Soul Company

Soul Company
Private company (defunct)
Industry Music, Entertainment
Genre Hip hop
Founded 2004
Founder Kebee & the Quiett
Services Record production, talent agency
Website SoulCompany.net (via Internet Archive)

Soul Company (Hangul: 소울컴퍼니) was an independent Korean hip hop record label and talent agency based in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in 2004 by rappers Kebee (키비) and The Quiett (더콰이엇) and played a role in the foundations of the underground hip hop and R&B scene in South Korea, representing artists such as Crucial Star, RHYME-A-, and Loquence. Its releases were distributed by Soribada Inc. Soul Company's dissolution was announced in September 2011, and the company ceased operation in November of the same year.[1]

History

2004-2007: Founding and establishment

Soul Company's founding artists Kebee and the Quiett met in the late 1990s through programmes at the Haja Centre (하자센터), an alternative vocational education centre for teenagers operated jointly by Yonsei University and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.[2] They began the label with a compilation album released in 2004 entitled The Bangerz, featuring tracks by the Quiett and Kebee as well as Planet Black (플래닛 블랙), among others. Later that year, Kebee released a solo album, Evolutional Poems, which gained attention for both him and the label.[3] In July 2005, in response to continued interest from fans, The Bangerz was re-released.[2]

In 2007, Soul Company released the album Official Bootleg Vol. 2. It spoke out on a number of social issues in South Korea, with Kebee describing the stress of college entrance exams in his song "Epilogue to Senior Year" (고 3 후기, "Go 3 Hugi"), while Loquence, D.C., and Planet Black discussed difficulties and disappointments they faced in reintegrating into society after returning from mandatory military service in their song "Army Reserve" (예비역, "Yebiyeok"). P&Q on the tracks "I'll be watchin' you" (지켜볼게, "Jikyeobolge") and Kebee in "Oh Right!" (아 맞다, "A Matda") also criticised the perceived inauthenticity of mainstream hip hop in South Korea, attacking some unnamed targets as "hip hop cosplayers".[4] However, The Quiett also set a precedent of collaboration between underground and mainstream South Korean hip hop artists such as Tasha Reid, Drunken Tiger, and Dynamic Duo in his album The Real Me later that year.[3]

2008-2009: In concert

In July 2008, Soul Company held a concert entitled Show me the hiphop.[5] That year the company also began holding Judgement Night, reported to be South Korea's first hip hop/hardcore joint performance.[6]

In February 2009, Soul Company held a Valentine's Day concert entitled My Funny Valentine at Rollinghall in the Hongdae area (near Hongik University), featuring performances by Kebee, UMC, Junggigo (also known as Cubic), and Swings.[7][8] In July, Soul Company artists came together to record the single "Aeiou Eo?! part 2". The title was a reference to an album released by Soul Company in 2004.[9] In May and October, they hosted the third and fourth joint Judgement Night concerts with GMC Records; the latter was held at V-Hall in Hongdae.[6] In August, they held another concert at V-Hall featuring performances by The Quiett, Loptimist (랍티미스트), and DJ Wegun,[10] and held a group stage performance entitled Summer Ground.[11]

2010-2011: Artist lineup changes and dissolution

In January 2010, Soul Company released the digital album Mad Clown VS Crucial Star, which within a few days of its release was one of the top 10 sellers on Cyworld. The last track, "Parting" (이별은, "Ibyeoleun") by DC, received particular praise from the Seoul Sinmun.[12] In March, The Quiett released his fourth LP with Soul Company, Quiet Storm: A Night Record.[13] In July, Soul Company held a concert at Club Fabric near Kyungsung University in the southern city of Busan.[14][15] In October, Soul Company released an online single by RHYME-A- (라임 어택) entitled Speak The Truth (진실을 말해).[16] In December, Soul Company suffered a blow with the departure of The Quiett. His departure from Soul Company was announced through the label's release of the album Still A Team (스틸 어 팀).[17] Early the following month, he announced that he would be forming his own label Illionaire Records with Dok2. The Quiett described his move as giving him the freedom to preserve the kind of music he wanted to perform and bring new vitality to the South Korean hip hop scene.[18]

In April, Soul Company held a joint concert with Pastel Music (파스텔 뮤직) sponsored by Jin Air devoted to environmental protection. The concert, entitled Save The Air Green Concert, was held at KT&G Sangsang Madang (KT&G 상상마당) in Hongdae. Soul Company artists who participated include Crucial Star, Fana (화나), and Eluphant (이루펀트).[19]

In September 2011 it was announced that the label would be dissolved. One contributing factor was that Soul Company co-founder and Eluphant duo member Kebee had to leave for two years to perform his mandatory military service which he had been delaying. Just a few days after the news of the breakup, Eluphant released a digital single entitled "To the Future" (미래로 나아가자, "Miraero Naagaja"), following which they indicated the duo would also become dormant for two years.[20] In late November, Soul Company artists held a farewell concert at AX-KOREA (악스코리아) to commemorate the label's dissolution.[21]

Artists (former)

Discography

Collective albums

Solo albums/EPs

Digital releases/singles

References

  1. ↑ "소울컴퍼니 해체 "아티스트 개개인 역량 담기 힘들어 각자의 길로" — Soul Company dissolves, 'Thanks to all individual artists for their efforts, each will go their separate ways'", Korea Economic Daily, 2011-10-01, retrieved 2012-03-08
  2. 1 2 "소울컴퍼니 '더 뱅어스' 재발매 — Soul Company's 'The Bangerz' on sale again", Busan Ilbo, 2005-07-02, retrieved 2012-03-10
  3. 1 2 "한국의 인디레이블 ④: 소울컴퍼니 — South Korea's Indie Labels #4: Soul Company", Kyunghyang Sinmun, 2008-07-30, retrieved 2012-03-10
  4. ↑ Lee, Jamie Shinhee (2010), "Glocalizing Keepin' it Real: South Korean Hip-Hop Playas", in Terkourafi, Marina, The Languages of Global Hip Hop, Continuum International Publishing Group, pp. 146–148, 152–154
  5. ↑ "소울컴퍼니 'Show me the hiphop'여름 콘서트 — Soul Company summer concert 'Show me the hiphop'", NSP Tongsin, 2008-07-16, retrieved 2012-03-10
  6. 1 2 "GMC 레코드와 소울컴퍼니, '저지먼트 나잇 Vol.4' 개최 — GMC Records and Soul Company, host 'Judgement Night Vol. 4'", Maeil Business Newspaper, 2009-10-05, retrieved 2012-03-10
  7. ↑ "소울컴퍼니, 테마 공연 개최 — Soul Company hosts themed concert", Naver News/Newsis, 2009-01-29, retrieved 2012-03-10
  8. ↑ "소울컴퍼니가 준비한 발렌타인데이 선물 공연 'My Funny Valentine' — Soul Company prepares Valentine's Day present 'My Funny Valentine'", Naver News/Newsis, 2009-02-14, retrieved 2012-03-08
  9. ↑ "소울컴퍼니 단체곡 '아에이오우 어?! part 2' 발표 — Soul Company releases group song 'Aeiou Eo?! part 2'", Maeil Business Newspaper, 2009-08-24, retrieved 2012-03-08
  10. ↑ "소울컴퍼니 '다음에도 많은 성원 부탁드립니다'", JoongAng Ilbo, 2009-08-11, retrieved 2012-03-10
  11. ↑ 2009년 8월 열린 Soul Company 단체 공연 "Summer Ground"Soul Company는 2000년 경 하자센터에서 열린 MC 메타의 힙합 강좌 "힙합방"과, 청소년들을 대상으로 한 힙합 캠프 "Teenfest"가 전신이 되었다, from ko:소울 컴퍼니
  12. ↑ "소울컴퍼니, 힙합싱글모음 마니아 '반색' — Soul Company 'delighted' by hip hop single collection mania", Seoul Sinmun, 2010-02-04, retrieved 2012-03-10
  13. ↑ "더콰이엇 4집 앨범, 평론가-네티즌들로부터 연이은 호평 — The Quiett's 4th album gets good reviews from critics and internet users", Maeil Business Newspaper, 2010-04-15, retrieved 2012-03-10
  14. ↑ "힙합 레이블 소울컴퍼니, 31일 부산에서 콘서트 — Hip hop label Soul Company to hold concert in Busan on 31st", Chosun Ilbo, 2010-07-28, retrieved 2012-03-10
  15. ↑ "힙합레이블 소울컴퍼니, 홍대 떠나 부산서 힙합 파티 개최 — Hip hop label Soul Company leaves Hongdae to host hip hop party in Busan", Hankook Ilbo, 2010-07-28, retrieved 2012-03-10
  16. ↑ "`라임어택`, 화끈한 사회 비판 `MC몽·신정환·타진요가 대상?` — RHYME-A-'s heated social criticism; 'MC Mong, Shin Jung-hwan, TaJinYo are the targets?'", Korea Economic Daily, 2010-10-10, retrieved 2012-03-08
  17. ↑ "더콰이엇, 2011년 힙합계를 흔든다 — The Quiett shakes up the hip hop scene in 2011", Frontier Times, 2011-01-11, retrieved 2012-03-08
  18. ↑ "더콰이엇, '소울컴퍼니 탈퇴? 주류음악계 도전 아냐' — The Quiett, 'Leaving Soul Company? Not challenging mainstream music'", Frontier Times, 2011-01-11, retrieved 2012-03-10
  19. ↑ "소울컴퍼니, 환경보전 앞장 — Soul Company in environmental protection initiative", Kyeongin Ilbo, 2011-04-19, retrieved 2012-03-10
  20. ↑ "힙합듀오 이루펀트, 신곡 '미래로 나아가자' 발표 — Hip Hop duo Eluphant releases new song 'To the Future'", Naeil Sinmun, 2011-10-05, retrieved 2012-03-10
  21. ↑ "힙합크루 소울컴퍼니, 8년활동끝 공식해체 콘서트 — Concert officially ends eight years of activity by hip hop crew Soul Company", Money Today/Star News, 2011-11-27, retrieved 2012-03-10
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