The Evolution of Korean Hip-Hop: Part 2
The Debate Between Underground and Overground
The Korean hip-hop scene has been divided between underground rappers and overground (commercial singers), leading to a long-standing debate over who is truly hip-hop and who is not.
Eventually, with the advent of the ‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’ TV program, everyone, regardless of whether it was underground or overground, chose to appear on this program to make money and become famous.
The Popularity Surge
At that time, the popularity of hip-hop music in Korea was so high that there was even a saying, “There were about a million hip-hop fans, but there were a million rappers.”
The Decline
However, the 11 seasons ultimately ended with the victory of female rapper ‘Lee Young-ji’.
PDs also abandoned the elements of hip-hop, which were no longer stimulating and fun.
As a result, the 11-year-long program concluded, and the popularity of hip-hop music weakened compared to the past.
Recommendations for Korean Hip-Hop
And if you are curious about Korean hip-hop and want to listen to the music, you can start with these 6 artists (teams):
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Drunken Tiger - Rapper
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Dynamic Duo - Producer and Rapper
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The Quiett - Producer and Rapper
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Dok2 (DOK2) – Producer and Rapper
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Beenzino - Rapper
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Swings - Rapper
Korean hip-hop has undergone significant changes over the years, moving from fierce underground battles to mainstream success with TV shows like ‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’. This journey highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of the genre. Although its popularity has waned, the impact and legacy of Korean hip-hop remain strong, influencing new generations of artists.
Keywords
Keywords: Korean hip-hop, underground rappers, overground singers, SHOW ME THE MONEY, Lee Young-ji, hip-hop popularity, Korean music, TV program, hip-hop debate, music evolution.
