In their native town of Uijeongbu, a small city an hour out of central Seoul, Tiger JK and Yoon MiRae closed their city’s 20th International Music Festival with a special concert. While they were the main names on the bill, the two surprised the 1000+ fans by bringing fellow label mates, JoMoonGun, and new hip-hop group, MIB, to perform an extended Jungle Entertainment-only concert. As a result, their performance differed from their normal set, with even MIB members rapping the first verse of “I Want You/난 널 원해” with Tiger. Below are exclusive front row HD shots/video from the performance.
“엄지손갈락/Thumb”
“Get It In” with Bizzy, Jo Moon Gun, MIB
“I Want You/난 널 원해” with Bizzy, Jo Moon Gun, MIB
In other news, Tiger JK, Yoon MiRae, Bizzy, and MIB are to perform at Music Matters Live 2012, an annual music industry conference. This year’s conference is being held in Singapore, and will broadcast live at 9PM Korea time (8AM EST, 5AM PST).
April 28th, Hongdae Subway Station– With the fastest Internet in the world and a population open to new cellphone technology, many of the world’s wired mobile advancements are first launched in South Korea. The country’s largest cellphone carrier, SK Telecom, recently announced its phones will now offer the largest LTE (4G) data service in the country. SK’s LTE service also allows its members to stream free music from Korea’s largest online streamer, Melon, directly into their phones without using up data. SK teamed with Tiger JK to garner fans to their website, offering free concert tickets to select fans who partake in one of their online promotions.
In an effort to continuously stand out above its competitors, SK held its promotional concert in no ordinary venue. Korea is well known for its timely and convenient subway, but commuters often complain its service is not 24 hours. SK used this to their advantage, holding JK’s show at Hongdae subway station after hours. Of course, fans invited were oblivious as to how the company would pull this off. How and where would you pull off a concert in an ordinary subway station?
Outside the turnstile exits of Hongdae’s airport subway line stood a group of fans and random signage with JK’s face. The exits are wide, but still fans were left in the dark where the actual show would be. Around the ticket tables are pseudo red carpets where concert goers could take pictures with a life size JK cut out.
Fans are distracted by the cutout until 12:00pm, when the subway shuts down for the public. They are then instructed to line up near the East bound train turnstiles. At 12:30pm, the crowd is directed downstairs into an empty train, which a few minutes later suddenly closes its doors and takes surprised passengers to the next station (Digital Media City).
As the train pulls into Digital Media City, fans anticipate getting off and going to a secret location for the concert. However, the doors remain close and the lights suddenly shut off, throwing some into a panic. Dance music starts to play and SK staff walks through the train cars announcing everyone is going to a concert/party soon. Still, fans are left questioning if the concert where the venue actually is.
The train suddenly moves back west to Hongdae station, this time arriving on the West bound side of the train tracks. The doors open and a shrill of screams lets out as concert goers realize the show is on the actual platform. A mad dash to the stage occurs, passing through a now JK branded subway platform.
Fans are treated to promos featuring JK and a DJ building anticipation with recent dance hits. Around 1:30pm, JK’s DJ, DJ Juice, appears on stage and hardcore fans scream knowing the show is starting.
As usual, Bizzy starts the set and builds the energy. Bizzy’s set usually starts with “Run,” a track from Yang Dong Geun’s 4th album which him, JK, and Tasha featured. Veteran fans know the sight of Bizzy at a show surely means JK will follow, and then after wife, Tasha/Yoon MiRae.
JK doesn’t disappoint as his joins Bizzy to perform a DT’s classic, “Do You Know Hip Hop?” As JK comes out, the barrier holding the fans back shakes. JK is the first to fully step out to the crowd, causing a panic for his bodyguards. After performing “Monster,” and entertaining the crowd with jokes, Tasha joins the crew for True Romance.
The husband/wife duo always treat the crowd to a small dance in the middle of the set.
With its peaceful melody, True Romance calms the nerves of the crowd, but gets them ready to start jumping as the trio starts the hyped “Pay Day.“
However, the highlight of Tasha’s set is her online single, “Get it In.” Regardless of the crowd, “Get It In” guarantees the crowd will be jumping along with the crew mid song. (Warning: I was close to the stage, almost too close. As a result, the lights affected my camera’s focus and there are parts where it’s hard to see. I apologize!)
“Get It In,” is the apparent show closer, but fans demand the crew come back to the stage for an encore.
Soon after, the crew comes back to close with another Drunken Tiger classic, “I Want You.” Seeing the crowd enamored in the performance, JK takes the opportunity to step off stage and embed himself into the crowd. Midway through, his adrenaline tells him to take a fan’s cellphone with him, leaving her in uneasy excitement. (Again, light warning.)
Fans are always happy that JK is willing to mingle.
The crew leaves the crowd in high spirits. One fan’s love for JK is reignited to the point she wants to kiss his lifesize cut out.
And as the show ends, the subway station empties, but remnants of JK’s presence and a unique concert remain. Kudos, SK Telecom, I definitely will remain a loyal customer after this show.
Three years ago, I met with JK in a VIP balcony of the Wiltern. Dressed in a casual black jacket and jeans, most would’ve never guessed he was an honorary special guest that night, and other than a brief appearance on the red carpet, he was escorted in and out just like any other guest. The Wiltern has such historical meaning for the city of Los Angeles, with its classic Victorian structure and an array of all-star artists that have sold out its 2,300 seats. Though JK never said it, I knew his LA roots fueled his desire to be on stage that night, and it was relieving to see him fill the theater the way he did last week.
Thanks to Drunken Tiger veteran music video director, Dave Kebo, and numerous other attendees, we got some great shots. From guest appearances from JK’s musical entourage (Ann, Styliztik Jones, Dumbfoundead, Jay Park) to Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn tweeting pictures of JK himself, it was truly an unforgettable night.
On September 23rd, MTV’s international spotlight blog, MTVIggy, released their list of international female rappers dominating the world. Tasha took the #12 spot, with the title of “The Queen of South Korean hip-hop.” Alongside her on the list are UK’s Lioness and New York’s underground princess of hip-hop, Jean Grae.
Just 3 weeks later on October 14th, RollingOut.com, a digital magazine, released their own list of international hip-hop artists to know, with JK named in an unranked position.
It’s evident Korea’s hip-hop power couple is reaching beyond borders previously untouched by the Korean industry.
Times Square Mall will hold a 4-day celebration as part of Korea’s biggest mall’s 2nd year anniversary. For it’s Friday celebration, 1000 selected participants will be treated to an exclusive concert.
Who Will Perform: Drunken Tiger JK, Yoon MiRae,360 Sounds, RRM, Conan & Goldtea
Where: Times Square Mall, via train Line 1, YeongDuengPo stop. Underground exit and follow signs for Times Square Mall. If in doubt, exit towards the front of mall and enter to basement floor (LL2).
When: Friday, September 16th starting at 9pm.
How To Get a Ticket: Here’s the tricky part. Tickets will be randomly given to those signed up on the Times Square website, which is a challenge for non-Korean readers. [Note: You will need a Korean national # for this.]
On the bottom middle part, click off any of the circles. This is just asking how you heard about the party.
Click the picture link below [벙커파티 싵청하기]
You will be sent to a new screen asking to sign in. Click the blue button [회원가입]. This will allow you to create a username/password.
The next screen will have two buttons in the middle. The left button will be for 14+ nationals. The right button is for foreigners [외국인회원]. Click the right button if you hold a foreign visa of any type.
Next screen are just member agreements. Click all boxes. Don’t worry, you’re not selling your soul. Click blue button on the bottom.
On the next screen, type your name exactly as is on your ID card (WITHOUT SPACES). Type in your ID # in box 2 (part 1) and box 3.
Now at this point, you’ll need a friend to help you if you don’t speak Korean because I cannot go back to this screen since I had membership. However, from memory, I believe it will first ask you to type a username, a 6 unit password (letters and numbers included), email, your Korean address, your house # (type in 02-random 8 numbers if you don’t have one), and then cellphone #. The last line will ask if you would like to receive emails and texts. Click the right buttons if you would like to opt out of this option. Click blue button on bottom to complete sign up.
Sign in. Repeat steps 1-3.
Repeat step 1 on September 14th to see if you won tickets. Each person gets 2.
Note that this sign up process is pretty standard for most Korean sites, so definitely take a lesson from this and apply it to any Korean site where you need to sign up!
Thanks to fans, friends, and The Sunzoo crew, we were able to compile some of the best photos and videos from last week’s Sunzoo Concert. For those who were stuck elsewhere and unable to go like me, thank your fellow fans for waiting hours for this performance and holding a camera still for 40 minutes straight!
Front Row: Abridged Version
Full Performance Part 1: Sansoo (Math) + True Romance + Let’s Dance
Part 2: Good Life with Jay Park, Jet Pack
Part 3: Pay Day, Monster, Get Down
Photo Credits: DJ Jhig, Roscoe Umali, Miguel Pearson, Brian Shin, CrazyPhotographer Video Credits: Miguel Pearson, Sofia_KR
Thanks to the great response to the NY photos, I decided to do the same for the latest shots from the LA “MY Time” video shoot. LA is not my native domain, so I had to do a little extra research to bring this to ya’ll. LA is where JK spent most of his childhood, so if there are any mistakes, feel free to correct me so I can give J’s town justice.
Classic Cars and The Bridge To Los Angeles
Thanks to California’s vibrant car culture, LA is home to some of the biggest car collectors in the world. Included in this group is Danny Soto, who has such a valuable collection of classic cars that he rents them to musicians for their video shoots. Remember that car that could actually “jump” in the Kris-Kross “Jump Jump” video? That’s one of Danny’s cars. Other artists who he’s worked with: SWV, Cypress Hill, and now, Sunzoo. Tasha and JK took their lended 63′ Impala across the 6th Street Viaduct, an 80 year old bridge that connects 2 major California freeways to the heart of downtown LA. The bridge is no stranger to media cameos: it’s been used in Terminator 2, Grease, and of course, To Live and Die in L.A. This location was chosen by director David Kebo because of its symbolic association as the entrance to LA, and nothing says LA better than riding into the city with a classic car.
Driving across the bridge.
Tasha’s reflection in the side view mirror
For Rockstars, Pop Stars, and Superstars Alike: Nightbird Studios
With its plush interior, great location,and renowned sound equipment, NightBird Studioshas become the 2nd home for multiple stars, including Madonna, Will.I.Am, Chaka Khan, John Legend, and well… the list goes on like that. The crew came here to do some final touches on the record as well as record some scenes for the MV.
Producer Techbeatz mixing the record. Techbeatz has produced non-stop hit records for JK, including “Monster,” and “Jetpack.” Like many of JK’s team, the two have been friends since high school.
The Personalities of Downtown
Downtown LA has changed a lot in the last 10 years, urbanizing at a surprising rate. Fashion houses, posh clubs, new theaters, they’re all popping up downtown. However, like any downtown neighborhood, you have your share of “personalities” walking the streets. On the corners of 6th and Spring St, JK decided to be one of those personalities, reminding us all of doomsday. 2012?
An Expensive Venue, A Good Friend
The majority of the “MY TIME” MV was shot at 650 North, a massive club/venue space in West Hollywood named after its own street address. It’s a multi-roomed venue with a club, atrium, lounge, and cafe, most of which was used by the crew for the video. The rent for the venue was almost as much as the actual budget, but thanks to loyal friend, Kia, the owner of the venue, the crew was able to use it free of charge. Above, Tasha is shooting scenes in front of the same bar pictured below.
With a Legend: Rakaa Iriscience
The MV ends with two legends coming together.Since their collab on the English version of “Monster,” Rakaa has remained a good friend and personal advocate for JK and Tasha’s music. For this shot I unfortunately cannot pinpoint a location, but the two have talked about future collabs and are already mutually promoting their projects both in Korea and the US.
*EDIT* The last shots of the MV were filmed at VR (Velvet Room), a club staple in LA’s Koreatown.
Thanks to director, Dave Kebo, for helping put a story to the photos.
During my regular browse through daily Drunken Tiger updates, I came across the latest photos on the official Sunzoo website that documented the group’s trip around the world. Being a native New Yorker, the NY photos struck up a slew of memories, and I could not let these photos go around the net without explaining where the group had been and the significance these places have in the Concrete Jungle. In an effort to better explain their trip, included in this post will be a few screen shots from Welcome To The Jungle, Episode 4.
Lodging: The Smyth (Tribeca)
Located on the intersection of West Broadway, Chambers St, and Hudson St, The Smyth is part of The Thompson Hotel chain, a highly rated group of hotels that are known for their trendy looking interior. Picture walking into a lobby filled with dimmed neon lights, lounge chairs, house music, and yes, a bustling bar connected to it. Sounds like a distraction to most people, but if you happen to stay in the upper suites like Sunzoo did, you find yourself far enough from the downstair distractions and possibly with a balcony overlooking one of NY’s busiest intersections. In the above photo, JK is commenting on how NY windows are strangely shaped.
The Smyth Interior
University Walk: NYU/Washington Square Park
Not entirely sure what prompted the crew to come here. Perhaps it’s because fellow Sunzoo member !llmind teaches at the university’s esteemed Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. However, Waverly Place [above] serves as one of the four central streets that connect the gigantic NYU “campus.” Although not a real campus in theory, the main NYU campus spans 229 acres of NYC’s East Village, with dorms spanning all the way down to the tip of Manhattan on Water St. If the location above looks slightly familiar, it’s been used in a number of movies, including “I Am Legend,” where one of the left houses served as the home to Will Smith’s character, Dr Robert Neville.
Underneath “The Arch,” the symbol of NYU and site of all their university wide graduations.
Home to Culture and Retail: Spring St & Wooster
Given its close proximity to the NYU campus (10-15 minute walk), it’s no surprise that some of Welcome To The Jungle was shot in West Soho as well. Spring St connects both a slew of independent shops and high end brands (in fact, on the corner of this street is the Chanel Store). It’s here where JK talked about how he dreams of making Tasha a worldwide star.
The Transportation Hub: Grand Central Station
Being it was Tasha’s first trip to NY and JK hadn’t been back in nearly 11 years, it’s only natural to do some “touristy” things while in the city. Grand Central Station connects 5 subway lines in addition to providing express trains to Long Island and Connecticut. As a result, the station is filled with multiple floors that become a huge maze. Underground is a franchise of Junior’s Cheesecake, the infamous shop that Diddy sent “The Band” to via foot… across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Jhig & JK in Grand Central Station
A Real NY Experience: A Subway Ride
Anyone who has been to NY can tell you all about the subway lines. They smell like bathrooms, some lines run so slow you’d swear you aged another year just standing on the platform, and holy cow, $2.50 per ride? That burns a hole in your wallet. Despite its downfalls, real New Yorkers would opt to take the train over most forms of transport, often by default due to its 24-hour schedule, large span across all 5 boroughs, and its “cheap” form of transport. Rather than cab their way up from Tribeca, the crew took the train to Harlem to master The Sunzoo Project at Harlem’s StadiumRed Studios. I just wish I had pictures of the crazies that they might have ran into on the way.
Inside Stadium Red, artists like Usher and Jay-Z have recorded grammy winning songs.
Cool Down: Brooklyn Bowl
After a long day of shooting in Brooklyn, the crew chilled with Hot97 DJ and pop culture commentator, Miss Info, at Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Bowl. The venue is a combination of a bowling alley and a music performance hall, spanning over 23,000 square ft.
There were a number of other photos from the trip, but I unfortunately cannot pinpoint where they were shot. I think its better that I just post them and hopefully they will speak for themselves. :]
As part of the site launch, photos from the crew’s trips around the world and a new “Get Down” music video have been released. This new video was made by TVN producer, BaeSungSang,from a compilation of footage from the TV series.
On a side note, the website still has some incomplete parts, but after only being open for an hour, it crashed due to an overwhelming inflow of fans visiting the site (so be patient if you’re unable to get in right away ).
In a recent visit to Korea, legendary producer and songwriter, Quincy Jones, had a chance to meet with some of the country’s top artists including Tiger JK, Yoon MiRae, BoA, and some other YG artists.
At the press conference held at E&M Center in Seoul on April 8, the American music legend said, “Such Korean artists are amongst the best that I’ve met in the Far East countries, including China and Japan.”
Asked about the prospect of K-Pop artists abroad, he said the future is very bright, and the possibilities are high for them, ”I was very much impressed by their passion and apprehension of the essence of the music.”
He added he was usually very stingy with his praises to artists, but he had to be lavish at this time.
On April 4, after meeting Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae, QuincyDJones tweeted:
Tiger JK expressed his admiration for the music legend after his encounter:
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