Rapper and MKIT RAIN member BLOO answered some questions for us before the release of his album “It’s not Love I’m just Drunk.”
MKIT RAIN has certainly made their presence known in Korea’s hip-hop scene. The label of friends and like minds has established themselves as one of the most unique crews in South Korea. (By virtue of them all being from the States, it’s easy to see how they’ve managed to distinguish themselves.)
Rapper BLOO is a huge reason why the crew has set themselves apart from much of the scene. He’s got a darker edge to his sound that seems to balance out the various parts of MKIT RAIN’s aesthetic. Before the release of his latest album, “It’s not Love I’m just Drunk,” BLOO took some time to let fans of his in to his world, if only just a bit.
Origins & Inspirations
Could you introduce yourself to our readers?
What’s up guys, it’s your badboy BLOO.
What made you want to make music?
The fact that music has the power to change someone’s life made me want to become a rapper/singer.
What about rap music inspired you?
I mean, I love every kind of music: K-pop to EDM. They all have different kind of mood and its own vibe to it.
I read that you’re a fan of Tupac, Biggie, and 50 Cent. You’re also a fan of Kanye West. What about them inspires you?
My fave one is actually 50 Cent. I love his songs, vibe. He writes gangster music to love songs, so his music spectrum is pretty big.
How did you come up with your stage name?
All my fave rappers’ nicknames [were] “bad boy,” so I combined “bad boy” and my sister’s nickname “loo.”
How did you meet nafla?
We had the same class in high school. He was a senior, and I was a freshman.
How did you meet niahn?
He was nafla’s best friend.
Feeling Lost
You lived in the States for a long time. What were your feelings when you moved back to Korea?
I felt kinda lost cus I did not know much about Korea even though I was born here. So I had a pretty hard time adjusting.
In the past you’ve talked about almost giving up on being a rapper because of the hate you received. Was there something specific someone said that pushed you to the point of wanting to quit?Honestly anyone who says bad things hurts my feelings, but what can I do?
What made you decide to keep going?
Because I’m happiest when I do music or when I’m on the stage.
Because there are always going to be people who speak negatively, how do you deal with the negative comments?
I really don’t know how to deal with those things. I have to figure it out.
Hip Hop with a “K”
What do you think is the biggest difference between hip hop in the States and hip hop in Korea?
I think hip hop in the States just has a bigger scene compared to Korea. Other than that I think it’s almost the same.
What do you think about the rap scene in Korea?
It’s getting bigger, so I think it’s good.
Do you think there’s something about you that makes you stand out from other rappers in Korea?
I’m not sure. I’m just doing what I can. Just doing music. I try to make my own original sound though.
If there was something you could change about rap in Korea, what would it be?
Nothing ahah.
Darker Mood
Your music is really moody. Almost dark. Do you make darker music on purpose? Or does it just happen to be that way?
I don’t really make music on purpose. I probably was in a darker mood, so that’s why it came out like that.
Many of your videos show you drinking heavily and partying. Is there a reason for that?
Um, not really. There’s no reason for that.
“Hennessy” talks about drinking as if there’s no tomorrow to relieve stress. Do you think that’s something a lot of people can relate to?
It depends I guess, but I think alcohol makes me feel numb, that’s why I drink it.
“boyfromthemoon” seems like a song expressing your isolation. It’s also the most personal song you’ve made so far. What made you write this song?
[The] song itself explains everything. I was feeling alone but strong at the same time.
The video also shows someone suffering from addiction and some inner demons. Did you come up with the idea for the video? Is this your way to express some things about yourself?
Yes, me and my directors come up with the idea together, and that’s one way to express my feeling.
What songs of yours do you think best express who you are?
“I Am,” from “Downtown Baby” and “So Rude.”
“It’s not Love…”
Could you tell us a bit about your latest EP?
It’s about love. Love about my friends, my family, girls, and dogs and cats.
Your first EP, “BLOO IN WONDERLAND”, was very focused on bad romance, heartbreak, and unreturned love. Is that something you’re going to explore some more in your next EP?
I guess so, but it got upgraded.
The music on “BLOO IN WONDERLAND” was really dark. Are you going to continue to use dark themes in the production? Or are you going in a different direction?
I think it’s slightly different, but I think it’s still very moody.
Are there any special collaborations on this EP?Nope, I didn’t use any featuring. Maybe I should do some collaborations on my next album.
In a previous question I said “boyfromthemoon” seems very personal. Is this new EP going to focus more on your personal life/personal experiences?
Every song is from my personal life or my personal experiences, so yes.
What’s your favorite song on the new EP and why?
Song called “Haru Ah-chim.”
What was the hardest song to make on the EP and why?
“To.dream” was hardest song to finish. I cried so much while writing it.
What’s the biggest impression you want listeners to get from this EP?
I hope you can relate to my feelings. That’s all. Feel the hate, feel the love and fear, cus we are all going through same stuff. ENJOY!
Any final thoughts?
I can’t wait to see my fans all around the world. I’ll get more famous and I’ll come see you guys.