DAZE ALIVE

Deepflow Instagram Image

Deepflow says the diss battle has ended for him

Earlier today, Vismajor Company’s Deepflow has made public a statement about the recent diss battle between him and Don Malik.

Deepflow previously released the track ‘DazeAllLie‘ in response to Don Malik‘s ‘Deep talk‘. The two rappers had been battling it out since Don Malik released the track ‘old Wave‘.

So far, Don Malik has not reacted to Deepflow’s previous diss. Early today, VMC’s boss has posted a long statement on his Instagram along with the above image. The image is a screenshot of a dictionary’s entry for the word ‘underground’ (언더그라운드):

underground
noun General Arts

An avant-garde that ignores marketability, or the trend of experimental art. Or,
that art. Emerged in the US in the 1960s with focus on movies.

Deepflow writes:

1. My idea of battle rap is not to explain oneself or express one’s standpoint. There are not enough bars to attack like f*ck after the bell rings.

2. And there is nothing for me to explain. I even less want to answer to people who already have decided on the answer by themselves. Do you want me to explain or to apologize[?]

3. I’ve actually always disliked daze alive’s typical atmosphere, so I don’t feel very awkward about this extreme antagonism. I really got emotional now [with my disses] but Don Malik is a hopeful rookie so I support him as a rapper. I hope he’ll make a good album.

4. I won’t respond with any more tracks. The rap game is fun but it was different since it was the weekend, now I don’t have time to play anymore.

5. Many people might want me to be clumsy and slow like my looks suggest, but I am a businessman responsible for 15 people. I will always try to gain a better standing and make wise moves.

6. Look forward to the VISTY BOYZ Concert next week!

Korean fans’ reactions

Fans reacted once again mostly positively, praising Deepflow for his “adult” statement, underlined the importance of his words, and pointed out his well-written text: “Swag,” “Wow, as expected .. a great CEO,” “That’s really neat.”

A few commented: “Have you seen a bear this foxy?” “It sounds like he feels superior somehow,” “All that’s left for him and daze alive [Don Malik] is to show and prove themselves.”

One fan also pointed out an interview Deepflow gave in September for Hongik University. It included a question very relevant to the diss battle this time around:

Q. Through programs like Show Me the Money or SCHOOL RAPPER, the public’s interest in hiphop has increased recently. Accordingly, more and more hiphop artists are appearing in various media. What do you think about rappers in the media?
A. Personally, I often criticized Show Me The Money in interview I gave after releasing my album ‘Yanghwa‘. I still think that the program Show Me The Money does not perfectly fulfill the claims of hiphop artists, I strongly feel that many suffer from the aspect of the “evil editing,” and I think that it is an uncool program. However, this is the opinion of the individual Deepflow.
As I became the CEO of the label VMC, I have been greatly influenced by income considerations that come with managing a label and marketing it. Hence, I sometimes need to have opinions different from my own personal music-related ideas. In fact, we at VMC do our best to gain the public’s attention when releasing music videos or other music-related videos, but it is the reality that appearing on Show Me The Money is much better at getting people’s attention, it is the trend.
It is true that the negative view on Show Me The Money I’ve expressed before has now changed a lot. So I agree with those who criticize me, saying that I’ve changed my words. I do feel responsibility for what I’ve said. Hiphop artists appearing in [mainstream] media is an opportunity for them to present themselves to the public so I view it positively. However, appearing in the media should not be the [rappers’] main goal. I’ll say it once more, it is dangerous to make that one’s one and only goal at this point when that program could end at any time. Thus, I’d like [hiphop artists] to consider an appearance in the media as [only] a useful means.

Deepflow also mentioned something relevant to this topic in his interview with Huckleberry P for the Respect series in June:

Huckleberry P: Your participating in SCHOOL RAPPER came a bit unexpected, how come you decided to participate?
Deepflow: Operating a label for nearly three years, I’ve tried all kinds of things. The time came that I thought I needed a different type of promotion, plus all members of Vismajor are nearing their thirties, so … I also consider hiphop a music for the youth, so the older we became, the more I thought that VMC needed new, young members. Naturally, I thought that I’d find a young rapper for my label on the show. There were several reasons for which I decided to participate.

These statements seem to answer the questions Don Malik has put forth in his diss tracks.

Deepflow - DazeAllLie (cover art)

Deepflow once again reacts to Don Malik with diss track ‘DazeAllLie’

In the relentless diss battle between Don Malik and Deepflow, the boss of VMC has uploaded another diss track, titled ‘DazeAllLie’.

As lesser known rappers (the most prominent of them being Kor Kash) are already trying to get a free ride on this diss battle by targeting Don Malik, Deepflow has responded to Don Malik‘s latest diss track ‘Deep talk‘.

This time around, the track produced by VMC’s VEN is titled ‘DazeAllLie’ and, as expected, targets not only Don Malik but his entire label daze alive. Its members are, besides Don Malik, rappers Jerry.k, SLEEQ, and singer Rico.
Deepflow beings his verse with responding, not answering, to the last lines of Don Malik’s verse:

“What, answer? I’ll just hit you with rap and hang you from a bridge
That bridge is Yanghwa and you’ll never awake from that nightmare
People close to me all stop me, saying ‘Why unnecessarily waste your energy?’
I don’t care, f*cking DAZEALIVE, Megal fam.”

“Megal” is short for “Megalia,” a Korean “feminist” website that was rather controversial. The word “megal” is now used in lieu of “misandrist” in order to insult feminists. daze alive’s members, especially SLEEQ and Jerry.k, are known for being feminists. SLEEQ left a great impression as she proclaimed “I’m hella feminist” on Mic Swagger before.
Deepflow goes on to diss Jerry.k, daze alive’s CEO, by inviting Don Malik:

“Hang out with me, I’ve taught you better than your CEO”

In his first diss track, Deepflow dissed Don Malik about getting his first tattoo on his throat, to which the latter responded with “My first tattoo is on my back, my name and a crown / I’ve never showed my back to you so you can’t see it.” This was meant in reference to the idea of “never showing one’s back to the enemy.” Deepflow tackles this with the following:

“Sorry, unlike you I don’t lean that way, I don’t want to see your back”

Interesting is also this line in which Deepflow addresses Don Malik’s request for an answer to why VMC, according to Malik, “went back on their word:”

“If you want an explanation, just conduct a hearing or something”

Deepflow also lets us know that he apparently knows the name of the person Don Malik censored in ‘old Wave‘. Malik mentioned in his interview with HiphopLE that his feelings of anger and disappointment toward that person had disappeared which is why he censored their name.

“I know the person whose name you hid behind a beep
Malik was afraid he wouldn’t be able to release his album without that person
People might not know this but you’re gifted at marketing
Like your CEO’s real intention you’re aiming for the Blue Ocean”

In the last line, the veteran rapper is referring to the marketing strategy “Blue Ocean Strategy,” once again accusing Don Malik, and Jerry.k, of noise marketing. The image Deepflow used for this track is a screenshot of Don Malik’s interview with HiphopLE whose caption reads: “Yes, it was noise marketing.”  This was Don Malik joking about the idea, he then added: “No, I’ve actually risked too much [with the diss track] for this to just be noise marketing. I’d never risk my life [as an artist] for marketing one mere single. I simply wanted to wrap up those feelings inside of me as soon as possible. That’s why I released the diss track.”
Deepflow ends his verse with this:

“Finishing off a twelve years younger guy equals exactly the snacks for drinks”

In other words: “winning the diss battle against you was a piece of cake.”

 

Reactions

Korean fans are still thrilled, fully enjoying the exchange between these two rappers. The opinions range from “As expected from God Sanggoo [Deepflow],” “He destroyed him [Don Malik],” to “This was weak but I enjoyed it.”
The attention is on the two rappers and their labels as the battle is getting bigger. “I wonder if someone will respond again?” asks one curious fan.

Jerry.k - Pill (cover art)

Jerry.k releases digital single ‘Pill (Feat. Don Malik, SLEEQ)’

Rapper Jerry.k has released the FIRST AID-produced track ‘Pill’ today with support from his label mates Don Malik and SLEEQ.

In March 2016, Jerry.k released his fourth full-length album ‘Emotional Labor (감정노동)‘. Since then he concentrated on supporting his label’s artists for a good year and a half. Now he is releasing the track ‘Pill (알약)‘ that is going to be part of a new album.

The track was produced by FIRST AID of F.W.D and Room306, who had been nominated in the Best Dance & Electronic section of the Korean Music Awards for their outstanding music. The beat raging on a dreamy vibraphone sample makes for a dazed mood. Jerry.k and Don Malik rap about pills that let one breathe at ease. Added to this are SLEEQ‘s chorus and the barking of Jerry.k’s dog Saza.
The artwork was designed by graphic studio Everyday Practice.

This new song is going to be part of Jerry.k’s upcoming album ‘OVRWRT‘ that is coming out at the end of November.

‘Pill’ Credits:

Produced by FIRST AID
Lyrics written by Jerry.k, Don Malik
Additional vocals by SLEEQ
Barks by Saza
Recorded by DAZE ALIVE at DAZE ALIVE STUDIO
Mixed and mastered by FIRST AID at Not Seoul
Artwork by Everyday Practice

Executive Producer: DAZE ALIVE
Management: DAZE ALIVE

Official Lyric Video:

Follow Jerry.k:

[icon type=”facebook-square”]     [icon type=”instagram”]     [icon type=”soundcloud”]     [icon type=”tumblr-square”]     [icon type=”twitter-square”]     [icon type=”youtube-square”]

Don Malik - Yellow (album cover)

Don Malik releases single ‘Yellow’

Don Malik’s ‘Yellow’ for STONESHIP’s Campaign Against Racism has been officially released as a digital single.

Yellow‘ is the first (official) part of the campaign and, as you may already know, is about Don Malik‘s experiences with racism in the US when he was denied entry into the country and could not perform at the famous SXSW festival in Texas.
daze alive and STONESHIP want to make it clear that they disapprove of any kind of discrimination in this world.

The music video for the track has already been released last month, you can watch it below if you haven’t seen it yet. Or just rewatch it.

The trio Most Badass Asian have also released a track for the campaign, more info here.

[x_button shape=”rounded” size=”regular” float=”none” href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/yellow-single/id1235356412?at=1001l8LW” target=”blank” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover”]’Yellow’ on iTunes[/x_button]

Credits:

Produced by JUSTHIS
Lyrics by Don Malik
Arranged by JUSTHIS

Executive Producers: STONESHIP INTERNATIONAL, Don Malik
Co-Producer: STONESHIP
Investing Producer: KIWOOMINVESTMENT
Mixing & Mastering Engineer: Theoria
A&R: STONESHIP, DAZEALIVE
Art Direction & Design: KOVE LEE, John Hwang
MV directed by AEZIK


Source: Mnet