Drunken Tiger
Encyclopedia
Drunken Tiger is a critically acclaimed Korean/American
hip hop
group which debuted in 1999 and has since released eight albums.
As of 2009, Drunken Tiger's central figure is Korean American
Tiger JK
. Other members affiliated with Drunken Tiger are DJ Shine (left in 2005), DJ Jhig, Micki Eyes, and Roscoe Umali.
and African Americans
during the L.A. riots
. JK, already an avid follower of hip-hop, was inspired to bridge the gap between the two ethnic cultures using his rhymes. At only 16 years old, he collaborated with Drunken Tiger member Micki Eyes and a friend, Sucram, to compete at a local hip-hop festival in 1992. He hoped that his performance as a Korean-American with other non-Koreans would relieve some of the tensions between the cultures. JK saw it initially as an experiment, but his performance caught the attention of Oasis Records in Korea. As a result, JK was later signed and released his first solo album, "Call Me Tiger," in 1992. The album had some brief buzz, however, due to censorship and restrictions put on his title song "Hide and Seek," the album received limited publicity.
JK returned to the US soon after. However, he still felt that the Korea hip-hop was slowly emerging and it needed artists to bring it to the forefront. He teamed up with partner DJ Shine in 1998 and the two debuted under the name Drunken Tiger. Their first album, "Year of the Tiger," was seen as widely controversial given that the lyrics touched upon taboo topics such as sex and anti-establishment. Their debut singles, "I Want You" and "Do You Know Hip-hop" were released in 1999. Unlike their mainstream hip-hop counterparts, Drunken Tiger wrote their own lyrics, had creative freedom and did not resort to choreographed dancing. As a result, their sound is described as 'live, energetic and very natural'.
, Yoon Mi Rae, Uptown, and Kim Jin Pyo
and has now expanded into a large collaborative of pivotal Korean artists, including Epik High
, Eun Ji Won
, Bobby Kim, Leessang
, Dynamic Duo
.
Their single, "Great Rebirth," climbed the music charts quickly, but was suddenly halted from progressing due to criminal investigation of Tiger JK for possession and dealing of narcotics in Korea during 1999. Drug tests and a passport showing JK's departure from Korea were expected to prove JK's innocence, but the Korean courts found JK guilty due to false evidence given by Movement members in Uptown and banned Drunken Tiger from performing on public media for 2 years. However, after appealing the decision, the ban was lifted, allowing a 3rd album to be released in March 2001.
Success continued for their 4th album "Foundation" throughout their 5th album, "One Is Not A Lonely Word." The group continued to win awards and receive international invites to perform. In 2004, Drunken Tiger had already performed at near sell out venues of 5000+ in places such as Tokyo, Taipei, Beijing, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, and Chicago.
By 2006, Drunken Tiger established his own record label, Jungle Entertainment, as well as LUNGTA, a clothing line.
The release of Drunken Tiger's 7th album, "Sky Is The Limit," marked another pivotal point in Drunken Tiger's career. Although JK's ability to perform was inhibited by his myelitis
, the artist debuted with his hit single "8:45 Heaven," a tribute to his late grandmother whom he had been close to for years. With its deep thought provoking lyrics, the song was praised by many people who had experienced the death of close ones. It was the first time that a Drunken Tiger song resulted in an official "Best Song Lyric" award.
The 8th album, "Feel gHood Muzik,"
was released on June 29, 2009. The double disc CD sold a total of 50,000 copies in 3 weeks. The album features hip-hop legend, Rakim, and welcomes back Drunken Tiger member, Roscoe Umali, who had not partaken in a Drunken Tiger album since 2003. It combines a unique combination of what many call the older Drunken Tiger style (raw, rugged, and uncensored) and the lighter sider of JK that has dedicated his life to his new family.
As of September 2009, all 27 digital tracks from "Feel gHood Muzik,"
, have debuted on the Top 100 K-Pop Singles chart.
On November 11, 2009, Drunken Tiger won the MAMA (MNet Asian Music Awards) Best Male Artist of the Year award.
2009 Golden Disk 디스크 본상(Best Disk of the Year)
2008 한국대중음악상 Korean Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year - Artist)
2008 한국대중음악상 Korean Music Awards (Best R&B/Soul Record of the Year - Producer)
2008 한국대중음악상 Korean Music Awards (Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year - Producer)
2007 MNET/KM Music Video Festival (Best Lyrics Award)
2007 MNET/KM Music Video Festival (Song of the Year - Nominee)
2007 MNET/KM Music Video Festival (Hip-Hop Artist of the Year - Nominee)
2007 MTV Kountdown (#1 Korean Hip-Hop Artist of All-Time)
2005 Golden Disc Awards (Best Music Video)
2005 MNET Music Video Festival (Music Video Of The Year)
2003 Golden Disc Awards (Best Hip-Hop Song)
2003 서울가요대상 Seoul Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop Artist)
2001 서울가요대상 Seoul Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop Artist)
2001 MNET Music Video Festival (Best Hip-Hop Video)
2009 R16 HIP-HOP CONCERT: Rakka (Dilated People) + Roscoe Umali + Epik High
+ Dumbfoundead
2008 DJ Numark of Jurassic 5
+ Coldcut
(Seoul)
2007 Linkin Park
(Seoul)
2006 Jay-Z
(Seoul)
2004 Boston USA
2003 Chicago USA
2003 Tokyo Japan
2003 Taipei Taiwan
2002 Beijing China
2001 Washington DC USA
2000 Tokyo Japan
1999 New York / Washington DC / Chicago USA
2010 CJ One Card
2010 Giordano
2010 Yahoo Korea
2010 Monueal Electronics
2009 Kia Motors (Korea)
2009 Buckaroo Jeans (Korea)
2007 MTV/Body Shop AIDS campaign ambassador (Korea)
2006 Reebok (Asia)
2004 Hite Prime Beer (Korea)
2001 Karl Kani (Korea)
Also, he collaborated with former The Movement Crew members such as
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
group which debuted in 1999 and has since released eight albums.
As of 2009, Drunken Tiger's central figure is Korean American
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
Tiger JK
Tiger JK
Seo Jung-kwon better known by his stage name Tiger JK is a Korean American rapper, producer, songwriter, enterprenuer, and founding member of Drunken Tiger. He is the founder and former CEO of Jungle Entertainment an imprint distributed by CJ E&M...
. Other members affiliated with Drunken Tiger are DJ Shine (left in 2005), DJ Jhig, Micki Eyes, and Roscoe Umali.
1990s
Tiger JK was born in Seoul, South Korea on July 29 (by lunar calendar on June 11), 1974. At the age of 12, JK moved to Los Angeles with his family. While living in LA, Tiger JK witnessed the tension between Korean AmericansKorean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
and African Americans
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
during the L.A. riots
1992 Los Angeles riots
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots or South Central Riots, also known as the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest were sparked on April 29, 1992, when a jury acquitted three white and one hispanic Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King following a...
. JK, already an avid follower of hip-hop, was inspired to bridge the gap between the two ethnic cultures using his rhymes. At only 16 years old, he collaborated with Drunken Tiger member Micki Eyes and a friend, Sucram, to compete at a local hip-hop festival in 1992. He hoped that his performance as a Korean-American with other non-Koreans would relieve some of the tensions between the cultures. JK saw it initially as an experiment, but his performance caught the attention of Oasis Records in Korea. As a result, JK was later signed and released his first solo album, "Call Me Tiger," in 1992. The album had some brief buzz, however, due to censorship and restrictions put on his title song "Hide and Seek," the album received limited publicity.
JK returned to the US soon after. However, he still felt that the Korea hip-hop was slowly emerging and it needed artists to bring it to the forefront. He teamed up with partner DJ Shine in 1998 and the two debuted under the name Drunken Tiger. Their first album, "Year of the Tiger," was seen as widely controversial given that the lyrics touched upon taboo topics such as sex and anti-establishment. Their debut singles, "I Want You" and "Do You Know Hip-hop" were released in 1999. Unlike their mainstream hip-hop counterparts, Drunken Tiger wrote their own lyrics, had creative freedom and did not resort to choreographed dancing. As a result, their sound is described as 'live, energetic and very natural'.
2000 and Drug Controversy
In March 2000, Drunken Tiger released their 2nd album, "The Great Rebirth," and introduced members, DJ Jhig, Micki Eyes, and Roscoe Umali. Produced in just 2 weeks, "The Great Rebirth" introduced The Movement, a crew of Korean hip-hop artists whose goal was to bring real hip-hop into the mainstream. At the time, the Movement Crew consisted of CB MassDynamic Duo
Dynamic Duo is a Korean hip hop duo, made up of members Choiza and Gaeko. Unlike the rough and off beat sound of their past group, CB Mass, Dynamic Duo changed their style to a more audience-friendly sound with a brighter ambiance...
, Yoon Mi Rae, Uptown, and Kim Jin Pyo
Kim Jin Pyo
Kim Jin Pyo is former member of groups Panic and Novasonic.- Albums :# 列外 , 1998# JP.Style, 1998 # 김진표 Jp 3, July 2001 # Kim Jin Pyo vol.4, May 2003# Galanty Show, 2008- References :* *...
and has now expanded into a large collaborative of pivotal Korean artists, including Epik High
Epik High
Epik High is a South Korean indie hip hop group from Seoul, South Korea. The group is composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz...
, Eun Ji Won
Eun Ji Won
Eun Ji Won is a Korean rapper, Host, dancer, composer and former leader of Korean Hip hop group Sechs Kies . Sechs Kies was divided into The Black Kies, which were the three rappers and The White Kies which were the vocalists...
, Bobby Kim, Leessang
Leessang
Leessang is a South Korean Hip-hop duo, composed of Kang Hee-gun and Gil Seong-joon . Formed in 2002, Leessang is known for its collaborations with Drunken Tiger, Yoon Mi Rae, Big Mama King, Hwayobi, and many others. Leessang is composed of one vocalist and one rapper...
, Dynamic Duo
Dynamic Duo
Dynamic Duo is a Korean hip hop duo, made up of members Choiza and Gaeko. Unlike the rough and off beat sound of their past group, CB Mass, Dynamic Duo changed their style to a more audience-friendly sound with a brighter ambiance...
.
Their single, "Great Rebirth," climbed the music charts quickly, but was suddenly halted from progressing due to criminal investigation of Tiger JK for possession and dealing of narcotics in Korea during 1999. Drug tests and a passport showing JK's departure from Korea were expected to prove JK's innocence, but the Korean courts found JK guilty due to false evidence given by Movement members in Uptown and banned Drunken Tiger from performing on public media for 2 years. However, after appealing the decision, the ban was lifted, allowing a 3rd album to be released in March 2001.
2001-2004
The 3rd album, "The Legend Of..." is hailed to be one of Drunken Tiger's most pivotal albums. Their single, "Good Life," topped the charts and won the #1 spot on multiple charts for weeks. This was the first time Drunken Tiger had won the #1 spot on the mainstream pop charts. In that same year, the group won "best hip-hop music video" at the MNET Music Video Festival and "best hip-hop artist" at the Seoul Music Awards. By this time, the group had established a large fan base and following.Success continued for their 4th album "Foundation" throughout their 5th album, "One Is Not A Lonely Word." The group continued to win awards and receive international invites to perform. In 2004, Drunken Tiger had already performed at near sell out venues of 5000+ in places such as Tokyo, Taipei, Beijing, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, and Chicago.
2005-Present
In 2005, during the debut of the 6th album "1945 Liberation," DJ Shine announced he would leave Drunken Tiger, citing family reasons as a factor. Some wondered how this would affect the legacy Drunken Tiger built, however, the success of the 6th album title song "Isolated Ones! Left Foot Forward!" led to endorsements from Hite Beer and Reebok.By 2006, Drunken Tiger established his own record label, Jungle Entertainment, as well as LUNGTA, a clothing line.
The release of Drunken Tiger's 7th album, "Sky Is The Limit," marked another pivotal point in Drunken Tiger's career. Although JK's ability to perform was inhibited by his myelitis
Myelitis
Myelitis is a disease involving inflammation of the spinal cord, which disrupts central nervous system functions linking the brain and limbs. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation....
, the artist debuted with his hit single "8:45 Heaven," a tribute to his late grandmother whom he had been close to for years. With its deep thought provoking lyrics, the song was praised by many people who had experienced the death of close ones. It was the first time that a Drunken Tiger song resulted in an official "Best Song Lyric" award.
The 8th album, "Feel gHood Muzik,"
Feel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder
Feel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder is an album released in June 2009 by Korean hip-hop artist Drunken Tiger/. This is Drunken Tiger's eighth studio album, and his first double-disc album...
was released on June 29, 2009. The double disc CD sold a total of 50,000 copies in 3 weeks. The album features hip-hop legend, Rakim, and welcomes back Drunken Tiger member, Roscoe Umali, who had not partaken in a Drunken Tiger album since 2003. It combines a unique combination of what many call the older Drunken Tiger style (raw, rugged, and uncensored) and the lighter sider of JK that has dedicated his life to his new family.
As of September 2009, all 27 digital tracks from "Feel gHood Muzik,"
Feel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder
Feel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder is an album released in June 2009 by Korean hip-hop artist Drunken Tiger/. This is Drunken Tiger's eighth studio album, and his first double-disc album...
, have debuted on the Top 100 K-Pop Singles chart.
On November 11, 2009, Drunken Tiger won the MAMA (MNet Asian Music Awards) Best Male Artist of the Year award.
Discography
- Enter the Tiger(1995)
- Notable Songs: "Hide and Seek"
- Year of the Tiger (1999)
- Notable Songs: "I Want You" (난 널 원해) "Do You Know Hiphop?"
- The Great Rebirth (2000)
- Notable Songs: "Great Rebirth",
- The Legend Of... (2001)
- Notable Songs: "Good Life", "Is Ack Hizay?"
- Foundation (2003)
- Notable Songs: "Because I'm A Man (남자기 때문에)", "Thumb (엄지 손가락)"
- One is not a Lonely Word (하나하면 너와나) (2004)
- Notable Songs: "Convenient Store (편의점)," "Liquor Shots (술병에 숟가락)"
- 1945 Liberation (1945해방) (2005)
- Notable Songs: Isolated Ones, Left Foot Forward! (소외된 모두, 왼발을 한 보 앞으로!)", Love Song That Won't Get Banned (심의에 안 걸리는 사랑노래)
- Sky Is The Limit (2007)
- Notable Songs: "8:45 Heaven", "I Hate Myself (내가 싫다) Feat. T" "주정"
- Feel gHood Muzik : the 8th wonderFeel gHood Muzik : The 8th WonderFeel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder is an album released in June 2009 by Korean hip-hop artist Drunken Tiger/. This is Drunken Tiger's eighth studio album, and his first double-disc album...
(2009)- Notable Song: "Monster english ver.", "True Romance (Feat. T),
Awards & Honors
2009 MAMA 남자가수상 (Best Male Artist of the Year)2009 Golden Disk 디스크 본상(Best Disk of the Year)
2008 한국대중음악상 Korean Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year - Artist)
2008 한국대중음악상 Korean Music Awards (Best R&B/Soul Record of the Year - Producer)
2008 한국대중음악상 Korean Music Awards (Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year - Producer)
2007 MNET/KM Music Video Festival (Best Lyrics Award)
2007 MNET/KM Music Video Festival (Song of the Year - Nominee)
2007 MNET/KM Music Video Festival (Hip-Hop Artist of the Year - Nominee)
2007 MTV Kountdown (#1 Korean Hip-Hop Artist of All-Time)
2005 Golden Disc Awards (Best Music Video)
2005 MNET Music Video Festival (Music Video Of The Year)
2003 Golden Disc Awards (Best Hip-Hop Song)
2003 서울가요대상 Seoul Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop Artist)
2001 서울가요대상 Seoul Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop Artist)
2001 MNET Music Video Festival (Best Hip-Hop Video)
Special Performances
2010 Rakaa Korea Album Release Party + Roscoe Umali + Stylizstik Jones + Bizzy + Yoon MiRae2009 R16 HIP-HOP CONCERT: Rakka (Dilated People) + Roscoe Umali + Epik High
Epik High
Epik High is a South Korean indie hip hop group from Seoul, South Korea. The group is composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz...
+ Dumbfoundead
2008 DJ Numark of Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
+ Coldcut
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English dance music duo, comprising Matt Black and Jonathan More. Their signature style is electronic dance music, featuring cut up samples of hip hop, breaks, jazz, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia.-1980s:In 1986, computer programmer Matt...
(Seoul)
2007 Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
(Seoul)
2006 Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
(Seoul)
International Concerts
2006 Los Angeles USA2004 Boston USA
2003 Chicago USA
2003 Tokyo Japan
2003 Taipei Taiwan
2002 Beijing China
2001 Washington DC USA
2000 Tokyo Japan
1999 New York / Washington DC / Chicago USA
Model/Spokesperson
2011 The Body Shop2010 CJ One Card
2010 Giordano
2010 Yahoo Korea
2010 Monueal Electronics
2009 Kia Motors (Korea)
2009 Buckaroo Jeans (Korea)
2007 MTV/Body Shop AIDS campaign ambassador (Korea)
2006 Reebok (Asia)
2004 Hite Prime Beer (Korea)
2001 Karl Kani (Korea)
Collaborations
Unofficially, Drunken Tiger is seen as the leader of The Movement Crew, a Korean hip-hop crew which includes several other well-known hip-hop artists:- Epik HighEpik HighEpik High is a South Korean indie hip hop group from Seoul, South Korea. The group is composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz...
- Bizzy
- Dynamic Duo/CB MassDynamic DuoDynamic Duo is a Korean hip hop duo, made up of members Choiza and Gaeko. Unlike the rough and off beat sound of their past group, CB Mass, Dynamic Duo changed their style to a more audience-friendly sound with a brighter ambiance...
- Yoon Mi Rae/TTasha ReidTasha Reid , better known by her Korean name Yoon Mi-rae , is an R&B singer and rapper.- Early life :Reid was born to a South Korean mother, and an African American father...
- Sean2Slow
- Buga Kingz
- LeessangLeessangLeessang is a South Korean Hip-hop duo, composed of Kang Hee-gun and Gil Seong-joon . Formed in 2002, Leessang is known for its collaborations with Drunken Tiger, Yoon Mi Rae, Big Mama King, Hwayobi, and many others. Leessang is composed of one vocalist and one rapper...
- Yang Dong Geun
- Eun Ji WonEun Ji WonEun Ji Won is a Korean rapper, Host, dancer, composer and former leader of Korean Hip hop group Sechs Kies . Sechs Kies was divided into The Black Kies, which were the three rappers and The White Kies which were the vocalists...
- Double K
- TBNY
- Insane Deegie
- Bobby Kim
- Dok2Dok2Dok2 a.k.a Gonzo Tha Notorious Kid or The Dirty South Korean is a South Korean rapper and producer. At the young age of 16, Dok2 was a former member of Korean hip hop group ALL BLACK with fellow child rapper, Microdot...
- PaloaltoPaloaltoPaloalto was a rock band formed in Los Angeles, California. Their band is not named after the city Palo Alto, but rather the lead singer James Grundler's preschool. Their debut album was released on Rick Rubin's American Recordings label and was produced by Rubin...
- Explicit Linez
- MC K
- Mongo Fresh
- ThanosThanosThanos is a fictional character that appears in comic books and other media published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Iron Man #55 and was created by writer-artist Jim Starlin....
- Micki Eyes
- DJ JHiG
- Roscoe Umali
- Xrae
- Kempo Han
Also, he collaborated with former The Movement Crew members such as
- Uptown
- Crubin
- MicrodotMicrodotA microdot is text or an image substantially reduced in size onto a 1mm disc to prevent detection by unintended recipients. Microdots are normally circular around one millimetre in diameter but can be made into different shapes and sizes and made from various materials such as polyester...
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- Korean hip hopKorean hip hopIn South Korea, hip hop expanded into a form of cultural phenomenon; namely in Seoul, Busan and Daegu. Although the movement has been growing since the mid-90's, Korean hip-hop scene has been gaining a great amount of attention on an international level, since their exposure of bboys who have won...
- Korean musicKorean musicTraditional Korean music includes both the folk, vocal, religious and ritual music styles of the Korean people. Korean music, along with arts, painting, and sculpture has been practiced since prehistoric times....
- K-popK-popK-pop is a musical genre consisting of electropop, hip hop, pop, rock, and R&B music originating in South Korea...
- Contemporary culture of South KoreaContemporary culture of South KoreaThe contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea, and on its own path away from North Korean culture since the division of Korea in 1948. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea, especially Seoul, have brought many changes to the way Korean...