Media, K-pop Fans and Scandal: Park Bom and Sulli

Park Bom
Park Bom

K-pop fans often engage in creative and productive fan activity, but sometimes they don’t and media is always there to capture it. Nothing stirs up the spectre of the “obsessed K-pop fan” like a “scandal.” As we know, K-pop fans are diverse, but the kind of recent “scandals” experienced by Park Bom (of 2NE1) and Sulli (of f(x)) shed some light on the role cultural context and media plays in global fans’ understanding of “scandal.”  Unlike global fans, Korean K-pop fans experience K-pop within the context of Korean culture and their responses are captured by Korean media. Because of their proximity to the K-pop scene, the displeasure of Korean fans can affect change beyond the control of the Korean agencies.

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What I’m Listening To: “Chulchek (출첵),” Dynamic Duo (feat. Na-Ul)

Source: http://koreanwavetimes.blogspot.com/2011/11/korean-hip-hop-group-dynamic-duo.html

Ever so often, I like to share what’s on heavy rotation on my iPod. It isn’t always the newest thing, or the most popular thing, but for some reason this is the stuff that I’m grooving to.  I make no distinction between idol and non-idol Kpop, popular and obscure, mainstream and indie. It’s just what I like, and some info about it. Maybe you might like it too.

It’s probably clear by now that I’m an omni-Kpop fan: I’ll listen to practically anything, and I’m always looking to expand my horizons. I already had some Dynamic Duo, but not nearly as much as I thought I should have, so I just downloaded a bunch-0-stuff from Soribada (’cause you know, I like to keep it LEGAL).

What I’m Listening To

Chulchek, Dynamic Duo (feat. Na-Ul)

Who Does It

This go around, it’s Chulchek, by Dynamic Duo, featuring Na-Ul of Brown Eyed Soul.  This track comes from their 2007 release, Enlightened.  Dynamic Duo is made up of two guys, Choiza and Gaeko.  After their success with their second album, Double Dynamite – Operating Manual, they formed the record label Amoeba Culture.  They are also part of a Korean hip-hop crew, The Movement, that includes the likes of Epik High, Dok2 and Tiger JK.

The members of Dynamic Duo find inspiration from American hip-hop and soul music.  In a recent interview, one member recounted:

I remember that I tried really hard to get the nominated albums of American Music Awards such as, THE NOTORIOUS BIG’s BIG POPPA, 2PAC’s DEAR MAMA, and WARREN G’s REGULATE, back in my elementary school. I recorded the Awards ceremony and watched it hundred times. I think 90s Hip-hop inspired us a lot. . . . we don’t think we have to mention about Stevie Wonder’s music, but his passion that makes him continually working as an artist even after he achieved everything is very inspiring. Although we cannot be such a great artist as he is but we can be the artist who are continually working hard. We would say Al Green and Marvin Gaye’s music is the root of our music. Codes, scale, singing style and the feelings of melody are all influenced by their music.

Why I Like It

I LOVE this song…it was on heavy rotation from the minute I downloaded it. I like it for a couple of reasons. First, it has that old-skool vibe to it, and I LOVE old-skool. The baseline reminds me of some 1970s funk, that makes it very groovy.  The other reason why I like it should be clear:  Na-Ul!!! I love Brown Eyed Soul, and the combination of his vocal is a nice contrast to the stronger rap of Choiza and Gaeko.

This song is infectious from the get-go, and reminds me of a time when hip-hop was about the party. It’s a fun song, and I love blasting it in the summertime while I drive.

Sources

Kanara, Korean Hip-hop on the Rise: Interview with Dynamic Duo, Audrey Magazine