Uptown

업타운 : Uptown (1996 - 2000)

Related : YunMiRae

LINK : KPDB:1010782

1 Biography or Not

==== HongCho, 1997-04-16 ====

I don't know their origin. Probably from L.A. I've also heard that one of the members (JeongYeonJun) participated in Solid's works previously. Their music is very American, west coast. Although I believed their music is okay, I initially thought their style would be too "American" to be accepted in Korea and decided to hold on to putting their music on the page. But, one of my friend pushed me to put them here. :P

Uptown are JeongYeonJun, KimSangWuk, LeeHyeonSu, and YunMiRae.

2 represent (1997)

 

(World Music)

==== HongCho, 1997-04-16 ====

Their debut album is very consistent as far as the music is concerned. Hip-hop with plenty of low beats and good rap. I don't know about any other things about their music and talent, except for the only lady (more like a girl) singer/rapper. Man, ain't she sweet! She looks like a high school kid, but her singing and rapping just kicks. So, you can say that I am putting this album here just for her.

Oh, I just noticed in the CD sleeve that for the songs, NaReul ItJi MalA and My Desire, they had a guest female singer named Aria. Oh, well so much for the praise for Ms. MiRae. But she still sings and raps very well in the other numbers.

SeoDuReuJi MalAYo	Don't Hurry
DaSi ManNaJwo	Please See Me Again
NeoWa HamGge	With You
Deo NeutGiJeonE	Before It's Too Late
GatChi ItSeoDo	Even If We Are Together
Bye Bye
NaReul ItJi MalA	Don't Forget Me
My Desire
Dwi DolABwa	Look Back
CheoEumBuTeo AlGo ItSeotSeo	I Knew It From the Start
Stay
DaSi ManNaJwo(remix)	Please See Me Again
Bye Bye	instrumental

3 represented ..now believe (1997)

 

==== HongCho, 1997-11-27 ====

This is the hip-hoppin' group's second album. My favorite female wrapper Yun, MiRae "Tasha" is kickin' it better than ever before. The album's musical creativity came mostly from JeongYeonJun "Chris" as always.

Their rap is good, the singing's good. There are 16 tracks; one intro, one outro, two remixes from the first album, and three remixes, which brings up nine original track (not bad). I think melodically the new album got slightly better than the first one, but not by much. However, this is a must buy if you liked their first album.

The only major problem I have with this album is that they are "claiming" that they are the only "real" hip-hop/gansta rappers in Korea in the lyrics. I mean, whether one is a "true" hip-hop group need not be explicitly expressed. It should be obvious to the listeners, if they know anything about the genre. Being confident and all is all very nice, but I do not appreciate the attitude.

4 Chapter 3 in History (1998)

 

(NaRae; World Music)

==== HongCho, 1999 ====

Uptown is back as they claimed in their intro, but I don't think nothing really changed much fundamentally. Under the musical direction of JeongYeonJun (aka. Chris Jung), they are Tasha Reid (aka. YunMiRae), Steve Kim (aka. KimSangUk), and Carlos Galvan (aka. LeeHyeonSu). There is a mention of a possible fourth member, Park, Tam Hee, but her contribution seems to be not enough to be included.

I really don't see how they can be accepted by the main stream gayo audience. Their music is very L.A.-Asian, and they have become more so with this album. I am not saying that that is particularly bad, but I am wondering if they are targeting the right market when they release in Korea. I think they can tune more of their work toward American Asian (or just American) audience and go for it here. However, they seriously need a good male vocalist. I am not dissing Steve and Carlos here. They are pretty good rapper: Steve with a deep voice and Carlos with Hispanic rap style. But their singing leaves very, very much to be desired.

And what were they doing with Nan HaengBokHae (originally sung by LeeSoRa)? Was that how they try to fit a more Korean market oriented number? They should just forget that kind of crap.

Bottom line: The rap is good

5 Verbal Medication(1999)

 

★★★★☆  GaYo, HipHop, Funky

==== DisTort, 2000  ====

Uptown is the first hiphop crew that introduce to GaYo scene. Perhaps they're not the first pioneer, but of the GaYo stars Uptown and KimJinPyo are the first. Their music is closer to G-Funk than gangsta rap. I think they're groove and sensitive. In fact they're more oriented to GaYo than hiphop. During 98-99 many underground hip hipers like Gangtholic or JoosuC appeared and they played completely rap. Anyway with the eye of tolerance, their music is funky and groove. In these days many GaYo artists used rap in boom after Seo TaeJi. But they play hip hop not GaYo. Most of all latter part of this album is very strong. I think they hope to be not only star but also artist. Female rapper Tasha has very comic and skillful voice. She made her own duo Tashannie.

[Play:UptowN4Game.mp3 Game] [Play:UptowN4RockThisMuthaFucker.mp3 Rock This Mutha Fucker] [Play:UptowN4Casanova.mp3 Casanova] [Play:UptowN4NakTae.mp3 NakTae; Abortion] [Play:UptowN4UPTHipHop.mp3 UPT HipHop] enjoy Tasha's rap!

6 Discography

As	Year	Album Title
Uptown	1997	Represent
Uptown	1997	Represented...Now Believe
Uptown	1998	Mutual Best(compil of 1 & 2)
Uptown	1998	Chapter 3 in History
Uptown	1998	Absolute Power(EP?)
Tashannie(See YunMiRae)	1999	Parallel Prophecys
Uptown	1999	Verbal Medication

7 Links

http://www.worldmusic.co.kr/uptown

---