BewhY says faith led him to crown

Rapper BewhY performs “Fake” during the final round of the fifth season of hip-hop survival show “Show Me the Money” last Friday. / Courtesy of CJ E&M

'Show Me the Money' winner tells people to believe in themselves

By Kim Jae-heun

After two months of nerve-racking scenes on Mnet’s hip-hop survival competition “Show Me the Money,” rapper BewhY ― who rose as the strongest contender early on this season ― grasped the champion title of the show’s fifth season last Friday.

The rapper said his passion and sincerity for the music and his faith in winning made his dream come true.

The 23-year-old musician, also known as Lee Byung-yoon, participated in the same competition last season but failed to pass the third round. When he returned a year later, BewhY had not only improved in his rapping skills but also returned more confident.

“I still don’t understand (why I lost) but my skill improved and, especially, my attitude changed a lot,” said BewhY during a press meeting at M Academy in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Tuesday. “I did not believe in myself last year, and after the show I realized I was rating myself low rather than high. It brought changes and such a thought influenced people around me and myself.”

This time BewhY did not try to make hits and focused on producing music he liked. His songs performed during the competition, such as “Forever” and “Day Day,” topped the online music charts after the show ended.

Producer Gray of Above Ordinary Music Group (AOMG), who was one of the judges on the show and teamed up with rapper Simon Dominic from the same record label to lead BewhY to victory, praised the champion as a versatile artist.

“He is a superb rapper and producer. He participates in every small detail from directing general music production to directing small chord changes. He also suggested ideas for the performance on the stage with Simon Dominic,” said Gray. Gray wrote all the songs for BewhY except for BewhY’s final song.

Dominic also agreed he received more help from the artist although he was BewhY’s mentor and advisor.

“When his shooting begins and BewhY walks on stage, he changes,” said Simon Dominic. “He is no longer Lee Byung-yoon and he is BewhY. There are times when he makes mistakes during rehearsal and we become nervous. Then BewhY would come to Gray and me and comfort us, saying that just trust him and that he will win eventually. He gave us faith and showed more than what we expected.”

BewhY’s good-natured hip-hop music, which uses no abusive language or slanderous lyrics due to his faith in God, also played a role in creating a clean image for the rapper, who was supported by audiences’ votes and votes cast by text message.

“I do not intend to make my music religious,” said BewhY. “It is rather one of the things that I love and that I think is the most important and I wanted to include my story and my belief in the music. However, religion is a fixed constant and people may feel uncomfortable listening to my devoutness but it is what I want to show. Still I tried to find the common ground between those who do not believe in God and themselves.”