Ghood Vibes: Interview with MFBTY

What has been your most challenging time as musicians? How were you able to overcome that time?

Tiger JK: My myelitis. I’m still on meds for it. I cannot function without them. And seeing my family suffer because of me pains me. But we are overcoming it by making music.

Yoonmirae: That’s a hard question for me. I’ve gone through some pretty tough times dealing with the music industry and each time felt like the worst. I can say without a doubt, though, that without music I would not be where I am right now, mentally or spiritually.

Bizzy: Whatever sounds ghood to me still sounds ghood, I hope people like what I like.

You’ve all had hard times fitting into the mainstream in Korea, with the release of Wondaland you’ve been having regular television performances and lots of attention in the media, what do you think of this acceptance and change in the industry?

Tiger JK: We’ve never tried to fit in – we were just too hot for TV for sheezy. I think the mainstream media being so ratchet nowadays, we look safe now! “Acceptance” is a painful word that puts me back into a fetal position. I feel like I’m back in high school, and

I’m wrecking my brain trying to think of how to ask the mainstream media out to prom at the end of year.

Yoonmirae: The more things change the more they stay the same. Wondaland is actually doing better overseas than it is in Korea – but do a couple of Korean TV shows and it looks like you’re poppin’! You just never really know with this industry so we try not to focus or look into all that because what you see isn’t always what you get. We just got our band together and we’re planning on rocking some college shows and then touring the country. Then we’ll really know how the people feel and think.

I live in Minneapolis where indie hip-hop is highly respected and probably the strongest local genre with a great community behind it supporting the artists, what is the indie hip-hop scene like in Korea and how has it changed since you all started in the Korean music industry? (p.s. – come to Minneapolis, they’ll love you!)

Tiger JK: There was a golden era of hip-hop and they are many emcees that are nostalgic. We do have an underground hip-hop scene out here, and listeners and hip-hop purists who listens to nothing but boom bap. Times have changed, though, with all these reality TV shows poppin’ and the Internet, we’re now going through the world star hip-hop generation.  But we’ve moved on to pop music, and we ain’t really out there like that anymore.

Yoonmirae: If we ever do make it out that way, I’ll try my best to add Minneapolis to our list!

Bizzy: I’d love to be there, let us in!

For those of us that follow you, it’s clear you all connect deeply with your fans, what does that relationship meant to you? 

Tiger JK: I have been fortunate enough to connect with some of the most caring people who share similar interests. We might not agree on certain issues, but that’s what makes it more special. I mean there are trolls and assholes everywhere, and sometimes I’m one of them too! But these folks, I consider them like family now, and we don’t have to talk about music all the time either. I get to eavesdrop on their lives and learn something new. I wish them nothing but the best.

Yoonmirae: They mean the world to us! It sounds so cliché, but I really feel like we’re all one big family.

Bizzy: My Fans Better Than Yours and we all deserve to be happy in this Wondaland.