The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 162

< Verse 24. 2006 >

“Why didn’t I think of show business when I saw this clause? I should have checked… Was it before I knew that Show Business was affiliated with Ohkyung?”

Sanghyun blamed himself for not reviewing the contract properly.

Junhyung thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“No, it was when we found out through HiphopLE comments around the time of the contract. You were just too busy to pay attention. There were so many things to do, from applying for the design patent to the HiphopLE interview.”

“Show Business is an old magazine company and operates independently, so there’s almost no image of being an Ohkyung affiliate. Only the capital is shared.”

Despite Junhyung and Inhyuk’s consolation, Sanghyun’s mind was not at ease. Some might ask what’s so difficult about one interview, but it was a very important issue for 888 Crew and Sanghyun.

The root of Sanghyun’s musicality is ‘doing what he wants’.

-Since life is only once, let’s do what we want.

Being able to focus only on what he wanted was the reason Sanghyun was so into music, and it was a way to correct his past life that started from the hospital rooftop. The boundary between art and non-art that he learned through Miju was also an impulse.

Sanghyun’s consciousness had become a common feeling shared by the 888 Crew members.

This was the reason why Minji and Hwan quit school, and Sangmi was all-in on webtoons. Sanghyun believed that Inhyuk, who was wandering, would soon choose what he really wanted to do.

So, the forced interview with Show Business was an act of destroying the artistic worldview of the 888 Crew. The reactions of netizens who would criticize them for seeing the taste of money and doing an interview with Show Business were not important. What was important was their hearts.

‘Besides, Show Business hasn’t apologized to the crew members and Sangmi yet.’

While Sanghyun was restless with these thoughts, Junhyung opened his mouth with a nonchalant expression.

“What are you worrying about so much?”

“How can I not worry?”

“I’m not worried.”

Sanghyun looked puzzled. Junhyung disliked Show Business as much as he did.

“Do you have a good idea?”

“Of course, I do. Pay the penalty and terminate the contract. We don’t have to perform.”

“What?”

“You strangely show weakness except for planned expenditures? You said it in Get That Money. Money is just a tool for music.”

Sanghyun’s eyes widened, and Junhyung smiled and continued.

“Why did we sell albums and merchandise? It’s to use it when we need it. Isn’t this the perfect timing? It’s a bit impulsive, though.”

Junhyung often showed a playful and clumsy side, but at times like this, he really felt like a leader.

It was a solution he had never thought of. Simple but felt like the right answer.

“Yeah, let’s terminate it. What’s the problem?”

“Junhyung is making sense for once.”

“For once? I’ve always been right.”

The crew members nodded as if it were obvious.

Sanghyun was silent for a moment and asked Junhyung, the leader.

“Isn’t it a waste of money? The penalty for unilateral termination isn’t a small amount.”

“Of course, it’s a waste. But no matter how much money is a waste, we can’t just ignore the fact that they insulted our family.”

Junhyung said in a strong tone.

-Who is that bitch crying?

-Just a crazy fangirl. Why are they crying over something like that?

-Do their parents know they’re acting like that?

After the Show Business magazine was released, Sanghyun wasn’t the only one who went crazy after seeing the malicious comments about Sangmi. Junhyung was the same.

And Junhyung still kept it in his heart.

Hearing Junhyung’s words, Sanghyun gave a cool smile.

This was why he had maintained a friendship with Junhyung for over 20 years. Even when his parents passed away and he pushed everyone away, it wasn’t the case for Junhyung.

And now there were seven more people like that.

Sanghyun, having made a decision, said to the crew members.

“Let’s terminate the contract. I’ll talk to the manager. I’ll ask one more time if they can change the interview company.”

“There’s no way. You saw the staff’s expression earlier.”

“Still, it’s right to say something. Earlier it was a request, but now it’s a condition. The condition that we’ll terminate the contract if we have to interview with Show Business.”

Then, Woominho, who had many worries, opened his mouth.

“I agree to terminate the contract, but wouldn’t the fans who came to Yongin to see us today be disappointed?”

It wasn’t wrong, so the crew members began to worry. Sangmi was the first to come up with an answer to the worry.

“Busking. Let’s do busking.”

“Busking?”

“If we start promoting from now, wouldn’t everyone know by the time our original stage starts? If we buy hardboard paper, I’ll draw a picture. Let’s promote with that.”

“Busking, huh? Sounds good? First, we need to get the sound equipment.”

“How about the parking lot for the location? I don’t think the sound from the main stage will reach there.”

“What if it reaches a little? We can cover it with a speaker with full output.”

“Should we buy some hot packs since it’s cold? Should we buy about a hundred?”

“Will a hundred be enough? It’s us.”

“Since it’s come to this, how about we do a fundraising like the Love Coal Briquette donation? People usually donate a lot with busking.”

Ideas began to pour out like a burst dam.

Fun ideas poured out, and the ideas gradually became more concrete.

“Aren’t more people going to gather than the main stage?”

Everyone’s goal was set by Sangmi, who was excited. It was impossible, but to gather more audiences than the main stage.

The 888 Crew members, who were having a meeting, took on their respective roles and split up.

Sangmi and Hayeon went to buy promotional tools, including hardboard paper, and Inhyuk and Minho took the car to rent sound equipment. Junhyung and Minji decided to prepare secondary items for the performance, such as hot packs and water. Kim Hwan moved to apply for busking to the organizers.

Lastly, Sanghyun remained to terminate the appearance contract.

After a while, the manager came to the joint waiting room to proceed with the rehearsal, and frowned at Sanghyun, who was thinking about something alone.

“Where are the other members? Aren’t you doing the rehearsal?”

“Ah, manager.”

Sanghyun calmly stated their requirements to the manager. He also briefly explained the relationship between Show Business and 888 Crew.

But it didn’t work at all.

‘Well, from this person’s point of view, it’s absurd and difficult.’

Sanghyun tried not to have negative feelings towards the manager. After all, this person was an employee within the system. It would have been nice if they were a little more friendly, but it was understandable.

‘But it’s a bit annoying.’

The manager kept pushing the conversation towards the 888 Crew making unnecessary demands because they had become a bit famous. Sanghyun was slowly getting annoyed.

“I’m going to terminate the contract.”

“Do you know how much the penalty is for unilateral termination of the contract?”

“Yes. Please tell me the account number to send the money to.”

The manager finally came to his senses at Sanghyun’s blunt tone. He began to think it was serious.

The 888 Crew was a team that the higher-ups had been considering until the very last minute whether to put on the main stage lineup. In fact, in terms of topicality, not recognition, the 888 Crew was far superior to most idol singers.

The problem was that the 888 Crew didn’t have an agency.

There was no backup to put pressure, saying, ‘Are our company’s singers not on the main stage?’ There was no backup to push money behind the scenes to put rookies on the main stage to increase their recognition.

In addition, internal opinions that some people should be interested in the sub-stage were also accepted, so the 888 Crew became the hidden card or joker of the sub-stage.

“The interview company can’t be changed that easily…”

The manager’s words, which had been going up, finally began to go down. He had grasped the seriousness of the situation.

Sanghyun sighed inwardly at the sight. It wasn’t a pleasant picture, just like with PD Nahansoo.

Sanghyun terminated the contract decisively instead of saying unnecessary words. The manager, realizing that it was irreversible, handed over a piece of paper.

“This is a statement of reasons for termination. Could you write down that you are terminating the contract due to a problem with Show Business?”

It was obvious. It was a tool to avoid the blame that would fall on him.

‘His improvisation is good at times like this. Well, that’s how he survived in a large company.’

Sanghyun smiled and shook the paper.

“Please stop getting angry in the future and be a little more friendly. Aren’t sub-stage musicians also musicians? If you’ve created a joint waiting room, please turn on the heater and prepare drinks, kimbap [Korean seaweed rice rolls], and simple snacks. It’s not all the manager’s fault, but you have the power to do that much, right?”

Sanghyun’s complaints, which he had after visiting the indie kid hyungs’ [older brothers or male friends] waiting room, were expressed. Indie Kid had their name on the main stage lineup thanks to the power of their agency and excellent album sales.

“Yes? You’ll do it, right? Or I might write ‘Because of the discord with Sub Stage Manager Ryu Jihyung’ here.”

Sanghyun shook the paper playfully. It was more like a nephew coaxing his uncle than a threatening tone.

However, the manager could feel that it was not a joke when he saw Lee Sanghyun’s eyes. His face turned pale. If Lee Sanghyun really wrote his name there, he could easily imagine what would happen.

“I will take responsibility and take care of it.”

“Really? I have some close musicians here, so I might come again.”

“Of course. Also, is there anything else you need?”

“There are many female musicians here, but I think there are not enough blankets. And…”

Sanghyun said this and that, and the manager just nodded his head.

Sanghyun smiled at the sight and wrote the reason for termination of the contract. The manager’s worried face, who hurriedly read the contents, seemed to ease a little.

Sanghyun thought it was a little exhilarating to see that.

He had felt it before, but the mind seemed to follow the body. The old him would not have done such childish things. If he was going to let it go, he would have let it go without showing any signs, and if he was going to bite, he would have bitten so hard that they would tremble.

‘Hey, so what if it’s childish? It’s good if the treatment of musicians improves.’

Sanghyun, who had achieved everything he wanted, came out of the waiting room with light steps, and the manager hurriedly left to report to the higher-ups with the reason for termination of the contract.

“Wow, that’s really cool.”

Someone’s voice quietly echoed in the joint waiting room, which had been silent. They were the musicians on the sub-stage who had been glancing at him as if they didn’t care.

“Isn’t Lee Sanghyun of 888 Crew a high school student?”

“I think he’s twenty years old now?”

“No. He’s a senior in high school. He said that on the radio a few days ago.”

“That’s really cool. He’s four years younger than me, but I want to call him hyung [older brother].”

“They say if you have a lot of money and spend it well, you’re a hyung [older brother].”

After a while, blankets, plenty of drinks, kimbap, bread, snacks, etc. were moved to the waiting room.

“You said you’re going to do busking? I should go see it after my stage is over.”

“Me too. If there aren’t many people, I should ask if I can join in for a song.”

“Should we help with the promotion?”

That’s how the musicians on the sub-stage showed friendly feelings towards the 888 Crew for a long time.

< Verse 24. 2006 > End

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