When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 87
# 87
Go Higher (4)
***
Before meeting President Lee Yoo-min, Do-wook asked the KK members and Director Oh Baek-ho for their opinion about working as a hip-hop unit.
Do-wook’s idea of creating a hip-hop unit was to produce high-quality songs with Kim Won and Jeong Yoon-gi as the main members and Ahn Hyeong-seo and Do-wook featuring.
Even as he spoke, Dowook had no choice but to be cautious.
This was because unit activities, like individual activities, could ruin the balance of the entire team.
Members who were excluded from the hip-hop unit could feel alienated.
Also, the intention of the members to join the hip-hop unit was also a very important part.
“Wow, Dowook is working again!”
As soon as Do-wook finished speaking, Hyeong-seo Ahn stuck out his tongue. The other members also shook their heads.
There seemed to be no complaints at all about the composition of the members, which was an area of concern.
“Since it is not an official activity but a unit activity, I will take it easy and let the KK members know that they also have this side…”
Ahn Hyeong-seo laughed as if it was funny as Do-wook hurriedly explained it.
Do-wook quickly added as he felt that the members’ reaction was not good.
“If it seems like everyone is having a hard time…”
He had no intention of putting pressure on others because of his own greed. Kim Won said after interrupting Do-wook.
“Brother am okay. I’m okay. “As soon as I heard it, I knew I wanted to try it.”
Dowook’s expression suddenly brightened.
“The problem is that you are overworking.”
It was when Do-wook was trying to tell him not to pay attention to Kim Won’s words. Jeong Yoon-gi came out.
“I like it too. “I’m sure it’s a good plan for me and Won.”
“Yes?!”
“Thank you for your thoughts. But there is a condition.”
“Conditions…?”
The word ‘condition’ that Jeong Yoon-gi uttered was very unfamiliar. It wasn’t a word that could be exchanged between members. Do-wook was a little nervous when he heard Jeong Yoon-gi’s conditions.
“It’s up to you to produce the album, Dowook.”
“yes. If you don’t like it…”
“No, that’s fine. There is no producer who knows us better than you. But we do all the lyrics for all parts.”
That was Jeong Yoon-gi’s condition.
Jeong Yoon-gi wanted to lighten Do-wook’s burden even a little. Do-wook felt grateful when Jeong Yoon-gi said he would write the lyrics.
“Hip-hop is my specialty.”
That was correct.
Dowook originally planned this album to help members maximize their capabilities.
It was fortunate that the two people did not regard this project as a hassle, but enthusiastically considered it an opportunity.
“of course. “You know me better than me.”
Jeong Yoon-gi smiled at Do-wook’s words. Will was also visible in Kim Won’s eyes.
“I think it would be good if the brothers participated not only in writing lyrics but also in everything from concept to song selection.”
“It’s okay.” “We have to try to improve.”
Jung Yoon-ki and Kim Won took active part in the album as it was centered around them.
It was enough if Jung Yoon-gi, who was on a fairly stable track, and Kim Won, who had honed his skills, were together. There was no need to carry as much burden as when Dowook produced KK’s second full-length album by himself.
“I also have a condition.”
Everyone looked at Director Oh Baek-ho with puzzled eyes at his sudden words.
In fact, it was Oh Baek-ho who gathered all the members and Oh Baek-ho together like this today. It became a unit album meeting when Do-wook first brought up the topic that he would talk about it while they were together.
“If we were to release a hip-hop unit album on schedule, we would have to prepare for about two months, right?”
“Yes… I guess so.”
Do-wook answered Oh Baek-ho’s question.
“Then, let’s tell you to spend a week at work next week and get ready.”
“omg. Does Dowook have any other schedules? Our company is really poisonous…”
As Ahn Hyeong-seo was shocked, Director Oh Baek-ho raised one of his eyebrows.
“It’s not just Dowook, it’s all of you.”
“yes?”
“What…what is it?”
Even Taehyung Park asked as if he was a little surprised, as he thought he had no schedule other than concert preparations and the occasional big event.
“I’m on vacation for a week.”
“yes?”
“To Guam.”
The members’ mouths fell open.
“You haven’t rested for over a year. The company said they would support my entire trip to Guam so I could rest properly this time. “It’s like a reward vacation.”
“Are you serious?”
Jeong Yoon-gi swallowed his saliva once and asked.
“Why are you lying? Even if you give me a vacation in Korea, I won’t be able to rest properly. “We will spend about four nights in Guam and then go home for the remaining two days.”
“Oh my gosh!”
Kim Won shouted in a voice full of joy.
Dowook also nodded at the consideration at the company level. All of their conditions were for Do-wook.
After further discussion with album production team leader Shim Jun and production director Kwon Heung-jo, it was decided that KK’s hip-hop unit album activities, planned by Do-wook, would be promoted.
Director Kwon Heung-jo even said that he thought of this album as a welfare album that would diversify the musical colors of his artists and enhance their capabilities, so it was okay not to overdo it.
It was not an easy story for a company whose goal was to generate profits.
However, Director Kwon’s calculations, which already knew that there would be no deficit as long as Dowook and the KK members already had a certain level of popularity, were also at the foundation.
Anyway, I was told not to feel too much pressure.
The album release was planned for two months later. It was decided that activities such as music broadcasts would only be held for one week so as not to overlap with the year-end concert and awards ceremony schedule.
The plan was to schedule only one or two fan signing events for fan service purposes.
The name of the hip-hop unit became ‘OKAY’. The name was chosen because it contained the initials ‘O’ of Kim Won (one) and ‘Y’ of Jeong Yoon-gi, as well as the letter ‘K’ of K.K.
The meaning and tone of the word ‘Okay’ was also good.
The idea for the unit name came from Seok Ji-hoon. Other KK members who were not the main members of the unit also volunteered to help the struggling members with various things.
***
As the story progressed step by step, Do-wook had a meeting with Yu-min Lee, CEO of Yoosung Fashion.
And I brought up the story about Okay, the hip-hop unit of KK, to Yumin Lee, CEO of Yoosung Fashion.
There was no specific plan.
“It’s a hip-hop unit… so we do fun things.”
“I wanted to try different things.”
“The reason I wanted to work with Do-wook was actually to rethink our brand image.”
President Lee Yu-min spoke first in detail.
Since there were several brands within Yoosung Fashion, originally, the suggestions did not come from the CEO level, but rather the project manager or general manager planned the project and recruited models.
President Lee Yu-min’s job was to provide a larger direction and supervise projects.
However, from time to time, President Lee Yu-min, like the president who brought a new breath of fresh air to Yoosung Fashion brands, would step forward and come up with specific projects.
One of the things I came up with after seeing Dowook was one of them.
“I don’t know if you know, but one of our SPA brands is called ‘7days.’”
“I know.”
As the SPA brand showed strength in foreign countries, it was a brand that Yuseong Fashion quickly prepared and launched.
Although it has only been around for a short time, it has been making its name known through aggressive marketing with the backing of a large company called Yoosung Fashion.
“We have been increasing the number of stores, mainly in Seoul, since last year, and our goal is, of course, to enter the global market.”
Do-wook moistened his mouth with water while listening to President Lee Yu-min’s story.
“But it was difficult to differentiate ourselves from other SPA brands. The brand image is not yet clear. So I thought, why not make Mr. Dowook the face of the brand?”
President Lee Yu-min’s story was very eye-opening.
Becoming the face of a brand was an enormous task. Although it was a new brand, it was an oily fashion brand.
“I thought the image of being young but not too light was a perfect fit for our brand. I started thinking about this while watching the Rendezvous Project. It seems like there is a good response in the Chinese market these days…”
“Thank you for your positive comments.”
Dowook greeted politely. President Lee Yu-min laughed as he saw Do-wook’s reaction. It was understandable why her brother viewed Do-wook favorably.
It was already nearing the end of the course meal.
“There’s a lot of swearing about hip-hop… it’s not like that, is it?”
“of course.”
Do-wook quickly answered President Lee Yu-min’s mischievous question.
“Are you saying it would be good for 7days and KK’s hip-hop unit to collaborate?”
“I didn’t necessarily have that brand in mind, but I think it would be a great help to work together with the CEO’s help.”
It wasn’t a bad offer for President Lee Yu-min. In any case, President Lee Yu-min would have to give instructions to the strategic planning team to analyze the details.
President Lee Yu-min readily answered.
“Good, good! I don’t think it’s bad for giving a young image. “Because I have Mr. Do-wook, I trust everything else.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“KK will give us a positive image and we will be able to promote KK on a large scale along with the brand. “I hope we have a good relationship like Do-wook said.”
Dowook nodded.
President Yumin Lee’s ruby ring sparkled on her finger. Dowook hoped it would be something as valuable as the ring.
***
The faces of the KK members who went on a reward vacation to Guam were completely tanned. The members dreamed of laughing, talking, resting, recharging, and creating together again.
Having that time, Do-wook’s mind also gained some leeway.
I will continue to work hard, but it was an opportunity to look back on the past year that passed by like a rhinoceros horn, only looking for revenge.
Currently, as Kang Do-wook, I have been thinking about my future life.
Of course, because I had the uncertainty of not knowing what would happen to my soul or time again, I could not continue my thoughts deeply.
As the pleasant fall weather continues, KK’s hip-hop unit ‘Okay’ has begun the second half of the album production.
A tracklist of a total of 3 songs was released.
The title song ‘Go High’ features Dowook.
There was one song featuring Ahn Hyeong-seo and one song consisting of only raps by Kim Won and Jeong Yoon-gi.
During the week-long activities, Do-wook and Ahn Hyeong-seo decided to take turns standing on stage.
As full-fledged promotions began ahead of the album’s release, the response from young people, not only in the idol world but also in the domestic hip-hop scene, was enthusiastic.
As Yoosung Fashion’s ‘7days’ design team took charge of all of OK’s styling, OK became the model for a new line launched by the brand ‘7days’.
In addition, along with OK’s comeback, OK’s music was scheduled to be played in all ‘7days’ stores and national TV commercials.
And Sabang Shinhwa’s comeback was also scheduled.