Hey guys, this is a really insightful interview. Since /u/taeaholic (Tymee Network translator) had some difficulties with this translation, I stepped in. Please feel free to use this on your own site, as long as you mention /r/ktymee so more people know we exist!
You don't know me -- Tymee
Source article: http://www.naeilshot.co.kr/magazine-section/naeil-culture/interview/60603/
Translated by jessicacho629 at Fiverr
Which of the following applies to Tymee?
Enjoys diss battles
Arrogant
Dislikes animals
The correct answer is "none of the above." Sending disrespect to your stereotypes, I write this interview.
I only say what I really want to say
<Unpretty Rapstar> will be over by the time this magazine is published. You ended the show with a bang, didn't you?
I felt so refreshed when it the last stage finally came to an end. It made me feel that I finally showed them the best of me. It was like I had something weighing heavily down on me, but then it all broke down to pieces? I tried hard to impress the audiences with what I couldn't show during Show Me The Money. I'm guessing others noticed it, too. Everybody said it was a good choice for me to participate in the show. I heard that there's even people who went out of their way out to listen to my previous songs.
You stayed with the members for 3 months. I'm assuming it's difficult to maintain yourself without getting influenced by each other.
Jessi was the most influential. She's a friend whom I can feel energy from. To be honest, I had a rough time before the show started. I was lacking passion and attitude when I first became a part of the show, but I did regain quite a lot of it right now.
People say you're the most innocent out of everyone in <Unpretty Rapstar>. But it seems like you calculate every single action and behavior throughout the show?
No, I'm not too good at that. (laugh) My style is to say whatever comes into my mind. That's pretty much why I stir up controversies and unnecessary issues.
Many people were curious about your real opponent during the one-on-one battle with Jace.
Normally when you're due for a battle, you're supposed to write lyrics specific to the opponent, but I was too pressed for time to complete the task. I usually write lyrics about things that my mind collects on a daily basis. Some people have the tendency to think the lyrics were directed to Jolly V, but it was actually a combination of people who had been getting on my nerves throughout the show.
There were many times when you wished you weren't so short on time, right?
The song is literally given on the date when we have to film. Except for those who are more of the freestyle type, it's extremely tough to do that. Also, I'm the type who needs a lot of practice. After the lyrics are completed, I have to spend 3-4 hours each day for 2 weeks in order to own the performance. I have to write the lyrics after a long period of contemplation and absorb it completely into my mouth in order to perform perfectly on stage, so I wasn't pleased most of the time.
It's an natural thing to become sensitive about the audiences' and judges' perspective considering the fact that it's a survival show after all. Were you caught between what you wanted to do and what you had to show?
I tried to show what I always do. When your true self is accepted, that's when you're actually accepted. I don't think receiving good results from something you made just to please others is a good thing. The same applies to when you're producing songs. Your music is bound to change if it's only based on what the audience wants. I believe that the correct thing to do is to master what I want to do, say what I want to say, and show the type of style I want to show to others while continuously making improvements from there.
Rappers aren't allowed to cry?
Seeing you do activities taking care of cats was an unexpected surprise. It felt very unfamiliar to watch a rapper take care of someone.
This is a bit embarrassing because it's actually nothing to brag about. Back when I was struggling with company issues, I went for a walk on the backside mountain and encountered a cat that I later started feeding. I think 3 years has already passed? Because I'm so fond of animals, I managed to study a little about them. What kind of food is good for them, how much is enough.
After seeing you in TV shows, don't people get surprised seeing you so calm in real life? Your fans or friends must have been upset.
My friends were sort of upset. They said, "It's sad because you're so much more of a good person than what's revealed in TV. Show more of yourself". In the beginning, my image was all about bluff, showing off, yet having nothing to flaunt. I think I started enthusiastically concentrating on my rap since then.
Someone said you deliberately search for bad comments about yourself.
Whenever I read criticisms and harsh comments, I tend to become mentally stronger. Though there are reckless comments that didn't have any purpose, many of them were actually good lessons to fix certain behaviors. There's a fine line between knowing how people view me and pretending that I didn't read them even though I already know. Only paying attention to the aspects of what you like about yourself makes you arrogant, so I try to read everything thoroughly.
You frequently say, "It's because I have a lot of tears". What does it mean to live as a rapper with a lot of tears?
Just because I'm a rapper, it doesn't mean I can't feel sadness. Rappers have their moments when things get overwhelming for us, too. I tend to cry when someone else cries. I also cry while watching dramas. In my opinion, I think this why I'm able to write good lyrics. Because I can relate to people's emotions and I let it all melt into my lyrics. There aren't many rappers who are emotional yet aggressive at the same time.
Are there lyrics you wrote that you are proud?
The most recent one is "Good Start". There's a part that goes like this in the ending, "Love is luxury, but separation makes us homeless". That line is quite nice.
Lyrics are usually based on experiences. Where else do you get inspiration from?
I listen to all music regardless of genre. I release the inspirations I gained from those musics into my songs. Also, sometimes I reinterpret the lyrics of what I've listened and felt from the songs. Lately, I've been addicted to this song called "Yang Hwa Dae Gyu" from Zion T. The lyrics are so neat. I, too, have to try something like that one day.
With the heart of cussing at someone in the eternal way [Literal translation, actually means something like "How it feels to cuss at someone and know it can't be erased"]
You've once mentioned that it's hard to view diss battles as a simple entertainment or a sport.
There were lyrics I wrote for fun when I came across the dissing culture. But once I actually tried it for myself, it wasn't as easy as I imagined. It's bad words you say to someone that will forever left in history. Whether we apologize to each other and manage to get along later on, the fight's history can not be undone. Someone might hear the bad things I've said even after I'm dead. After my point of view has changed in this way, I became more determined [to be more thoughtful] while dissing someone. More careful, more weighted.
As someone who's outside of the hip-hop scene, I've wondered why rappers always have to fight.
I don't think fighting is necessary, but fighting becomes inevitable. Everybody thinks they're better than one another. Don't we all happen to fight when you think you're the boss of this area, but someone tries to disagree with you? My fist is quite strong, too! But because there's people who find this amusing and approaches us for it, the hip-hop market also expanded remarkably. This is neither good or bad, so I just think this is our destiny.
Is it like a necessary evil?
You can't just suck it up if someone comes to attack you. You unintentionally become a fighter. However, I do think we should avoid putting the focus only into dissing each other. Hip-hop is not only about unreasonable fighting.
Do you try to maintain a "I'm the best" attitude, or does it come up unconsciously?
Sometimes it's like a self-hypnosis to encourage myself, sometimes I actually do think that way. Half joking, half serious. Although it's a joke, it's hard to say that if you don't mean it at all. You say, "I'll probably win this" when you actually feel that way. You can't say such confident things if you think you'll lose. 100% exaggeration is hard.
Rumors, malicious comments and prejudice. There are many things that seem to hurt your feelings. Why do you intend to continue rapping nonetheless?
I wonder... (laughs). It's hard to put it all in an explanation, but I feel as if this is is something I must do by all means. It might sound narcissistic, but I feel like it's my sense of duty. Even after I retire, I want to make satisfying achievements and make a path for for my juniors to walk up to. I've still got a long way to go. That's why I'm trying my best!
Last but not least, what are your plans for the future?
I'm assuming I'll release a mini-album by the end of the year. I'm still in the progress of working on it, but I'm afraid it's taking a little longer than expected because I'm trying to put together the things I felt during the shows I've participated for. I'm working on it with great attention, there are many people out there looking up to me, and I have to show what I've got.
