Yu Huiyeol's Sketchbook (You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook / 유희열의 스케치북)

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Sketchbook.

I am your host, Yu Hui Yeol.

A new year has begun.

At the beginning of every year, I greet you with the same words.

To wish you a happy new year...

and a satisfying one,

I'd say this to you.

Everyone, happy Yu Hui Yeol!

To kick off the new year,

we thought it would be great to get to know...

the music trends of 2016.

Today's guests are here to tell us that the year 2016 is theirs.

The first artist for today's show...

is from...

the hip hop industry.

Last year, hip hop was one of the hottest music trends.

And this guy has taken over the scene as of late.

I can describe him this way.

Underground or mainstream,

there's no artist as trending as this guy...

right now.

So here he is.

It's the famous ZICO.

And with him is a rising star that will make his mark...

in 2016.

Please also welcome Babylon.

He's the hot new gangster of digital sales.

Please note that he's not actually a bad guy.

It's ZICO and a hip hop artist on the rise, Babylon.

Please welcome them both!

Hello. - Hi, nice to meet you.

Those of you who like ZICO's music would already know this...

but most of his songs are rated R.

That's why I love them so much.

Anyway, he prepared a clean version so that he can sing it on TV.

It's actually a Sketchbook version.

Just for us? - I'm only going to sing it here...

which is why the file is even named "Sketchbook".

Really?

That just shows how much he cares.

Because this is national TV and we have a wide range of audience...

including children, there are some words that can't be aired.

But he edited the song just for us and we should thank him for that.

Now let me introduce Babylon.

In a recent episode, although this didn't air,

Dynamic Duo and Jessi...

both nominated Babylon as the rising star...

of 2016.

Were you aware of that? - Yes, I was.

Did that make you happy? - Of course.

They're artists that I greatly respect...

so I was ecstatic that...

they mentioned me on this show.

Were you raised abroad? - No, I wasn't.

Where were you born then? - I was born in Seoul.

Unlike ZICO, you were throwing English words around...

which made me wonder.

Anyway, how did it feel when you first got the call from ZICO?

ZICO has two very different sides of himself.

On one hand, he looks like an underground hip hop artist.

And on the other hand, he's like an idol K-pop singer.

So were you hesitant in any way to get his calls?

Were you surprised that he asked you?

ZICO first got in touch with me...

to ask if I wanted to work on the single "Cheers"...

with Gaeko, Yankie and Beenzino.

It didn't take me more than a second to say yes,

because...

I've always viewed ZICO...

as an artist and not just a rapper in a boy band.

The way he carries himself as a rapper...

and the way he performs and delivers lines...

were nearly perfect. - That's right.

Some would say that he's either a rapper in a boy band,

or a real musician.

It's one or the other with him,

but in my case, I see him as a genuine artist.

I thought it would be fun to work with him,

and I knew that he'd write a great song...

which is why I went straight over...

to record a demo.

Since ZICO is here, there's something I want to ask.

Recently, in each boy band or girl group,

there are some members...

that write their own songs. - That's right.

Why do you think that's become a trend?

I think that the music industry has changed.

Before, idol singers were supposed to do as their agency said.

We were to practise and sing songs according to their plan,

and we didn't get to have a say in it.

But now, the agency and the producers...

all agree that in some areas...

we have to create our own music.

We all used to listen to...

so many different songs as kids,

and no one knows

the style that suits you the best...

Than you. - Exactly.

So if you take a look around,

the K-pop idol singers that are better known...

got a name by making their own music.

They're comfortable in their own skin...

which is why the public accepts them more easily.

They know what works for them,

so they come up with concepts and produce their own albums.

Lately, almost all idol singers are trying to be like that.

ZICO also writes the songs that Block B sings.

But I'm sure that...

those songs are different to the ones you sing on your own.

I feel like a different person when I write songs for Block B.

Songs that Block B sings...

No matter who I am, Block B is still a K-pop idol group.

That's right. - And...

I have to write songs...

that can easily connect us with the public.

Making songs that can connect with people is my goal.

I keep that in mind when...

writing songs,

and see to it that it's what I achieve.

But...

when I write songs for my solo album,

none of that matters.

How well I'd do doesn't matter.

You don't care about how well you do on the charts?

That's what I thought when...

I released "Tough Cookie" and "Well Done" last year.

I used vulgar expressions knowing that it would be rated R.

I told people about my life in those songs...

not caring whether they have interest in me.

Do you really not care about how well you do on the charts?

Be honest with me.

What are you like on the day of its release?

I'm like refreshing the screen every two seconds.

It's like this.

I try not to care. - I get it.

When you're writing the songs? - But after it's released...

I can't help but worry. - I see.

However, I try not to think about that when I work...

since I won't be able to write anything good.

Babylon, what's your strength as a vocalist?

The style I like is R&B and hip hop.

But I still listen to songs of many different genres,

and try to incorporate what I like about them...

in my own music.

I'm sure that not many know exactly how you sound.

Can you sing something short...

so that we can get a taste of who you are?

So what's the song?

It's a song...

that I used to listen to a lot in grade school.

It's called "Free to Fly",

and I want to sing a piano R&B cover of it.

"Free to Fly"? Whose song is that?

It's by H.O.T.

Oh, I know that song!

So let's give him a big round of applause.

You've got such a nice voice.

The R&B and hip hop vocalists...

these days,

have deeper tones in the middle range.

But his voice is so gentle and is clear like water.

You're a vocalist that we rarely see these days.

Thank you. - You're a charming artist.

Today is the first day of 2016.

So ZICO, what's your resolution for this year?

2015 was a meaningful year...

not only for Babylon...

but for me as well.

It was a year that I was able...

to show people explicitly what I can do,

and I was so grateful for that.

In 2016, I want to pay everyone back...

who showed their love and support.

It won't just be in the form of music though.

I want to be more proactive...

in creating some kind of movement.

Rather than showing people that...

this is what I do,

I want to make them say that ZICO is the start of something.

That's a big dream. - Right.

I think you can do it though. - Thanks.

Many of your colleagues...

have been inspired by you,

thinking of ways to view rap...

from a different perspective.

They both had a spectacular year last year,

and I hope that they...

keep it up this year as well.

It's time to listen to another song of yours.

Can you tell us what it is?

It's one of the R-rated songs of mine...

that we've been talking about.

I've toned it down and made a clean version...

for Sketchbook.

I'll be bringing you "Eureka",

and it's the first time I'm singing this on TV.

Okay, I see.

With this song,

we will be saying goodbye to them today.

Thank you for being here!