You just don’t even know!

Okay … okay. I know I’m getting ahead of myself. But I’m going to try my best to get through this without melting into a sticky pool of crazy.

What can one even say about the now legendary “Eung Freestyle”? It’s one of those tracks that deserves its own category. This is certainly not the first example of a rap cypher with multiple rappers from different crews. (Oh trust that’s a #TBT for the future). But it is one of the more remarkable because of its global impact.

If you’ll remember, when YouTube first started promoting their “YouTube Music” feature, the longest-running promo spot for it was the Sik-k‘s first scheme! It piqued so many people’s interest, the video tallied upwards of 20 million viewers. (As it stands, it sits at about 37.5 million views as of this article.) “Eung Freestyle” ushered in a whole new audience for music from South Korea. Those who didn’t really ride the K-pop bandwagon were floored that there are actually rappers coming out of South Korea.

“Eung Freestyle” is probably also the first time even followers of South Korean music (particularly hip hop from the country) ever heard about DPR Live. At this point the Dream Perfect lead artist is a household name. Back then? For the most part people were just flabbergasted about the young man with the smooth flow.

Never mind the fact GroovyRoom pretty much created the most recognizable beat to come out of the country at that point. (Seriously. Is there a genre they can’t dominate?) Each rapper has his own color. His own way of riding one of the most aggressive beats I’d heard.

Sik-k’s verse opens “Eung Freestyle” on something so rugged you’re instantly taken aback. Then you have Punchnello. This young man’s unique blend of smooth and fiery is what made me fall head over heels. Follow that with the endlessly polarizing Owen Ovadoz and his laid-back delivery. He’s got such a misleading quality to his tone. Ever zen, there’s a false sense of security in his voice. Just as you become comfortable in it, he slices you at the knees!

Then … oh then! Flowsik. If this man don’t …! I mean … What are we talking about?! This man came in, all that gravel in his voice … demanding that we let him have his shine. Throughout “Eung Freestyle,” a collective grunt of “Eung!” or “Mmm!” follows each rapper’s punchline. As soon as Flowsik opens his mouth, each scheme he sets up ends on that hum explodes! Those of us who didn’t get our soft lead-in to music from SK with Drunken Tiger cut their teeth with Flowsik. I’m sure just his presence knocked people on their asses!

The overwhelming brilliance of the “119 Remix” probably wouldn’t have blessed our lives as soon as it did if it weren’t for “Eung Freestyle.” The world just wasn’t ready. I sure as hell wasn’t when I first heard it in full!

(YouTube.)

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#TBT: DPR Live & Company — ‘EUNG FREESTYLE’