Gary (rapper)

Kang Gary
Background information
Birth name Kang Hee-gun
Born February 24, 1978
South Korea
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer, television personality
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
This is a Korean name; the family name is Kang.

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, record producer, dancer, entrepreneur, and television personality. 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

Gary was born on February 24, 1978. His nickname in middle school was "Gae" (meaning "dog" in Korean), which he adapted to become his stage name, after deciding between "gaemi" (ant) and "Gary". In his younger years, he was more interested in dancing than rapping.[3]

Gary went to Yong In University and trained as a bodyguard. He was an amateur boxer for 10 years and his qualifications in various martial arts sum up to 8th dan.[4]

Musical career

In 1997, Gary joined X-Teen and helped in releasing two albums in 1998 and 2000, and met Gil, who was also a member in X-Teen.[5] At the time, Gary said that they were not good looking and their music was not great either which made them quit the group.[6] 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".[7] 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.[8]

In January 2014 he released a mini album, Mr.Gae.[9] Gary‘s title track “Shower Later” clenched the number 1 spot on 8 real-time music charts![10]

Other activities

In 2010, Gary joined Running Man as co-host, an urban variety show. He had a cameo on the movie Wonderful Radio, and in February 2014 another cameo, Emergency Couple.[11][12][13][14]

Filmography

Year Title Role
2005 April Snow cameo appearance
2008 Dachimawa Lee cameo appearance
2012 Wonderful Radio cameo appearance
2014 Emergency Couple cameo appearance
2015 The Girl Who Sees Smells cameo appearance

Discography

Albums

Singles

Variety Shows

Year Title Role Network Notes
2010–present Running Man Himself SBS Episode 1 – present
2011 Strong Heart Himself SBS Episode : 98 & 99
2013 Entertainment Weekly Himself KBS2 Guest along with Kim Yerim
Entertainment Weekly Himself KBS2 Guest along with G-Dragon, Yeo Jingoo, Shin Seunghun

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2002 MNET Music Video Festival Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Leessang Won
2003 MNET Music Video Festival Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Nominated
2005 Korean Music Awards Hip-Hop Song of the Year Nominated
2007 MNET/KM Music Awards Hip-Hop Song of the Year Nominated
Music Video of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
2007 Cyworld Digital Music Awards Song of the Month Won
2009 Cyworld Digital Music Awards Best Collaboration of the Year Won
MIAK Golden Disc Awards Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Nominated
MIAK Golden Disc Awards Album of the Year Nominated
MNET Asian Music Awards Music Video of the Year Nominated
MNET Asian Music Awards Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Won
2010 4th SBS Entertainment Award Variety New Star Award Running Man Won
Cyworld Digital Music Awards Bonsang Leessang Won
Cyworld Digital Music Awards Best Collaboration of the Year Won
2011 Melon Music Awards Top 10 Artists Won
MNET Asian Music Awards Best Rap Performance Won
2012 5th SBS Entertainment Award Excellence Award in Variety Running Man Won
2013 NATE Awards Best Couple with Song Ji-hyo Won
7th SBS Entertainment Awards Viewers Choice Popularity Award with Running Man membersWon
7th SBS Entertainment Awards Best Couple Award with Song Ji-hyo Nominated
2014 MNET Asian Music Awards Best Rap Performance "Shower Later" Nominated
MNET Asian Music Awards Best Collaboration with Jungin "Your Scent" Nominated
Singapore Entertainment Awards OMY Hot Star with Song Ji-hyo Nominated[15][16]

Music Programs

Show! Music Core

Year Date Song
2014 June 7 "Your Scent" (with Jung-in) [17]

References

  1. ↑ 리쌍 개리 "뒤풀이! 독수리 오남매" (in Korean). 이투데이. 8 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "Running Man Official SBS website" (in Korean). 11 July 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  3. ↑ http://10.asiae.co.kr/Articles/new_view.htm?a_id=2011090711063679487
  4. ↑ '리쌍' 개리 예능감 뽐내...'입담마다 웃음 터져' : 네이버 뉴스 (in Korean). News.naver.com. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "[INTERVIEW] LeeSSang member Gary". www.tenasia.com(User: editorial). 9 September 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "[INTERVIEW] LeeSSang member Gary". www.tenasia.com(User: editorial). 9 September 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  8. ↑ [스타백과사전2.0] 리쌍, 사람 마음을 쥐락펴락 ‘진정한 광대 (in Korean). enews24.interest.me. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Gary Reveals Jacket Photo and Album Name for His First Solo Project". www.soompi.com. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  10. ↑ '19금 티저' 내건 개리 '조금이따샤워해', 8개 차트 1위 '대박' (in Korean). xportsnews.hankyung.com. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Lee, Min-ji (3 February 2014). "Gary to Cameo in Song Ji Hyo's Drama Emergency Couple". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  12. ↑ Jung, Jin-young (12 February 2014). "Gary and Song Ji Hyo Get Close in BTS Photo of Emergency Couple". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  13. ↑ "[SPOILERS] Gary cameos as a chauffeur for Song Ji Hyo's 'Emergency Couple'". allkpop. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  14. ↑ "Gary to make a cameo appearance in Song Ji Hyo's drama 'Emergency Couple'". allkpop. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  15. ↑ http://sgeawards.omy.sg/2014/categories/omy-star.html
  16. ↑ http://sph.com.sg/system/assets/1360/E-Awards2014-Popular_Awards.pdf
  17. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2014/06/performances-from-june-7th-show-music-core

External links