The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 187

***

“Hello, Blast Master. I’m honored to meet you.”

Sanghyun’s polite greeting was met with a hearty laugh from the man on the other end of the line. It was easy to imagine Caesar from ‘Planet of the Apes’ smiling with his mouth wide open.

-Really honored? Standard told me you didn’t know Blast Master was me?

“Of course I knew. I was aware.”

-Standard said you didn’t know?

“That friend of mine is good at making things up. Isn’t that what composers do? Creating sounds that don’t exist.”

KRS-ONE, Blast Master, laughed heartily once more at Sanghyun’s nonsensical joke.

-First off, I apologize for contacting you so late. I’ve been swamped with album production. You haven’t been waiting too long, have you?

“It’s alright. I’ve been waiting like a Blast Slave.”

-Hmm, not very funny, but your English is pretty good. I heard you’re a well-known MC [Master of Ceremonies, a rapper] in Korea. Were you born in the States?

“No. I don’t even have a passport yet. I was planning to get one when Blast Master contacted me.”

-Hearing my birth name over the phone like that makes me want to puke. Lawrence Parker. Just call me Parker. So, when are you getting your passport and coming to New York?

Sanghyun could hardly believe this moment, talking to KRS-ONE. It was truly amazing that a major American rapper had listened to his song on YouTube and contacted him first.

The YouTube views of the 888 Crew video clips were increasing daily, now mostly recording over 3.5 million.

The most viewed, Eight, Eight, Eight, was approaching a whopping 9 million. Although the numbers included duplicate views, nearly the population of Seoul had sought out his songs.

It might not seem like a large number to some, but this wasn’t a time when YouTube was as active. It wasn’t an era where popular video clips racked up hundreds of millions of views.

Although there was no official announcement, the 888 Crew’s YouTube channel, linked to ‘Korea Hiphop,’ was considered one of the top 100 most recognized channels within the domain.

“I’m planning to go around mid-July. When is a good time for Blast… I mean, Parker? I heard you lecture at New York University.”

-It’s summer break, so NYU doesn’t matter. Even during the semester, the studio is in the Big Apple, so it doesn’t matter. Oh, can you come on July 20th? A musician from Japan is coming on the 20th. Do you know Hime? Wouldn’t it be better to see her together?

KRS-ONE spoke quickly with his characteristic booming voice. It was hard to understand him over the phone because of his fast speech and black slang.

“I don’t know who Hime is, but I’ll try to adjust my schedule to the 20th then.”

-No need to force it. More importantly, did you get the beat?

“Yes, I received it yesterday and listened to it right away.”

-What do you think? Getting any inspiration?

“Well…….”

The beat KRS-ONE sent was one where the main instrument was something Sanghyun had never heard before.

The beat itself wasn’t particularly unique, but no matter how much he listened, he couldn’t figure out what the instrument composition was.

Sounds like plucking a gayageum [Korean zither with 12 strings] or geomungo [Korean six-string zither] formed the main melody of the background, and the drums from a sample he was hearing for the first time formed a line that was neither heavy nor light.

It wasn’t a beat with a distinct personality that dictated the direction of the rap. But it was a sound that could be assessed as a beat with a wide stance that could be painted any color.

“It doesn’t seem like a beat where spontaneous inspiration is important, does it?

-Oh, really?

“It seems like a beat where you have to create the inspiration. Did Standard make this?

-That’s right. He made it with a friend named Baker from Boogie Down Productions. Standard did most of the work.

“However, I think the drum line sounds a bit dead compared to the main melody. I think it needs to be adjusted, either by raising the drum line or lowering the melody line.”

KRS-ONE felt inwardly pleased listening to Sanghyun’s story. It wasn’t that Sanghyun was saying anything great that made him pleased, but he liked that he was freely expressing his opinions.

Until now, the Asians he had met lacked this aspect, but as expected, rappers can’t keep things bottled up inside.

-It’s not a finished beat yet. Standard said he couldn’t get the balance right because it was the first time he’d used that instrument. He said some Korean instrument was used?

“Oh? Is it perhaps a geomungo or gayageum?”

At Sanghyun’s question, KRS-ONE said he didn’t know the name of the instrument and told him to ask Standard directly if he was curious.

‘I thought it was a harp or lute, but is it really a gayageum? Is geomungo also a plucked instrument?’

The sustained note from the instrument was short, so he thought it was a Western instrument that sounded like a geomungo or gayageum. It seemed that Standard had mixed it in a way that strongly attacked and shortened the release, cutting off the sustained note.

A fun picture was already being drawn. A collaboration with world hip-hop musicians to be placed on top of Korean traditional instruments.

-Ah, Parker. I have something to ask you. Does Parker’s Koch Record also do music distribution management?

-Of course. Why?

-I was wondering what happens if you distribute overseas and import to Korea. Could you connect me with Koch Record?

-I can, but they probably aren’t interested in you yet?

Sanghyun still asked for the connection, and KRS-ONE promised to give Sanghyun’s email address to the person in charge at Koch Record.

-Then let’s see each other in July. Contact me anytime if you have any questions.

The rather long call ended, and KRS-ONE hung up.

Sanghyun thought about something for a moment, then turned on his computer and played the beat. Suddenly, the beat’s title caught his eye.

-The way we live

It was the planned name for KRS-ONE’s track that Sanghyun was participating in.

The way we live was a song where a total of five rappers would express ‘their’ way of living on the same beat.

KRS-ONE – USA

FiveSix (56) – Korea

Hime – Japan

Black M – France

Skepta – UK

Five rap musicians representing the United States, Korea, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom.

Since their nationalities were different, the rap scenes they debuted and grew up in were bound to be different as well, and if those things were woven into the lyrics, the characteristics of each country would inevitably be depicted.

KRS-ONE was preparing a worldwide collaboration with the theme of ‘HipHop is One,’ a line he often shouted, but in Sanghyun’s opinion, the atmosphere would be different, at least in Korea.

It was embarrassing to say it himself, but the musician 56 was a very hot keyword. The collaboration with a foreign musician alone would garner quite a bit of attention.

In addition, a beat using Korean instruments, four foreign rappers including KRS-ONE. Among them was a Japanese person who couldn’t help but attract attention.

It would be stranger if it didn’t become a hot topic.

Even if KRS-ONE’s album flopped in the United States, it would definitely become a hot topic in Korea.

And then the Korean media and fans, who love to rank things, would listen to the raps of the five rappers and rank them. Of course, that might happen in other countries as well, not just Korea.

Sanghyun wasn’t burdened by that.

If you’re afraid of competition, you can’t do anything. Especially musicians, it was a job that competed for a lifetime. It was impossible to laugh together and divide the public’s attention by N, the number of musicians.

Winner takes all.

So, he wanted to do the best.

He even wanted to beat KRS-ONE.

He wanted to make his name known in the vast, never-before-experienced home of hip-hop, the United States.

‘There’s no reason why it shouldn’t work.’

Sanghyun began to write lyrics, using the rising inspiration as nourishment. Soon, only the sound of the keyboard being tapped and the beat flowing from the headphones remained in Sanghyun’s room.

“Oppa! Eat!”

After a while, Sangmi came into Sanghyun’s room. It was because her brother didn’t answer no matter how much she called him to eat.

However, Sangmi soon had to close the door and quietly leave.

It was because she knew that she shouldn’t disturb Sanghyun when he made that face.

***

Saturday, May 13, a few days before Sanghyun was to film a documentary at CBC Broadcasting Station.

Sanghyun and Sangmi were heading to the charnel house [a building or vault containing niches for cinerary urns] in Naju. It was the first memorial day for their parents that the two siblings were facing.

However, their expressions as they got off at the Naju Intercity Bus Terminal and headed to the charnel house were not dark or gloomy. The surroundings were too noisy for that.

“Sangmi, do you want a banana milk?”

“No.”

“Then how about banana kick [a Korean snack]?”

“I said no.”

“Then a drink that has packaging that looks like it’s full of bananas, but actually only contains banana flavoring…….”

“Ah, geez! I said I don’t want it? I already ate two in the car!”

Junhyung, who was lingering around with Sangmi’s favorite banana-flavored snacks, grumbled.

Sanghyun said, watching the scene.

“Then give it to me.”

“Why you.”

“I like bananas too.”

“How’s your banana doing?”

“……!?”

Soon, Junhyung had to apologize for his mistake due to the indiscriminate attacks of Minji, Hayeon, and Miju.

The attack was like the three Saiyans’ energy wave in Dragon Ball, and like Zoro using Asura Ichimuwu with six arms. It was not a level that a guy like Junhyung could withstand.

Sangmi, who was watching the scene, burst into a strange laugh.

Sanghyun and Sangmi were not the only ones in Naju for their parents’ memorial day. 888 Crew members and L&S members were all together.

The L&S members, who didn’t know until the morning of the day because Sanghyun didn’t say anything, canceled all their schedules and came down to Naju together. Sanghyun’s words that it was okay were ignored at once.

There was no broadcast schedule, but they were in the mood to cancel even if there was a live broadcast schedule.

‘To hire 888 Crew and the band L&S at the same time at a university festival, you would need at least 20 million won [approximately $15,000 USD].’

It was a thought that suddenly came to mind.

In fact, just considering the two event fees that L&S canceled today, it would be 10 million won. On the other hand, there was no monetary gain from attending Sanghyun’s parents’ memorial day.

But they were sharing a bond and friendship that was far more valuable than the money in front of them.

“Kuh, bananas were good, Junhyung. You’re filling the void I left with your gags. Hyung [older brother or male friend] is very satisfied.”

Besides, there was also a welcome face. It was Park Inhyuk.

Inhyuk had been waiting for the members at the Naju Intercity Bus Terminal since early in the morning. They often talked on the phone, but it had been quite a while since they had seen each other’s faces, so everyone was overjoyed.

In that way, a large group of 12 people, 8 from 888 Crew and 4 from L&S, laughed and chatted as they headed to the charnel house.

Only in the morning, everyone was watching Sangmi and Sanghyun’s expressions and keeping silent, not knowing what to do. In fact, going to a friend’s parents’ charnel house was not such a common experience. However, Sangmi and Sanghyun took the lead in throwing jokes and trying to make the atmosphere pleasant.

The fact that they missed their parents and longed for them was an unchanging fact, but there was no need for them to be frowning. Rather, it was right to show their parents a happy appearance.

Together with the new family that was watching over them.

The location of the charnel house was far from amusement parks or picnic spots, so there were hardly any people. Only a few adults heading to a small temple nearby were seen. Thanks to that, no one recognized the hot 888 Crew or L&S, which was even hotter after Royal Band.

They quietly offered flowers to Sanghyun and Sangmi’s parents and prayed for their souls. Finally, Sanghyun and Sangmi offered flowers that the two usually liked and bowed.

Sanghyun felt very strange.

Today might be the first memorial day for Sangmi, but it was the 21st memorial day for him. There was nothing new or special about it.

But it felt different from the memorial days so far.

Something he hadn’t felt in the past 20 years. The thought of finally showing his parents the happy 모습 [Korean word for appearance or figure] of their son and daughter.

Sanghyun had many thoughts during the short time he was bowing. From the unbelievable event of returning to the past to the many things that had changed anew.

Suddenly, he wanted to hear Only One.

You’ll keep on rising. ’til the sky knows your name

‘Still lacking a lot, right? Maybe I won’t be able to come next time to put my name in the sky. But I’ll try to come if possible.’

Sanghyun stroked the nameplate, saying these and other things to his parents in his heart. And then he took Sangmi’s hand and turned around. He saw the 10 people waiting for them.

“Let’s go.”

“Already?”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

As they came out of the charnel house, the warm May 햇살 [Korean word for sunlight] greeted them.

May 13. It was exactly one month before JFTR was released.

< Verse 28. Jaws (End) > End

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