If you’ll remember from my first exploration of R&B newcomer Syn, I made the observation that she wears her influences on her sleeve. With her latest double single release, “mmm”, she’s shown that even within the space of paying homage she’s a vocalist with some incredible maturity.
Khundi Panda drops first LP, “GAROSAWK,” & “Nothermaturesgold” MV
Dejavu Group‘s Khundi Panda has just released his first full-length album, “GAROSAWK,” featuring Jinbo, DAMYE, Hippy was Gipsy, and more.
HiphopKR Stands with Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter Always
Music is a cornerstone of black culture. R&B is a descendant of the Negro spiritual. Hip hop is the voice of black and brown youth. Both genres come from great struggle. They’re voices for the disenfranchised, the exploited, the abused, and murdered. R&B and hip hop have become worldwide influences for all cultures and people. This, of course, includes the people of South Korea. Many singers, rappers, producers, songwriters, and composers gain inspiration from these genres and as a result profit from black culture and black fans.
We at HiphopKR know and appreciate these facts. In the end, these hallmarks of black culture are why HiphopKR exists. As such, we have a duty to absolutely stand by the people of this culture that we, as well as all South Korean R&B and hip-hop artists, gain so much from. Our black and brown friends all over the world have suffered endlessly throughout human history. With the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Dreasjon “Sean” Reed, and George Floyd all in the month of May, the unrest came to a head. Years of tension, fear, heartbreak, and anger has caused black and brown people to rise up and demand justice.
And we at HiphopKR stand with them.
Support from South Korean Artists
There has been an outpouring of support from the South Korean hip-hop and R&B communities. Jay Park and the artists and staff at both his AOMG and H1GHR MUSIC labels, Crush, Tiger JK, Dumbofundead, Rekstizzy, YEAR OF THE OX, Ann One, Syn, DAMYE, Jessi, DPR LIVE, and Sam Kim have all raised their voices. They’ve also provided resources for those from South Korea and of the South Korean diaspora who are allied with their black and brown peers in this fight.
Black Lives Matter. Period.
Here are some resources for those who want to support the growing movement:
Black Lives Matter (Official Website)
Coalition of Asian American Leaders
Donate without money (YouTube video)
“People Don’t Have One Emotion”: An Interview with R&B Singer Syn
Every interview I do with artists I’m surprised just how introspective they are. You’d have to be to even attempt to survive in an industry as brutal as music tends to be. R&B newcomer Syn is incredibly self-aware. But she’s also unassuming. Her youth makes her both ambitious and thirsty for more. More knowledge, more experience. More music. She took some time to answer some questions for us. The answers were incredibly enlightening.
Syn’s Influences Overshadow Her Talent in Debut Album “Butterflies.”
When Daze Alive vocalist Rico gives a recommendation for a vocalist, best believe I’m going to give them my full attention. So when he dedicated an Instagram post to songstress Syn, it piqued my interest. She dropped her debut EP “Butterflies.” not long after this discovery. It’s certainly a pleasant surprise.