RAP STAR

Chapter 67 [verse 11. Hommie Vol. 1, END]

Junhyeong's deep, low-tone voice, yet fast rap.
Inhyeok's high-tone, flowing rap.
Kim Hwan's relaxed rap, maximizing delivery while maintaining stability.
Minji's sharp, asynchronous rap with a feminine voice.
Hayeon's melodic yet firm rap.

The verse combination of the six members, decided upon through mutual deliberation, created a remarkable synergy effect. Within 16 bars, two rappers each painted their own colors, which blended appropriately without appearing messy. Minji benefited the most from this arrangement.

"We, Eight that Eight that Eight that Crew!
We, Eight that Eight that Eight that Crew!

-We Eight!

Even if you chill every day, you can't compare to us
There's no way you can match us, nine times out of ten"

The chorus gradually elicited a bigger response, just as Sanghyun had hoped. However, it didn't quite reach the level of "totally crazy" atmosphere he had anticipated. There was some disappointment, but he wasn't entirely let down.

That's how trap music genre goes. Trap music, which includes the meaning of a "trap," is a genre that you get more into the more you listen.

Actually, Sanghyun didn't initially like trap music. No, he hated it. It was because of its emphasis on vibe over the expressive power and solid skills of rap.

However, at some point, he found himself humming along to trap music while taking a shower.

"Today might just be the day."

"Eight, Eight, Eight" was a song made with a distant view in mind. In a small sense, it was 888 Crew's first group song, and in a larger sense, it aimed to leave a mark as the first trap music in the history of Korean hip-hop.

So,

"I have to kill it in the end."

Finally, after Hayeon's melodic 8 bars, it was Sanghyun's turn.

Sanghyun wrapped the towel with the 888 logo around his head. At that moment, Junhyeong, who was quick-witted, unfolded the banner. Sanghyun's shoulders bounced as he walked towards the banner.

A banner with a black background embroidered with white logos.
A T-shirt with a white background imprinted with black logos.
The two symbols crossed, creating a swaggering spectacle!

Finally, Sanghyun's rap began to reverberate through the audience.

"Today, I'm clocking in to work to the beat as usual
Sometimes filling time with freestyles
When I get home, my wife nags again
She blames overtime as an excuse
At work, the rhyme duties pile up
Except for the tracks I've brought
Today, I'm on an out-of-office trip to the dirty south
What should I rhyme with? Recognize Me."

Sanghyun was now living the life he had dreamed of. A life where he commuted to work with beats, not to an office. A life where he didn't care even if the societal norms, represented by "my wife," nagged at him.

At work, there were no other tasks but rhyme duties. And today was a day of fieldwork in a genre he had never tried before: trap music, also known as the dirty south.

"What kind of overtime pay do you get for this?"

There was no need to answer. The audience was already rewarding him with tremendous applause, a reward that couldn't be compared to any material thing.

"I'm Back. I'm Another. Next Level
My only interest is estrogen
I'll make you burn up with my rap alone
Don't believe me? Shall we test it right here?
After graduating from college, I wore a necktie,
But instead of white, it's black
My skin is yellow, but as you know,
When mixed with black, it all turns black."