RAP STAR

Chapter 35 [verse 4. Cross Over]

As Sanghyun began to rap, the expressions of the musicians who had their arms crossed changed.

"What is this?"

It was because of the unexpected sound they heard.

"If you put it down in advance, it can never be
undone. Just as it is in my own way,
doing my thing, making an effort, and maybe even giving up
is the comfortable situation."

The original "Movin' It" recorded on MP3 was a beatless acapella rap. Since acapella rap is a song without a beat, it had to be adjusted to fit over a beat. However, Sanghyun didn't want to change a single word of the lyrics. This was the starting line for Sanghyun and a monumental track in his musical world.

"What if I can't change the lyrics?"
He just needed to change how he delivered the rap. So Sanghyun began working on "Movin' It," modeling it after one rapper in particular: Big Sean from Detroit.

Big Sean started in the underground scene, impressed Kanye West with his street freestyles, and joined his team. He debuted mainstream in 2011 under G.O.O.D Music, sweeping awards from his debut and reaching a career high in 2014, never intending to come down.

Sanghyun was confident that if he could rate a rapper's talent, Big Sean would score in the top percentile worldwide.

The first song Sanghyun heard from Big Sean was "Beware," released in 2013. Graduating and getting a job, he hadn't listened to any new songs until he belatedly encountered this one, which completely changed his rap taste.

Jessie J's voice opened wide as she became engrossed in Sanghyun's rap.

"What genre is this exactly? Is this hip-hop?"

The hip-hop he knew was noisy, full of curses, and rhythm without melody. It was not just music but rather an art of shouting.

But this was different. If this wasn't music, then what was the definition of musical art?

"What should I call this?"

Always the standard for my actions, all of my dream
The zebra crossing the Beatles walked on is green to me
Freedom is not free, freedom is my root
The picture of my mind that even Picasso couldn't express
I think like this, I'll act like this
Maybe I'll fail, it's a fight that's bound to happen
I may not know the outcome, but it's me
If I work, something will come out.

Borrowing the format of rap but filled with charming melodies. It wasn't quite a song either.

"This is the first time I've heard rap in this way since I was born."

"Why do the lyrics sound so good?"

For musicians who still didn't know the various expressions of hip-hop, it was a shockingly different sound.

"Fuck, this is fucking killer."

The swear words slipped out involuntarily. Golden Finger's vocalist, with a desire to try the song with Sanghyun deep in his heart, shook his head. If Kyungmin found out, he'd go nuts for sure.

"Ah, if that guy just didn't skip paying the rent for the practice room...."

He refocused on the rap. After the performance, he planned to go home and listen to some hip-hop music.

"Wow!"

The cheering audience was grateful.

"First stage."

A true first stage in its real sense. The first song. They needed to amp it up a bit.

Despite the chaos the electric guitar was causing at Sanghyun's signal, the drum, previously indifferent and dry, finally began its indiscriminate bombardment.

-Boom boom boom boom!

At the same time, Sanghyun shouted. The audience realized it was their turn.

"Everyone together!"

"movin' it. move it! 움직여야지!"

It was the first time they experienced the audience's chorus. It sent shivers down their spines.

"Louder!"

"movin' it. move it! 움직여야지!"

"One more time!"

Junhyung joined in, shouting. Sanghyun and Junhyung even stopped using the microphone, expressing themselves with incomprehensible gestures. The excitement was overwhelming.

Min-sik's electric guitar arrangement was spot on. Everyone was moving to the sound of the electric guitar and drums.

"움직여야지-!"

Sanghyun couldn't help but choke up. How could he have lived without knowing this world? The world of looking at the audience from the stage. It took a long time to choose this path. Twenty years of time.

"Is this the plan that Mom and Dad gave me?"

With a bang! The drum and electric guitar finished playing. Cheers continued.

Sanghyun glanced around briefly before murmuring quietly, feeling a slight tremble. "movin' it. move it……." That's right. "We have to move it……."

Sangmi eventually shed tears. She knew where Sanghyun's gaze was directed. To their parents in heaven.

"Your brother is really cool……." "Seriously, he's awesome! I'm becoming a fan of your brother from today!" Their friends exclaimed.

Sangmi felt vague anxiety bringing her friends today, wondering what if her brother messes up. Then, they had to deal with their friends grumbling when the performance briefly paused due to the crowded venue.

But once the performance started, Sanghyun's rap was more favored by their friends than Sangmi's. Sangmi felt proud to the point of choking up.

Strangely, tears kept flowing when her brother began rapping. She kept thinking about how much their parents would have loved seeing her brother doing what he loved.

Sangmi could tell that her brother on stage had similar thoughts. Finally, the tears she had been holding back flowed. "I need to work hard too," she thought.

She knew her brother worried about her social anxiety and always stayed by her side. Perhaps he couldn't meet more people or practice more because of her.

Even now, being alone without friends or her brother in a crowded place made her scared and nervous. She broke into a cold sweat and felt jittery. But it's something she eventually has to overcome.

Maybe that's what her brother meant? We have to move it.

"This is our first song, why am I crying?" Sangmi wiped away tears. She was so grateful for her friends who pretended not to notice she was crying.

"Sanghyun, fighting!"

Sangmi shouted loudly, and her friends around her echoed her voice

"Brother, fighting!"
"Sanghyun, brother!"

Then, the high school girls standing on the left side of the stage glanced over and shouted loudly, "Kyaaah!"

"Brother, you're awesome!"

This time, Sangmi's friends glanced at them and shouted even louder, "Kyaaaaah!"

"Wooooo!" Sangmi quietly distanced herself from her friends.

Being grateful and feeling embarrassed are two different things.

<verse 4. Cross Over>