Dec 2010 21

Interview: New Block Babyz 0

Posted by Tiffny - In Interview, Music

L-R: Ven, Young'N, Gimm!박사, Kimm, New Champ, Wu-Tan & ZS

We brought in this year with our exclusive interview with Gimm!박사, and have since kept in close contact with our musically inclined friend. Back then, Gimm let us know about future projects he was working on, including writing and producing for several other artists. Also, he’s graced us with his first English language song for our site’s mixtape: Primary Colors (Vol. 1), which featured artists BB and New Champ. Now, it’s the end of the year, and we’re bringing you guys another exclusive interview with Kpop’s newest buzz: New Block Babyz. If you’re a fan of Kpop, you’ve probably heard a lot of noise recently surrounding these cats. From YouTube, twitter, blogs, and music forums alike, fans are in a frenzy over this new mixed gender crew of MCs and R&B crooners. Each member, immensely talented in their own right, comes together to form a fresh new sound and concept which beckons for everyone’s attention. The members of NBB, all in their mid to late 20s, may be young, but their musical prowess should serve as a sneak peek as to what the future of Korean Urban Pop music holds. Young’N, Ven, New Champ, Wu-Tan, Kimm, Gimm, and ZS make up the members of NBB, and also of several spin off groups, all of which each member seems to float in and out of seamlessly. This new crew definitely breaks the stereotype of what many are used to when they think of Kpop groups, but that’s what makes them so unique. Ladies and gents, read on as we get to know New Block Babyz!

Tiffny: Everyone, please introduce yourselves for our readers!

Young’n: Wussup, I’m Hollaback Young’n, Leader of New Block Babyz; also member of Korean rap group ‘Answer’.
Ven: Hello this is VEN, vocalist and songwriter and the leader of group NOM NOM NOM. Thankyou for your interest of NBB.
New Champ: No.1 South Korean Bad Boy New Champ! Rapper in NBB, & Nom Nom Nom.
ZS: Hello! Im the youngest from New Block Babyz and also the vocalist in Nom Nom Nom.
Wu-Tan: WUSSUP!!!! I’m the young blood in NBB, WU-TAN! Rapper, and also Host MC at the club ‘Cocoon’, one of the biggest clubs in Hongdae.
Kimm: Hello this is Kimm its great to meet you all. I’m a female rapper in New Block Babyz.
Gimm!박사 (shortly ‘Gimm’): Im Gimm, Producer/Vocalist in NBB.

Tiffny: I know that you all also pursue your own solo music projects, but I’m interested to know how you all decided to get together and form New Block Babyz.

Young’n: I started New Block Babyz with New Champ, later VEN, WU-TAN, and ZS joined to be in the crew. We had the same interest in hiphop music, and used to know each other cuz we all live in same town, Kyunggido Ill-San. Then Kimm and Gimm joined the crew. I met Kimm when I was flirting in the club, and Gimm, while I was working on Answer‘s album.

[NBB: New Block]

Tiffny: Gimm, You’ve been busy since the last time we’ve spoke! Master Multi-tasker, what are you up to now?

Gimm: I am currently working on my solo project which will debut on January 7th. The progress is near the finish line!

Tiffny: I remember in our last interview, you mentioned new projects in the works, and you weren’t kidding. Since you’ve been producing for so many artists, how do you find the time to work on your solo stuff?

Gimm: No, I wasnt kidding. And the progress is almost done. The debut show will be on broadcast TV’s so I have so many thing to handle myself (ex. Dancers, Music Videos, Clothes, Management…etc). So recently I’m only concentrating on my own debut. Since I am independent, its very tough to handle everything myself and I get lots of stress.

[Answer: Answer the Phone]

Tiffny: RANDOM: What’s the one thing you guys want for Christmas this year, if you couldn’t have anything else?

Young’n: New girlfriend.
New Champ: Girl
ZS: Girlfriend
Gimm: Uh… I have a girlfriend… what more would I need?
Ven: Girlfriend… just joking! Some new headphones or instrument to boost my creativity in making music.
Wu-Tan: Investor
Kimm: Having a big concert with New Block Babyz. I always dream about that.

Tiffny: Who are you currently listening to?

Young’n: Nicki Minaj
New Champ: Nicki Minaj, Tyga
Ven: Trey Songz , Black Eyed Peas , Ryan Leslie , Nicki Minaj , Tyga
ZS: Trey songz , Omarion
Wu-Tan: Im listening to ‘T.I – Ya hear me’ currently.
Kimm: Lloyd Banks, Avant, Eric Benet, Tyrese. I usually try to listen to trendy stuff. But for now I have some classics going on my MP3.
Gimm: 2NE1

Tiffny: Young’N, you’re also in the group “Answer” and rap style is comparable to American ‘Dirty South’ rap. Who were your influences getting into this style?

Yougn’N: Dirty south hiphop has something that make me addicted to it. Im influenced by Scarface, UGK, T.I, and Ludacris.

Tiffny: If you could remake any song in the world, which would you choose to remake?

Young’N: Beatles – Let It Be

Tiffny: Speaking of groups, Why did you guys choose to name your trio Nom Nom Nom?

Ven: NOM means Guy, Man in korean. sl—ightly a slang. So three guys makes NOM NOM NOM. And it’s inspired by a Korean movie titled ‘NOM NOM NOM’, so we chose to be NOM NOM NOM. The three of us have our own independent styles. I am ‘crazy NOM’, New Champ is ‘bad NOM’, and ZS is ‘good NOM’.

Tiffny: In lieu of your single “Friend’s Girlfriend”, has a girl ever come between you and your homeboys? Is that what inspired the song?

Ven: No. But its something that can happen sometime. So we tried to write a song about it rather than to write about another same old ‘I love you, forever’ love song.

[NOM NOM NOM: Friend's Girlfriend]

Tiffny: Miss Kimm! What’s it like being the only girl in the group?

Kimm: It feels good! I see we NBB are starting to get some attention and as the only female member I would get more attention as well. So I think its important that I should keep up with my skills with rest of the crew.

Tiffny: Will you be releasing a single to represent for the ladies?

Kimm: I will. I don’t have the details to tell you yet but I will be working on good songs that everybody can enjoy. Time will come.

Tiffny: OK, everyone: Who are your top 5 artists of all time?

Young’n: Jay-z, Nas, Notorious, B.I.G, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder
New Champ: New Champ, New Champ, New Champ, New Champ, New Champ
Ven: Michael Jackson , Trey songz , will.i.am , Ryan Leslie , Swizz Beatz
ZS: Boyz ll Men, Trey songz ,Omarion ,BowWow ,Ne-yo
Wu-Tan: Nas, The Game, Nastyz(Korean), Musiq Soulchild, Lil Wayne
Kimm: Top 5… That;s hard! Don’t know about the rest but I know Jay-Z is my best.
Gimm: Michael Jackson, John Lennon(Beatles), Kim Chang Wan, Pharrell Williams(N.E.R.D), Trent Reznor(Nine Inch Nails).

[Norazo:널 부르다 Feat. Kimm (Live)]

Tiffny: I know a lot of fans are very interested in knowing if a New Block Babyz album be available soon. What can you guys (and girl) tell us about that?

Young’n: There is a ‘New Block Babyz – New Block’ single out now. And in January there will be another single with a mixtape compilation coming up followed by Gimm’s January debut, and NomNomNom’s new single, and Young’n's ‘Answer’ album at February.

Tiffny: This question is for New Champ: Your first mixtape, No. 1 Bad Boy, has been getting a lot of buzz on the internet. How do you feel knowing so many people all over the world are supporting you?

New Champ: My Mixtape is only a ‘peek’ of what I am and how my solo EP will sound like. You will see how I will grow on my mixtapes. My 2nd mixtape which is in progress will be a big ‘issue’ for I’m sure.

Tiffny: What’s your favorite thing about hip hop music?

New Champ: Being myself.

Tiffny: RANDOM- What did you all dream about last night?

Young’n: I was doing math time table questions.
New Champ: I was in the studio with Nicki Minaj.
Ven: I don’t remember, but I always dream about NOM NOM NOM going HIT overseas
ZS: I usually don’t dream T.T
Wu-Tan: I was eating a snake.
Kimm: I was driving wildly and shooting guns against some bad guys.
Gimm: I was at war with North Koreans -_-;

Tiffny: Besides music, do any of you have aspirations to do other things, like fashion, for example?

Young’n, New Champ, Ven, Kimm: Yes, fashion. If you have to go on stage, fashion is one of the important things. Some of us are also interested in launching their own shop.
ZS: Im also very interested in being an actor. I studied acting in university and one day I wish to be in the movies.
Wu-Tan: Fashion, Women, Alcohol.
Gimm: If I get wealthy, I have plan to build a school for orphans or any other kids who are not very welcomed at public schools at that time(ex. Teenage single moms for instance)

Tiffny: So, ZS, as the youngest of the crew, do you ever feel pressure to impress everyone?

ZS: Being the youngest in NBB mostly I do the managing for the members. Like calling the members, checking NBB schedules etc… but I don’t really feel the pressure. I think I have a nice going personality that can impress everyone.

Tiffny: I noticed online that there are a lot people saying your look and sound is similar to other Kpop acts out there now. How do you deal with comparisons to other young R&B singers?

ZS: Yeah. I heard people say I look like Mr.G-Dragon. But c.mon, I was born earlier than him and I have completely different position in music. He is a rapper but I am a vocalist and I dont know why people say I ‘sound’ like him. I have my own style and I just don’t understand it.

Tiffny: Ven, I just heard your cover of Boni’s ResQMe! She’s a favorite here at CrayonBeats, so I gotta ask, will there be an official collaboration coming up? And…what exactly does “VEN-TASTIC” mean?

Ven: Thank you for enjoying my ResQ Me cover. I did the cover just because I liked the song very much. But I don’t have any official collaboration planned ‘yet’. I have many collaboration work going on with various korean artists. NomNomNom has also done opening stage for Boni’s concert. If there is a chance with Boni I will certainly be happy to do it.Ven is my name. Ven + fantastic = Ven-Tastic. I use this name to be fantastic me.

Tiffny: Wu-Tan….Your name reminds me of “Wu-Tang Clan”…do you get that a lot?

Wu-Tan: I get that every time. Now I’m starting to get tired of answering those questions, haha. “Wu-tan” is from the word orangutan, which is pronounced in Korean: Oh-rang-wu-tan. People say I look like one.

Tiffny: You also recently released a mixtape. What was your favorite overall track, and who was your favorite feature?

Wu-Tan: All tracks are my favorite, but if I have to pick one I’d go for ‘Thank You’. Because it’s the track that most appeals my true feelings. Feature? I cant pick one, really. Because I love them all but one thing I hate about ZS’s feature is his narration. I thought he went to school for acting!

[Wu-Tan: Hello]

Tiffny: Lastly, what in your opinion is the benefit of being in a group versus being solo artists?

All: Benefit in a group is able to support each other. But sometimes has a trouble when making decisions with rest of the people. In solo, the opposite. You can do what ever you want but you’re on your own and can get very lonely.

———————-LINKS——————–

Interview: New Block Babyz0

Posted by Tiffny - In Interview, Music