[SS Music] TABLO’s “HIGHGRND,” a New Momentum for the Music Industry?
[스포츠서울=이지석 기자] “HIGHGRND,” YG ENTERTAINMENT’s label led by EPIK HIGH’s TABLO, is drawing a lot of attention from the beginning. Many are wondering if the label will be able to provide a new momentum for Korea’s music industry, which is now dominated by boy and girl groups.
On July 21st, HIGHGRND announced that they have joined hands with Hyukoh, one of the most popular bands in Korea these days. The members of the group include Oh Hyuk (vocalist), Lim Dong-gun (bass player), Lim Hyun-je (guitarist) and Lee In-woo (drummer). Hyukoh was a rising band in the indie scene, and has gained increased popularity across the country after they appeared in MBC’s “Infinite Challenge Song Festival.” They have been dominating music charts these days.
HIGHGRND said that they would soon announce whom else they are going to work with. It seems likely that they will scout popular and competent hip hop musicians. In fact, HIGHGRND has made aggressive and extensive efforts over the recent months to find musicians to work with. To exaggerate a little bit, word had it that almost all competent rappers who do not belong to a large-scale agency had been contacted by HIGHGRND. Some predict that famous rappers might join HIGHGRND.
One of the strengths of HIGHGRND is that they are supported by YG, an entertainment agency that boasts organized systems, infrastructure and financial strength. And the musicality of TABLO, the leader of HIGHGRND, has long been recognized by other musicians. He has been working with singer songwriters such as Naul, Lee Sora and a rock band called Nell, as well as hip hop musicians.
With hip hop establishing itself as a dominant genre in Korea’s music scene, HIGHGRND is expected to bring a new wave of changes if they can release high-quality black music content that can appeal to the public. In March this year, TABLO said that he named the label HIGHGRND because he wanted to present high-quality music without any distinction of underground and overground music. And HIGHGRND said that they want to create various and distinctive cultural content in the future.
2015. 7. 22.
