Jinusean (stylized as JINUSEAN ; Korean : 지누션 ) was a South Korean hip hop duo signed to YG Entertainment . The duo, which is made up of Kim Jin-woo (also known as Jinu) and Noh Seung-hwan (also known as Sean), debuted in 1997 and rose to fame with the single, "Tell Me." They are considered pioneers of Korean hip hop .
42-472: Prior to forming Jinusean, Sean worked as a back-up dancer for legendary K-pop group Seo Taiji and Boys in the early 1990s, and Jinu debuted as a solo artist with the song, "I Was The Captain" in 1994. The two debuted as Jinusean with the single, "Gasoline," in 1997 under the guidance of YG Entertainment CEO and former Seo Taiji and Boys member Yang Hyun-suk and former Deux member Lee Hyun Do. Their second single, "Tell Me" (featuring singer Uhm Jung-hwa ),
84-435: A dance/pop boy group, and Seo Taiji and Boys' mainstream success was a surprise. The trio debuted on MBC 's talent show on April 11, 1992, with their song "Nan Arayo" (난 알아요, " I Know ") and got the lowest rating from the jury. However, the song and their self-titled debut album became so successful that, according to MTV Iggy , " K-pop " music would never be the same" again. One of the first Korean rap songs, "Nan Arayo"
126-416: A possible Seo Taiji and Boys reunion, Seo revealed that the three members had talked about it often. However, he said: The biggest obstacle is that in the past, we put on really beautiful performances, which fans remember, but if we get back together now, I worry we might disappoint, so I am not confident. I lack more and more confidence as I get older. I don't think I'd be able to dance as fiercely as I had in
168-513: A reactionary ban of the band on national television. Another aspect of Korean pop that Seo Taiji and Boys influenced was dance. The band was the first to turn dance into a dominant feature in performance by including breakdancing routines. Dancer Nam Hyun-joon cites Seo Taiji and Boys as a primary influence, and appeared in one of band member Lee Juno's music videos. Celebrating the Seo Taiji and Boys' 25th anniversary project "Time: Traveler",
210-482: A similar ban). This was the first of the numerous controversies regarding Seo Taiji and Boys. The band's second album became the first 'double million sellers' album in Korean history. The third album shifted to a more heavy metal and rock style. Danceable tunes were nearly non-existent except "Dreaming of Bal-Hae" ( 발해를 꿈꾸며 ), an alternative rock song indicating a hope of reuniting North and South Korea, which earned
252-540: A single, it peaked at No. 6 in the UK and No. 1 on the Eurochart Hot 100. The megamix was the first single from the remix album Trip on This: The Remixes , released in late 1990. Trip on This featured the new song "Turn It Up" featuring vocals by new group members Melissa Bell and " Another Monsterjam " rapper MC Einstein. "Turn It Up" was not as successful as the group's prior releases, and Melissa and Einstein departed from
294-416: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Seo Taiji and Boys Seo Taiji and Boys ( Korean : 서태지와 아이들 ) was a South Korean music group active from 1992 to 1996. The three members of the boy band , Seo Taiji , Yang Hyun-suk and Lee Juno, experimented with many different genres of popular Western music. Seo Taiji and Boys was highly successful and is credited with changing
336-470: Is for Singers" (ToToGa), which features popular singers and groups from the 1990s, and performed as a duo on television for the first time in a decade. In 2015 they released their comeback single "Tell Me One More Time", their first release since 2004. They also appeared in the fourth season of the rap competition Show Me the Money as judges. This article on a South Korean band or other musical ensemble
378-601: The Billboard 200 in the US and reached No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart . Following the release of the album, Ya Kid K was revealed to be the main vocalist for the songs, with Bogaert admitting "[Felly] didn't have much to do with the record. Me, Eric and Ya Kid did it all. We needed Felly to help promote the group at first - to create this image". In January 1990, they released their second single "Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)", which
420-601: The Korean Wave . Doobo Shim, a researcher of Asian culture, credits Seo Taiji and Boys with creating the "distinctively Korean pop style" which became commonplace. Moreover, the band was voted as the most crucial Korean cultural product in a survey conducted by the Samsung Economic Research Institute in 1997. Seo Taiji and Boys acted as an instrument of change within Korea, challenging censorship laws as well as
462-464: The Korean ballad style with rap, rock, and techno. Their 1993 second album took a different turn. Although remaining a mostly dance album, a few songs such as "Hayeoga" (하여가, 何如歌, "Anyhow Song") combined elements of heavy metal and traditional Korean folk music through the use of the taepyeongso , a double-reed wind instrument, and melodic structure. While there was controversy that the guitar solo in
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#1732890725652504-602: The South Korean music industry by pioneering the use of rap in Korean popular music and utilizing social critique, despite pressure from ethics and censorship committees. The band won the Grand Prize at the Seoul Music Awards in both 1992 and 1993. In April 1996, Billboard reported that the band's first three albums had each sold over 1.6 million copies, with the fourth nearing two million, making all four some of
546-460: The Ethics Committee demanded be changed (in bold): Educated elders are walking down the street holding pretty dolls. It seems that the day everyone has been secretly hoping for is coming today. Lips stained black. Gone is the era of honest people. [...] I wish for a new world that'll overturn everything. [...] I hope I can avenge the grudge in my heart. Tonight! The backlash from
588-525: The Jam: The Album were "This Beat Is Technotronic" (US Dance No. 3, UK No. 14) which featured MC Eric instead of Ya Kid K, and "Rockin' Over The Beat" (UK No. 9). Beginning in April 1990, Technotronic became an opening act for Madonna 's Blond Ambition World Tour . Following the tour, Ya Kid K departed from the group. In September 1990, A megamix was released compiling Technotronic's previous hits. Released as
630-593: The Night Is Over) " and " Move This ". Technotronic went on to release the albums Body to Body (1991) and Recall (1995). Technotronic was formed in 1987 by Jo Bogaert . Bogaert gained popularity in Europe as a solo artist with various new beat projects, including Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo. Ya Kid K joined the project as a vocalist, Bogaert adopted the stage name Thomas De Quincey, and in September 1989, they released
672-708: The Rhythm" in 1994. It was followed in 1995 by the album Recall and the further singles "Recall" and "I Want You by My Side", the latter of which features male singer Black Diamond. Beside vocal contributions from Ya Kid K, the album also featured singer Daisy Dee on two tracks. In 1996, the group released the remix EP Pump Up The Jam – The '96 Sequel , followed in 1998 by the single "Get Up – The '98 Sequel" as well as compilations This Beat Is Technotronic (Hits & Mixes) and Pump Up The Hits . Technotronic returned in 1999 with new singles "G-Train" and "Like This", featuring male vocalist Monday Midnite. In 2000, Ya Kid K returned as
714-465: The album within a month of its release, and Seo Taiji and Boys won a Golden Disc Award for "Nan Arayo" in 1992. Spin named "Nan Arayo" number 4 on their 2012 list of the 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time. In 2015, Rolling Stone named it number 36 on its list of the 50 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time. "Nan Arayo" is also recognized for establishing the popularity of rap in K-pop and hybridizing
756-446: The band BTS remade " Come Back Home " in 2017, reflecting a similar sentiment to the societal change that Seo argued for in his songs. While maintaining the gangsta rap style, J-Hope raps: "I feel suffocated in my life. What is blocking my life is my fear towards tomorrow," while RM adds, "Because we are still young, there's a decent future. Now wipe those old tears and come back home." While Seo's social critique of Korean culture
798-460: The best-selling albums in South Korea . After the breakup of the heavy metal band Sinawe in 1991, Seo Taiji switched gears and formed the group Seo Taiji and Boys with dancers and backing vocalists Yang Hyun-suk and Lee Juno. Yang said he first met Seo when the musician came to him to learn how to dance. "Blown away" by his music, Yang offered to join the group, and they later recruited Lee who
840-419: The convention at the time. The band members' style ranged from wearing tailored jackets and neat dress shirts to street fashion . They incorporated traditional Korean folk costumes and Scottish kilts , showcasing a variety of cultures. Seo Taiji and Boys pioneered the "snowboard look", which included dark sunglasses, ski hats , and large parkas. Furthermore, the band members' wearing of dreadlocks in 1993 caused
882-486: The decision to disband while recording their fourth album, much to the surprise of Yang and himself. The band's announcement of retirement was a huge disappointment for millions of fans in Korea. The compilation album Goodbye Best Album was released later that year. Seo Taiji headed over to the United States soon after, while Lee Juno and Yang Hyun-suk established record labels right after their retirement. Yang Hyun-suk
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#1732890725652924-544: The fans was immense, and the system of "pre-censorship" (사전심의제) was abolished in June 1996, partially as a result of this reaction. An EP titled Regret of the Times including the original version of the song was released a month after the system was abolished. Seo Taiji and Boys retired from South Korea's popular music scene in January 1996 during its heyday. Lee later stated that Seo made
966-438: The forefront of popular culture and challenge pervasive social norms. The band's independent success diminished the power of the television networks to dictate which artists appeared on shows, and gave rise to the influence of record labels and talent agencies . Such companies led to the formation of bands such as H.O.T. , Sechs Kies , Uptown , and Shinhwa . Additionally, Seo Taiji and Boys' fashion contrasted sharply with
1008-552: The group its third Golden Disc Award. Instead, songs such as the controversial "Classroom Idea" ( 교실 이데아 ) with death growl vocals, influenced by bands such as the Beastie Boys and Rage Against the Machine , by Ahn Heung-Chan of Crash took center stage. The song was extremely critical of the Korean education system and the pressure placed on youth to succeed academically, such as doing well on university entrance exams . The song
1050-436: The group. In 1991, Technotronic released their second studio album Body to Body , which featured new main vocalist Reggie ( Réjane Magloire ). Reggie provided vocals for six tracks on the album, which also featured singer Riv and rapper Colt 45 on two tracks. Several singles were released in Europe, the UK and Australia, including "Move That Body", "Work" and "Money Makes The World Go Round" during 1991 and 1992. In 1992,
1092-634: The middle of the song plagiarized Testament 's "First Strike is Deadly", the guitarist for the solo, Lee Tae-Seop, mentioned in an interview that the solo's arpeggios reinterpreted Scandinavian folk songs, which had no copyright. "Hayeoga" earned them their second Golden Disc Award. Moreover, while promoting the album, the group was banned from appearing on the national television channel KBS-TV because they wore earrings, ripped jeans and had dreadlocks , which ethics committees associated with reggae , resistance movements, and rejection of social norms (although their brightly dyed long hair in 1995 did not attract
1134-567: The music video for the song. The song became a worldwide success, eventually reaching No. 2 on both the US Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in late 1989 and early 1990. The success of the project's first single led to the release of the album Pump Up the Jam in late 1989, which featured vocals by Ya Kid K and MC Eric , but still featured Felly Kilingi on the cover. The album peaked at number 10 on
1176-403: The original track listing but this time featuring Ya Kid K's face on the cover. In 1993, Technotronic released the compilation album The Greatest Hits . It included the new songs "Hey Yoh Here We Go" and "One + One", both featuring vocals from Ya Kid K. Both songs which were released as singles in 1993 and 1994. Continuing with Ya Kid K as frontwoman, Technotronic released the single "Move It to
1218-577: The past. By incorporating these musical elements with Korea's ballad music, Seo Taiji and Boys provided the basis for the hybridization of Korea's music with that of the West, resulting in the foundation of modern K-pop . This hybridization of music and foregrounding of dance movements was one of the fundamental reasons for the popularity of Korean popular music, especially among teenage and early 20s listeners, as it also promoted Korean popular music's ability to penetrate foreign markets in what has become known as
1260-430: The single " Pump Up the Jam ". Ya Kid K was initially uncredited for her contributions to the song. A front for the act was put together (in a way similar to other Eurodance acts like Black Box and Milli Vanilli ), utilizing Congolese -born fashion model Felly Kilingi who was presented as the group's vocalist. She appeared on the single's cover art which was credited as "Technotronic featuring Felly" and also appeared in
1302-456: The song " Move This " from Pump Up the Jam (featuring vocals by Ya Kid K) became popular through its use in a Revlon television commercial. Ya Kid K rejoined the group and the song was released as a single. It became the group's third Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 6. With renewed interest in the Pump Up The Jam album, it was repackaged for the US market in 1992, retaining
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1344-556: The song. Although the mainstream news media later proved these accusations to be groundless, the moral panic proved difficult to eliminate. Not backing down, Seo Taiji and Boys' fourth album exploded with more controversial songs. " Come Back Home " was a foray into gangsta rap , featuring a high-pitched nasal voice influenced by B-Real of Cypress Hill in " Insane in the Brain " and by House of Pain . "Pilseung" (필승, 必勝, "Certain Victory")
1386-530: The television networks hegemony over the music market. In 1995 the Korean Broadcasting Ethics Committee demanded that Seo Taiji and Boys change the lyrics for "Shidae Yugam". This incited protests and resulted in the abolishment of music pre-censorship in Korea. Seo Taiji also did not have to rely on television networks due to the fact that he owned his own studio. This autonomy allowed Seo to bring subcultures in Korea, such as heavy metal , to
1428-533: Was a Belgian electronic music project formed in 1987 by Jo Bogaert , best known for the 1989 single " Pump Up the Jam ", which features vocals by Ya Kid K . The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Later that year, the single was followed by the album of the same name , which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200. They achieved further success with the singles " Get Up! (Before
1470-602: Was a No. 7 hit in the US and a No. 2 hit in the UK. The music video for the song features both Ya Kid K and Felly, though Felly's vocals do not appear on the song. That year, Technotronic made appearances on Saturday Night Live , The Arsenio Hall Show , and It's Showtime at the Apollo . In February 1990, Ya Kid K and Bogaert collaborated with the group Hi Tek 3 and released the single " Spin That Wheel ", credited as "Hi Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K". Further singles released from Pump Up
1512-466: Was a hugely successful hit; its new jack swing -inspired beats, upbeat rap verses and pop-style choruses combined with a focus on new dance moves took Korean audiences by storm. Influenced by the videos for Technotronic 's " Pump Up the Jam " and Snap! 's " The Power ", the music video for "Nan Arayo" features varying color saturation and chroma key editing, varying the angles of the dancers' bodies constantly. The group sold over 1.5 million copies of
1554-488: Was also a hit with alternative rock sound and shouting voice reminiscent of House of Pain's " Jump Around ". However, "Regret of the Times" ( 시대유감 ; 時代遺憾 ) was banned by the Public Performance Ethics Committee for having lyrics that criticized the government. The version of the song included on the album is instrumental only, as a refusal by Seo to rewrite or remove the original three lines that
1596-445: Was banned from being played on TV and radio (but passed by ethics committees) for the censuring of the education system in its lyrics: Every morning you lead us into a tiny classroom by 7:30, forcing the same things into the 7 million heads of children around the country. These dark, closed classrooms are swallowing us up. My life is too precious to be wasted here. Additionally, the band was accused of backmasking Satanic messages in
1638-421: Was one of the top dancers in Korea and joined the group as a background dancer, despite being highly regarded in his own right, because the music "moved [his] heart." Seo Taiji came across MIDI technology for the first time in South Korea in the early 1990s and started experimenting with different MIDI sounds to create a new type of music that had not been heard by the public. He initially had no plans to debut as
1680-517: Was predated by songs of Kim Min-ki , who focused on political violence during the Fourth Republic of Korea under the leader Park Chung Hee , Seo's songs included more direct lyrics and maintained his musical identity by refusing to acquiesce to the pre-censorship policies of the time. In fact, his artistry was unhampered by marketing and advertising campaigns, which may have contributed to the band's success. Technotronic Technotronic
1722-565: Was successful in founding YG Entertainment , one of the three biggest record companies in the country. Seo Taiji returned to music two years later with a very successful solo career; he is now referred to as "the President of culture" in South Korea. In 2007, all four of Seo Taiji and Boys' albums were included in Kyunghyang Shinmun ' s Top 100 Pop Albums, with their first ranking the highest at number 24. In 2014, when asked about
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1764-511: Was the duo's first hit and propelled them to stardom. Notably, Jinusean became the first hip hop artist to sell over 700,000 copies in South Korea. Between 2004 and 2014, the duo went on an extended hiatus but remained at YG Entertainment working in various behind-the-scenes roles. They also individually made guest appearances at several YG Family concerts. In 2014 they made an appearance in the Infinite Challenge special "Saturday, Saturday
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