Drunken Tiger

This is about my heroes, a rap group called Drunken Tiger. They are an inspiration to me because they fought lyrically with a big-shot American rapper, never stopped trying to reach the top, and brought Korean-American Hip-Hop (Jinjia) to an international standing.

Drunken Tiger was made by an 18 year old (at the time) man nicknamed Tiger JK. He was established by rapper Ice Cube, because of Ice Cube disgracing the Korean Community by saying Koreans were "Oriental one-penny-countin'" (Line 12, Black Korea, Cube). Drunken Tiger tried to kill the stereotypes made by this lyric from Ice Cube's song Black Korea. He attempted to do so through a harmonic rap at a hip-hop show attempting to bring all races together in peace. In doing so he was denounced by most people but had impressed some Korean record labels, thus starting his musical career.

After little success in the business he returned to Los Angeles, his old home. While home he visited many hip-hop shows. Though at a show he met DJ Shine of New York City and also met DJ Jhig of LA. They all agreed on the thought of a Korean artist breaking the common misleading thoughts of hip-hop, and Asian rappers. Both disk jockey's had been well known at the time, and DJ Jhig had worked with a Filipino rapper named Roscoe Umali who later became a close friend and associate of Tiger JK. In 1997 DJ Shine and Tiger JK joined forces and became a group, Drunken Tiger, they had agreed that Korea's music industry had to much pop-related music. For a year they made a name in the underground industry and were signed by Doremi Records. Doremi wanted the group to be like most other artists and wear make-up, and dress alike, among other things, but they didn't want to and decided to rebel.

Even though Drunken Tiger wasn't big at first, they kept on fighting to be on top. Drunken Tiger's music videos were banned from tv but their album "Return of the Tiger" still got some attention. They kept trying to make hip-hop a big name in the mostly pop music industry of Korea, they teamed up with big hip-hop names like Kim JinPyo, CBMass, and Uptown in their attempt to make hip-hop on top. In attempting to be on top they toured together and all became known as The Movement Family. When they got to perform at the Dream Concert (a big Korean concert) in front of many fans of pop music. Though it was only an exposure to the Korean community it was big when it hit the U.S. Tour, American fans of hip-hop and other music thought that Drunken Tiger was the group that would keep hip-hop alive in Korea.

After being accused of possession of drugs by Up-Town they were convicted after going through a drug test and were forbidden to make tv appearances for two years, after making a great album with some members of The Movement Family like Roscoe Umali and showcasing individual talent instead of just the group as a whole. With a lot of rumors about The Movement Family breaking up, that happened but was only noticed because of Drunken Tiger making his first solo album. After much work after being convicted for drug use he was back on top with his top charting song Liquor Shots.

My heroes are Drunken Tiger because they stand up to a big name in American culture, never gave up trying to be on top, and bringing Korean-American Hip-Hop (Jinjia) to an international name.