The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 36

< Verse 4. Cross Over >

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Sanghyun had originally intended to use ‘Movin’ It’ strategically. He felt it sounded somewhat incomplete without a bass and keyboard and planned to place it after a high-energy band performance to give the audience a refreshing change of pace.

However, the cue sheet got mixed up, and his original plan went out the window.

‘Nothing I can do about it now.’

He had no choice but to make the best of it.

He felt a surge of nerves, but he was also confident. He knew how much they had practiced, and he wouldn’t make a mistake.

As the performance began and Bang Min-sik’s humming filled the venue, the audience reacted immediately. The L&S fans and other musicians in the crowd seemed particularly enthusiastic.

There were audible ‘Oohs’ at the long, drawn-out humming, and some people were already nodding their heads to the drumbeat.

But it was too early to get carried away.

I plant seeds in the wet soil and water them

If they don’t die after being exposed to the light, they sprout

Everything is the same

I exert effort to achieve something

I fall asleep today, but I’ll open my eyes again tomorrow morning

Junhyung’s rap began, cutting off the humming sharply.

“Ooh!”

At first, Sanghyun had thought Junhyung’s rap was somewhat lacking. This was because the Junhyung’s rap he remembered wasn’t as old-fashioned as this.

Simple word rhymes broken up into single syllables.

A certain stiffness with excessive emphasis on the rhyme.

However, Sanghyun realized that his initial impression was wrong. If he, who remembered the rap of the future, felt completely satisfied with the rap of Korea in 2005, a relative wasteland for hip-hop, that would be even stranger.

It’s 2005 now, a time when there wasn’t even a clear consensus on what ‘Rap should be like!’

In that environment, Junhyung was planting seeds and watering them, paving the way.

I’m the guy who stretches and doesn’t dawdle in bed

The guy who doesn’t gossip behind someone’s back while envying them

Rather than regretting missed opportunities

I move my body, and hardship becomes happiness for me

“Wow!”

The first shouts, beyond simple admiration, came from a group of middle school girls. These were the same girls who had seen Sanghyun’s performance at Sejong Music and had even run into him on the street.

They had thankfully come to this performance as well.

Could it be that the fact that these initially quiet middle school girls were now shouting meant that Junhyung’s music had passed the crucial test of making middle school girls scream?

Sanghyun smiled at the middle school girls while playing the djembe. He was grateful for their support. In response, the middle school girls suddenly screamed, ‘Kyaaak!’ after seeing his smile.

‘Isn’t that a bit of an overreaction?’

Sanghyun felt a little awkward. He hadn’t even done anything particularly impressive yet, but he was already being treated like a local rap star. Although, perhaps this was due to the innocent enthusiasm of middle school girls and their admiration for those who pursued a path other than the usual academic grind in Korean society.

‘Junhyung, show them what you’ve got!’

Sanghyun’s hands, drumming the djembe, became even more rhythmic and energetic.

The guitar sound became more ethereal, and the drums and djembe provided a solid foundation. Even though he should have been running out of breath, Minsik’s humming remained strong and resonant.

The number of people who couldn’t be fooled increased

Mom and Dad asked me again

Even if you go in a rough direction, won’t you regret it?

The answer is “Yes,” I’ll embrace even trials and tribulations.

Junhyung’s rap was delivered flawlessly.

“Waaaaa!”

A male audience member in the front row suddenly shouted loudly.

Despite being a hardcore hip-hop fan for years, this was his first time seeing a live hip-hop performance. He had always been envious of his friends in Seoul who could easily go to hip-hop venues like ‘Club Masterplan’ [a famous hip-hop club]. The excitement he felt when he first saw L&S’s performance poster was immense.

But would it be a proper performance? Are they too young and inexperienced?

The doubts he had about the young rapper quickly vanished. The moment the man shouted.

The drums, djembe, and guitar stopped playing simultaneously.

A moment of complete silence.

“Uh…?”

The man, embarrassed that the performance had stopped because of his outburst, looked around nervously. Then, as the entire audience turned to look at him.

L&S’s lead guitarist, Bang Min-sik, unleashed a torrent of sound from his electric guitar.

‘Sanghyun, how about going electric for the guitar solo here?’

‘Electric? Would it really suit the song’s overall atmosphere?’

‘I think if we rearrange it a bit and layer the hook and your rap on top of the electric guitar, it’ll have a completely different feel from Junhyung’s part. It’ll also feel more intense and impactful.’

‘Then hyung [older brother/male friend], you’ll have to switch guitars in the middle of the performance, but is that even possible in such a short amount of time? And won’t you be short on time to arrange it properly?’

‘I’ll have to arrange it even if I have to stay up all night. As for guitar control… I’ll just have to practice like crazy.’

Sanghyun trusted Minsik implicitly. And his choice had been the right one. Moreover, it was even more appropriate now, given that ‘Movin’ It’ had unexpectedly become the opening song.

“Waaaaa!”

The quality of the shouts changed dramatically when the acoustic guitar was replaced by the electric one.

This wasn’t because the acoustic sound was inferior, but because the electric guitar fulfilled the audience’s expectations of a full-fledged band performance by 200%. They had come expecting a band, and now they were getting one.

It was also a sonic assault that the audience, who had grown accustomed to the softer acoustic sound, had never anticipated.

movin’ it! move it!

Move it!

movin’ it! move it!

Move it!

The hook, which Sanghyun originally performed alone in the acoustic version, was now joined by Minsik and Junhyung as the electric guitar wailed intensely. It was a catchy chorus that perfectly complemented the melody of the electric guitar.

After hearing the chorus just once, the audience began to sing along.

movin’ it! move it!

Move it!

movin’ it! move it!

Move it!

Sanghyun approached Minsik while singing the hook and helped him put the electric guitar strap around his neck. This was because Minsik, who had hurriedly switched guitars, had been holding and playing the electric guitar, which weighed over 3kg [approximately 6.6 pounds], purely with his own strength.

“Kyaaa!”

“Kyaaak!”

The middle school girls went absolutely wild at that moment. Sanghyun was momentarily flustered by the sudden outburst and slightly missed a beat, but he managed to recover without it being noticeable.

“Move it!”

The audience was enthusiastically singing along.

movin’ it! move it!

Move it!

movin’ it! move it!

Move it!

After the last repetition of the chorus, Junhyung stepped back, and Sanghyun stepped forward.

The attention of the underground musicians who had seen Sanghyun’s performance videos and the musicians who had only heard rumors of a killer rapper on the scene was now focused entirely on him.

‘Is that Lee Sanghyun?’

‘The Sejong Music rapper?’

Sanghyun smiled as he saw their focused gazes.

‘I’ll show you exactly what you want to see.’

Lee Kyungmin’s face was briefly visible in the dimly lit entrance area, and Sangmi and her friends were also visible.

A cheering section of middle school girls was clearly visible, and Hayeon and Miju, who were watching him intently with shining eyes, were also there. Next to them were the members of the 888 Crew, with whom he had developed a surprisingly deep bond in a short amount of time.

In addition, there were many other audience members who were clearly enjoying the performance.

‘The atmosphere is amazing.’

It had been an unexpected choice to open with ‘Movin’ It,’ but the atmosphere was perfect. If he ruined this momentum, he wouldn’t deserve to perform again.

I don’t want to live the same life. So I try.

It’s a very cliché thing to say, but this is all I can do

I can explain myself. Fear covers me

If I don’t do it now, I’ll stop for the rest of my life

When Sanghyun started rapping, the expressions of the musicians who had been standing with their arms crossed began to change.

‘What is this?’

It was because they were hearing something unexpected and compelling.

< Verse 4. Cross Over > End

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