This month’s cowl star is fast-rising Korean American MC pH-1, who’s blowing up like C-4 proper now and simply dropped a brand new 13-track album, BUT FOR NOW LEAVE ME ALONE, which is masterfully pieced collectively by his personal uncooked experiences.
After being born in South Korea, Park Jun-Gained moved to New York when he was 12 and began rapping as a youngster. After faculty he stored making tracks and releasing them on his Soundcloud, finally catching the eye of famous person Jay Park, who adopted him on IG and invited him to hitch his newly fashioned H1GHR MUSIC label.
By 2018 pH-1 was residing in Seoul, had blown up on the hit TV present ‘Present Me the Cash’ and even carried out reside at SXSW in Texas. It’s been a reasonably meteoric rise ever since, with extra TV appearances, collabs with the likes of Jay Park [again], SIK-Ok, RAMENGVRL, Haon, amongst many others, and profitable Greatest Music Video final yr on the Korean Hip Hop Awards. Now, pH-1 is called an elite lyricist and one of many largest names in Korean Hip Hop.
LiFTED has had our eye on him for over a yr and couldn’t wait to take a seat down with this famous person to seek out out what’s occurring and what’s subsequent. Let’s get to it!
Hey pH-1! What’s good, man? Thanks for taking the time out of your hectic schedule to take a seat down with us. Your loved ones moved to Lengthy Island, New York whenever you have been 12. What received you curious about Hip Hop again then? Who have been a few of your first Rap heroes? Why?
I believe it was solely pure that I took curiosity in Hip-Hop as a result of I grew up in New York. All the children have been listening to Eminem, 50 Cent, Chingy, Jay-Z, and so on. I don’t have “Rap heroes” per se, however I do keep in mind being very a lot impressed by watching 8 Mile with Eminem. One thing about coming from the gutter and following one’s ardour actually drew me in.
Going again to Korea to rap on the age of 26 was a courageous transfer. Did your mother and father help the transfer? Did you will have a back-up plan if issues didn’t work out?
My mother and father had at all times been in opposition to the thought of pursuing any art-related subject. I believe it’s primarily as a result of again of their days – and even right this moment – being an artist could be fairly unstable. However by the point I made a decision to maneuver to Korea for music, they have been supportive as a result of that they had already seen how depressing I used to be for the previous…God is aware of how lengthy. I believe they lastly gave in in some unspecified time in the future. I informed them that inside two years, if I don’t make any noticeable progress in my profession, I’d come again and get a job like everybody else. Thank God it labored out. Ha!
How did you hook up with Jay Park and Cha Cha Malone to start with of H1GHR Music?
I by no means stopped making music in New York. I uploaded my work on Soundcloud and made a number of music movies with my mates with no funds. Jay got here throughout a video that I did with a rapper named Rekstizzy and adopted me on IG. We began speaking after that. I met Cha Cha by means of Jay Park once I visited Korea.
You’ve performed quite a lot of collabs through the years with superb artists like RAMENGVRL, indigo la Finish, and quite a lot of different Korean rappers. Are there any Asian Hip Hop artists that you simply haven’t performed a collab with that you simply want to work with? Why?
I’d like to work with NIKI. I believe she is nice, and I can inform if we ever collaborated, it could mesh completely. I typically take pleasure in working with feminine vocalists as a result of I recognize when female and male voices mix. I imagine it creates a particular dynamic that lots of people can relate to and luxuriate in.
How did your efficiency on Present Me the Cash [SMTM] change your profession? With so many of those exhibits out, do you assume it’s a viable option to kickstart a Hip Hop profession?
At first I didn’t need to go on SMTM as a result of I hated the thought of a bunch of rappers ready in line to be judged by fellow rappers. However I’m glad I did as a result of it actually uncovered me to the vast majority of the Korean viewers. After the present my followers on IG skyrocketed and everybody began noticing who I used to be on the streets. That’s once I really realized the facility of mass media.
I do suggest – with a grain of salt – making the most of any sort of TV publicity to up and coming artists. However I believe what’s extra vital is what you do afterwards. It is advisable constantly launch high quality music as a substitute of dwelling in fame and changing into lazy as a result of it is going to die out rapidly.
What did you study over the 2 years of COVID-19 when the world was all of a sudden shut down and supposed to remain inside for many of that point? How will that have an effect on you going ahead?
I spotted how we, as people, took so many issues as a right. Easy issues like going exterior, socializing with mates, and having festivals have been issues I forgot have been so worthwhile. This made me need to give 200 % to each certainly one of my performances going ahead as a result of I need my followers and I to have unforgettable moments collectively.
In your newest single, ‘MR. BAD,’ you focus on the demons and temptations within the music enterprise. Have you ever ever been tempted to go off the rails? What occurred to maintain you in line or get you again on observe?
In fact. I battle with temptations each single day. There are occasions I do fall below strain, and there are occasions I’ve to maintain myself in examine. It’s an ongoing battle, however I positively make certain I by no means cross the road that may sabotage my relationships and my profession. To me it’s extra like a means of dealing with stress and discovering out extra about myself as a person, reasonably than merely feeding my greed or seeking pleasure.
You’ve received a brand new album popping out this month. Are you able to give us somewhat sneak preview of what it’s going to sound like? What have been a few of your influences when making this album? Any huge surprises?
I don’t even know describe the sound. It’s pH-1’s sound however way more mature and developed. For this album, I labored with producers I haven’t labored with earlier than to discover a fair greater spectrum of sounds. For instance, I believe folks have been fairly stunned to see that UMI can be featured on this album. I’m very completely satisfied about the way in which the album turned out, and I simply can’t wait til you all hear it.
Try pH-1’s ‘Zombies + Tipsy’ in addition to the album However For Now Depart Me Alone under.