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Shows & Concerts, Videos

Follow the yellow brick road to R16 – Backstage Report

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Sunday, Sept. 27th,2009— A small group of Camp fans meet up at 1pm in Gangnam to journey to Incheon, a quaint city about an hour and 1/2 drive away from Seoul. After scouring the streets to find a quick meal and finding the right bus stop, we hope on to the empty bus questioning if it’s  going to take us to the right part of the festival. We look at the maps we have and the site looks huge and confusing. We worry that we won’t get there in time to claim a good seat (it was first come first serve).

It’s about 2:40pm when we arrive, and after being sprayed down by the human flu wash machine (see side pic – it literally looks like a car wash for humans), we wander the premises for an hour trying to find the stage. R16 is part of the Incheon Global Fair Festival and the place is reminiscent of a Disney theme park with happy go lucky music, a multilcultural parade, and believe it or not, a yellow brick road. Ironically, the road doesn’t lead to R16 directly, but just loops around the park and creates confusion. >:O

Our group finally finds the stage. We spot a few DT fans that show up at JK’s shows regularly.  It is only 4pm and the seats start to fill so we scour for the only front row seats there. About 5:30pm, Roscoe’s team arrives and grants me a pass so I can document the show for Camp (thanks, Eugene :]). My team mans the fort in the front row and promises to take photos/video of the performance.

Any other person would probably crap their pants if they were allowed backstage access to this show, but for a lot of people there, it was a simple reunion between friends.  The artists have all worked with each other in some form, while others from the entourage have crossed paths via collaborations or simple friends of friends (saw some surprise faces I have not seen in ages and it simply was a “WHAT THE?!” moment every 10 minutes lol).

Roscoe’s team is the first to arrive. He mentions he has been ridiculously busy performing and penning for some major artists back in the  US. He hasn’t been back to Korea since 2001 and hasn’t been on stage with JK since 2000. It’s a bit of a surreal feeling for him. He is jetlagged and feens for an energy drink to get his gears moving. Korea is not too big on energy drinks, and they’re particularly rare in Incheon, so a coffee from on the onsite CVS/GsMart is brought in instead.

Dumbfoundead and Rakaa soon arrive and the present team talk briefly about how the day’s performance is going to go. Roscoe’s team puts the final touches on his set, but they await JK’s arrival to talk about how they’ll execute “Monster,” the English version. With Rakaaa and Roscoe there, they can perform the English version, but need to coordinate how they’ll fill in Rakim’s and Tasha’s verse. It’s 32 bars missing and other emcees are needed to fill in.

Pictured above: Glen (AOW, Roscoe’s management team), Bizzy, ? (I’m so bad with names so I’m sorry to this person), Dumbfoundead, Justin (AOW, Roscoe’s team), Rakaa, Eugene Techbeatz (AOW, Roscoe’s Managemeant Team, producer of “Monster,” and half of DT8), ? (again, bad with names), Roscoe, JK, and Palo Alto.

JK arrives and photographers ask to take a group photo of all the performers (sorry Epik fans, I think they missed the cue for this one). JK first takes the time to catch up with the old friends. He talks with Roscoe about his health, the industry/the company (Jungle), and of course his married with children life. It’s not an easy task for him to juggle everything, but he’s motivated by his family to keep going. In the midst of this, they pose.

They begin organizing “Monster,” but some of the other emcees have stepped out for a bite or haven’t arrived yet. So the present team begins assembling what they have. The English instrumental of “Monster” is a whopping 6+ minutes and there is some concern about executing it for the first time in front of a live crowd.

The rest of the crew arrive and they pow wow in JK’s dressing room. After 15 minutes, they reorganize the whole song: Mithra & Tablo will start with their own verses and fill the first 32 bars, Rakaa proceeds, Roscoe next, and then JK will finish with his Korean verses.

As the team puts the final touches on their sets, a crowd waits impatiently outside.

As JK sits backstage politicking with Tablo, we hear the words “Drunken Tiger” being echoed by Bizzy & Palo, who had just finished up their set that was similar to what they did at S-Club. J does a quick warm up, stretches, and jumps on stage.  [From here on, my photos aren’t going to be great, but I’ll try to illustrate as much of the action as possible.]

J starts with “Do You Know Hip-Hop,” and warms  up to the crowd. Within minutes, JK is at the foot of the “pit” (front area crowd of fans). He is within touching distance of fans, and the crowd goes bananas as he stands close to them.

[A full report of the performance is coming, so I’ll skip this for now and summarize the rest of the line up quickly.]

After JK’s set, Roscoe comes out and clearly some of the DT fans in the crowd recognize him. However, as Roscoe holds up his signature customized Vlado sneakers, the crowd erupts. They beg and scream,  yearning for the shoes [they run about $100 in market value]. Justin, who hypes up for Roscoe during his set, takes the sneakers and holds them up to tease the crowd. Meanwhile, Roscoe is doing his signature hit, “Live It Up,” and keeps the crowd screaming. Justin steps into the pit and [here is the irony] gives the sneakers to one of my friends that came with me (thanks for making his trip worth it, guys!).

Epik is next, who then introduce Rakaa. Hardcore hip-hop fans know who he is, while some unfamiliar with him  just stare blank  and confused. Rakaa does the Dilated hit “This Way,” and surprises the whole crowd as “Monster,” finishes his set. Immediately, the whole crew, Epik, Palo, Bizzy, and Roscoe come out to do what will probably be the one and only English live performance of the song (I have it on vid, but my camera is acting up and won’t upload. I’ll let my guest writer post her footage from the front row and talk about it.)

After the show, some last  minute photos are shot.

And finally, this little fun tidbit from 3 kings of hip-hop (plus Eugene Techbeatz haha):

As the day winds down, JK walks out to his van and a flood of fans are waiting behind the gates to catch of glimpse of him.

With all the fans doing their best to jump the gates, Roscoe asks for one last pic with the fans in the background. Below is the result

And now that it’s 4am, I must sleep. – Miss DrunkenCamp

UP NEXT: R16 pt 2 – The Front Row Experience


News & Such, Videos

After a long day, I give you… a music video. (“축하해/Congratulations” MV)

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That’s right. After raving about R16 for an eternity, I am choosing not to post about it… yet.

Left the house at 12pm, got to Incheon at 2:30pm, got my seat and kept my place for 3 hours, concert and madness ends circa 9:40pm, took the bus back to seoul, ate, and got back home at 1:38am. i am too tired to upload anything.

so i give you other related DT news. A few weeks ago, JK released a new single, “축하해/Congratulations” from the “Feel Good” side of his 8th album. The song summarizes his journal entries during the moments he became a father.

The MV has a sort of home video feeling, chronicling baby Jordan’s first 18 months and JK/Tasha’s marriage.

… that is one cute baby.

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T makes a joke, but some people don’t get it.

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A few weeks ago, I put up a post about my chronicles at DT’s performance on “MTV The Stage.” I didn’t mention this, but apparently since it’s somehow became somewhat of a deal in Korea, I’ll add it in.

During Tasha and JK’s set, the two performed “True Romance” and JK pulled 2 girls from the audience to dance during a pseudo tango breakdown. One girl bailed quickly, while the other gave it a try and tried to dance with JK. Tasha soon joined in too.

Well, in the midst of this, Tash made a joke to the girl not to get too close to JK during the dance, but it seems others didn’t take it so lightly. Read the full article @ allkpop.com.

Oy–sometimes drama comes out of nothing.

P.S. Tash unni, i love your sense of humor. 🙂

News & Such

“My IPhone is Drunk” – DT the 1st artist to launch IPhone app (+DT8 on ITunes!)

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So about 3 days ago, DT became the first Korean artist to have a full on digital interactive presence worldwide. Not only has DT8 been released on Itunes (FYI, it’s cheaper to get it on Itunes vs. buying it for a whopping $30 in the USA), DT is the first Korean artist to have a real Iphone app that links the new official international site [www.drunkentiger.kr] directly to people’s Iphones. Launched by DBSK Kollective, the new website aims to be a comprehensive international friendly place for DT fans worldwide. See the full article on the new site:

DT Goes Digital

In other news: A few of us are going to R-16 on Sunday, meeting @ Gangnam station to take express bus to Incheon circa 1pm (still tentative time). Email me asap if you’d like to join (drunkencamp@gmail.com).

-Miss DC

News & Such, Shows & Concerts

An Epik Drunken Halloween

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So I had plans to terrorize Seoul with my warped idea of a “costume” on Halloween night, but I guess I’ll have to put that on hold.

What: Jungle Entertainment Party

Who’s Performing: Drunken Tiger, Tasha, Epik High, Leessang, Palo Alto, Zeebra, Soul Dive

Date: October 31st, 2009

Where: Walkerhill Vista Hall (W Hotel)

Time: 10pm – 4am, festivities start usually around 12am

Price: 44,000won before 09.27.09 (purchased via online -see above), 55,000 afterwards (online), and 66,000 at the door

How to Get There: Take Line 5 to GwangNaRoo Stop, Exit 4 -or- Take Line 2 to GangByeong/Techno Mart (front of). Outside these exits is a shuttle that goes directly to the hotel. It does end at 11pm though, so get there before then.

FYI – I have no idea how to navigate the online sites and even if I did, I think you need a Korean CC # and citizenship to buy tickets (looks like  us foreigners have to wing it).

-Miss DC

News & Such, Shows & Concerts

Drunken Tiger & Roscoe to be @ R-16

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R-16 is the one of the most anticipated b-boy festivals in all of the world. But this year, it has one of the most exciting concert line ups ever. Drunken Tiger, Roscoe Umali, Epik High, Dumbfoundead, and Rakka from Dilated People, are set to perform at the festival’s final event.

Date: concert date -September 27th, 2009

Time: concert time – 7pm

Price: 18,000 won, 14,000won if you’re a foreigner (come with your passports or ARC cards). 

Where do I buy it: Tickets will be available on the door. R-16 is part of the Incheon Global Fair and Festival this year and they are in control of the tickets. Seating is first come first serve, so go early.

How do I get there:
From Seoul: Take Subway Line 1 and change to the Incheon Line at Bupyeong (부평) Station. Get off at Central Park (센트랄파크) Station, which is the end of the line, and come out of exit number 2. The Global Fair and Festival entrance will be in front of you. Once you pay entry and enter the fair, find your way to Bi-Ryu Performance Stage where R-16 will be happening.

For alternative travel routes, please refer to the Korean site http://www.incheonfair.org/index.asp

Shows & Concerts, Videos

You can find me in the club… DT @ S-Club, Seoul

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It’s a Friday night in Hongdae, one of Korea’s most bustling nightlife areas, usually filled with university students, Kyopos, and foreigners. It’s dubbed “Hongdaewon,” since it’s now starting to fill with more English speakers than Korea’s infamous foreigner area, Itaewon.

At S-Club, one of the local hip-hop clubs, a flood of Drunken Tiger posters are posted everywhere, inside, outside, even on a giant van that was driven around Hongdae all night. I’ve been to a lot of DT shows, both here and in the States, but a DT promo van? That’s pretty hardcore lol

It was first come first serve, and knowing how crazy DT shows get, me and my friend went early – almost too early. I was the first person there -_- So I took the time to take photos of the interior/exterior of the club.

outside poster

faux DT carpet haha

anyway, the actual inside of the club I couldn’t capture on camera, but  i was allowed to take photos of the performance. a little weird logic  in a way, but as long as i was allowed to get the performance, it was cool.

the club is quite small – maybe fits 300 people at most, and by midnight, the place was jam packed. this is probably one of the smaller venues I’ve ever seen DT perform in, but when your used to the US version of 3000+ people, a club does fare quite differently. When I saw the stage, I was reminded of something Shine once said a long time ago about how he used to perform at places with no stage.  There was a platform for DT to stand on, but not much to much to work with. Reminded me of old school days when DT was still underground and new, but then again, that was quite a golden era so the reminder wasn’t bad.

Soul Dive starts the set, but I was too distracted to even pay attention. After waiting 3 hours and being the first person there and fighting for a place at the front of the stage, a douchebag 6’2 bodyguard stands right in front of me to block my view (you’ll catch his big head in some of my photos). I am 5’0ft tall and obviously this had me fuming! >=O

Luckily, I was able to squeeze my way on to a step, with literally 6inches of room to stand on, and was able to get a good view to capture vids/photos [see below]

Palo Alto & Bizzy start the set. Palo debuts his upcoming single for his new album and Bizzy does a quick set that includes includes his single,  “해어진 다음날 (After the night we broke up).” It’s a quicker set than what they did on the MTV special, but I guess they had to cut it since JK’s set was going to be longer.

JK starts off with “Monster,” of course, and then right into “Do You Know Hip-Hop?,” which is a twist on what he usually does these days. He only does it once in awhile now, but considering the club setting, it seemed fitting. It originally was one of those songs meant to rile people up at the club, and it really did rile up everyone. O_O

He follows with “Isolated Ones! Left Foot Forward!,” then a slew of old school songs that rile up everyone.  He does “Good Life,” “Thumb (acapella),” and then “I Want You,” for an encore. DT is usually booked for a 3-4 song set, but JK’s extended set made it feel like a real concert (Hell – I used to pay $75 to see a set this long!).

Anyway, afterwards, I ran into some of the Tigerbalm staff and it turns out a bunch of us were already there, just scattered all over the place. They’re staff is huge, but they’re a sweet bunch. 🙂

Anyway, enough of my talk – videos!

Do You Know Hip-Hop? live (some chick knocked out one of my earrings, so you’ll see 5 seconds of floor as I pick it up)

“I Want You” live – JK came over at about 1:10 minute and mingled with fans around me, however, that resulted in me being completely overtaken and nearly falling over into the madness (“Death By Fan Hands” my friend calls it).

P.S. props to S-Club staff for cutting me some slack on the photos/video 🙂

NEXT WEEK – R16 FESTIVAL (Roscoe Umali, Drunken Tiger, Epik High, & Rakka of Dilated People)

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs256.snc1/10330_830857457839_818576_48101918_2612526_n.jpg
Shows & Concerts

Hey, mom! I’m on MTV! – live taping of “MTV’s The Stage”

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I’ve officially been to MTV Studios NYC  and MTV Studios Seoul!

I applied to work at MTV Asia/Korea a long time ago and had this grand vision that it’d be this smacktacular building – it looked like any regular business place in Seoul, except with the MTV sign and pics of celebrities outside. Parts of the office though matche the flashy look of the  NYC office, just on a smaller scale.

Anyway, I got an invite from a friend and was able to attend this very low key invite-only performance in downtown Seoul. There were about 200 people at most and there were some random “out of place” people there – ahjoomas (old ladies), ahjuhshis (old men). Not quite sure if they were real fans, but more power to them if they were!

I chilled in the back during the taping. I am not one for video cameras so I tried to lay low. Unfortunately, since it was a live taping, I wasn’t able to get any photos or video. But in a quick gist, Palo Alto started the set, did two of his songs, and then was followed up by Bizzy. He performed two of my faves from his album, “All In,” and “해어진 다음날 (After the night we broke up)”. The second song is a remix of a really popular ballad that came out from classic K-Pop days, and I’m huge on old school K-Pop 🙂

Anyway, JK came out and did “Monster,” with a live band rather than the regular MR (instrumental). The drums create a pretty cool effect and gets your heart pumpin’. He followed with “Isolated Ones! Stand Up!” and was soon joined by Tasha. However, the highlight of the performance is when they both did “True Romance,” together. The song was voted as best couple song (it expresses their love for each other). Tasha and JK are seen as the epitome celebrity relationship here in Korea.

Post show, they do interviews and eat some damn good food in one of the break rooms. I’m invited in, but MTV is taping it as part of the show and again I’m camera shy. So I starved on the sidelines 😦

After all the madness dies, I was able to get this message from JK & Tasha to their fans. Short, sweet, but definitely awesome. It’s rare that the two are able to do a shoutout to their fans on video in English, so them doing this vid was much appreciated. Enjoy!

Shows & Concerts

Dynamic Duo’s 10th anniversary concert: The last hoorah

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A week ago, I was given the chance to attend Dynamic Duo (one of founding members of the Movement) last concert ever. The duo, Choiza and Gaeko, have been rapping together for nearly 10 years and started their careers circa 1998 as members of CB Mass. They also played a key role in the first few years of DT’s career, helping JK and Shine (the original duo) get ahead in the K-hiphop world. However, Korea has finally called on Choiza & Gaeko to join the army and the two are retiring from the rap game for good.

The setting is Olympic Hall in Seoul. The performance hall looks to hold about 10,000 people and is nearly completely sold out. MYK is sitting not too far from me. He did the intro for Dynamic’s Last Days album and is currently signed with Epik High’s new label. There are a few others around me that look familiar too.

Many of Dynamic’s past collaborators showed up to do a song or two with them. Many were on their feet for DD, and possibly the most unexpected moment was when they performed “나침밤 (compass),” their first single as CB MASS. Of course, the surprise appearances by Sean2Slow, Kim BumSoo, etc. and the live band versions of their singles brought an equal amount of excitement for their fans.

The crowd jumps as JK enters the stage and starts performing “Monster.” It’s my first time hearing it in concert, and it’s clearly another DT hit that gets everyone insanely riled up and crazy at shows. JK didn’t even have to coach the crowd to say the words–the words “발라 버려 (brush it off)” erupted from every corner. Tasha later came out and did “Isolated Ones, Left Foot Forward!” with DD and JK. She finished her set with “Pay Day.” JK wraps his scarf around her neck and tries to do a dance with Tasha on stage, but the scarf gets unexpectedly stuck on her lol. They both brush it off with a laugh.

Post concert, there are celebrations backstage. Video cameras document the last backstage hoorah, some wine bottles are popped, Choiza gets a water cooler poured over his head (a la Superbowl victory style). There is a feeling of relief and sadness because it;s the end of an era.

JK and some of the others are taken to do interviews. JK calls it “doing his Hollywood thing.” Tasha and I sit on the side and catch up. She looks fantastic for a new mom (Seriously–WOW).

JK comes back and looks at the emptied wine bottle. He mentions that he can’t drink anymore due to his health and has avoided drinking for years now. He asks how has my job been going and where I’m living in Seoul. I tell him and he says I live in the ghetto haha. (I live near a university near some decent nightlife, so I honestly don’t think it’s too bad :P)

J and a few others soon round up everyone there for a final group photo– DD, Supreme Team, Sean2Slow, Bizzy, Mongo Fresh, Tasha, and few others. A hoard of photographers come around to take a photo of this special moment. Below is the result.

Pictured above: Sean2Slow, Tasha, Supreme Team, Dynamic Duo, Bizzy, Tiger JK, Mongo Fresh (on end), and others whom I can’t all name. I’m so bad with names, so I’m sorry!