Tiger JK

Tiger JK
Tiger JK performing at the Lolipop Concert, in May 2010
Background information
Birth name	Seo Jung-kwon (서정권, 徐廷權)
Also known as	JK, Drunken Tiger, DT, Gas Man
Born	(1974-07-29) July 29, 1974
Origin	Los Angeles, California U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, producer, songwriter, musician, model
Instruments	Piano, guitar, bass, sampler, synthesizer
Years active	1995-present
Labels	Oasis Records (1990s-2000s) Jungle Entertainment (2006-2013) FeelGhood Music (2013-present)
Associated acts	Drunken Tiger, Movement, Tasha Reid, Yoo Jae-suk, Crying Nut

Tiger JK (born July 29, 1974; as Seo Jung-kwon Hangul: 서정권, Hanja: 徐廷權)) is a Korean-American rapper, best known as one of the founding members of hip hop group Drunken Tiger. He is the founder and former CEO of Jungle Entertainment an imprint distributed by CJ E&M. JK and Drunken Tiger are also noted collaborators of various South Korean hip hop artists, and are the basis of the South Korean hip hop joint movement known as simply "Movement" or "The Movement".

He has released nine studio albums under Drunken Tiger, and continues to collaborate with that said group today. In addition to his musical career he has most recently started entrepreneurship releasing his own brand of "Beats", headphones titled "Tigerbeats", and has even started his own clothing brand.

His legendary status extends beyond that of South Korea, and is often compared with famed American rappers in terms of style and lyrical content. He and Drunken Tiger are also considered the true pioneers of the Hip hop scene in South Korea (the other said pioneers being Yang Hyun-suk, and Seo Taiji).

Early life

Jung-kwon was born in Seoul, South Korea on July 29 (corresponding to the 11th day of the 6th month in the lunar calendar) 1974^[1] the first of three siblings born to South Korean parents . At age twelve he and his family immigrated to the United States where the family briefly lived in Miami, Florida (a prominently non-Korean area) where he practiced Taekwondo and earned his 5th rank black belt in 1990. The family later moved to California and was raised in Los Angeles, California where he attended and graduated from Beverly Hills High School where he was racially discriminated. As a teen living in Los Angeles he witnessed the violence between Korean Americans and African Americans during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots; JK was determined to close the gap between the two races within his community with his rhymes. He later attended and graduated from UCLA, with a major in English.^[1]

Musical career

1990s - 1998: Beginning of Drunken Tiger and success

At age sixteen he met Micki Eyes, later to be a member of Drunken Tiger, and performed in a rap festival in Los Angeles. He later caught the eye of Oasis Entertainment of South Korea, got signed, and released his first solo album, Enter The Tiger. The album achieved major success, but due to censorship, the songs were banned from being played on radio stations.^[2] Soon after the release of American rapper Ice Cube's highly controversial song Black Korea, Tiger JK teamed up with east coast rapper DJ Shine, to form the duo Drunken Tiger in 1998. Although the group was formed in the U.S., the group debuted in South Korea as well. The group immediately gained major popularity with songs such as I Want You and Do You Know Hip hop?.

1998 - present: Criticism, withdrawal of DJ Shine, Legendary status, and further activities

Initially, Drunken Tiger was criticized for generating controversy due to their lyrics' explicit content and rebellious attitude towards mainstream music trends. Nevertheless, they continued to write their own music, perform in local shows, and gather a large following. The group would go on to release five albums, before DJ Shine would leave for personal reasons in early 2005.^[3]

Throughout Tiger JK's career, he has also written and composed many hip-hop songs in South Korea for many well known hip-hop artists in the country. In mid-2006, Drunken Tiger established a hip-hop record label named Jungle Entertainment, whose roster includes many well known hip-hop artists.^[4]

Today, Tiger JK continues to perform under the Drunken Tiger stage name, and is still considered one of South Korea's most respected Hip hop artists. He and DJ Shine are considered the true pioneers of the hip-hop scene in South Korea.^[5] His eighth album, entitled Feel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder was released on June 29, 2009.^[6]

On January 25, 2012, JK has been revealed to worked with Fly to the Sky's member Brian Joo's album.

In August 2012, his collaboration with the new girl group of LOEN Entertainment, FIESTAR, was released. The song, "Wicked", is part of their debut album.

In 2013, Hip Hop legends Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae and Bizzy teamed up to form the project group MFBTY, an acronym for ‘My Fans Better Than Yours’. The trio from Jungle Entertainment debuted with the first single “Sweet Dream”.

Influences and rapping style

Tiger JK has credited Jamaican singer Bob Marley for his musical style and numerous American rappers as well. He has demonstrated his Reggae style, gangsta rap style and West Coast hip hop in Drunken Tiger songs, Tiger JK is praised for various aspects of his rapping technique by numerous other rappers – these techniques include: his varied and humorous subject matter, connecting with his audience, carrying a concept over a series of albums, unique rhyme schemes, his ability to bend words so that they rhyme, his use of syllabic rhymes fitting many rhymes in each bar, complex rhythms, use of melody, and syncopation.

Equipment and musical instruments

Tiger JK often uses common samplers and typical synthesizers and can play the electric guitar and electronic keyboards^[7] coaching his artists. Although he rarely is seen playing instruments on stage he is an exceptional pianist as demonstrated in the song 8:45 Heaven piano intro.

Personal life

Family

Tiger JK and singer/rapper Yoon Mirae secretly wed in 2007. The couple has one son named Jordan Seo who was born in mid-2008.^[8]

Health problems

Tiger JK was diagnosed with transverse myelitis in 2006,^[9] which led to a two-year hiatus from performing.

Drug possession trial

Tiger JK was arrested for possession of methamphetamine in 2000, even though some say there was strong evidence that Tiger JK did not use drugs. He served community service as a penalty, and the band received a two-year promotion ban.^[10]

Religious views

Tiger JK is a deist and denounces organized religion.

Clothing line

LUNGTA

Shortly after discovering having Transverse Myelitis, Tiger JK began his clothing line named LUNGTA in 2006.^[11]

Entrepreneurship

After ex-N.W.A rapper and famed hip hop producer Dr. Dre released his signature high performance "Beats" headphones, Tiger JK released his own kind of the same headphones titled "Tigerbeats", on May 20, 2011, for 690,000 won (630.00 USD).Tiger JK amongst the select few and the first Korean artist to release his own collection of headphones under the Dre brand.^[12]

Discography

• 1995: Enter the Tiger

Television appearances

Though neither he nor Drunken Tiger has had many appearances outside of music programmes, he along with his wife has made special appearances on the South Korean variety shows Infinity Challenge, High Kick, Happy Together and Running Man.

Endorsements

• Hite w/Drunken Tiger
• Kia w/Drunken Tiger
• Reebok w/Drunken Tiger
• Yahoo w/Drunken Tiger
• CJ One Card w/Drunken Tiger
• Samsung w/Drunken Tiger, Yoon Mirae and Jordan
• Giordano w/Drunken Tiger

Filmography

• 1999: Attack the Gas Station! as Gang leader Kim
• 2001: Friend (film) as crime boss Jang
• 2007: You are my Sunshineas murder suspect
• 2013: New world (2013 film Mr. Kim (cameo)

References

External links

• Drunken Tiger site
• English Drunken Tiger site
• Drunken Tiger BR [Brazilian Fansite]
• Ice Cube - "Black Korea"
• Jungle Entertainment
• Lungta
• Drunken Camp (Wordpress)