The Great Korean Invasion of Keith Ape: Noisey Raps

Noisey

12 Nov 201510:58

Summary

TLDRKeith Ape, a Korean hip-hop artist from Seoul, made waves with his single 'It G Ma', blending Japanese and Korean lyrics with Atlanta's trap sound. After touring in America, he and his crew, Cohort, gained international recognition. Despite initial concerns about being perceived as outsiders, they found a receptive audience for their unique style. Keith Ape is determined to collaborate with more American artists, possibly releasing an album next year, and believes his success is driven by something greater than himself.

Takeaways

🎤 Keith Ape is a Korean hip-hop artist from Seoul, known for his single 'It G Ma' which blends Japanese and Korean lyrics with Atlanta trap sound.
🌏 He has toured in America, spreading his anime-Asian style and gaining admiration from fans and artists worldwide.
🚀 Keith Ape and his crew, Cohort, played their first concert in America at SXSW, aiming to conquer the US market.
🗣️ Despite language barriers and initial nervousness about being perceived as outsiders, especially in the hip-hop scene, they found their music was well-received.
💪 Keith Ape is committed to working harder than ever, driven by the belief in his talent and the support of his fans.
🎨 He describes his aesthetic as honest and direct, reflecting his personality and the collective identity of his crew, The Cohort.
🤝 He plans to collaborate with more American artists and possibly release an album next year.
💡 The phrase 'It G Ma' started as an inside joke between him and Jay Allday, and later became the title of his song, which is about not being forgotten and achieving success.
🌍 Keith Ape feels a connection with fans globally, who share a similar cultural background and style, despite speaking different languages.
🎥 He has collaborated with American artist Ken Rebel, and their music video shoot in New York attracted hundreds of people, even leading to a police chase.
🙏 He expresses gratitude to Skrillex for inviting him to perform at UMF Seoul, marking one of the biggest stages he has ever played on.

Q & A

What is the significance of Keith Ape's single 'It G Ma' in the hip-hop genre?
-Keith Ape's single 'It G Ma' is significant because it blends Japanese and Korean lyrics with the trap sound of Atlanta, marking a unique fusion in the hip-hop genre.
Where is Keith Ape originally from?
-Keith Ape is originally from Seoul, South Korea.
What was Keith Ape's initial experience performing outside of Korea?
-Keith Ape's initial experience performing outside of Korea was a mix of excitement and nervousness, particularly during his first performance at SXSW in America.
How did Keith Ape and his crew, Cohort, plan to conquer the United States?
-Keith Ape and his crew, Cohort, planned to conquer the United States by performing at approximately five concerts during their tour.
What was Keith Ape's perception of Asians in America before visiting?
-Before visiting, Keith Ape had heard that Asians were often perceived as outsiders in America, especially within the hip-hop community, which made him quite anxious.
How did the American audience react to Keith Ape's music?
-The American audience responded positively to Keith Ape's music, enjoying the style he brought and showing respect for his artistic talent.
How does Keith Ape describe his personal aesthetic?
-Keith Ape describes his personal aesthetic as honest and direct, acknowledging both his strengths and weaknesses, and embracing the difficult child persona others have attributed to him.
What is the meaning behind Keith Ape's crew name, The Cohort?
-The Cohort represents a group of people like Keith Ape, who have come together to form a collective, showcasing that Korea can also produce the type of music they create, distinct from K-Pop.
What are Keith Ape's future plans regarding collaborations and album releases?
-Keith Ape plans to work with more American artists and potentially release an album the following year.
What was the origin of the phrase 'It G Ma' used in Keith Ape's music?
-The phrase 'It G Ma' originated as an inside joke between Keith Ape and Jay Allday, used as a gimmick that eventually became their greeting.
Can you describe the experience Keith Ape had filming a music video with Ken Rebel in New York?
-Keith Ape had an exhilarating experience filming a music video with Ken Rebel in New York, which included closing streets, police intervention, and a large crowd that gathered in response to their social media post.
What was Keith Ape's most memorable performance experience?
-Keith Ape's most memorable performance was at the Ultra Music Festival Seoul, where he played on the largest stage he had ever experienced and was accompanied on stage by Skrillex.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Keith Ape's Rise in Hip-Hop

Keith Ape, a hip-hop artist from Seoul, South Korea, made history with his single 'It G Ma', which blends Japanese and Korean lyrics with Atlanta's trap sound. He has toured America multiple times, gaining admiration from fans and artists worldwide. His first performance outside Korea was at SXSW, where he played around five shows, aiming to conquer the US market. Despite initial nerves about being perceived as outsiders in America, especially within the hip-hop community, he found the audience's reception to be incredible. Keith Ape is known for his honesty and directness, and he has joined forces with others like him to form his crew, The Cohort. He is proud to show the world that Korea can produce music beyond K-Pop and plans to work with more American artists and possibly release an album next year. He emphasizes the hard work it took to get where he is and his commitment to making it work, doubling his efforts and being rewarded by the audience's response. The phrase 'It G Ma' started as an inside joke with Jay Allday and became a greeting that turned into a song asking people to remember them and predicting their success and wealth.

05:00

🌏 Connecting with Global Youth through Music

The paragraph discusses the universal appeal of anime and style, like Dragon Ball, which connects young people across different languages and cultures. Keith Ape's music and videos reflect this global connection, as evidenced by his collaboration with New York artist Ken Rebel. They worked on a track together and organized a music video shoot in SoHo, which attracted hundreds of people who wanted to be part of it, even leading to a police intervention and a cinematic escape. Keith Ape also expresses his curiosity about growing up in a foreign country and the excitement of working with international artists. He had the honor of meeting influential figures like Waka Flocka and Southside and played at the Ultra Music Festival Seoul, thanks to an invitation from Skrillex. He enjoyed the experience of performing in front of a massive crowd and is looking forward to collaborating with Playboi Carti on an EP. He sees growth and evolution in his music and collaborations, with ideas still incubating and plans to work with more American artists. He acknowledges the hard work that has gone into his success and believes it is driven by a higher power.

10:02

💪 Determination to Achieve Legendary Status

In this paragraph, the focus is on the artist's determination to achieve legendary status in the music industry. The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to become a legend, with the audience's understanding of their passion being of little concern. The artist's drive and ambition are clear, as they express a disregard for whether people grasp the extent of their dedication and 'delire' (frenzy or madness). The message is one of commitment and a relentless pursuit of success in the music world.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hip-hop

Hip-hop is a cultural movement that originated in African American and Latinx communities in the Bronx, New York City, in the 1970s. It includes elements of rapping, DJing, graffiti art, and street dance. In the script, hip-hop is the genre that Keith Ape, the artist, is involved in, and it's the medium through which he expresses his music and cultural identity.

💡It G Ma

'It G Ma' is a single by Keith Ape that became a landmark in the history of hip-hop. The song features a fusion of Japanese and Korean lyrics with the trap sound from Atlanta. It represents the artist's unique style and his attempt to create a distinct identity within the global hip-hop scene.

💡Trap

Trap music is a subgenre of hip-hop that originated in the Southern United States during the early 1990s. It is characterized by its aggressive lyrical content and its use of 808 kick drums, fast hi-hats, double-timed flows, and heavy use of synthesizers. Keith Ape's music incorporates trap elements, as indicated by the reference to Atlanta's trap sound in the script.

💡Séoul

Séoul, or Seoul, is the capital city of South Korea. It's mentioned in the script as Keith Ape's origin, signifying the starting point of his journey and the cultural backdrop against which his music is created. Seoul is also a city with a vibrant music scene that has influenced Keith Ape's style.

💡Cohort

Cohort, in the context of the script, refers to Keith Ape's crew, a group of people who work closely together towards a common goal. They are mentioned as being admired by fans and artists alike, highlighting the collective effort and camaraderie in the music industry.

💡SXSW

SXSW stands for South by Southwest, an annual conference and festivals in Austin, Texas, that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Keith Ape's first performance in America at SXSW is a milestone in his career, indicating his breakthrough into the American market.

💡Outsiders

The term 'outsiders' is used in the script to describe the perception of Asians in America, particularly within the hip-hop community. It reflects the challenges and prejudices that Keith Ape and others like him face, adding a layer of complexity to their pursuit of success in a predominantly non-Asian industry.

💡Artistic Talent

Artistic talent refers to the natural ability, skill, and creativity that an individual possesses in the arts. The script emphasizes that people should respect Keith Ape's artistic talent, which is independent of his ethnicity, and is the driving force behind his music.

💡K-Pop

K-Pop is a genre of music originating in South Korea characterized by its catchy tunes, visually appealing music videos, and highly skilled performers. Keith Ape clarifies that his music is not K-Pop, distinguishing his hip-hop style from the more commercial and polished image of K-Pop.

💡Collaboration

Collaboration in the script refers to the act of working jointly with others or together on an activity or project. Keith Ape expresses his desire to work with more American artists, indicating the importance of collaboration in creating new music and expanding his reach.

💡Cultural Identity

Cultural identity is the sense of belonging to a cultural group, which can be based on shared traditions, experiences, and values. Keith Ape's music and style are influenced by his cultural identity as an Asian artist, which he brings to the forefront in the predominantly Western genre of hip-hop.

Highlights

Keith Ape, from Seoul, South Korea, made history in hip-hop with the single 'It G Ma', blending Japanese and Korean lyrics with Atlanta trap sound.

Keith Ape and his crew Cohort are admired by fans and artists worldwide after touring in America.

Keith Ape's first performance outside Korea was a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Their first concert in America was at SXSW, with approximately 5 shows planned.

The goal was to conquer the United States with their music.

Keith Ape faced language barriers but found that people appreciated his music despite not understanding the lyrics.

Asians, including those in the hip-hop community, are often perceived as outsiders in America.

Keith Ape's music was well-received, showing that talent and artistry are respected.

Keith Ape describes his aesthetic as honest and direct, embracing his qualities and flaws.

He sees himself as a difficult child, which shaped who he is today.

Keith Ape joined forces with others like him to form his crew, The Cohort.

He is proud to show the world that Korea can also produce the type of music he creates, distinct from K-Pop.

Keith Ape plans to work with more American artists and possibly release an album the following year.

He emphasizes the hard work it took to get where he is and his determination to succeed.

The phrase 'It G Ma' started as an inside joke between Keith Ape and Jay Allday.

The song 'It G Ma' is a reminder for people not to forget them and a statement of their intent to succeed and make money.

Keith Ape enjoys performing on stage and finds it hilarious.

He connects with fans globally who grew up with the same anime influences, despite language differences.

Keith Ape collaborated with New York artist Ken Rebel, working on a track and music video together.

The music video shoot for their collaboration attracted hundreds of people.

The video shoot was intense, with police介入 and a need to escape.

Keith Ape reflects on what it's like to grow up in a foreign country and create music and videos with foreigners.

Meeting Waka Flocka and Southside was an honor for Keith Ape.

Skrillex invited Keith Ape to perform at UMF Seoul, which was the biggest stage he had ever played on.

Keith Ape appreciates vegetables.

An EP with Playboi Carti is upcoming, which is fun and new for Keith Ape.

Ideas are evolving together as they grow, and collaborations are still in the incubation phase.

Keith Ape is determined to work with more American artists and possibly release an album the following year.

He believes his success is not just his own but comes from a higher power.

Keith Ape is determined to enter into legend, regardless of whether people understand his madness or not.