very very personal
we're all giving our college essays for a trial run to our ap lit teacher and she's amazing so im actually really excited and nervous for her feedback, but i figured i'd put this up here too, maybe just to see what you guys think since this is writing + my life + kpop all into one big mess.
Born Woo Jiho, 1992 in Seoul, Korea, Zico is the twenty-year-old leader of Block B who simultaneously raps for the group, takes part in choreographing their performances, produces all of their music to completion, and also edits the background track for the live performances. During a recent period when the band was thrown into a storm of public criticism for a series of faux pas, when death threats littered their doorsteps, Zico shaved his head as a sign of deep remorse-in Asian culture, hair growth is a sign of life, and cutting one’s hair so drastically short shows deep apology or mourning. He also contracted vocal cord nodules and went months enduring the pain through performances before finally finding the time while the group went on hiatus to receive surgery. In spite of being born prematurely, being told he would not live to adulthood, as well as having asthma and rhinitis, Zico insists strongly time and again through lyrics and interviews that this is his chosen path-he has been hailed by large-scale rappers of the underground Korean hip hop scene as a prodigy for his time, featured in numerous projects.
What do Zico and I have in common other than he as an artist and I as his fan?
Absolutely nothing.
While I love all types of music, particularly Korean hip hop, I have no interest at all I pursuing a career in music. What I admire is his passion. His passion for music, his passion for life-how onstage, he is Zico, the leader of a band finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after months of darkness and hardship, but offstage he is Woo Jiho-a son, a younger brother, and close friends with the other six members of his band. And to me, he is a role model. Zico is only two years older than I am, and yet he is completely and utterly decided on his path in life-has found what he is good at, what he loves, and has succeeded in merging those two together.
At this moment in my life, I am not nearly as sure as Zico about where I am headed. I do know, however, that as Zico has his song-I also have mine. My song has the steady bleep of an electrocardiogram, the sterile smell of antiseptic, the smooth slide of transmission gel, the dimness of an ultrasound photo, and the cry of a newborn baby. My song has no illusions because I know that the accompanying tracks while be filled with sleepless nights, years and years of school, debts as a result of paying for those years of school, and throughout all of that I have no way of knowing whether I will end up where I want to be. As of right now, though, whenever I find myself close to tears, close to giving up-whenever I find myself in the midst of papers upon papers, tests and quizzes and projects pending-control and clarity, inspiration and renewed energy, are only ever a listen away.
“I do get tired, but I never stop. There was not one person who supported me. I had to become my own enemy. I never once let myself fall prey to corruption, rebellion, and delinquency. My heart was in this from the start.”
-“I’m Still Fly” by Zico of Block B
Born Woo Jiho, 1992 in Seoul, Korea, Zico is the twenty-year-old leader of Block B who simultaneously raps for the group, takes part in choreographing their performances, produces all of their music to completion, and also edits the background track for the live performances. During a recent period when the band was thrown into a storm of public criticism for a series of faux pas, when death threats littered their doorsteps, Zico shaved his head as a sign of deep remorse-in Asian culture, hair growth is a sign of life, and cutting one’s hair so drastically short shows deep apology or mourning. He also contracted vocal cord nodules and went months enduring the pain through performances before finally finding the time while the group went on hiatus to receive surgery. In spite of being born prematurely, being told he would not live to adulthood, as well as having asthma and rhinitis, Zico insists strongly time and again through lyrics and interviews that this is his chosen path-he has been hailed by large-scale rappers of the underground Korean hip hop scene as a prodigy for his time, featured in numerous projects.
What do Zico and I have in common other than he as an artist and I as his fan?
Absolutely nothing.
While I love all types of music, particularly Korean hip hop, I have no interest at all I pursuing a career in music. What I admire is his passion. His passion for music, his passion for life-how onstage, he is Zico, the leader of a band finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after months of darkness and hardship, but offstage he is Woo Jiho-a son, a younger brother, and close friends with the other six members of his band. And to me, he is a role model. Zico is only two years older than I am, and yet he is completely and utterly decided on his path in life-has found what he is good at, what he loves, and has succeeded in merging those two together.
At this moment in my life, I am not nearly as sure as Zico about where I am headed. I do know, however, that as Zico has his song-I also have mine. My song has the steady bleep of an electrocardiogram, the sterile smell of antiseptic, the smooth slide of transmission gel, the dimness of an ultrasound photo, and the cry of a newborn baby. My song has no illusions because I know that the accompanying tracks while be filled with sleepless nights, years and years of school, debts as a result of paying for those years of school, and throughout all of that I have no way of knowing whether I will end up where I want to be. As of right now, though, whenever I find myself close to tears, close to giving up-whenever I find myself in the midst of papers upon papers, tests and quizzes and projects pending-control and clarity, inspiration and renewed energy, are only ever a listen away.
“I do get tired, but I never stop. There was not one person who supported me. I had to become my own enemy. I never once let myself fall prey to corruption, rebellion, and delinquency. My heart was in this from the start.”
-“I’m Still Fly” by Zico of Block B