Interview with P-type, the man behind the #DoTheRightRap campaign
• Who is P-type? Tell us a few words about you and the beginning of your career.
Hello, I’m P-Type, a Korean Hip Hop MC as well as the son of a drummer of a Korean psychedelic-rock band in the 70s. I was born in 1979 and it’s been around 15 years since I started my career. I officially debuted 10 years ago in 2004 with the release of LP <Heavy Bass>.
• When we listen to your music we can feel that you are attached to old school hip hop, but you also explored other different styles, especially in your 3rd album “RAP”. Which state of mind were you in while working on this album?
My intention for my first album was to re-create the 1990s sound /vibe in Korea, considered the golden era for US Hip Hop as well as a foundation for my growth ( I still believe that this sound and form of Hip Hop is the most original). From my second album <The Vintage>, I wanted to be more experimental. With this I tried my best to suppress the sounds based on sampling and djing and tried to harmonize with more traditional instruments. From then, I was always interested in applying rap as a vocal technique to diverse music genres. I started opening up to diverse genres as I would try out local food in travels to different cities. I still enjoy Spanish Flamingo music or North European music. After I released my second album, I was out of the music industry for about 5 years. My comeback album last year was my 3rd album, <RAP>. As much as I’ve had quite some time before my come back, I focused on adjusting to different styles of music I hadn’t come across for 5 years, rather than setting a specific goal and striving to achieve it. That was also the reason behind the naming of my album, as I wanted to just show ‘P-Type’s RAP’, nothing less and nothing more, rather than trying to express a certain direction. I wanted to apply my rap to diverse styles of Hip Hop, and even to music that were beyond the boundaries of Hip Hop.
• We listened to your latest solo release, Timberland 6”. Among the American hip hop legends you mentioned in the lyrics, who would be your first choice for collaboration?
Nas and Wutang Clan. It would be every MC’s dream to get beats DJ Premier or Pete Rock. However, Dynamic Duo has recently rapped to Preemo’s beat, and lifelong role models like Rakim or KRS-ONE have already worked with Korean musicians as well. I think that leaves us with Nas and Wutang. Who in our time would not be a fan of Nas or Wutang? Nas’ <N.Y. State of Mind> is my favorite song that I mention in all my interviews, and Wutang… haven’t you seen my recent picture uploaded?
• As one of the witnesses to the emergence of hip hop in South Korea, you have been able to observe the evolution of the movement. How would you describe today’s Korean hip hop scene compared to what it used to be like when you debuted?
The size is getting bigger, the quantity is increasing, and it is more accessible. With this, there might be less concern. With this change, there are still those that are proving themselves with quality, but there are a lot less serious thinking about would be really dope like in the past. Rather, they are trying to copy those that are famous right now. Back ago, it was common that everyone was trying to do their own thing even if it wasn’t that cool. I don’t understand why everyone’s trying to copy when it’s a time when people can be cooler than ever. Another problem I want to point out is the fact that everyone enters the scene thinking that Hip Hop is a genre that can make money. It’s actually beyond music, being a culture and a lifestyle in itself. More people want to do Hip Hop music, but it feels like there’s less people who want to live Hip Hop.
• This interview would not be complete without talking about “Do the Right Rap”. Pretty much everyone in the underground scene has heard about this campaign. How was this idea brought to life?
It first started with Bullhandang Crew’s DJ Skip and I. He currently is managing a clothing line called HSQD, and this summer’s new design was where ‘Do The Right Rap’ first came out. It was a parody idea from Spike Lee directed ‘Do The Right Thing’. But this message of ‘Do The Right Rap’ was too powerful, and I couldn’t go by without making it into a song. I’m currently working on my 4th album, and I’m planning to have it as one of the tracks. My good friend MC Huckleberry P participated, and when we were almost done with the track, we started thinking about ways to further spread the message. So I personally thought of the idea. Make a platform, open a rap competition different from the previous ones, cooperate with media channels, make new contents, and donate after the tour. I thought an individual or group taking the profits from this campaign would be meaningless. This isn’t a commercial campaign to make money,[ but a campaign just for ‘right rap’. The money made from this should be used for the ‘right thing’.
• We all have our own definition of what « the right rap » is. What would be yours?
I think everyone’s result of deeply thinking what right rap is all right rap.
• Recently the campaign received negative attention regarding a diss track by a rookie uploaded to the platform. What do you think about this issue?
At first, we didn’t really think much of it. Do The Right Rap was made to bring out a lot of ‘right rap’ as well as hip hop’s original swag, so we thought tracks that weren’t relevant to the campaign wouldn't receive a lot of attention. But the problem came from the unconditional hate that came from the fans of the star that was being dissed. The hate was directed to me, Huck P, and even all the other contestants of the campaign that were not relevant to the diss track itself. It was as if the original intention of, and the tracks that came out from the campaign were being contained by that particular issue.
I think the diss track by the rookie k pop star was a result of thinking how that person could receive the spotlight rather than a result of thinking what right rap is. It’s simple. It is totally irrelevant to our campaign. I hope it doesn't receive further attention, even to the fans of the star that was dissed, since it is their attention the creator of the track wanted in the first place.
• Is it a coincidence that the campaign/competition was launched around the same time as Mnet’s TV program “Show me the money 3”? 15 years ago, had you ever actually imagined that one day a rap show would be broadcast on Korean TV?
It was pure coincidence that DTRR started aroud the same time as SMTM3. The day we announced the campaign was even the 25st anniversary for the movie ‘Do The Right Thing’ by coincidence. After we finished mastering the track, we heard the news that it was the anniversary for the movie. We thought it was destiny and we hurriedly released it that day. Then we learned it overlapped with SMTM3. I think it’s all a fun coincidence. 15 years ago, a lot of people didn’t even really know Hip Hop lol. Hip Hop TV show? We couldn’t even get a 2PAC CD at a local CD shop. I’m still amazed that a time has come when such a program is airing in this country.
• More and more people have been using hip hop culture as a tool for change everywhere in the world, and this campaign is another example of hip hop being used for a great cause. What do you think hip hop can bring to society (or more specifically South Korean society)?
I think Korean society is very inflexible. I think it’s because it’s a country with a complex past. Confucianism wasn’t purely kept as our society went through Japanese Colonization and the Korean War. It’s not like everyone thoroughly learns that stuff at home or at school. I think the root of our society’s problems comes from the fact that we didn’t go through the process of modernization independently, and ideologies and systems like democracy and capitalism came from outside forces like the US. I think people criticizing Confucianism-Conservatism as the origin of society’s problems when Confucianism rituals and traditions aren’t really that much present anymore represents this. They’re saying we failed at modernization ‘because of Confucianism’, and putting all the blame in that direction. It’s this kind of mindset that makes people in our society obsess over rankings and where I am in that ranking. In result this has made the whole education system focus and aim for ‘college entrance’, and made it the one and only purpose. After entrance exams end, everyone is thrown back in the game in the competition for getting a job at a conglomerate company.
Personally I think this is where Hip Hop can come in regarding influencing society directly. Not being intervened by any societal problems but raising your own voice. Because that’s what Hip Hop swag is. So to be honest, I don’t really like any form of competition but DTRR competition seemed like a good way for people to really think deeply about the ‘right swag’ and ‘right rap’. So, the ranking for this competition isn’t really important. If you just truly thought about it, then its right rap or will be doing right rap.
• A producer you would like to work with?
• A rookie artist we should keep an eye on?
Deepfry (a beat maker of Korea)
• A country you would love to hold your 1st international solo concert in?
First thing is first… Tokyo.
• One word to sum up your rap journey so far?
• One word to describe what hip hop means to you?
• France also has its share of hip hop artists. Have you ever heard any French rap songs?
I know MC Solaar and Les Nubians.
• What do you think the Korean hip hop scene will be like in 10 years? Do you think you will still be in the game by then or do you have other plans?
As long as I’m into music, I’ll be in the Hip Hop scene. Like my last 5 years I was away, I don’t ever plan to leave Hip Hop again. I plan to expand into other areas of business or look for way that can spread influence within the scene.
• Lastly, do you have a message for Under K-HipHop readers?
It has been 10 years since the birth of Hip Hop in Korea. It could be viewed as both a short and long time. Hip Hoppers in the Far East are people trying to live Hip Hop with music, dance, and art. I hope people go beyond just consuming our music and enjoy our movement in settling the culture here. I look forward to the day when I’ll be rapping in Paris with you guys. May “the Peace” be with you.
Thanks P-type for answering our questions, and Brand New Music for their precious help!
> FRENCH/KOREAN VERSION HERE
