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G-Dragon’s Favorite Tracks, Lee Chaerin, 2NE1 Mentioned

September 14, 2013

Whether you’re an avid Korean Pop Music fan, or a casual listener, there are a few things you would already know. One of these things are the names of the ‘Big Three,’ and I don’t mean Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill. I’m talking about the three largest entertainment companies in South Korea, YG, SM, and JYP. Of these three, YG perhaps has the larger fan base, as their artists are multilingual, given more creative freedom, and can reach out to new markets.

In 2012, PSY‘s “Gangnam Style” garnered him seemingly overnight popularity. The catchy tune, hilarious dance, and the internet made Gangnam Style a qualified hit. Then, there are the all female unit known as 2NE1, sometimes stylized as simply 21, which consists of leader CL, Bom, Sandara, and maknae Minzy. 2NE1 have become huge international stars in their own right, their collaborative efforts not being limited to music.

Another YG heavyweight is BIGBANG, led by the astonishingly charismatic G-Dragon, also known as GD. GD took time to mention some of his favorite tracks from fellow label mates. Of these mentions, he spoke glowingly of 2NE1 as a whole, and of their leader, Lee Chaerin, individually.

G-Dragon: “When [2NE1] were complete newcomers, I was trying to help them out. Whenever I listen to ‘Fire’ and ‘I’m the Best,’ I think of them during those times. They were really giving everything they had to make things work. Everything. There weren’t that many hip-hop-driven, Korean club records at the time—at least records that made people want to dance. I wasn’t really hitting the clubs during that period, but I think that record has all the right components to be a club banger. Because once the bridge with the ‘eh, eh, eh’ comes on, everyone can imitate the move.”

G-Dragon: “I personally loved the record. I just don’t understand why it didn’t have the reaction we expected from the Korean audience. Just within the company, the response it received from the public wasn’t as huge as we anticipated or wanted. Personally though, I thought the record was really good. I think as a female idol, to carry this identity as a hip-hop artist is something that’s still not fully accepted in Korea. But for me it was a really hot track. I even thought about making a male version. I was going to call it, ‘I’m a Bad Muhseuhmae.’”

(Educational Fact: “Muhseuhmae” is slang for “boy” in the regional dialect used in the Chungcheong province of Korea.)

Source: YG Ladies

Article by: Kinvar

Edited by: Karolina