haesorrie

[haesorrie]

Three Idiots

It seemed like a stroke of luck - somewhat - to meet these two hyungs in my lifetime.

I was a relatively naive guy who had a knack for Digital Audio Workstations and what people, to this day still, think is a unique voice. I wouldn’t even have realized if it wasn’t for that time when I won a singing competition in my younger years. I entered out of curiosity and a desire to satisfy my parents since they were so excited for me to participate. Many people came to me after and told me they didn’t know I could sing. It was a strange achievement for me because I knew I liked drawing more than I do singing. But I admit, little Haesol lapped up on those compliments and tried to dive headfirst into this strange world of music. Discovered hip-hop in school and borrowed his mother’s laptop to make noises that would be the cause for the neighbors to come knocking, never once did he think that he’d become who he is today.

Their stories, on the other hand, are a little bit more different. 

Simon hyung, actual name Jeong Ki-seok, made his way from Busan to Seoul to follow his hip-hop dreams. He’s your original rags to riches story aside from our very own Dok2. I recall his stories of coming to Seoul with close to nothing in his pockets, nearly living in the streets as he nurtures his ambitions secretly since his parents believed he decided to move to the capital to pursue academics instead of spitting bars. A story of friendship, love, and dreams - I always find it enchanting how he came together with a group of street MCs and formed a brotherhood like no other, at the same time meeting with a street-smart lady who showed him the ropes of the big city life. With their help, he found his way into the spotlight and almost tasted the glory he craved for so long. Eventually all of these unexpected fortune did collapse to ruin. Yet he still managed to keep his prideful Busan spirit and held his head up high - at the same time giving back to those who helped him out by upholding truth in spite of all the rumors that spill out of people’s lips.

I regard Simon hyung highly in this way. That’s why I was surprised when he first called me up to collaborate for his new album. I accepted without thinking much. He would always share with me his street wisdom from that moment on and eventually led me to the biggest contracts of my life. 

He, too, introduced me to Sungbin hyung, also known as Beenzino. Another regular boy hailing from just a little further off capital, Gyeonggi-do. He’s as odd as the two of us, with the added talent of English that he acquired after living in New Zealand for some time. I couldn’t recall exactly how I met him, but I’m pretty sure Simon hyung was in the scene. They were both in Illest Konfusion, a name fitting for the group of people they represent, a mix of dialects, a mix of charisma, a mix of talents - it’s confusing, but an “ill” kind. 

...I try.

Surprised I was to hear that he’s heard of my music and I his, I think a natural desire to collaborate followed. And after getting to know him, I found out he’s not that much different from me after all.

However, his hip-hop ambitions started way earlier than mine. As early as the time he was in elementary school and trying to write lyrics. His childhood seemed an ordinary one against the backdrop of Yangpyeong rice fields. Like any other Korean kid, spent his days studying when his father comes home and visited the city on weekends. In his spare time, he’d be listening to songs he collected or finding new ones. The only thing extraordinary about his life is New Zealand. Or at least, I think it’s cool. He, on the other hand, recounts that period in his life as nothing more but a fleeting moment. I say that he’s not much different from me because he too has a penchant for drawing. I find it funny how I spent more time on visual arts and yet he managed to get himself an arts degree from one of the nation’s top universities (I may be a bit jealous). He told me that he lives in his own little world and works on his own terms. Yet, his talent got himself involved with like-minded people and in collaborations that helped him grow. He even got to know those he admire through these happy coincidences. Even until now, he’s still in his own world.

I must emphasize. Meeting the two of them was a stroke of luck. When I think back on it, I keep wondering what are the likelihood of three young men meeting and becoming the best of friends in this bustling city? There’s so many people that pass us by, and yet somehow we’ve come to find ourselves mucking about together - be it back stage, on stage, or in the studio.

Ultimately, we all went our own ways. We found our successes as time goes by, much thanks to the help of those that love us, support us, and of course - each other. We realize that with success comes more responsibilities. I’s not as easy as back then to just hang around, but we really wouldn’t have it any other way.

One’s a so-called chart killer that has a track recognized and loved by the nation.

One’s a confidant to one of the nation’s most popular hip-hop labels’ CEO.

One’s an artist and musician that’s still doing life in his own ways, despite his fame.

It’s weird, isn’t it? 

...well...D’ZonionZ 5eva, man.

[haesorrie]