In the heart of Los Angeles, where the rhythm of the music industry beats strongest, Sangstaa creates sounds in which he expresses the various emotions of life. His journey from Korea to Raleigh, North Carolina, and then to the lively streets of LA has become a moving story, echoing themes of inner conflicts and endurance….
Tag: Hip-hop
In Conversation with MC HotDog, a Hip-hop Artist and Producer
Yao Zhongren, a.k.a. MC HotDog, is an award-winning Hip-hop artist from Taiwan and has been in the music business for over 20 years. MC HotDog has a unique flow and delivery, setting him apart from other Taiwanese rappers. Not only does he have a distinctive voice, but he also knows how to use it to…
Embracing Authenticity – In Conversation with Jomalxne
Jomalxne’s unexpected London performance, a supporting act on JAY B’s show, was one of the most exciting surprises of 2022. One never expected that the artist, whose music is barely known in Europe, could have left a striking impression on so many people, including myself. Hailing from South Korea, Jomalxne is not only an awe-inspiring…
Pushing Through It All: Young Harry’s “Live 4 The Dead” Album Review
Young Harry, a Korea-American Hip-hop artist, has had a steady rise in attention since his 2018 debut with Y.H season. The rapper, who is in his early 20s, showcases his American rap influences in his 2nd studio album Live 4 The Dead, which dropped on the 20th of January. The album cover features a beautiful,…
Blase Opens Up About His Music, Latest Release, and Life – Exclusive Interview
Drill is a subgenre of Hip-hop that originated in Chicago, Illinois in the early 2010s. It is characterised by its dark, nihilistic lyrics, heavy use of Trap beats and auto-tune, and a menacing delivery style. It often addresses themes such as gang violence, poverty, and police brutality, and artists in the Drill Hip-hop scene include…
“I Love to Make Creative Meaningful Stuff, so When I Perform, I Can Show the Audience Who I Really Am.” – In Conversation with XENZU
What do we know about Chinese hip-hop? Although it’s been around for over 20 years in the country itself, it is in the last decade that the genre has been somewhat successful overseas. Many argue that Chinese is not suitable for rap music because it is a tonal language, however, those who claim that have…
The More We Listened, the More It Became Clear That This Was Going to Be a Special Performance – Loopy Takes Over the O2 Academy Islington
Lee Jin-yong, also known as Loopy, is a one-of-a-kind South Korean artist. While initially pursuing a career in producing, his time spent living in Los Angeles had influenced the artist to become a rapper. Beginning his career in 2014 under the name Loopy, the artist grabbed my attention when he released his first mixtape, King…
“I Feel That Listening to Different Music Expanded My Mind to Being Open to Trying New Sounds as Well.” – In Conversation with Deshawn Visionz
Much of the conversation around what it means to be an original artist centres around being “yourself”— being genuine and authentic without attempting to be someone you’re not. Deshawn Visionz, a hip-hop artist based in California, is unafraid to speak the truth with his songs. He has the confidence to vocalise his own feelings, and…
“I Would Love to Bring Value to the Different Communities that I Could Influence Through My Art.” – In Conversation with Gabby Onme
Hip-hop has always been recognized as the most politicized genre of music. Compared to pop, rock and other genres, hip-hop has been franker and more ruthless. However, no one could have predicted that hip-hop, which was supposed to be another form of entertainment, would overturn the modern way of understanding the function of art in…
D-2: The Pursuit of Perfection (Album Review)
Min Yoon-gi’s alternative rap persona Agust D (as separate from Suga) dropped his second mixtape, appropriately titled D-2, on 22nd May 2020. Earlier the same week, Big Hit started a mysterious countdown showing a barely distinguishable shadowy figure against a black background with the timer at the centre, starting from D-7. On D-2, the mixtape…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 