Gary (rapper)
| Kang Gary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kang Hee-gun |
| Also known as | Garie, Gary |
| Born |
24 February 1978 South Korea |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations | Rapper, lyricist, producer |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels |
Jungle Entertainment Leessang Company |
| Associated acts | Leessang, Honey Family |
| Gary | |
| Hangul | 개리 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Gaeri |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kaeri |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 강희건 |
| Hanja | 姜熙建 |
| Revised Romanization | Gang Huigeon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kang Hŭigŏn |
Kang Hee-gun (Korean: 강희건, Hanja: 姜熙建; born February 24, 1978), better known by his stage name Gary (Korean: 개리, often spelled as Garie[1]) is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, lyricist, record producer, dancer, entertainer, promoter, television personality, restaurateur and founder of Leessang Company. He is member of hip-hop duo, Leessang. He is also currently a cast member of the variety show Running Man.[2]
Biography
Early Years and School Years
Gary was born on February 24, 1978. His nickname in middle school was "Gae" (It means dog in Korean). He decided to use it as his stage name but felt he needed to add something to make it sound better. It became Gary (or Garie).
In his younger years, he was more interested in dancing than rapping.[3] He formed a dance group and won a competition in Jamsil. The President of SM Entertainment saw Gary and offered him a contract. Gary declined and opted to pursue college.
Gary went to Yong In University. He majored in Specialized Security. Yong In is the most prestigious university in Korea that trains bodyguards and elite "security" personnel to protect the President, government officials and for other elite security organizations. Part of the requirement to get into the university is rigid physical test and actual martial arts background. [4]
At the age of 20, Gary started boxing. He was an amateur boxer for 10 years. His qualifications in various martial arts sum up to 8th dan. [5]
Career Beginnings (1996–2001)
In 1997, Gary joined X-Teen and helped in releasing two albums in 1998 and 2000. This is when Gary met Gil who was also a member of the X-Teen.[6] At the time, Gary said that they were not good looking and their music was not great either which made them quit the group.[7]
Gary and Gil ended up joining "Honey Family" and released two albums in 1999 and 2000. Gary takes part of the responsibility for the break up of the group stating he "started feeling like a celebrity".[8] Gary, Gil, and Diggity decided to form "Leessam Trio ("sam" means three in Korean)". They released a compilation album called, "2000 Korea," in the year 2000. When Diggity left the group, Gary and Gil changed the name to LeeSsang.[9]
LeeSsang and LeeSsang Company
Solo Projects
Some of his collaborations include:
- June 3, 2003, sampled featured tracks from Diggity's solo debut, such as "Saturday Afternoon" and "Area of Battle"
- January 13, 2005, featured on BMK's song, "Rainbow"
- October 26, 2005, collaborated with Dynamic Duo for "It's Alright". It entered the top 10 on all major and minor charts
- June 2006, Gary wrote the lyrics for Jang Hye-jin's, "Fire Flower" and did the rap part
- April 12, 2010, rap and lyrics for Lee Hyori's "Swing". It went to #1 on almost all music charts even though it was not released as a single
- Wrote the lyrics for Brown Eyes's "Don't Go, Don't Go", "Let's Get Down" and "Because of You"
- Worked with Kim Jong-kook twice, for "Come back to me" and "Words I want to Say to You" together with Haha, a co-host in Running Man and raggae singer
- Collaborated with Primary for the song "Happy Ending"
- Collaborated with Dynamic Duo for "Keep the change". It won the 2010 Korea Music Award for best Rap & Hip-hop song.[10]
- February 1, 2012, helped a former Honey Family Member Miryo in her song Party Rock
- May 7, 2012, co-wrote the lyrics and wrote the rap part for Baek Ji-young's "Voice". It went straight to #1 on almost all music charts
- Beginning of 2013, collaborated with Duble Sidekick. He wrote the lyrics for "Tears", the fist perfect all kill single for 2013
- May 2013, wrote the lyrics for Jung In's "Those Obvious Words" and "Let's Walk a Little"
- July 2013, Gary collaborated with CLuv and Crush for the song "Where Do You Wanna Go"
- January 15, 2014. Gary released his first mini album "Mr.Gae".[11]Gary‘s title track “Shower Later” cinched the number 1 spot on 8 real-time music charts![12]
Other Activities
In 2010, Gary joined Running Man as co-host, an urban variety show.
Kim Jong-kook and Gary again worked together in 2012. This time, they helped their Running Man co-star, Lee Kwang-soo in his movie Wonderful Radio through a cameo role.
Gary was chosen by Coca Cola to rap and write the lyrics for their 2012 Valentine TV Commercials.[13]
April 2012, Gary became one of the image models of Galaxy R. Both Gary and Gil also walked the ramp as a model for the Seoul Fashion Week in the same month.
May 2013, Gary became the endorser of Doritos. He wrote the rap music used in the TV Commercial too.
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | April Snow | cameo appearance |
| 2008 | Dachimawa Lee | cameo appearance |
| 2012 | Wonderful Radio | cameo appearance |
| 2014 | Emergency Couple | cameo appearance |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4th SBS Entertainment Award | Variety New Star Award | Running Man | Won |
| 2012 | 6th SBS Entertainment Award | Excellence Award in Variety | Won | |
| 2013 | 7th SBS Entertainment Award | Viewers Choice Popularity Award | Won |
References
- ↑ "리쌍 개리 "뒤풀이! 독수리 오남매"" (in (Korean)). 이투데이. 08 November 2011.
- ↑ "Running Man Official SBS website" (in (Korean)). 11 July 2010. Retrieved 09 January 2014.
- ↑ http://10.asiae.co.kr/Articles/new_view.htm?a_id=2011090711063679487
- ↑ "개리 "H.O.T 멤버 될 뻔 했다" 대학 진학 때문에 포기 : 뉴스 : 스포츠동아" (in (Korean)). Sports.donga.com. 05 October 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ↑ "'리쌍' 개리 예능감 뽐내...'입담마다 웃음 터져' : 네이버 뉴스" (in (Korean)). News.naver.com. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ↑ "힙합 듀오 리쌍 6집 음반 ‘헥새거늘’ 발표... 신곡 가요프로 1위 돌풍-국민일보 쿠키뉴스" (in (Korean)). News.kukinews.com. 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
- ↑ "[INTERVIEW] LeeSSang member Gary". www.tenasia.com(User: editorial). 09 September 2011. Retrieved 09 January 2014.
- ↑ "[INTERVIEW] LeeSSang member Gary". www.tenasia.com(User: editorial). 09 September 2011. Retrieved 09 January 2014.
- ↑ "[스타백과사전2.0] 리쌍, 사람 마음을 쥐락펴락 ‘진정한 광대" (in (Korean)). enews24.interest.me. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 09 January 2014.
- ↑ "한국대중음악상측 “걸그룹 음악적 평가받을 부분 충분" (in (Korean)). www.newsen.com. 09 March 2010. Retrieved 09 January 2014.
- ↑ "Gary Reveals Jacket Photo and Album Name for His First Solo Project". www.soompi.com. 07 January 2014. Retrieved 09 January 2014.
- ↑ "'19금 티저' 내건 개리 '조금이따샤워해', 8개 차트 1위 '대박'" (in (Korean)). xportsnews.hankyung.com. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ↑ "Coca Cola CF featuring LeeSsang's Kang Gary". 01 February 2012. Retrieved 09 January 2014.
External links
- Leessang Company (Korean)
- Kang Gary on Twitter
- Kang Gary on Instagram
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