Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Elkind Logan Heads to Korea
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To Yeonwoo, hip-hop was an unfamiliar genre.
Because he didn’t know much about it, he thought hip-hop was just all about those addictive beats.
On top of that, the hard-to-understand rap was the biggest barrier keeping Yeonwoo from getting into hip-hop.
But as time passed and his capacity to embrace all kinds of music—or anything, really—expanded, Yeonwoo started seeing hip-hop differently.
Maybe hip-hop was an art form where you created melody through rap over beats?
These days, just listening quietly, when some exquisite rhyme or flow hit him, Yeonwoo found himself unconsciously slapping his knee.
Lyrical lyrics were great, but rap was the pinnacle of wordplay.
How do they even come up with that stuff?
To Yeonwoo, who currently struggled just to write lyrics, it felt utterly amazing.
So lately, he’d been seeking out hip-hop more often, and he started thinking he wanted to give it a try himself.
Right on cue, he began considering his second album, and with that came the need for new experiences—which brought hip-hop to mind.
Might as well learn it properly or work on something.
And just then, Elkind Logan had proposed they collaborate.
This was an opportunity he had to seize.
But on the condition that instead of Yeonwoo going to America, Elkind Logan would come to Korea.
If the hip-hop kids in Korea found out, they’d freak out like Olivia Snow had.
The mighty Elkind Logan coming to Korea to work?
They’d never believe it.
Even if he brought proof and swore it was real, they’d deny it.
That’s how unreal Elkind Logan was.
Elkind Logan had started out in the underground using the name Wolverine, taken from the hero in the comic of the same name.
He was so skilled that everyone in the Midwest hip-hop scene talked about this monster called Wolverine.
A influential producer and MC from the Midwest scene, Malbrido, spotted him and launched him into the mainstream.
From there, he skyrocketed, spreading his name across the Midwest and then the entire US.
Debuting in 2009, he was named Best New Artist at the Grammys that year, racking up a total of 63 nominations and winning Best Rap Album for six straight years.
Then in 2020, when everyone thought he was past his prime, he dropped a sharpened comeback album that swept Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year—the Grammys’ top categories.
Now, with over 300 million albums sold, he was the best-selling hip-hop artist in history, an undeniable GOAT always mentioned when discussing the hip-hop scene’s greatest.
He was the king of Midwest hip-hop and the king of America.
And his legend was still unfolding.
While many artists faded with time, got called has-beens, or sold nostalgia with their old hits, he kept innovating and competing with the young hip-hop crowd.
At the top of that competition, he reigned supreme, earning everyone’s respect.
That’s the kind of person he was.
“You’re calling over someone like that? You’re really… fearless, or just don’t know any better since you’re young?”
Yeonwoo shrugged.
“If he didn’t want to, he’d have said no. He must have his reasons for agreeing to come, right?”
“That’s true.”
“But this guy’s impressive. He had a son at 15? And his granddaughter’s a year older than me. Should I call him Grandpa instead of sir?”
“He’s got some serious sense of responsibility. They say he’s never touched drugs because of his wife and son. After his granddaughter was born, he quit drinking and smoking too.”
“I see. Dad said he quit smoking after I was born.”
“That’s impressive. Quitting’s not easy.”
“You say it like you’ve actually quit something.”
“I’ve got my own dark past too.”
Brushing off Olivia Snow’s words, Yeonwoo picked up his phone.
“What for?”
“Gotta tell Aunt Jiyeong and Dad. Oh, should I tell HQ too? Aunt’ll handle it, right?”
“Yeah, she will. It’s big business, after all. Just tell Jiyeong and Jihoon, and they’ll take care of the rest?”
“Right. No, Dad’s the CEO anyway, so just tell him.”
If he told his aunt, she’d probably scream like Elkind Logan? That Logan? and shatter his eardrums.
Gotta protect these precious ears.
With that thought, Yeonwoo called his dad and let him know Elkind Logan was coming to Korea.
-What? El-Elkind Logan?!!
He hadn’t expected Dad to react like Aunt would.
-Why would he…?
“You know Elkind Logan too, Dad?”
-Who doesn’t? Back when Dad was young, everyone listened to him. He was the best. Still is, I think.
A dad who’d never cared about music but started studying it—not out of interest, but duty—once his son got into it knew who Elkind Logan was.
That said enough about how big he’d been from way back.
“Anyway, that’s the plan, Dad.”
-Hmm… Let me know the exact schedule when it’s set? We’ve gotta host him properly.
“Sure thing, Dad.”
Yeonwoo hung up and turned to Olivia Snow.
“What songs come to mind with Elkind Logan?”
“Hmm, 100 Degrees, Resurrection, Long Time… stuff like that.”
“What’s your favorite?”
“The one that shook my soul? Survival in Detroit, no question.”
Survival in Detroit was Elkind Logan’s autobiographical track about his rough days in the city that symbolized decline.
It was still a beloved classic.
“Let’s check that one out.”
Yeonwoo had listened to a few Elkind Logan songs, but Survival in Detroit was new to him.
It made sense—it was from his debut album, back when he was still Wolverine in the underground, right as he broke into the mainstream.
It never charted high, but it was a cult classic among hip-hop listeners even now.
The rhymes emphasizing “IN” from verse to hook stood out, but what was truly amazing was that the lyrics were born from freestyle rap on an underground stage.
Later, for a freestyle battle, he swapped out the generic beat for his own, but kept the lyrics intact for the album.
Trapped in the winter, fightin’ just to get in,
Lights flicker low, cold breath in the kitchen.
Hope’s gone thin, truth locked in the bin,
Trust no system, I write pain with a pen.
“Wow…”
The rhymes were killer, but hearing that raw Wolverine-era flow—so fast and unique—gave Yeonwoo chills.
This really was wordplay at its peak.
“Can’t wait to meet him.”
Eyes sparkling, Yeonwoo dove into Elkind Logan’s musical world.
* * *
Elkind Logan lived such a wholesome, straight-edge life that it was hard to believe he was from Detroit.
Well, not from childhood, but now he did.
At 7 a.m., he started his day with an hour on the StairMaster—called the Stairway to Heaven in Korea.
After his workout, he cooked for his family.
Usually, it was whole-grain bread with sliced organic avocado, a sauce of lemon and olive oil, and sunny-side-up eggs.
Sometimes he’d do natto with avocado as a salad, or Greek yogurt with berries.
It kept him full and settled until lunch.
He’d been doing this breakfast routine for years, even after his widowed son and family moved in.
But now, it had all changed because of the person he loved most in the world: his granddaughter.
“Ugh… it burst again.”
Lately, the breakfast he’d been tirelessly making was…
“How do you make kimbap without it bursting? Should I hire a Korean chef to learn?”
Kimbap.
Kimchi kimbap, at that.
Not Japanese kimbap or sushi—this was real kimbap, all for his granddaughter.
His 10-year-old granddaughter had stumbled on NGS music last year, fallen hard for K-pop, and become obsessed with Korean culture.
“Grandpa, I want kimbap for breakfast.”
This young grandfather in his late forties couldn’t say no to his granddaughter’s sparkling eyes.
At first, not knowing much, he just bought some.
He found it so balanced and healthy—better than his usual breakfast—and delicious too.
It looked easy, so he followed YouTube tutorials.
But it wasn’t.
No matter how many times he rolled, the kimbap sides still burst.
“Oh, this one turned out good.”
Now, though, out of every four, at least one came out right.
Once the kimbap was done, his granddaughter came down to the dining room before anyone else.
“Grandpa, good morning!”
“Hey, Mel. Good morning. What juice?”
“Orange, obviously!”
“You got it.”
He nodded, poured a full glass for Amelia—Mel for short—and handed it over with the kimbap.
Amelia took a sip of juice, then stuffed a big bite of kimbap and chewed.
She was so adorable, he watched with honey-dripping eyes—until he remembered something.
“Mel, I forgot to mention yesterday, but I’ve got good news.”
“What is it? Did Dad finally say he’d play catch?”
Elkind Logan, who’d had flawed parents himself, dreamed of playing catch with his son.
Even now with a granddaughter, it was his favorite thing.
“Nah, this is something you’ll love even more, Mel.”
“Me? Hmm, what could it be?”
As Amelia tilted her head, Elkind Logan said,
“I’m gonna work on music with Yuin.”
“…What? Yuin?! For real, Grandpa?!”
For Amelia, who loved K-pop more than anyone, her current ultimate fave was Yuin, no contest.
“Wow, Grandpa, you’re really amazing!”
Elkind Logan smiled awkwardly at that.
His granddaughter, who’d never grasped his legendary status, now realized it because of a collab with Yuin.
What a weird feeling.
He was the guy who’d ended the massive American diss war by spitting bars like, “I’m the hip-hop god you worship, so shut up and bow.”
A legend in hip-hop circles, but from before she was born—no matter how much he talked, she couldn’t feel it.
“So when’s he coming? We working here? Or at your studio? Huh?”
Elkind Logan snapped out of it and told Amelia,
“Nope, we’re going to Korea.”
“…What?!”
For 10-year-old Amelia Logan, the top bucket list item was a trip to Korea.
“You going alone, Grandpa?”
He was doing it.
Envy and excitement shone in his beloved granddaughter’s eyes as she looked at him.
Elkind Logan threw his shoulders back and said,
“Of course we’re going together, Mel.”
Amelia’s face lit up in ecstasy.
“What the…!”
“Stop right there. Don’t finish it. Where’d you learn that?”
They were going, but he’d have to tell his son to limit her YouTube and shorts.