Crush

DPR LIVE - Coming to You Live (album cover)

DPR LIVE – Coming To You Live (Full Album Review)

Read our exclusive album review for DPR LIVE‘s debut album [Coming To You Live] written by our guest writer Cy.

[x_button shape=”rounded” size=”regular” float=”none” href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/coming-to-you-live/id1216914815?at=1001l8LW” target=”blank” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover”]’Coming To You Live’ on iTunes[/x_button]


Back in March 2017, rapper DPR LIVE in collaboration with Dream Perfect Regime (DPR) released his debut EP titled [Coming To You Live]. For those unfamiliar with DPR, it’s not so much a record label—described in their own words as “an independent, multi-genre music and video group.” More it’s a studio conceived as a means to experiment with audio and visual imagery. The studio is set to reimagine what it means to create music videos and release music in South Korea, expanding the expectations of the respective artforms and forcing a completely new perspective on the craft. Using DPR LIVE as their bullhorn was a stroke of sheer genius.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRpJgA2g8Ge/?taken-by=dprlive

 

In case you missed it: HiphopKR Exclusive Interview with DPR LIVE

 

Track 1: Cheese & Wine

This opening track gives you about ten seconds to prepare, asking “You ready?” before a series of “Cools,” as if DPR LIVE has to psyche himself up. Then he gives a low, “Alright, cool,” and the mind just goes blank! What starts as a simple skip-beat becomes something from another universe as the song reaches its zenith. The beat’s so complex, so all-encompassing, it runs the risk of overshadowing the actual vocal. However, the chaos and fire in DPR LIVE’s delivery fits the scattered and broken beat as if the music itself is pouring out of him as he spits a verse. It’s more than just a beat here. We have elements of very old-school soul, syncopation that can only come from the fists and feet of a live drummer. Overlaid on top of a very wavy synthesized melody, the beat becomes heavy in the chest, a deep thump indicative of the bass and the tom-tom. The thick complexity of the composition actually houses a very simple message—a man’s desire to “drown in” a lover, the romance of an evening of “cheese and wine,” her beauty elegant in candlelight, brings out the poet in DPR LIVE: “Let me drown in you.” All elements combine to create an absolute smash of a song. Rookies, take note. This is the way you start an album.

 

Track 2: Laputa (ft. Crush)

A fascinating aspect of the album is just how much is packed into the production and lyricism. It makes sense that DPR LIVE would want to get as much of himself and his vision on his debut EP as possible. Boy, does he go for it!

With the second track we delve a bit deeper into not only his lyrical prowess, but his understanding of story and the connecting strands of a narrative. The production is scaled back to focus on DPR LIVE’s storytelling. In “Cheese & Wine” he proclaims a desire to drown in the divinity of his lover. “Laputa” is really quite fascinating in its multiple meanings. While the word itself could be seen as more of an insult than anything (separating the word into two parts gives us a derogatory term in Spanish), it’s more likely DPR LIVE was likening her body to something otherworldly, as in the Island in the Sky of Gulliver’s Travels, or possibly more relevantly Hayao Miyazaki‘s Castle in the Sky, a city kept aloft by magic.

Though I’m not entirely sure his intention was to delve deeper into either the story or the film’s meanings, obviously DPR LIVE wanted to make the point that there was something ethereal about her body, something not quite of this world… visible but not within his grasp. Even taking into consideration the less than flattering first interpretation (which considering lyrics like, “You don’t understand, girl, you mean with it,” and “I know you can’t wait ’til I ease in it,” it’s not far-fetched), the idea of something unattainable, paying for a fantasy, for company still lingers in the way the notes are delivered. With the addition of the percussive smoothness of Crush’s vocal, and his added proclamation that she “make[s] me feel like I’m in your arms” and “make[s] me feel secure,” there’s certainly a feeling of the divine providing both wonder and comfort.

 

Track 3: Right Here Right Now (ft. Loco, Jay Park)

Again, DPR LIVE expresses a keen desire to wrap himself in his lover. The chorus says it all: “Girl, I so wanna fly with you, just wanna die with you, maybe go drown with you.” Whomever his love interest is, he doesn’t want to live in a world that doesn’t have her in it. There are multiple references to his wanting to drown with his lover, the idea of flying, as in away from the world, even going so far as to say, “…just wanna die with you.” The track’s very fatalistic, whether he intended it to be or not. One could say DPR LIVE’s bordering on obsession with his lover. Even the mumbled “Alright, cool” that finds its way into every song isn’t as strong a link connecting each track on the album as his dedication to his lover. Loco adds another dimension of aggressiveness to the song, a rough texture mean to probably ease the sentimentality. However, Jay Park’s feature counteracts this gruffness, adding a bit of cloying sweet to complex big-band beat.

 

Track 4: Know Me (ft. Dean)

More than any other track on the album “Know Me” makes it clear DPR LIVE favors Southern hip-hop, adding a curl to his vowels most commonly heard in Memphis rappers. Beyond that biscuits and gravy growl, there’s the intriguing feature. Not because it’s Dean, per se. He’s done enough features in the past two years for his voice to almost become commonplace in a lot of lesser-known artists’ tracks. However, of his guest appearances, his work with DPR LIVE is arguably his best. It’s most certainly his most aggressive, even when reaching for the falsetto and twisting his melismatic follow-through around certain notes, there’s a darkness there that isn’t present in any of his other cameos—and few of his own tracks. The marriage between the crunch and snarl of DPR LIVE’s delivery, his unabashed egoism, and Dean’s drop of earnest soul creates a track that’s as layered and nuanced as the music that houses it.

Even more intriguing is the connection between this song and the opening number. Even wrought with bravado, the imagery of drowning in a lover, “loving that body right.” It seems DPR LIVE’s penchant for the aggressive is tempered by a sensitivity to touch, an awareness of the almost liquid sensuality inherent in the way lovers relate. Wavy, audacious, curving at the edges, even in an album that stands out among most releases in the past five months, this is a standout track. Perhaps not as explosive as “Cheese & Wine,” but certainly a complex creation of raw energy and pure R&B.

 

Track 5: Please (ft. Kim Hyoeun, G2, Dumbfoundead)

Of course, as is commonplace with most rappers, DPR LIVE gets back to the business of asserting his manhood. It’s overt and not the least bit subtle, but somewhere on the album there was bound to be a cypher of sorts—artists coming together to throw down as much fire as they can, trying to best each other in a battle of bars and delivery. Avoiding any opinion on who may have come out on top, it’s clear there was nothing pretty or delicate about the message. Though certainly not a filler track, it separated itself from the songs that came before. Each feature laid down a verse that would have plenty South Korean MCs quaking. (Not to appear overly biased, but Dummy snatched, scalped, and destroyed his verse like his life depended in it!)

 

Track 6: Interlude

On the heels of the almost overdramatic show of testicular grandstanding, to get something as soft as a piano introduction to the final song on the album is a bit jarring. One could say its placement is a bit odd, considering the tracks preceding were almost intimidating, if not overwhelming to the ear. However, even with the shift in musical focus, the thread is still there: just a slip of piano instrumentation to mimic the sudden feeling of drowning or even flying away.

 

Track 7: To Myself

The Interlude does do a grand job of introducing the most personal track on the album. “To Myself” is very much DPR LIVE’s turn at being introspective, stripping away all the bolstering of the genre, even toning down his obsessive love affair with a divine phantom. [Coming To You Live] is the culmination of all parts of who he is as an artist. The song starts heavy, as most every song on the album, his ego pushing through, making it clear he’s less than impressed with any rapper out there. But after the wildness of the song’s introduction, DPR LIVE seems to move in closer to the microphone, as if screaming in the listener’s ear, demanding attention. The image makes sense: grabbing himself by the collar, all but yelling that he’s “gonna be a legend, you just watch and see.” It’s as if he’s convincing himself that, yes, he does belong here and he’s going to make his mark on this hip-hop thing if it kills him—even if he has to drown in it.

Thus we come full circle. Perhaps the amorphous entity DPR LIVE’s proclaiming all his love to isn’t a female. Rather, as in the classic Common track “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” perhaps he’s dedicated his life and his mortality to hip-hop.

 

Conclusion

[Coming To You Live] has a depth and complexity that may be missed in the grandness of the production. On the surface we get an aggressive MC whose fondness for Southern hip-hop, though disparate in tone, pairs perfectly to the psychedelic nuance of the music. Much of the album seems to have obvious influence from the likes of Flying Lotus and Lance Skiiiwalker (particularly track “Advantage“) in production and delivery. Each artist who had a credit on this album (most prominently producer Cream) had an understanding of theme and vision and brought new depth to the project. As a result, this may be the cleanest collection of features on a hip-hop album from Korea this year.

Of the more mainstream hip-hop releases, this is surprisingly the most aggressive. Considering the almost arthouse style of production, the fact DPR LIVE managed to throw so much of his brazen delivery in the album is a shock to the system. But it grabs a listener and forces color and skewed angles to infiltrate and leave them seeing stars. DPR LIVE brings his own flavor to the studio, and coupled with the intergalactic production, his debut is truly something to behold.

[x_button shape=”rounded” size=”regular” float=”none” href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/coming-to-you-live/id1216914815?at=1001l8LW” target=”blank” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover”]’Coming To You Live’ on iTunes[/x_button]

Follow DPR LIVE and DPR

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About the Writer: Cy is a digital journalist and blog writer specializing in reviews of music and film across a broad range of genres. Wherever there’s electricity, food and a good Wi-fi connection is where she makes her home. Find her on Twitter (@mindlesscy) and Instagram (@mindless_cy).

Crush On You Tour London

Crush in London 2016 – Concert Experience (with Lex’s Asian Rap World)

Lex Jones (of Lex’s Asian Rap World) attended Amoeba Culture artist Crush‘s London show on November 27, where he had the opportunity to ask several questions to Crush’s biggest European fans.  Check out his concert experience (including an exclusive video of the show) here!


On a cold night in North London in late November, the fans lined up around the block to experience the adored RnB star Crush (of Amoeba Culture) performing at an iconic British venue. As Scala’s classic lights beaconed out to fans arriving at Kings Cross a tangible excitement filled the air.

Crush exists in a unique space in a lot of ways. Sure he has mainstream appeal. The rapid selling out of the gig and the hastily added second night demonstrates that well. However he also has a real cool factor. His sensual style and polished production bring out an interesting mix of fans. From those who find their favourite new artists from Mnet reality shows to those who trawl soundcloud in search of a gem.

This translated into a very interesting atmosphere once we got in the venue. After navigating the maze of steps fans found themselves facing the sage. Quickly things became frantic as a DJ warmed up the crowd. The stairs to the main floor were quickly occupied and the venue was quickly at a bouncing, dabbing stand still.

DJ Millic soon took the stage to the reaction of screams by the highly excitable fans, spinning a variety of Korean and Western hip hop tunes to get the crowd ready for a night of fun.

However the real event started when Crush himself took the stage. Quite simply it was bedlam as he sauntered on to to greet his adoring fans, many of whom had waited for hours to catch a glimpse of star. It feels as if the concert really kicked into gear however when he performed his verse from the remix of Mommae.

Crush continued to make his way through his signature tracks occasionally pausing to have communications with the audience in a mixture of Korean & broken English much to their delight. At one point the Amoeba Culture star became overheated and turned away from the audience to remove his hoodie, leaving him in a funny situation where he politely shhh’d fans rowdy requests for him to continue undressing. We also saw the more caring side of him when he paused the performance to check on a girl who was to seen faint in the crowd. He was genuinely concerned for her wellbeing as he ordered she be given water by staff with genuine concern.

All antics aside though, Crush truly placed beyond doubt that his vocal ability is not the result of post production magic. As the music cut in perfect timing to allow his high note on ‘a little bit’ to resonate around the venue, the crowd burst into rapture.

My personal highlight of the concert however was Dean finally taking the stage. Rumours had been circulating among fans for a while as the star made his arrival in London no secret. Nevertheless, when the two performed their hit Oasis, it was a moment that gave the crowd way more than they asked for and nicely rounded off the night.

2016 has seen London cement itself as the undisputed Korean Pop Culture capital of Europe. With Zico’s arrival due so soon into the new year that many fans will still have freezers full of frozen turkey, it dosn’t look like the crown (pun intended) is gonna be up for grabs anytime soon. Thanks again to Cult of Ya for an amazing night and thanks to everyone who participated in our video.

Regards Lex


(Lex’s Asian Rap World) @itzlexsasianrap | @lexasianrapworld


Video Info
Presented by: Lex Jones
Edited by: Lex Jones
Shot by: Liz Evans

Crush

What You Need To Know About Crush’s New Album ‘wonderlust EP’

Check out the English translation of CRUSH‘s promotional material for his upcoming EP titled wonderlust.


On October 12, CRUSH released a teaser video of his upcoming title track “fall” (어떻게 지내) for his album release wonderlust which will be available on October 14 (00:00 KST).


The teaser features a sweet piano melody layered over an exotic video scenery. In addition, the minimalistic theme of “fall” showcases CRUSH’s vocals, which is creating more hype for the track.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLaCFGXgYaz/?taken-by=amoebakorea


There are three things to look forward to in CRUSH’s album wonderlust:

  1. the album illustrates the day and life of “25 years old CRUSH.”
  2. the wonderlust promotion. Between October 15 and November 3, fans in Korea are able to visit Room wonderlust, his “ideal but realistic place to inspire senses and creativity.” [essentially a gallery of his room with objects that played a role in his creative process for the album].  The room is decorated with objects privately owned by CRUSH. In addition, Amoeba Culture released an online gallery of his room, where fans can experience a virtual tour of “Room wonderlust.”
  3. following the release of wonderlust, CRUSH will begin his world tour in Seoul, and will be performing in the United States and Europe (check out the dates on the HiphopKR calendar)


Crush – Wonderlust EP – Tracklist

1) Wonderlust 2) 2411 3) Nostalgia (향수) 4) 어떻게 지내 ("How's It Going") 5) 아빠처럼 ("Like My Father")
(1) Wonderlust | (2) 2411 | (3) Nostalgia (향수) | (4) 어떻게 지내 (“How’s It Going”) | (5) 아빠처럼 (“Like My Father”)

CRUSH’s new EP wonderlust will be available online on October 14 (00:00 KST), and offline sales begins October 17.


[RL_Crush]

Gray - CALL ME GRAY (album cover)

Gray – Dream Chaser (Feat. Dok2 & Crush)

Hook)
What’s your dream?
What’s your dream?
What’s your dream?
Will you keep your head hanging like that?


넌 꿈이 뭐야?
넌 꿈이 뭐야?
넌 꿈이 뭐야?
계속 그렇게 고개 숙일거야?

What’s your dream?
What’s your dream?
What’s your dream?
Ask yourself, “What’s my dream?”

넌 꿈이 뭐야?
넌 꿈이 뭐야?
넌 꿈이 뭐야?
네 자신에게 물어봐 꿈이 뭐야?

Verse 1)
Have confidence, what on earth is your dream?
The protagonist of your life is you, no one but you
Live the life you want, don’t crouch
Why does everyone measure happiness by money?


자신감을 가져 넌 대체 꿈이 뭐야?
네 인생의 주인공은 너 바로 너야
원하는 삶을 살어 웅크리지 말어
모두의 성공의 잣대가 왜 돈인거야?

Why? I want to ask: Are you happy?
Yes, life is actually a bit unfair
Although the starting line is different for everyone
When we were young we learned that life is a marathon

Why? 묻고 싶어 넌 행복해?
그래 인생은 사실은 좀 불공평해
출발선은 모두 달라도
어릴 때 배웠잖아 인생은 Marathon

[x_extra info=”popover” title=”Wordplay” info_trigger=”hover” info_place=”top” info_content=”위기 (wigi, crisis) = 위험 (wiheom, danger) + 기회 (gihoe, chance)”]Crisis is a compound of danger and chance[/x_extra]
If you want to turn the crisis into a chance, counter now
Fully straighten your sagging shoulders
If you were born a human, leave your name behind

위기는 위험과 기회의 합성어
위기를 기회로 삼고 싶다면 받아쳐 지금
활짝 펴 축 쳐진 어깨를
사람으로 태어났음 남겨봐 이름

Yeah, oil it,
your dream that was rusty, may you seize it now
Life is too long to fall down and give up
Where is the dream you’re bearing?

Yeah 덧칠해봐 기름
녹슬었던 꿈 이제 거머쥐기를
넘어지고 포기하기엔 인생은 길어
네가 품은 꿈은 어디에?

Pre-Chorus x2)
Why do you have so many worries?
There are many things that are much more interesting
than what you’re seeing
Life’s so good


왜그리 고민이 많아?
네 눈에 보이는 것보다
훨씬 재밌는 게 많아
Life’s so good

Chorus)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
It’s a survival game, what are you so afraid of?


Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
survival game이야 뭐가 그리 두려워

Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
I don’t envy sons of wealthy families the least bit

Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I’ll be the one
부잣집 아들 한 개도 안 부러워

Verse 2)
Your family has to be well-off for you to be well-off?
Don’t blame your parents, your abilities are the cause
Rear the habit of doing everything by yourself, no matter what you do
No matter whether it turns out well or not, it’s your fault


집이 잘 살아야 니가 잘사는거니?
부모 탓 하지마 네 능력이 원인
뭘 하든 혼자서 하는 습관을 길러
잘 되든 못 되든 니 탓

Nothing has ever been easy for anyone
Put all on the line, go all-in, completely
Challenge it! What else are you so afraid of?
If you just bluff you can’t see what’s in front of you

원래 다 쉬운 일은 없어
전부를 걸어봐 All-in 해봐 몽땅
도전해 또 뭐가 그리도 겁나?
허세만 부리다 니 앞을 못 봐

Many people leave their own path
and follow the person next to them
Since you expect too much from your first attempt
you throw a tantrum or insist on having your way

많은 사람들이 자기 길 놔두고
옆 사람 따라 걷지
첫술부터 배부르겠다는 욕심 땜에
부려보는 땡깡 혹은 억지

You don’t feel moved or your heart throbbing
You’re a part of the system
It’s not too late yet so raise your dream
The world will acknowledge the dream you’ve been cherishing

가슴이 뭉클해지거나 두근거릴 일이 없지
넌 시스템의 부품
아직 늦지 않았으니 키워봐 너의 꿈
세상이 알아줄 거야 네가 바래온 꿈

Pre-Chorus x2)

Hook)

Verse 3: Dok2)
There’s no need to worry too much, the more you immerse yourself in something
the more complicated it becomes, this is life so be careful of that pit
The perfection everyone is dreaming of doesn’t exist
The answer is close-by, look around


너무 고민할 필요 없지 빠지면 빠질수록
복잡해지는 게 삶이니 조심해 그 수렁
모두가 꿈꾸는 완벽은 존재하지 않아
정답은 가까이 있어 주위를 둘러봐봐

Thoughts like, “It seems as if only I am by myself,” are a shortcut to loneliness
If you just take one step back and open your third eye
you will easily find out what you have missed and lost out on until now
Don’t keep things to yourself, request help and ask if there’s something you don’t know

나만 혼자인듯한 생각들은 외로움의 지름길
한 발짝만 물러나 제 3의 눈을 뜨면
쉽게 알게 될 거야 여태 뭘 놓치고 잃은지
앓지 말고 도움을 청해 모르면 물어

The world is wide and you have plenty of time
It’s never too late for anything, [x_extra info=”popover” title=”Pun” info_trigger=”hover” info_place=”top” info_content=”on ‘smoke’ and ‘smooth’ which here both use the verb form ‘펴’ (pyeo)”]don’t smoke cigarettes but smooth your forehead[/x_extra]
Throw away all lingering feelings about the past
For the sake of the newly upcoming days, shout: “Whattup?!”

세상은 넓고 넘치는 게 시간
늦음 따윈 없어 담배 대신 펴 네 미간
지난 일에 대해 미련은 다 버려
새로 다가올 날들을 위해 외쳐 wattup

Wassup young world, what it do, never give up
As long as we breathe we are special in all respects
You’ve come until here so go even farther
Just follow your heart, not your head

Wassup young world what it do 절대 포기하지마
숨을 쉬는 한 우린 특별해 어디까지나
여기까지 왔으니 더 멀리까지 가
따라가기만 해 너의 머리 아닌 맘

Bridge: Crush)
All I did was trying to keep up with my head and memories
I believe that all of this is my fault
Shackles are the evil in my heart
That’s why it’s [all] up to one’s outlook on life (*)


따라 잡히기만 했던 머리와 기억
이 모든 게 다 내 탓이라고 믿어
족쇄는 내 맘 안에 악
때문에 맘먹기에 달렸어

It’s been said before, right?
From the bottom to the top
Now I’m ready to dart off another step
Yeah I’ll be the one

전에도 얘기했었지
From the bottom to the top
이젠 더 한발 내달릴 준비가 끝났어
Yeah I’ll be the one

Pre-Chorus x2)

Chorus)


(*) This and the previous line were revised thanks to @kr_lyrics_trans on Twitter.

Punchnello - Corona MV screenshots

Punchnello Shares New Video for “Corona” Featuring Crush and DEAN

HIGHGRND artist Punchnello has unveiled the official music video for “Corona,” featuring fellow Club Eskimo member Crush (and cameo appearance by DEAN).


Composed by Crush and Millic, the track “Corona” is from the young rapper’s deluxe single titled LIME which dropped on September 8.  The music video also features a special appearance by Club Eskimo crew-mate DEAN.  Check out the music video below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFlCYgE1r68


Related Links:

[RL_Punchnello]

Crush

Crush Reveals European Cities for “2016 Crush On You Tour ‘wonderlust'”

Earlier today, Amoeba Culture artist Crush revealed the three cities he will be visiting for his 2016 Crush On You Tour ‘wonderlust’!


The recent announcement shows that the Club Eskimo member will be touring with his crew-mate DJ Millic in the following cities: Paris, Milan, and London:

https://instagram.com/p/BKQN-4VgwLM/


More specifically, Crush will be at the following venues:

  • November 24th 2016 – LA FLÈCHE D’OR, PARIS | Ticket Info
  • November 26th 2016 – TOCQUEVILLE 13, MILAN | Ticket Info
  • November 27th 2016 – SCALA, LONDON | Ticket Info

For more information, visit CULT OF YA.


Related Links:

[RL_Crush]