RAP STAR

Chapter 97 [verse 15. Trend]

The members of 888 Crew were waiting for the PD of "Hip-Hop The Vibe" at a room cafe in the city. Since there weren't many cafes in Gwangju, the only quiet place to talk was in the city center.

"It's still undecided," Junhyung said, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Let's wait to hear more from the PD when he arrives. I only got a brief idea over the phone, but the concept of the show could change," Junhyung added.

The members of 888 Crew discussed whether their appearance on "Hip-Hop The Vibe 2" would be beneficial or not. However, as none of them were clear about the entertainment industry, they couldn't come to a definite conclusion. Even Sanghyun, who wasn't well-versed in the entertainment industry, found it hard to trust the myriad rumors and gossip he heard through the securities market.

However, Sanghyun knew to some extent what combining hip-hop with mass media could bring about. He was aware of how "Show Me The Money," which completely changed the Korean hip-hop scene, whether for better or worse, came into being after hip-hop had gained its cultural position around 2012. But now, in 2005 when hip-hop culture was just budding, the mindset of rappers, societal perceptions, and the pool of rappers were all different. Everything was different.

Nevertheless, Sanghyun hoped for a powerful trigger. He hoped that 888 Crew's emergence and advancement could accelerate the golden age of Korean hip-hop by a few years.

As Sanghyun pondered these thoughts, a casually dressed PD, Huh Taejin, arrived at the cafe. He looked to be in his early thirties.

"Are you guys from 888 Crew?" he asked.

"Hello, nice to meet you," they responded.

"Sorry for being late. I'm Huh Taejin, the PD from KM.NET," he introduced himself and handed out eight business cards.

"Whew, Gwangju is quite far," he remarked.

After exchanging brief pleasantries, Huh Taejin suggested waiting for coffee to arrive before getting into serious discussions. In the meantime, the members of 888 Crew couldn't contain their excitement. They talked about their recent mixtape release and occasional mentions of upcoming performances.

Huh Taejin quietly observed the group. Despite his presence, they seemed unfazed.

"They're quite confident," he thought to himself.

In fact, Huh Taejin had come to invite 888 Crew to Seoul for a meeting about the new program. However, when he mentioned it, Sanghyun casually replied that they were too busy preparing for their new program and suggested scheduling the meeting for another time.

Huh Taejin sensed a certain confidence in 888 Crew's attitude. Sanghyun's tone wasn't arrogant at all; it was rather matter-of-fact. It was different from how most underground teams would drop everything and rush over when they received a broadcast offer.

"Hip-Hop The Vibe" was just one option for 888 Crew. They weren't committed to it. They were simply curious about having another option. The more Huh Taejin investigated 888 Crew, the more he thought they would be a perfect fit for "Hip-Hop The Vibe 2."

"The coffee's here," announced the server, and the serious discussion between 888 Crew and Huh Taejin began.

The PD earnestly answered 888 Crew's questions, and he couldn't help but be impressed by Sanghyun's insight. He posed sharp questions that made Huh Taejin feel like he was presenting in front of executives.

"As far as I know, 'Hip-Hop The Vibe' ended due to low ratings, right?" Sanghyun inquired.

"Yes, that's correct. Although it had a strong fan base, the actual viewership ratings were terrible. Even the reruns on Saturday mornings at 12 AM did better than the original broadcast on Tuesday nights at 10," Huh Taejin explained.