Tiger JK
Encyclopedia
Seo Jung-kwon (born July 29, 1974) better known by his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Tiger JK (Hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 타이거 JK) is a Korean American
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
rapper, producer, songwriter, enterprenuer, and founding member of Drunken Tiger
Drunken Tiger
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...
. He is the founder and former CEO of Jungle Entertainment an imprint distributed by CJ E&M. JK and Drunken Tiger are also noted collaborators of various South Korean hip hop artists, and are the basis of the South Korean hip hop joint movement known as simply "Movement" or "The Movement".
He has released nine studio albums under Drunken Tiger, and continues to collaborate with Drunken Tiger. In addition to his musical career he has most recently started entrepreneurship releasing his own brand of "Beats", headphones titled "Tigerbeats", and has even started his own clothing line as well.
His legendary status extends beyond that of South Korea, and is often compared with famed American rappers in terms of style and lyrical content. He and Drunken Tiger are also considered the true pioneers of the Hip hop scene in South Korea (the other said pioneers being Yang Hyun Seuk, and Seo-Tai-ji).
Early life
Seo was born in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on July 29 (corresponding to the 11th day of the 6th month in the lunar calendar
Korean calendar
The traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries. Dates are calculated from Korea's meridian, and observances and festivals are based in Korean culture....
) 1974 the first of three siblings born to South Korean parents . At age twelve he and his family immigrated to the United States where the family briefly lived Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(a prominently non-Korean area) where he practiced Taekwondo and earned his 5th rank black belt in 1990. The family later moved to California and was raised in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he attended and graduated from Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. Beverly is part of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and located on on the west side of Beverly Hills, at the...
where he was partially racially discriminated. As a teen living in Los Angeles he witnessed the violence between Korean Americans and African Americans during the 1992 Los Angeles 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 was determined to close the gap between the two races within his community with his rhymes. He later graduated from UCLA.
1990s - 1998: Beginning of Drunken Tiger and success
At age sixteen he met Micki Eyes, later to be a member of Drunken Tiger, and performed in a rap festival in Los Angeles. He later caught the eye of Oasis Entertainment of South Korea, got signed, and released his first solo album, Enter The Tiger. The album achieved major success, but due to censorship, the songs were banned from being played on radio stations. Soon after the release of American rapper Ice CubeIce Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
's highly controversial song Black Korea, Tiger JK teamed up with east coast rapper DJ Shine
DJ Shine
DJ Shine is a KoreanRapper, Producer, DJ formerly associated with popular Korean Hip hop group, Drunken Tiger.Before he met Tiger JK he performed as a DJ,...
, to form the duo Drunken Tiger
Drunken Tiger
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...
in 1998. Although the group was formed in the U.S., the group debuted in South Korea as well. The group immediately gained major popularity with songs such as I Want You and Do You Know Hip hop?.
1998 - present: Criticism, withdrawal of DJ Shine, Legendary status, and further activities
Initially, Drunken Tiger was criticized for generating controversy due to their lyrics' explicit content and rebellious attitude towards mainstream music trends. Nevertheless, they continued to write their own music, perform in local shows, and gather a large following. The group would go on to release five albums, before DJ Shine would leave for personal reasons in early 2005.Throughout Tiger JK's career, he has also written and composed many hip-hop songs in South Korea for many well known hip-hop artists in the country. In mid-2006, Drunken Tiger established a hip-hop record label named Jungle Entertainment
Jungle Entertainment
Jungle Entertainment commonly known simply as Jungle is a South Korean record label founded by Korean hip hop legend Tiger JK . It produces mainly Hip hop and R&B music. Among the company's roster are many known rappers/groups such as Drunken Tiger, Yoon Mi Rae , Leessang, Bizzy, Loptimist, and...
, whose roster includes many well known hip-hop artists.
Today, Tiger JK continues to perform under the Drunken Tiger
Drunken Tiger
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...
stage name, and is still considered one of South Korea's
most respected 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...
artists. He and DJ Shine are considered the true pioneers of the hip-hop scene in South Korea. His eighth album, entitled Feel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder
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.
Influences and rapping style
Tiger JK has credited Jamaican singer Bob MarleyBob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
for his musical style and numerous American rappers as well. He has demonstrated his Reggae style, gangsta rap style and West Coast hip hop in Drunken Tiger songs, Tiger JK is praised for various aspects of his rapping technique by numerous other rappers – these techniques include: his varied and humorous subject matter, connecting with his audience, carrying a concept over a series of albums, unique rhyme schemes, his ability to bend words so that they rhyme, his use of syllabic rhymes fitting many rhymes in each bar, complex rhythms, use of melody, and syncopation.
Equipment and musical instruments
Tiger JK often uses common samplers and typical synthesizers and can play the electric guitar and electronic keyboards coaching his artists. Although he rarely is seen playing instruments on stage he is an exceptional pianist as demonstrated in the song 8:45 Heaven piano intro.Family
Tiger JK and singer/rapper Yoon MiraeTasha Reid
Tasha 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...
secretly wed in 2007. The couple have one son named Jordan Seo who was born in mid-2008.
Health problems
Tiger JK was diagnosed with transverse myelitisTransverse myelitis
Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by an inflammatory process of the spinal cord, and can cause axonal demyelination. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation...
in 2006, which led to a two-year hiatus from performing.
Drug possession trial
Tiger JK was arrested for possession of methamphetamineMethamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
in 2000, even though some say there was strong evidence that Tiger JK did not use drugs. He served community service as a penalty, and the band received a two year promotion ban.
LUNGTA
Shortly after discovering having Transverse Myelitis, Tiger JK began his clothing line named LUNGTA in 2006.Entrepreneurship
After ex-NWANWA
-Nwa:*Nwa, Kale, a village in Burma*Nwa, Cameroon, a commune in the Nord-Ouest region of Cameroon-Groups or organizations:* Northwest Airlines, a defunct U.S...
rapper and famed hip hop producer Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
released his signature high performance "Beats" headphones, Tiger JK released his own kind of the same headphones titled "Tigerbeats", on May 20, 2011, for 690,000 won (630.00 USD).Tiger JK amongst the select few and the first Korean artist to release his own collection of headphones under the Dre brand.
Record releases
- 1995: Enter the Tiger- Released under Artist name Tiger JK
- 1999: Year Of The Tiger- Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
- 2000: The Great Rebirth- Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
- 2001: The Legend Of...- Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
- 2003: Foundation- Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
- 2004: One is not a Lonely Word - Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
- 2005: 1945 Liberation- Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
- 2007: Sky Is The Limit - Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
- 2009: 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...
- Released under Artist name Drunken TigerDrunken TigerDrunken 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...
Television appearances
Though neither him nor Drunken Tiger have had many appearances outside of music programmes, he along with his wife has made special appearances on the popular South Korean variety shows Infinity Challenge, High Kick, and Running ManRunning Man (TV series)
Running Man is a South Korean variety show; a part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup, along with K-pop Star . It was first aired on July 11, 2010. This show is classified as an "urban action variety"; a never-before-seen new genre of variety shows. The MCs and guests complete missions in a landmark to...
.
Endorsements
- HiteHiteHite Brewery Company Limited is a South Korean brewery company headquartered in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Its main products are beer, rice wine, and mineral water. The company was established as Chosun Breweries in 1933...
w/Drunken Tiger - KiaKIA-People:* Kia Abdullah , British-Asian author and journalist* Kia Asamiya , Japanese manga artist* Kia Byers , Canadian canoeist* Kia Corthron , American playwright, activist, and television writer...
w/Drunken Tiger - ReebokReebokReebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
w/Drunken Tiger - Yahoo w/Drunken Tiger
- CJ One Card w/Drunken Tiger
- Girodono w/Drunken Tiger