the fans’ perspective, so he could use them when writing lyrics. It was a useful gift for him and his crew members to use together, and at first glance, the pens seemed to be worth between 500-2000 won, so he gratefully accepted it.

But a few days later, he found an M brand fountain pen hidden at the bottom of the pencil case. It was worth almost a million won.

After being tricked by the fans’ fierce strategies (?) several times, Sanghyun posted a message on the 888 Crew website and his fan club. The message stated that he felt burdened by overly expensive gifts, so if fans wanted to express their feelings with a gift, he would be grateful if they gave him albums by good artists.

Unless it was something ridiculous like a signed first edition of The Beatles, albums rarely cost more than 20,000 won.

The reason why the gifts that fans handed to Sanghyun were so small was precisely this. Most of them were album CDs.

Of course, there were still many cases where gifts other than CDs arrived by *택배 (delivery service)*, and it was difficult for Sanghyun to set fair standards for everything because he was busy. But he was doing his best to maintain his own boundaries.

However, there were many people who looked askance at his efforts, especially the trainees at Oh Kyung Media.

“What a load of crap.”

“That bastard accepts them when they come to the company by *택배 (delivery service)* anyway, and only acts up when there are a lot of people around.”

The Oh Kyung Media trainees, who had entered the broadcasting station ahead of Sanghyun to avoid the crowd, watched Sanghyun’s actions and cursed.

Starting with the special treatment he received from CEO Chae, the pretense he showed only in front of fans, and even the rumor that he had signed a contract with generous terms because he was Oh Yeonju’s boyfriend, even though they were now estranged.

But no matter how much they tried to denigrate Sanghyun, they didn’t feel any better. They were well aware that their anger and disparagement stemmed from inferiority.

Even setting aside musical talent and passion, they couldn’t be sure that they could act like Sanghyun if they were to gain popularity themselves.

Sanghyun received gifts from fans for a long time and talked with underground rappers who approached him hesitantly to hand over their mixtapes. However, he couldn’t delay any longer due to the manager’s urging. The documentary filming time was approaching.

“Thank you so much. Really.”

Sanghyun thanked the fans and promised the underground rappers that he would definitely listen to their mixtapes. In fact, he had listened to an underground rapper’s mixtape and had them participate in a feature. For rappers who were good but didn’t quite fit for a feature, he had given feedback via the email address written on the mixtape cover.

‘Who am I to them.’

Sanghyun sincerely thought that they were much better musicians than him.

Regardless of skill level, he had chosen music after two chances, but they were steadfastly choosing and walking the path of music even in the darkness where they couldn’t see an inch ahead.

They were definitely worthy of respect.

After giving thanks for a long time, Sanghyun entered the broadcasting station, and the fans did not leave their places for a long time afterward.

“He’s so cool…….”

“The stories on the internet weren’t lies.”

“They say he doesn’t even accept expensive gifts because he’s worried that the fans will waste their money.”

In fact, strictly speaking, Sanghyun desperately refused expensive gifts because he was afraid that ‘Musician Lee Sanghyun’ would be gradually tainted by becoming overly accustomed to such things.

However, to the fans, it couldn’t help but seem like he was thinking of them.

In that way, Sanghyun’s image was becoming more and more perfect.

The Oh Kyung Media trainees who entered the broadcasting station went to the set prepared for today’s filming.

“Amazing…….”

The broadcasting station, where numerous staff members moved in an orderly fashion, cameras busily turned, and lights flashed, was a place of longing for the trainees. It was a place where they felt the ambition to become the main characters receiving the spotlight in such a glamorous broadcasting station someday.

However, unlike the longing or admiration felt by the trainees, Sanghyun didn’t feel any particular emotion. He was already used to it, and he also felt that the place where a musician should feel excitement was not the broadcasting station but inside the recording booth.

Rather, the broadcasting station was a place where his music could be painted with false colors, so he had to be wary of accepting it unconditionally.

‘Anyway, this is like a movie protagonist going back and forth between everyday life and being a hero…… A trainee now, of all times.’

Sanghyun had finished his activities for Welcome to School a few days ago. So, he had returned to the status of a trainee from the status of a singer.

This was also the justification for him participating in today’s documentary.

Today’s documentary was about aspiring singers, and it was about the difficulties and hopes of aspiring singers under the title ‘Those Who Sing to Become Stars.’

In fact, it was content that didn’t suit Sanghyun.

He wasn’t someone who spent every day going through painful processes to become a star. To him, music and practice were enjoyable, not painful.

He wasn’t someone who felt frustrated or scared because of an uncertain future. Uncertainty was a brilliant blessing that he sought out himself.

‘No, apart from my inner feelings, aren’t I a trainee who is worried about an uncertain debut?’

Frankly, the intention to gain attention and viewership by featuring Sanghyun was obvious.

-During non-promotional periods, the treatment equivalent to a trainee status is maintained, and the creator’s rights to music work take precedence over the affiliated artist’s obligations to broadcasting.

This was also possible because Sanghyun’s special contract conditions were widely known to the world.

‘It’s nice to be able to easily shake off filming obligations…….’

While Sanghyun was thinking about this and that, the training managers were saying this and that to the trainees, encouraging their motivation. Today was a moment when a carrot policy was needed.

“The people you will meet today are the tenured PDs [Production Directors] of CBC Broadcasting Station. You know how long public broadcasting PDs have been working, right? It’s different from cable.”

“Yes.”

“Then what happens if you make a good impression on these PDs? It will be easier to have a broadcasting life after your debut. Even if the PD thinks you’re okay and says, ‘That friend is good?’, your debut will be brought forward. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes!”

“Okay, let’s work hard on today’s filming. Anyway, there’s no special script, so just do it as it is. However, the important thing is that you have to show that the Oh Kyung Media trainees are united. Even if you fight and sulk with each other, don’t show it. Got it?”

The trainees answered enthusiastically to the manager’s words. In fact, it’s unconditionally a good thing to make a good impression on the PD.

But they had no chance to make a good impression on the PD.

No, it was even questionable whether they were visible.

The PD who came to the set looked around and walked straight towards someone. It was Sanghyun.

“Lee Sanghyun-ssi.”

“Oh? What brings the PD-nim [term of respect] here?”

“What do you mean, what brings me here? Is there a law that says I have to handle audio equipment all my life? I should start planning my own program soon.”

“Oh? PD-nim planned this documentary?”

“Ah, no, a close senior planned it, but since there are parts related to music, I ended up helping. I’m almost entirely in charge of today’s filming. I’m going to try to squeeze Lee Sanghyun-ssi to death.”

Sanghyun burst into laughter at the PD’s joke.

The PD in charge of filming today’s documentary was quite familiar to Sanghyun. He was also one of the few connections in the broadcasting industry.

It was Na Hansoo PD, whom he had met while helping with Indie Kid’s ‘When Today Passes’ first broadcast stage.

The two had clashed roughly over the lip-sync issue, but thanks to Sanghyun’s initial consideration, they ended up having a favorable impression of each other.

After that, they met several more times at the Popular Music filming site, and although there was some age difference, they became close enough to be described as friends.

Sanghyun, who never does additional filming outside of the contract, appeared on Popular Music because of Na Hansoo PD.

In fact, if you go back to before the regression, Na Hansoo PD was about Sanghyun’s age. It was a friendship that sprouted in the midst of exchanging *아재개그 (old man jokes)*?

As Sanghyun and Na Hansoo exchanged welcome jokes, the trainees who were standing next to them like *병풍 (bystanders)* began to make bewildered expressions.

Putting aside the fact that they were making boring *아재개그 (old man jokes)*, they seemed quite close despite the age difference of nearly 20 years. It’s not uncommon for singers and PDs to build friendships, but it wasn’t easy at this age difference.

‘Does the PD think that Lee Sanghyun will be successful for that long? Enough to act *친한 척 (friendly)* first?’

That was the thought that the trainees couldn’t help but think of.

At that time, the manager came and introduced the trainees to Na Hansoo PD. Na Hansoo PD nodded and greeted them.

“Okay. Let’s have a good filming today. Don’t be nervous.”

“Yes!”

The trainees shouted loudly. In order to get the PD’s attention even once.

“Lee Sanghyun-ssi, aren’t you answering? Did you get a little popular?”

However, it seemed that the trainees’ wishes would never be easily achieved.

In that way, the studio filming of the documentary began.

The filming proceeded smoothly.

This was partly because the trainees were full of enthusiasm, but also because the format of the documentary itself was a system that created images through editing rather than acting or setting.

Today’s filming concept was that the agency’s ‘Monthly Evaluation,’ which ranks trainees every month, would be held at the CBC Broadcasting Station’s studio to help them adapt to the broadcasting stage.

In order to create reality in the concept, they were actually conducting the monthly evaluation. And Sanghyun was participating in the monthly evaluation for the first time.

< Verse 28. Jaws > End

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