RAP STAR

Chapter 132 [verse 25. Star]

After AIMMF, there were some small changes. Until then, 888 Crew had appealed mainly to teenagers, people in their twenties, and a minority of thirties who loved hip-hop culture. Even among teenagers and people in their twenties who enjoyed 888 Crew's music, there were quite a few who didn't know much about the team itself.

Of course, Hip Hop The Vibe was a big hit, but cable channels in 2005 didn't have the same influence as those after 2010. In the broadcasting industry, it was evaluated that cable channels gained cultural influence comparable to terrestrial channels after Superstar K in 2009. Moreover, there were more people who had reservations about the hip-hop culture that 888 Crew was involved in than expected.

The hip-hop culture they thought of wasn't much different from the gangster rappers made in Hollywood movies. Despite 888 Crew advancing the timeline, it wasn't until 2014 that such hip-hop culture truly rose to the mainstream. In that sense, the news and newspapers, as transmission media, helped spread their name in fields that 888 Crew hadn't covered before.

This was because of the positive coverage of 888 Crew by poet Choi Hak-rim in major newspapers and on CBC Broadcasting's news desk. On the Hip Hop Alley bulletin board, there were various debates for a while about how famous 888 Crew really was.

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- These people here might seem to make 888 Crew look extremely famous because they like hip-hop, but overall, that's not the case. Just my mom alone doesn't even know about 888 Crew.
- Around me, everyone knows 888 Crew.
- How old are you?
- I'm in 11th grade.
- It's famous among high school students. You can't even go to Daehangno without hearing 888 Crew's songs in pubs.
- What are you talking about? Of course, 888 Crew didn't register their music, so it doesn't play.
- Didn't they release a few songs? I think I saw them on music sites.
- Those aren't party play tracks. Do you want to hear "Move" at a pub? If you listen to that song, it feels like you should study.
- That's right. If you listen to those songs, you feel like you should move. It feels wrong to party.
- That song plays when we eat at our school. The broadcasting club crazy folks keep playing that song. There's still a year left until the college entrance exam, it's so annoying.
- And your college entrance will be a daydream.
- Hahaha.
- Welcoming sometimes plays in Gangnam clubs. But DJs always mix it with Linkin Park songs. Strictly speaking, the two music genres are different.
- What's the difference? Aren't they the same?
- The main genres are different. Welcoming is rap metal, and Linkin Park should be seen as metal with rap elements.
- But one thing for sure is that 888 Crew isn't a typical underground team. First of all, 888 Crew is known by a lot of Gwangju people and baseball fans. Even older people know about it. If typical hip-hop teams only target hip-hop fans, 888 Crew targets a much broader audience. Thanks to Hip Hop The Vibe, the market has expanded even more.
- But you guys are really funny. Did 888 Crew do music for 5 years? Or 10 years? It's only been a year, but is it meaningful to debate how famous they are? Isn't "becoming more famous" the right answer?
- That's right. They're becoming more famous. To be precise, they're spreading their name even to non-hip-hop fans. My dad recently saw 888 Crew on the news and asked if they were Chinese singers because there are a lot of singers with 8 in their names in China.
- Originally, 8 is a lucky number in China. The pronunciation of the number 8 is similar to the pronunciation of "making money." So if you set the price at 88 or 888 won, even stubborn old ladies won't bargain.
- But I hope 888 Crew doesn't become famous. It feels a bit like being robbed.
- One thing for sure is that 888 Crew is a team that appeals very well regardless of fame. Should I say their fans' loyalty is high?
- If you saw 888 Crew busking at AIMMF, you can't help but feel that way. The performance that day was legendary. I'm already excited to brag to my friends when school starts.
- Did you see the busking? It was so much fun.