Seo Jung-kwon (; born July 29, 1974), also known as Tiger JK (), is a South Korea-born American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur based in South Korea. He is best known as a founding member of Korean hip hop group Drunken Tiger. He has also founded two record labels, Jungle Entertainment and Feel Ghood Music. He is a member of the South Korean hip hop trio MFBTY.
He is considered a highly influential figure in the development of Korean hip-hop and is credited with helping bring the genre into the Korean mainstream. The Los Angeles Times referred to him in 2011 as "perhaps the most popular Korean rapper in America, Asia and the world."
Early life Tiger JK (Seo Jung-kwon) was born in Seoul, South Korea on July 29, 1974. His father, Suh Byung Hoo (d. 2014), was a DJ and one of the first Korean pop columnists, and the first Billboard correspondent in Korea in the 1970s.SPIN magazine, November 2000, Silence makes the beats grow stronger, Brett Forrest, pp. 154-160 His family moved to the United States when he was 12, and he was sent to briefly live with an uncle in Miami, Florida, where he practiced Taekwondo, becoming a 3rd "dan" black belt.
He spent his teenage years in Los Angeles, California, where he attended Glendale Hoover High School in Glendale, CA. As a teen in Los Angeles, Tiger JK witnessed the violence between Korean-Americans and African-Americans during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. He later said he wanted to use hip hop to create a dialogue between the two communities.
Tiger JK attended Santa Monica College and then transferred to UCLA and graduated with a B.A. degree in English from the Creative Writing program.
Musical career
1995 – 2005: Early career and successes with Drunken Tiger In 1995, Tiger JK's first solo album, Enter The Tiger, was released in Korea by Oasis Records, a connection Tiger JK had made because his father was friends with the company's CEO. The album got little airplay due to its perceived explicit content.
Tiger JK returned to the United States and teamed up with DJ Shine to form the group Drunken Tiger in 1998. The group debuted in Korea and, despite the explicit content of their lyrics and the group's rejection of mainstream music trends, they achieved popularity with their first album, Year of the Tiger, which included the hit songs, "I Want You" and "Do You Know Hip-hop."
Over the next several years, Drunken Tiger brought on new members and released multiple albums, winning numerous awards. Founding member DJ Shine left the group in 2005.
2006–2013: Creation of Jungle Entertainment and collaborations
In 2006, Tiger JK left Oasis Records and established his own hip-hop label, Jungle Entertainment. The label represented Drunken Tiger, and prominent Korean rappers Yoon Mi-rae and Leessang were among the artists to join the label over the next few years.
Tiger JK continued to release music with Drunken Tiger over the next few years, while also collaborating with other artists. In 2012, he featured on "Let This Die," a single by Brian Joo of the R&B duo Fly to the Sky. That same year, he featured on "Wicked," a song by new K-pop girl group Fiestar.
2013-present: Founding MFBTY and Feel Ghood Music In 2013, Tiger JK teamed up with Yoon Mi-rae and Bizzy to form the group MFBTY, an acronym for "My Fans are Better Than Yours." Soon after, he left Jungle Entertainment and founded a new label, Feel Ghood Music, which now releases MFBTY's music. He has had multiple collaborations with popular boy group leader RM of BTS with the latter featuring on his final album Drunken Tiger X: Rebirth of Tiger JK on the song Timeless. He also featured in Seventeen's Hoshi's Tiger released in 2022. In 2023, he featured on "TOPLINE", a single released by K-pop group Stray Kids, also appearing in the official M/V.
Personal life
Drug conviction Tiger JK was arrested for using methamphetamine in Korea in 2000, at the same time that members of the Korean hip hop group Uptown were also arrested on drug charges. Tiger JK said that, though he had used drugs in the past, he had not used them in Korea, and he said that he was ultimately found guilty due to false testimony from the members of Uptown. He spent a month and a half in jail and was given two years probation.
Illness Tiger JK was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, a spinal cord condition that affects motor functions, in 2006. He was hospitalized and took a two-year hiatus from performing. As of 2014, he continued to take medication to treat the condition.
Marriage and family In June 2007, Tiger JK married rapper and singer Yoon Mi-rae in a private ceremony in a Buddhist Temple. The wedding occurred a month before the death of his grandmother who had wanted to see them wed before her death. Yoon gave birth to their son, Jordan, in March 2008.
Other projects In 2006, Tiger JK launched a clothing line called Lungta.
In 2011, under American rapper Dr. Dre's "Beats By Dr. Dre" headphones line, Tiger JK released his own limited edition headphones. They retailed for 690,000 won, and all profits went to a child safety organization.
Discography
Studio albums
Enter the Tiger (1995) Drunken Tiger X: Rebirth of Tiger JK (2018)
Singles TitleYearPeak positionsAlbumKORPeak positions on the Circle (formerly Gaon) Digital Chart:
"First Love": ' "Reset": "Forever": "This is Pengsoo": USWorldPeak positions on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales:
"Forever": "Reset": "Forever" (반가워요) 2015 71 24 rowspan="13" "I Know" (이런건가요) — —"Fly Like an Eagle" (이글거려) — —"Here to Stay" 2017 — —"Ghood Family" — —"Draw Your Love" 2019 — —"This is Pengsoo" (펭수로 하겠습니다) 2020 54 —"kiss kiss bang bang" — —"Love Peace" (호심술)2021 — —"POV"2022 — —"Self Love" — —"Jinju" (진주) 2023 — —"T.K.D" 2024 — —
Soundtrack appearances TitleYearPeak positionsAlbumKORUSWorld"First Love" (첫사랑) 2014 63 —Pinocchio OST"Reset" 2015 22 22Who Are You: School 2015 OST"A Beautiful Lie" (어디로 가야해) 2019 — —Beautiful World OST"The Sea Doesn't Get Wet in the Rain" (바다는 비에 젖지 않아)2022 — —Monstrous OST"Daemuga" (대무가) — —Daemuga OST"Wadadada" (와다다다) — —One Dollar Lawyer OST
Filmography
Film YearTitleRole2015세계일주 (Trip Around the World)Pil Hong
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2010High Kick Through the RoofGwang-soo's friendTiger JK made a cameo appearance on this sitcom.Infinite ChallengeHimselfHis team won on the "Highway Music Festival" episodes of this variety show."Project Runway: Korea" (season 2)HimselfHe appeared on "Project Runway: Korea" Season Two, Episode Eight titled "Hiphopper's Wedding Crasher." He challenged the designers to create a wedding dress for his Fiancé, and was a judge in the episode as well. 2011Welcome to the Jungle: SunzooHimselfThis was a reality show special.2012Salamander Guru and The ShadowsTigerHe made a cameo appearance on this sitcom.The Hero on Stage: Tiger JK.INGHimselfThis was a 2-part TV documentary about Tiger JK.2016We KidHimselfTiger JK is a judge on this music competition show for kids. 2017Show Me The MoneyHimselfHe appeared on this music competition show as a producer judge2019Boss in the MirrorHimselfHe appeared as boss of Feel Ghood Music in the show 2021 Wild Idol Coach
Endorsements Hite w/Drunken Tiger Kia w/Tiger JK Reebok w/Tiger JK Yahoo w/Tiger JK CJ One Card w/ Tiger JK and Yoon MiRae Samsung w/Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae and Jordan Giordano w/Tiger JK Pringles w/Drunken Tiger Moneual w/Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae Hangame w/Tiger JK The Body Shop w/Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae Guinness w/Tiger JK SK Telecom w/Tiger JK and Bizzy SONY w/Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2009Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Male Artist "Monster""2009 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list" . MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12."2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards Part1" . MAMA. Retrieved 2014-12-18. Best Rap Performance 2010Style Icon AwardsBeautiful SharingTiger JK and Yoon Mi-rae Mnet 20's Choice AwardsMost Influential StarsTiger JK and Yoon Mi-rae 2011Men's Health Cool Guy ContestBest Cover ModelTiger JK 201611th Soompi Awards Best Drama OST (share with Jinsil) Who Are You: School 2015 (Reset)
Notes
References
External links
Drunken Tiger site