The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 38

< Verse 4. Cross Over >

***

“Ah… thank you so much.”

Sanghyun bowed to the audience.

“I’m Lee Sanghyun from the 888 Crew. And this friend is Shin Junhyung, our crew leader.”

“Hello. I’m Shin Junhyung, the leader of the 888 Crew.”

The audience, who had been so noisy during the performance, quieted down as they began to speak.

The audience was curious. Who the heck were these young kids?

“When the L&S band members first suggested performing together, I was worried because we didn’t have much experience, but I didn’t need to worry. You guys are too good.”

The audience chuckled at Sanghyun’s joke.

“As some of you may have noticed, there was a problem with the bass, so the cue sheet got messed up. So, I was wondering what song to do next, but I just thought of one I want to do. Hyung [older brother/male friend], is it okay to do one more song?”

In response to Sanghyun’s question, Minsik smiled and grabbed the microphone.

“I just got a text saying our bassist bought a cable from a nearby music store and checked if the bass works. It seems the problem was with the cable connecting the bass and the speaker. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay!” voices were heard from here and there.

Minsik asked Sanghyun.

“So, Sanghyun, what song are you going to do now?”

“Ah, hyung, are you crazy? What’s with the ‘Sanghyun-ssi’ [formal title] so formally?”

“Huh? But we’re on stage…”

“That’s how this hyung is. That’s probably why he doesn’t have a girlfriend. If, by any chance, anyone is watching that guitarist and feeling fluttered, or wants to know who he is, or wants to go on a date with him…”

Sanghyun took out his phone from his pocket and started searching for something. Minsik was flustered and waved his hands.

“No, his phone number is something hyung should give out personally…”

“Call 062-608-7000.”

“Huh?”

062 is the area code for Gwangju?

“That’s Ilgok Hospital’s number.”

“Ah…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to get a professional’s opinion?”

Bang Minsik, who had been spacing out for a moment, belatedly realized that he had provided a lifetime of teasing material.

The L&S members were giggling. Miju was laughing, Junhyung was laughing, and even the 888 Crew members were laughing. Not to mention the audience.

Ah.

He seemed to hear a hallucination from somewhere.

‘You have been designated as the X-Man. Of course, X is synonymous with idiot, moron, fool, and daydreamer. Mr. Daydreamer.’

Ah.

Maybe music should be done in Hongdae [a district in Seoul known for its indie music scene] after all? When should I move to Seoul? Hehe. As the saying goes, horses should be born on Jeju Island, and people should be born in Seoul.

Even as Minsik was strongly denying reality, Sanghyun’s comments didn’t stop.

“Wow, this hyung. You see how he pretends to stop me but doesn’t really stop me and is actually anticipating it? That’s how this hyung is.”

Laughter erupted.

“Let’s give this poor guy a round of applause.”

Applause burst out along with laughter.

Sanghyun enjoyed the feeling of tormenting the company’s new employees at a company retreat after a long time, feeling a surge of joy from the depths of his heart.

“Just kidding, if you want to know about the L&S members, search for ‘Band L&S’ on Cyworld [early Korean social media platform], and if you want to know about us, search for ‘888 Crew.’ Easy, right?”

Sanghyun sent Minsik, who was still denying reality, and Hwang Insoo, who was still laughing, off the stage.

Now, only Junhyung and Sanghyun remained on stage.

“This song is the only solo song in today’s performance.”

Junhyung stepped back slightly. In this song, Junhyung was in a backup position, helping with the hook and doubling.

Sanghyun took a moment to catch his breath and looked around. There were many people, young and old. It wasn’t just a figure of speech; there were really elderly people who looked over 50.

The people gathered here had two things in common.

First, they were people who liked music, and second, they were people from Gwangju.

In fact, Sanghyun had no affection for Gwangju in the past.

After going to university in Seoul at the age of twenty, he had never been to Gwangju except to visit his parents’ charnel house. Perhaps, when he thought of Gwangju, his parents naturally came to mind, and it seemed he had started to avoid it because it broke his heart.

But now it’s different.

It’s not just because the team 888Crew was formed in Gwangju. It’s because he started making hip-hop music in Gwangju.

Just as the most important thing in Pansori [Korean narrative song] is ‘Han (恨)’ (resentment), the most important thing in hip-hop music is SWAG.

Swag or Swagger originally meant a swaggering gait, but when translated into Korean, it was an emotion expressed as pride.

The most basic element in this culture of swagger is swagger about ‘location.’

East, West, South, North, and Central hip-hop are based on this swagger, with each coast having its own unique sound, lyrics, and development method.

This swagger about location usually leads to cities with clear symbols.

A song that Sanghyun really likes.

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ ‘Empire State of Mind,’ which topped the Billboard charts for four weeks.

This song became the theme song representing New York after Frank Sinatra’s ‘Theme from New York, New York.’

“Now, gathered in this unfamiliar venue called ‘Soft Straight Line,’ listening to the unfamiliar music of rap by an unfamiliar person named me, you all have one thing in common.”

Hundreds of people focused on Sanghyun’s words.

“Hip-hop has many interesting cultures in addition to musical elements. One of them is the expression of one’s growth. It’s very important to respect who my music was created through communication with and where it was created. And I was born in Gwangju, and I am completing my music here.”

Now people understood what Sanghyun was saying.

In 2005, before Empire State of Mind came out, what song would they think of as a song representing a specific region? Busan Seagull at Sajik Baseball Stadium? Or Yeosu Night Sea?

‘Ah, Yeosu Night Sea was a song made much later.’

Sanghyun laughed inwardly at his stupid thought.

“So, I’m going to make the hundred or so of you here think of my song when you think of a song representing Gwangju.”

The title of the song is ‘Gwangju UP’.

“I said it grandly… but it’s not a big deal. It’s just an exciting song. But in order for this song to be more exciting, I have one request. When I shout ‘Gwangju!’ you guys shout ‘UP!’”

Sanghyun shouted ‘Gwangju UP’ to the audience first, letting them hear the hook.

“I trust your sense of rhythm and memory, so I won’t practice. Boss! Give me the beat!”

The owner of Soft Straight Line, who was sitting in the engineer booth, made an OK sign with his hand and played the beat.

However, when the beat was played, a loud noise of ‘Jijijijik’ was heard instead of music.

“Gwangju! Up…?”

Sanghyun, who was about to sing the hook, was flustered and looked at the engineer booth. The boss was also flustered and manipulated something on the mixer. Then, the unpleasant noise of Jijijijik became even louder.

“Uh…?”

The moment Sanghyun was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do and the audience was buzzing.

Suddenly, a cheerful and funky hip-hop beat flowed out.

Sanghyun spat out the hook as if he had been waiting.

Gwangju UP! Gwangju UP!

Light Gwang(光) Town Ju(州) Gwangju UP!

Gwangju, the city of culture and art UP!

Gwangju where we live UP!

Sanghyun raised his thumb to the owner of Soft Straight Line while singing the hook. The boss also smiled and raised his thumb.

The noise was intentionally inserted, and the embarrassing action was a coordinated act between Sanghyun and the boss.

The audience then burst into laughter at Sanghyun and the boss’s terrible acting. The atmosphere became even more lively.

< Verse 4. Cross Over > End

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