When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 88

# 88

Aiming Machine (1)

***

When OK’s album was released, reactions came out one after another.

The genre of hip-hop has not been a genre enjoyed only by a few enthusiasts. It has become one of the genres leading trends in the music market.

Among them, OK’s album was an album that stood out.

It was believable that it was an album from the United States, which produces mainstream hip-hop music. Although some critics commented that there were some shortcomings, that was only the critic’s position.

Even those critics had no hesitation in evaluating it as the most popular hip-hop album released this year.

It was natural to say that OK could be viewed as a hip-hop genre in itself rather than an idol genre.

Although there were only three songs, the variations in the three songs were significant.

‘Go High’ with Do-wook was an exciting song about going to a high place and jumping together. Easy lyrics, fast rapping, and Dowook’s refreshing voice that comes out in between.

It was a song that was bound to appeal to the public.

In the case of ‘Don’t Go Back’, a song written with Ahn Hyeong-seo, it was about not looking back on the past. It is a song with a slower tempo than ‘Go High’, and the literary lyrics of the two rappers, Jung Yoon-gi and Kim Won, were excellent.

Moreover, the high notes that Ahn Hyeong-seo showed off with his sorrowful voice wet my ears like autumn rain.

In KK’s album, Ahn Hyeong-seo’s singing style, which was close to emotional overload, was new, which he couldn’t try because he felt burdened.

The last song, ‘talk to you’, was literally the story of Jung Yoon-gi and Kim Won. The two rappers did everything they could to create their own song. It was also a song that would stimulate the most hip-hop enthusiasts.

This perfect composition of the song was created not only by producer Do-wook, but also thanks to the recruitment of Tandy, a rapper from a famous hip-hop group and a recent composer.

“Are there any good composers these days?”

“Tandy….”

When Jung Yoon-gi asked while thinking about the album’s title song, Do-wook slipped out Tandy’s name.

Dowook also knew that Tandy was making the most popular and sophisticated music in the hip-hop genre. Afterwards, it became a hit song producer worthy of being on par with Brave Only Child.

It wasn’t a bad story for the starting point to be OK.

Jeong Yoon-gi reacted to the name ‘Tandy’ that Do-wook dropped.

This was because Tandy was also a judge on Show Me the Honey.

Jung Yoon-gi actively used his relationship from Show Me the Honey to contact Tandy for a song. The song that Tandy sent fit very well with the image that OK thought the title would be.

That’s how Tandy participated in OK’s album.

“The response… really good. “It’s still in real-time search terms.”

Jeong Yoongi muttered in a dazed voice while looking at his cell phone.

It has now been three days since the album was released. After the music show recorded yesterday was broadcast, real-time search terms such as OK’s group name and K.K. Go High began to appear again.

It has been appearing in real-time search terms frequently for several days. It wasn’t the kind of issue that became an issue for a moment and then disappeared.

“excited! Iksaiitiiiiing—!”

Kim Won shouted excitedly.

Today was the day when a public fan signing event was held at the ‘7days’ Myeongdong store to commemorate the release of the OK album. OK members Jung Yoon-gi and Kim Won, as well as 7days’ main model Do-wook, were members of the fan signing event.

On one side of the store that was blocked off for today’s fan signing event, three people were waiting for the fan signing event to start.

“When I came in from the back earlier, it seemed like there were a lot of people.”

Dowook said, glancing outside as if he was worried. Gu Cheol-min nodded and, perhaps because it was a public fan signing event, there were so many people that the security team responded that it was an emergency.

As OK activities began, Do-wook felt that KK’s popularity had risen a notch after the second full-length album.

Today, when I came from Myeong-dong, I realized that the story that OK’s songs were resonating wherever I went, whether it was a club or a clothing store on the street, was true.

‘I guess the expectations for KK were also passed on to OK…’

In addition, even some members of the public who had aversion to idol music were embraced by OK through the genre of hip-hop.

“Let’s go out now. “Time is up.”

At Gu Cheol-min’s words, Do-wook, Jeong Yoon-gi, and Kim Won stood up. I was able to see the front of the store from the stairs going down to the first floor, which was the fan signing venue.

“Oh my gosh.”

There were so many people gathered in front of the 7days store that it was reminiscent of the Christmas season, which is the busiest time in Myeongdong.

“That’s all…”

Looking down, Jeong Yoongi was speechless.

Although I had seen articles posted in real time with titles such as ‘Crowds gathered at OK fan signing event’, it was more than that when I saw it with my own eyes.

“Can we have an autograph session?”

“Fans and passers-by have come out to see you… I think we should end this quickly.”

The crowd was such that there were concerns about safety accidents. Even the nearby police had already arrived.

Dowook nodded. It seemed like the autograph session with the 150 people who bought and won 7days clothes would have to be done quickly.

I also thought that I should provide as much fan service as possible so that the fans would not be disappointed by the signing event that went on too quickly.

“Go down quickly.”

“OK.”

Jeong Yoon-gi and Kim Won hurried to walk at Do-wook’s words.

A picture of OK was hung on the front of the 7days Myeongdong store, which uses a four-story building as a store. OK started signing autographs in front of their photos hanging in the center of Myeongdong.

Myeongdong wasn’t the only place where OK’s large photo was hung. There was also an OK in the middle of Gangnam-daero. Wherever 7days’ advertisement was posted, there was a large photo of OK’s model attached.

The promotional effect from the partnership with 7days was enormous.

Of course, the publicity effect that 7days enjoyed due to OK was significant.

7days’ sneakers, which members wore anytime and anywhere during OK’s activities, including on music broadcasts and fan signing events, were gaining sensational popularity.

These high-top sneakers came in two versions, white and black, and were so popular from students to people in their 20s that they were called the national sneakers.

Walking down the street, one in five people were wearing 7days high-top sneakers. This was surprising for 7days, which is not a professional shoe brand.

Of course, the sneakers were released because the demand for high-top sneakers was increasing like a trend, but the reason 7days’ sneakers became the leading brand among the numerous high-top sneakers lines was because OK was the first to wear high-top sneakers on stage. .

And the phrase ‘will be okay’, which was included in all clothes of the OK line released by 7days, spread like a trend, and clothes with the same phrase were often found on products sold at shopping malls.

In particular, the sweatshirt Do-wook wore had already sold more than 100,000 copies.

It was a demonstration that the group OK and Dowook could also fulfill their roles as fashion leaders.

In this way, the short and intense week of OK activities came to an end.

For Kim Won and Jeong Yoon-gi, the reaction was so heated that they felt like they wanted to do a little more work.

The three songs were still ranked 1st, 3rd, and 10th on the music charts, respectively.

It was an activity that made me realize again that fandom is important, but when the public moves, it is enormous.

However, because the first KK concert tour started in Seoul and went to Japan and China, no further activities were possible.

“Even if I’m not active, I think my songs will continue to be ranked for a while.”

The set list for the first concert had just been released.

The members gathered together and practiced to familiarize themselves with the choreography of songs that had not been done before. During a short break while choreographer Noh Yoon-tae was away, Ahn Hyeong-seo spoke to Jeong Yoon-gi, who was looking at the music chart.

“Well, I think so too.”

Jeong Yoon-gi scratched the back of his head.

“Even if I don’t go back, it’s amazing and good that I keep coming in second or third place.”

“Yesterday.”

Hyungseo Ahn said, pointing out the song he featured in.

The OK unit album had a different meaning from the KK regular album. The members were able to clearly show the color of music they wanted to do.

As participation clearly increased, affection for the album seemed to be exceptional.

Dowook looked at Ahn Hyeong-seo and Jeong Yoon-ki and thought about the next KK album to be released next year.

‘It will take advantage of the group’s characteristics, but I think it would be good if it were an album that showed a little more individuality.’

Taehyung Park quickly held out something to Dowook.

It was a drinking red ginseng pack.

“ah. thank you.”

Dowook smiled and accepted the red ginseng pack. Even though it had been a while since Do-wook got better, Park Tae-hyung took care of Do-wook’s health by giving him red ginseng packs or nutritional supplements from time to time.

Although he didn’t say anything, Park Tae-hyung, who debuted with Do-wook’s help, was always grateful to Do-wook.

Park Tae-hyung’s heart was conveyed to Do-wook, and he did not hesitate to accept the things that Park Tae-hyung offered him with gratitude.

“But today, Sabang Shinhwa’s album is coming out. “I think I’ll be pushed down in rankings.”

I heard Jeong Yoon-gi’s voice muttering.

Ahn Hyeong-seo also had no disagreement with the statement that his ranking would be pushed down due to the Four Directions myth.

“Wouldn’t it be really cool again?”

“I saw the teaser and they said it was ridiculous.”

Sabang Shinhwa was a group that took the idol fandom by storm with their powerful performances.

Dowook thought quietly.

‘Anyway, Sabang Shinhwa is going downhill in the next year or so.’

As the discord between members of Sabang Shinhwa grows, negative rumors begin to surround Sabang Shinhwa. The members’ discord directly leads to fandom division.

Anyway, it was a large group that won the grand prize for two years in a row. If there is an uphill road, there is a downhill road. However, rather than slowly declining, the popularity of Four Directions began to decline so rapidly that it was even called a fall.

Sabang Shinhwa brought this upon themselves. On the part of Ara Entertainment, as Man to Man, the successor to Sabang Shinhwa, was establishing itself, there were some parts that did not feel it was worth investing in Sabang Shinhwa anymore.

‘But now, because of KK, man-to-man is not fully established.’

In fact, KK and Man to Man would be completely divided depending on how Man to Man released their next album.

And in that regard, Dowook was confident of KK’s victory. KK’s current upward trend was not one that could be broken through normal methods.

As actors, the battle between Seo Kang-jun and Do-wook was not yet a victory for anyone, but it was for Man to Man and KK.

‘As for Sabang Shinhwa… it would be nice if KK could hit the ground running before he trips over his own feet.’

Do-wook thought and threw the finished red ginseng pack into the trash can.

In any case, Sabang Shinhwa, who ranked first in terms of fandom unity and size from this album, but had slightly less popularity, would soon fall behind OK on the music charts.

However, album sales were considered an insurmountable wall for Sabang Shinhwa.

‘We’ll compete with next year’s KK album.’

Do-wook thought about it and came up with a plan to gradually bring down Ara Entertainment under Seo Kang-jun and Seo Jung-won, the general manager.

There was also a method in mind for such a move.

At that time, the members’ cell phones rang all at once. It was a group message that arrived from Director Oh Baek-ho.

The story was that KK would be a sub-model in an advertisement for L Duty Free Shop, which is the main story of Sabang Shinhwa.