Make Some Noise, D.C.
Dynamic Duo gave that very command, when the South Korean hip-hop crew took the stage at a global hip-hop festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
by DAVID JIN PARK
Even though Dynamic Duo has enjoyed tremendous success as hip-hop stars in Korea, the group’s Choiza and Gaeko admitted they were surprised when they were invited to participate in the One Mic: Hip-hop Culture Worldwide music festival, held recently on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The prestigious program also welcomed such hip-hop luminaries as Lauryn Hill, Grandmaster Flash and Talib Kweli on various dates between March 25 and April 13.
“We were really shocked that we were known by such a big institution outside of Korea, and if anything, we were so honored because it’s the first time we were invited to perform at any kind of a music festival abroad,” Choiza told KoreAm.
At the group’s high-energy performance in the U.S. capital on March 28, the hip-hop artists certainly put on a show worthy of the honor. Gaeko’s silky falsetto and aggressive flow were complemented by Choiza’s full, baritone delivery. At one point in the performance, the duo referenced the classic joint “Hip-Hop Hooray” by Naughty By Nature, inciting the crowd of about 1,000—jam-packed with high school and college students in the first 20 rows—to scream, wave their hands and sing along with the nostalgic chorus.
Dynamic Duo fan Alex Mendez, 24, of Hyattsville, Md., reveled in the pair’s sound. “Even though they are a group, they both have two totally differ- ent styles. Gaeko is more in-your-face, Choiza is more of the mellow type,” said Mendez. “But both of them together is the perfect balance.”
The group also performed a free concert the day before at George Washington University, hosted by the campus’ Korean Student Association and the Korean Cultural Center in D.C.
Despite the crew’s humble remarks, Dynamic Duo is known as one of the most popular hip-hop groups in Korea, having released seven full-length albums in the past nine years and earning a string of top 40 hits, plus the Best Hip-Hop Album award at the Korean Music Awards in 2006.
To the chagrin of many fans, the duo’s set at the Kennedy Center was only an hour long. This was because American rapper Nas was performing at an adjacent theater inside the Kennedy Center, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his Illmatic album with the National Symphony Orchestra providing the music. Dynamic Duo took all this in stride, however, asking the audience “if anyone wants to sell us their tickets, please let us know because the show is all sold-out,” to the scream- ing approval and laughter of their fans.
But KoreAm managed to grab a bit more from Choiza and Gaeko before they left town. (Their answers were translated from Korean.)
How would you describe your sound to those new to your music, and who are your musical influences?
Gaeko: In terms of our performance style, we are very energetic and interactive with the fans. We consider our fan interaction to be one of the highlights of our shows. We also think our lyrics resonate with our audiences because they are very down-to-earth and something they can relate to. That is a big reason why most audiences sing along with most of our songs. In terms of our musical influences, we were heavily influenced by ’90s American hip-hop, which we consider to be the golden era of hip-hop. We were just listening to Notorious B.I.G. this morning. More specifically, we were very inspired by Method Man and Redman, especially their interaction with each other and the audience while performing on stage.
You two have been friends since sixth grade, and a lot of groups don’ t last this long. How has your relationship changed over the years, or how has it not changed?
Choiza: We have been best friends since then. And we were friends first, before music got involved. Being able to work with each other has been incredibly fun and awesome, so it doesn’t feel like work at all. At first, we thought we had very similar personalities, but as time has gone by, we realize we have very complementary personalities. If one of us lacks in a certain way, the other can usually cover for him.
Gaeko: And in a way, we were just meant to be.
Choiza: I’m genuinely so happy that I can do what I love with my best friend. Younger artists tell us they are jealous of our longevity in the music business, which is great. But more than that, I’m more grateful that I get to work with my best friend.
You’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in Korea, in terms of hip-hop. Are there any other artists in Korea you would like to work with? And any artists in America you would ideally like to collaborate with?
Choiza: We’ve worked with many Korean artists, and we will continue to do so. But in terms of American artists, the one artist that we would love to collaborate with is Kanye West because of his sound and the direction of his music.
Gaeko: I know this is very lofty and not near our grasp, but Kanye West would be great. Also, we would love to collaborate with some of the ’90s hip-hop stars that we grew up listening to, like Method Man and Redman. Also DJ Premier would be on that list, too.
What is Dynamic Duo’s ultimate goal? What dreams do you have for yourselves?
Choiza: We don’t have a specific goal in mind for the future. For me, I would just like to continue making good music and enjoy ourselves along the way.
Gaeko: Hip-hop is an art form, but for us we feel like it’s a line of work that suits us well. We just want to continue to make relevant music. We don’t want to become music relics; rather we want to continue to be a presence in Korean hip-hop in a healthy and relevant way.
