Former high school classmates release hip-hop album as Rhythm Power trio
From left to right, Boi B, Geegooin and Hangzoo pose in front of the camera after an interview with the press for their first regular album "Project A" which was released Sept. 24./ Courtesy of Amoeba Culture
By Jung Hae-myoung
Rhythm Power, a hip-hop trio, released their first album “Project A” recently, nine years after they debuted.
They earned fame individually after they appeared in Mnet's music program “Show Me the Money,” which helped them escape from obscurity. The three members, Geegooin (Lee Sang-woon), Boi B (Kim Sung-kyung), and Hangzoo (Yoon Hyung-joon), are high school friends from Incheon.
Their song “BB Hill,” named after the snack bar they used to go together when they were in high school, reflects their solid friendship that has helped them stay together for a long time.
The three were united through music. “We were determined to team up not because we were friends, but because music held us together,” Geegooin said. “At first we fought a lot, but we came to acknowledge each other's personality differences.”
They rose to stardom through the Mnet music program “Show Me the Money,” where hip-hop artists compete to become finalists. They participated in the show as individual contestants. Geegooin appeared in the show's fourth season, where he didn't make the cut for the top six finalists. Boi B competed in the fifth season and reached the semifinals, and in season six, Hangzoo finally emerged victorious.
Although this is their first album, each member has been busy since appearing on the show, releasing solo albums, “Best Driver, “Cinema Kid” and “Night Vibe.”
Because of their strong personalities in music, some say the trio are great on their own, but don't come together in a particularly good way.
“I think people have that perception mainly because we haven't released any singles or mini-albums as a trio for a long time. We are sorry for that,” they said. “Making solo albums was one of our ways to fill the void before our collaborative album.”
Their songs and guest artists are glamorous. For the title track, “6AM,” they brought Drake's beat that has a Jamaican rhythm with unique bounces. Boi B said the beat has been famous for years in the global hip-hop scene, but this is its first appearance in Korean hip-hop.
Several artists who competed in several different music shows participated on the album. Guest collaborators include YDG who appeared on the hip-hop competition program called “Kill Bill,” ZENE THE ZILLA from “Show Me the Money,” and GIRIBOY who added addictive and unique hooks on the song “Project A.”
When asked what they wanted to achieve through the album, Boi B said he hopes to give rather than receive because they have been inactive for a long time.
“Rather than a huge success, we want the listeners to recognize our collective talents as Rhythm Power,” Geegooin noted.