RAP STAR

Chapter 123 [verse 20. Battle Rthyme]

“I wanted to see you because I heard something strange recently.”

"Strange sound?"

Dolphin had been in the show business for over ten years, counting from his debut at 19 to his current age of 27. It had been a long time, including his trainee days.

Most of the managers he used to be close with at debut were now team leaders or directors, and some of them had even become CEOs since debut. As a result, he could access more information than others and picked up a lot of things along the way.

However, the more Dolphin listened and knew, the more he kept his lips sealed. He understood the ecosystem of Korea's deformed showbiz, dominated by large agencies and major broadcasters.

Dolphin had made up his mind because he genuinely liked 888 Crew's music. The utopian music he had cherished for over ten years. The ideal team. The ideal appearance. All of that existed in 888 Crew.

Finally, Dolphin spoke up.

"Okyung Entertainment is targeting you."

"Oh... Casting offer? I received one after Round 1, but I declined it."

Sanghyun felt like he was about to hear something significant, but Dolphin's mention of Okyung Entertainment's story deflated his excitement. But Dolphin's story didn't end there.

"I know about that. Wasn't it Hong Kyungsoo who casted you?"

"Yes."

"I don't know everything... I'm not signed with Okyung Entertainment. But the information I came across is that your name is in the fixed budget allocation for the 2007 A&R project."

Sanghyun finally understood Dolphin's words and his expression changed. It's difficult for a large company's business plan to be fixed, especially if it's for two years later. Nevertheless, cases where it's fixed usually involve conservative and inertial businesses like the military or steel industry, or businesses that must be carried out regardless of any obstacles.

"Just my name? Or the entire 888 Crew?"

"Just your name."

Sanghyun pondered for a moment. Hong Kyungsoo's casting offer had also included Junhyung and Hayeon.

"Why just me?"

As Sanghyun contemplated, Dolphin continued.

"And this is something I'm not entirely sure about, but it seems to be related to Okyung Entertainment's internal politics. The media content department of Okyung Entertainment is about to become independent as Okyung Media. There's intense conflict between two factions over the current key position at Okyung Media. One side is led by Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo, and the other is by Assistant Manager Oh Yeonju, who comes from a wealthy family."

Sanghyun's eyebrows twitched at the unexpected mention of Oh Yeonju's name.

"So, what you're saying is there's a connection between internal politics and the attempt to cast me?"

"Well... I'm not sure. I came across the two pieces of information at different times and places. But there's a feeling, you know? That these people are connecting these two stories in their minds."

Sanghyun suddenly remembered the stories told by the indie kids. That the era of streaming was opening up and that musicians' positions were diminishing. Somehow, these three stories seemed to have a strange connection.

"If there's a connection between Assistant Manager Oh Yeonju and me, then it's nothing more than a compensation for the accident, right? I don't know the details, but it doesn't seem like Assistant Manager Oh Yeonju would handle things carelessly. Moreover, the story that she was promoted to Assistant Manager in just a few months isn't that bad either..."