108 - Upki Girl

< Something That Shouldn't Have Emerged Has Emerged > Hum-Humming Sound's MIDI and Rap Trainer, Beacon (B-Kon) A B-boy with an early interest in breakdancing found himself working part-time in Itaewon's clubs by age sixteen, thanks to his unusually mature appearance. There, mingling with real Black people, he naturally encountered authentic hip-hop from the early to mid-1990s, a time when Seo Taiji & Boys and Deux were the emblems of hip-hop in Korea. Despite his young age, he created a fan club for Black music on a PC communication network, acting as an admin, and eventually formed a crew called 'Baguri' with like-minded individuals, moving into the Hongdae club scene. At the time, a label that was Baguri’s rival in Hongdae was ‘Master Plan’, which was not only the inception of Hongdae's underground hip-hop scene but also the origin of Korean hip-hop crews. While Master Plan specialized in rap and DJing, Baguri encompassed all four elements of hip-hop: B-boying, DJing, rap, and graffiti. Among its members were several foreigners he befriended in Itaewon. However, the youth of its members and the pursuit of authentic, grassroots hip-hop spirit ultimately became their downfall. Their approach, inspired by American "gangsta hip-hop," crossed the line. Intoxicated by the popularity they experienced during their immature years, they indulged in drinking and sex rather than focusing on hip-hop. Eventually, they ended up arrested alongside their Black peers for marijuana use. After being released from the juvenile detention center, Beacon still possessed his rap talent, but lost all prospects as an entertainer. Indeed, videos shot before his incarceration showed him with a clear star aura, but post-release, that aura was gone. Had he followed the right path, he might have enjoyed popularity and wealth as one of Korea’s first-generation rappers. Instead, a momentary wrong choice left him a common underground rapper, with only one album that is now unsearchable, ending his active career. Yet, while his own career had run its course, he retained knowledge and skills for mentoring successors. After Yona and Hongyi’s advancement to the top 16 in 'Girl Crush', Beacon condensed over twenty years’ worth of knowledge and skills, imparting them to his pupils. Normally quiet, Beacon became a 'too much talker' during lessons. “It was back when I worked in Itaewon. There was a Black guy named Jackson who frequented the shop, and one day he began rapping. As I listened closely, it seemed like he was improvising based on the names and outfits of the people there. I was wearing a Pelle Pelle leather jacket at the time…” (Details omitted) “They’ll definitely ask for freestyle in 'Girl Crush'. Even pros struggle with freestyling. Most rappers make punchlines and flow sequences like cheat sheets and apply them on the spot, which is called a 'written' freestyle. True impromptu freestyle is called ‘pure’. You can tell the difference, but that Black bro I hung out with did pure freestyle…” (Details omitted) “One trick to wrap ‘written’ to look ‘pure’ is to include the names of people present. You can quickly create a couple of lines before you forget and then follow your prepared cheat sheet, making it seem like it’s pure. Mentors might notice, but what matters is the viewers. If it looks like freestyle to them, you’re all set. Back in LA, I met a Chinese rapper who…” (Details omitted) Recently, punchlines in rap lyrics have been characterized by wordplay that maximizes homophones or double meanings, brimming with smart humor. Since the schedule for 'Girl Crush' was set, Hongyi and Yona compiled a punchline cheat sheet, practicing rap for two hours daily by conversing solely in rap. With chopsticks in their mouths. This was Beacon’s training method: ‘Don’t rap like rap, rap like talking.’ By rapping as if in a conversation, their flow and rhythm became less predictable and more varied, naturally spawning unconventional rhythms even during actual rap. To disguise their ‘written’ as ‘pure’, Yona and Hongyi crafted rhymes with the names of all top 16 contestants. “In a diss, you only need one punchline. Too many can be overwhelming. Do it naturally like a conversation, then drop it in at the end.” *** ―Dooms Doomch Doomcha Pat Pat Doomcha Pat Pat Yona prepared three raps for today’s battle. An introduction rap, a preemptive strike rap in case she attacked first, and a counter-diss rap aimed at idol critiques. Yona’s counter-diss began. Predictably attacking idols once again. Hip-hop is freedom, yet you’re full of prejudice. A whole landscape changed during my trainee years. While you watched the kiddy mini-bus show, I rode the real bus alone. Are you really that envious of what I have? Instead of whining, tell me what you envy most. A pretty face, a figure, or fans who adore me? Those loser otaku fans? What era are you living in? You learned the world online, a frog in a well. Without fans, Mido has no idea. No flexibility, you only recite memorized rap. Hey child, look here, funny funny jam-jam. Yo, Mido who’ll be devoured by me, sweet sweet jam. “Wow!” “Is this for real, spontaneous?” “Of course. Yona nailed it without knowing who would attack her first, responding to Mido’s provocation.” Indeed. The mentors seemed convinced it was genuine freestyle. Predicting an idol jab and preparing a counter-rap, memorizing participant names as a rhyme cheat sheet—none of them foresaw this preparation. Midori had only inserted the part mentioning "loser otaku fans," but Yona's entire rap came across as if it was improvised. Of course, it's easier said than done; Yona's quick wit deserves praise. It was a rightful result of rigorous practice. They say getting hit by a counter feels worse than a straight blow. Midori, initially shocked and even prompting the mentors to exclaim in disbelief, could only nod defensively, trying to save face with an awkward smile. Looking rather sour, as if he should be used as compost instead, Midori seemed irritated by Yona’s unrelenting rap that left no room for disrespect towards fans and teammates. Moving directly in front of Midori, Yona stared into Midori’s eyes and dragged out what was left of him, not only defeating him but also bringing up the forgotten scandal of Midori’s mentor, Sojak. “Oh right, one thing I forgot. Did you know? Your mentor Sojak is also an ex-idol. The team was called Memento, probably a memory he'd like to forget. Good job on the team-kill." Ah, that incident. It must have been about seven years ago. Sojak was a former member who left the boy group Memento. Officially, they said it was a mutual decision for their futures, but problems with Sojak's private life, lack of dedication, and discord among members made it seem like an expulsion. Sojak's departure brought to light other member issues, and the once somewhat popular Memento began a decline after that incident. They were said to be popular in China and Southeast Asia, but they faded from memory enough that few know what they're doing now. Sojak mingled with rappers and found success as a hip-hop musician, which diluted his image, but I remember how he was heavily criticized by fans and the public back then. Even if time has passed, it's not a story Sojak can easily laugh off. “Wow, wow...” “Kekeke.” “Memento, hahaha!” “Why bring that up here?” The other mentors laughed, though, as expected, Sojak frowned, removing his hat. He shot a resentful glance at Yona then irritably addressed the production team. “Noona, you really need to edit this out. I barely managed to erase it from the related searches.” The production crew stifled giggles. The director gave a thumbs-up, signaling it was okay, but considering Joo Dong-seong PD’s reputation for devilish editing and provocative directing, it's uncertain if he’d let this juicy tidbit go. For us, it was a double-edged sword. If this scene aired, viewers might cheer while Sojak’s fans might turn against us. They could edit out the part where Sojak taunted Yona, showing only Yona’s comeback rap. That might make Sojak seem unjustly attacked, leading to controversy over Yona’s character, a distant junior. The Upbeat Girl fans would need to step in as shield, and during the interview snippets throughout filming, Yona should explain herself. But knowing Yona, I’m not worried. She manages well without needing any side coaching. “We just finished the first interview, how’s this atmosphere going forward?” “I know, it’s too intense from the start.” “What to do, Sojak’s expression is completely frozen.” “Stop talking about it. It’s going to get cut anyway.” The mentors added their comments one by one, keeping the flow. Leaving aside Yona’s mentors, Jakdu and Sojak, the other two gave their simple reviews. “Midori was good too, but... Yona was just too strong this time.” “I agree. Their skills are similar, but Yona’s genuine freestyle set her apart. When it airs, it’s guaranteed to hit number one in searches.” “Plus her gestures and expressions were great. It was truly a comprehensive performance that only an idol could pull off.” As Juga summarized the key points, he asked, “Yona, you’re good at dancing, right?” “Yes.” “And acting lessons too?” “Yes, I consistently take lessons.” “Exactly, you know how to act in tune with the lyrics. Having taught rap in an idol company, I know they have their unique swag. These days, it’s too reductive to dismiss them just for being idols.” As Juga continued his commentary, the production team signaled with a sketchbook: ‘Dante, request Yona for a dance!’ “If it’s not too much trouble, could we see you dance?” They were definitely aiming for substantial screen time. Another chance for Yona to showcase her charm was provided with a dance time. Even Sojak, who had been sulking, perked up with interest and requested with a bold face, “Can you do that? Twerking.” “Yes, I can.” Yona answered nonchalantly and set down her microphone. Twerking—a dance genre dedicated to the behind, by the behind, for the behind. ―Ding dong tong tong toro dongdong As DJ Hello played reggae-like BGM, Yona’s expression shifted to a middle ground between cute and alluring. She bit her lip coyly, adopting a horse-riding stance, and began to pop her hips in rhythm. Luckily, with loose training pants on, it wasn't too revealing. Still, her playful spirit! Even the female contestants gasped in amazement, so the reactions from all four mentors were no surprise. Wide-eyed and jaws dropped, they cheered in sync with her rhythmic hip movements. ―Thump thump thump! “Woo hoo hoo!” “Wow, she dances well too?” “Oh, I should have chosen her. She’s got such great appeal.” “Alright, well done.” “Ah, Jakdu hyung, why stop so soon!” “Look at him taking care of his own mentee.” "We've shown a lot today. We can't exhaust our image right from the start," said Jakdu with a seriousness that stood out among the rather light-hearted mentors. Though I'm not naturally drawn to his style of music, I could see why he's been known as a renowned producer from such a young age. Transitioning from the dance-off, Jakdu brought the conversation back to the rap battle. "In my opinion, those two can go head-to-head right away. Don’t you think?" The matchups for the top 16 were to be decided by mentors based on first impressions and interviews. Yona and Midori, whose rivalry was clearly evident, were paired for the first showdown without any disagreement. "What do you think, Midori?" Dante asked. With a fierce look that suggested she might charge at any moment, Midori glared at Yona. "Just match us up. I'll devour her." "And Yona, are you okay with this?" Being in a defensive position, Yona calmly delivered her sharp retort. "Yes, I'm fine. Honestly, I'm not interested in someone I've already defeated once, but it's advantageous to face an easy opponent to progress to the top eight." “Wow.” The most frequently heard word of the day: “Wow.” The mentors and production team were continuously impressed by Yona’s provocative attitude. Even though Yona is diligent, she isn’t typically known for her strong-willed character, so this side of her was a bit surprising. However, Yona wasn't the member I needed to worry about. Where Yona exceeded expectations, the concern arose with Hongi, whom I had relied on. Perhaps due to Midori’s failure after targeting idol Yona, few participants dared to challenge Hongi. Then, as the competition progressed to the later stages, a standout participant from the preliminary rounds finally picked Hongi as their target. The rapper, with a red buzz cut reminiscent of Kang Baek-ho, had a nasal piercing, tattoos stretching from her collarbones to behind her ears, faint eyebrows, and eyes screaming "mess with me, and you're doomed." This was ‘Rara God’, a contestant both Riya and I had been watching closely, drawn to her intense, end-of-century vibe, even though she lacked an aura. In the middle of winter, with nothing but a sleeveless top and jeans, Rara God took the mic and stood before Hongi. She was as tall as Hongi but appeared lankier due to her slender frame. “A girl group, right?” she asked sharply, and Hongi, with her characteristic timid expression, nodded. Completely overwhelmed. “Yes? Yes…” “I seem older, so can I just call you sister? I’m twenty-seven.” “Oh… sure.” “Your team’s name is Upki Girl, right? What does that mean?” “It’s short for ‘Group Raised on a Lift’. It means the fans are boosting us up…” “A girl group must have lots of male fans, right?” “Yes, most likely…” “Fans boosting you? Sounds like you’re relying on men…” She furrowed her brows as if hearing something unacceptable and muttered, “So, do you agree with what Midori said earlier? About male fans being ‘loser otakus’? Do you agree?” “Yes? No…” “You don’t agree? With the theory that most Korean males are ‘losers’?” “I’m not sure where you’re going with this…” “Well, how about the ‘science’ that ‘most Korean men are potential rapists’? Do you agree with that?” “Eh…? No…” “Don’t agree? Even though most sex crime perpetrators here are men? That’s not speculation but statistically grounded science, right?” “Uh, well…” What is this? Shocked, Hongi made the mistake of glancing at the production team. But even the crew seemed perplexed by Rara God’s comments. “Okay, friend or foe determined. You’re the same lackey as your member, now my enemy. DJ God, drop a beat.” Did she think only she was clear? I’ve got things figured out too. Something that really shouldn’t be aired has made its appearance. This will likely lead to Hongi being lumped in and edited out, I thought, glancing at PD Joo Dong-seong’s expression. But, wait—what was that? A fleeting satisfied smile? Could it be that he deliberately baited for this... reaction? < Something That Shouldn't Have Emerged Has Emerged > End