E SENS

Read our article to learn why AOMG artist and CEO Simon Dominic decided to participate as a judge/producer on Show Me the Money 5.

Previously, you dissed <Show Me the Money (SMTM)>.  Why did you join as a producer this season?
I decided to come back out to the world first through <SMTM>, but as soon as I made that decision people cursed at me.  You know? It was a hot topic.  [The dissing] was never included in my lyrics, but I did talk about <SMTM> at my live shows.  I said “Why should I go on the show? I make good money without it.”  I’m not participating on <SMTM> for the money… I still stand by that statement.

After joining AOMG, I am most happy about being able to do what I want to do and also make money from it.  Whether or not I participate on <SMTM> does not affect my [financial] life.  That being said, the reason why I decided to join <SMTM> is to change myself… I joined to change the way I lived my life.  Of course I knew that joining <SMTM> would be controversial.  I predicted the response I received.

In the past, E-SENS and I half-jokingly agreed “not to go on <SMTM>”… If I visit E-SENS, he would probably tease me and ask, “I heard you went on <SMTM>? Ehh so you ended up doing it? I thought you said you weren’t going on the show?”

I was inspired by Jay Park‘s hustle and workload last year during his involvement in <SMTM4>… meanwhile, I was stuck at home preparing for my full-length album.  I thought to myself, “Jaebum [Jay’s legal name] is working so hard for our AOMG label… what am I doing right now?”  I wanted to help our label company.  Help that people can see with their eyes.  Whether that help is through selling music, or through my presence on <SMTM> or other broadcasting shows.  Anything that will help promote AOMG, which is why I changed my mind about <SMTM> and decided to become a judge/producer on the show.

When I moved from my old house, my mother visited me in Seoul.  While we were eating, she asked me, “How come you don’t participate on <SMTM>?”  To which I asked back, “Would you be happy if I participated?”  She answered, “I would be happy, seeing you on television every week.”  That conversation hit me pretty hard.

In some ways, <SMTM> ruined the image of hip-hop and portrayed the culture in bad light.  In any case, my company, my team, family and friends see my participation on <SMTM> as me growing out of my stubbornness.  The decision to participate was for my friends and family.  I knew that people would curse at me.  I am the type that does not like to be cursed at or have my pride damaged.  But despite all this, if I chose to participate on <SMTM> it was for my people.  Through <SMTM>, I wanted to come back out to the world and become active again.  I wanted to become the sincere Kisuk [Simon Dominic’s legal name] **laughs** Don’t laugh!

My story about <SMTM> is for my fans who supported me through this journey, and not for my haters.  I hope that my haters will keep disliking me.  The more haters and anti-fans I have, the more I am valued.  This interview is intended for my fans who were disappointed in my decision to join <SMTM>.  I plan to show a positive image of myself through <SMTM>.

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