Brand New EP
"So, got anyone in mind?"
"......I did."
"And now?"
"Well, that's the thing."
Around this point, it was worth recapping the timeline: it was now the third week of July. Schools were on the cusp of summer break. At the same time, it was the start of hip-hop's biggest festival season.
"They all ditched to prep for Show Me."
"Ah."
The survival audition for rappers who truly rep hip-hop: Show Me. This was its seventh season. Sure, there was plenty of controversy, but it had undeniably become a gateway to the hip-hop scene.
"They took video submissions from June through early July, so filming's probably in full swing by now."
"Everyone's gotta be swamped prepping for auditions."
"Yeah, pretty much."
It was the fastest track to becoming a rising star in hip-hop.
Silence followed. Kang Saero, deep in thought, suddenly panicked.
"Wait, are we screwed?"
"No. I mean, not that bad."
"No, wait, this is just like prepping for Bless last time."
Kang Saero laid out some realistic advice.
"Show Me season hits around September, right? It'll run straight through year-end."
"Yeah."
"So dropping a hip-hop track then would just get buried. We need to be ready to release by now, at the latest."
She had a point. Even Bless felt rushed schedule-wise. As a seasonal track, it had to align with summer vibes, and later it competed on charts with Star's Birth.
"That's why I've got a plan for that too."
"What's that?"
I explained the rough outline, and Kang Saero was impressed.
"Ooh."
"What do you think? Solid, right?"
"Praying some applicants drop out and fall into the fire pit? That's straight-up evil."
I had plenty of artists lined up. But Show Me had snatched them away. My plan: scoop them up as they get eliminated.
"Then drop a demo lightning track style."
"A demo version won't chart, though."
Would it, though?
"While prepping the official recording, we go head-to-head with Show Me."
I figured it was doable. I had a list of targets, more than a couple I'd already reached out to.
"At least one'll drop out."
"Ugh, you're so bad."
That's when Yu Jeuni stirred awake.
Rustle.
Flinch.
"Ugh.... Wha?"
The cushion clutched tight in her arms tumbled to the floor. The blanket draped over her slid down.
She looked like a national treasure waking up in a wildlife sanctuary after a tranquilizer dart—like pure instinct.
"What...."
This wasn't the time for hip-hop debates. I quickly closed the distance to Yu Jeuni.
She blinked blankly and mumbled without thinking.
"Wha, what? He's hot."
"Pardon?"
That's the first thing that pops into her head in this situation?
Ah. Nope. Gotta set this straight for real this time.
"Noona, you didn't black out, right?"
"Hmm...."
Yu Jeuni scrunched her face and propped herself up on the sofa. She looked at me and fired off a super short question.
"Who're you?"
Huh?
"Aah! Kim Seryeon from Star's Birth! Huge fan!"
That's not a blackout; that's amnesia.
Scratch scratch.
What the—why's she digging under the blanket like that?
Before I could react, Yu Jeuni grinned innocently, harmless as a kid.
"Hehe. Kidding."
"......You gotta remember giving the sample clearance."
"Yeah, I remember everything. But."
"But?"
"Ugh. Water...."
Kang Saero quickly handed over a bottle.
"Here, unnie. Feeling okay inside?"
"Uh.... Thanks, Saero."
Gulp gulp.
After sipping cautiously like a small animal, Yu Jeuni suddenly declared,
"I wanna go home."
"Gasp. Can you get home alone?"
What did Kang Saero take her for? She was mid-20s; of course she could.
Yu Jeuni wobbled up from the sofa.
"Apgujeong's close. Taxi'll do."
"Get home safe."
Under Kang Saero's mom-mode care, Yu Jeuni nodded.
"And the guitar's heavy, so I'll leave it again today."
"Can't you take it this time?"
Shake shake. Her twin tails swayed.
"Keep this up, and I'll sell it on the secondhand market."
"Hm."
No reaction this time. Did she really not care?
Yu Jeuni stood, took slow steps toward the door.
"The sampling was killer. Send me the finished beat."
Click.
The door opened with a soft creak and shut.
And just like that, sample clearance and the rough plan for what came next were done.
* * *
Time flew after that.
"Whoa, summer break's finally here."
"Days like this do come around."
School had entered summer vacation.
"Another new piece of gear."
"Gear matters for composing."
"You're gonna turn this into a full pro studio at this rate."
The studio was filling up with lived-in touches and fresh equipment, bit by bit.
And I spent more time at home watching TV.
A normal middle schooler would've been buried in cram school, but my story was different. I'd already proven I could make a living with my current skills.
Another peaceful day in the corner of home. The TV in the living room was blasting promos for an upcoming show.
- Yo!
- Hey!
- RIP X!!!
- Damn, he's good.
- Raps fire.
Clips of countless rappers and producers intercut.
Then blazing flames and blingy chain necklaces filled the screen.
Boom!
My mom, Lee Hyeseon, gave her curt take.
"Looks fun."
"For real, Mom?"
I asked her about hip-hop.
She admitted she didn't know much, but as an audition show, she'd give it a watch.
The reason was obvious.
"Just make the winner again, right?"
Ji Soeun had won Star's Birth.
"Ji Soeun won 'cause of that too."
"No, that's not—."
It was old news, but Mom still thought it was my doing. Best case, butterfly effect—but really, Ji Soeun was just that talented.
"Reel in someone like Ji Soeun."
"I didn't reel her in...!"
"C'mon, it's business. Your Bless track blew up more thanks to her."
True, but it got complicated in all sorts of ways.
"So we're doing hip-hop as business this audition season too."
How'd she know?
I'd kept the hip-hop project secret from Mom. Felt embarrassing, so I changed the subject lamely.
"How do you reel in an overseas male rapper?"
"And you use formal speech with Ji Soeun? Casual with me."
"Uh, that's—."
Come to think of it, yeah.
I was stumped.
"You're family."
"Ji Soeun might become family too."
"That's—."
My mom, Lee Hyeseon. 12-year melodrama veteran. Lately hooked on auditions. Playful, great at broadcast narrative, pro at love lines. Just a midlife audition stan.
"So what’s Ji Soeun up to these days?"
"Dunno."
"Hehe, you two must be texting on the sly."
"We’re not. She’s an idol."
"Heard she’s going solo."
Even as my mom, her instincts were scary sharp. 'Cause yeah, Ji Soeun had been texting nonstop lately.
Almost the same texts.
So exhausted.... Keeps sending them.
Star's Birth had fully wrapped, but her schedule still sounded brutal. Unavoidable. For contestants who'd shone on air, this was when the real grind started—especially for the winner.
I'd reply short and sweet each time, keeping the connection without overdoing it. Not too sweet. Real-friend vibes. Perfect distance.
Wanna poison someone with pufferfish venom....
But what're you up to, Seryeon?
Aaah. Didn't wanna broadcast it, but with the lightning track drop imminent, I spilled early to Ji Soeun.
For real???
After a quick chat, back to hip-hop focus. Korea's biggest hip-hop community, Hip-Hop EP, was naturally buzzing with Show Me bait.
Whoa, from Star stan to Show Me
Chart #3 Bless composer Kim Seryeon hiding his face to rap, huh?
Mask to get judged on music only whoa
Ji So mask grand slam audition?
└ Kinda genius
└ Audition double crown lololol
No. Looking closer, it was bait about me.
Mask? Why's the story twisting like that?
And classic internet: rumors flip on the dumbest triggers.
Hip-hop's different tho
Genre diffs mean be cautious ig? Show Me szn n all
Level up and boom new player. Young too, hyped
The next post was straight-up all about me now. Perfect.