BewhY Shines as his Movie Star Tour Culminates with Love in New York City
It might have been an epic Oscar Sunday for South Korean movie fans, but in New York many flocked instead to see another Korean production unfold in the Mission Club in New York City. This would be the culmination of The Movie Star tour and many Korean lovers of hip-hop came to see an award winning artist of another kind perform live.
The rap artist BewhY (Lee Byungyoon) became a household name in South Korea after his Show Me the Money 5 win in 2016 and his 2017 album The Blind Star with an ensuing tour. Returning to New York as his final stop of his The Movie Star Tour following his recent album by the same name, BewhY showed the city of lights again why he won Show Me the Money and why he’s still a star to be reckoned with. With the self-confidence befitting a movie star and an innate belief in himself which he had expressed earlier in the evening during an exclusive interview with The Kraze, after opening acts, BewhY took to the stage and showed not only his wicked rhymes, but his heartfelt humble soul and his charismatic nature to the crowd. Expressing himself ever so eloquently throughout the night, you saw more of the man behind his music while ever so dazzled by the melodic raps and rhythmic flow.
All photos by Jean Libert
With a short DJ set, the opening act Swim Coach in his green hoodie warmed up a crowd. It took a couple of songs to warm up to his style of rhymes, but soon more than one listener could be seen looking up his tunes. Ted Park of H1GHR Music, who is often present on stage or in support at many a New York K-Hip Hop show, was the next opener. Starting with his popular tracks “Me Love” and “Jjajang Mami” in a set that included the lyrical “Ugly” and “Drippin’,” he brought the crowd to life with his usual flair. Ted always delivers a solid performance and much of those in attendance were familiar with his music. With a surprise guest, the duo brought the energy to the venue and the house was ready for the main show.
Using classic Hollywood drama, the crowd yelled along with the projected countdown for the show to begin. With the orchestral opening of strings and percussion per “Curtain Call,” the following “Red Carpet befitted the start of the Movie Star concept, the club reverberated with BewhY chants fitting to the songs and the start of this production. Coming on stage draped in sleek black with almost a Matrix Keanu Reeves flair, BewhY continued with “Protagonist” from his latest album. Throughout the night he would play many of his latest tracks, highlighting why this album should have gotten much more attention and acclaim and why everyone should be listening to it now.
From “In Trinity,” one of his multiple tracks that shows his unabashed faith, the music moved to “Dejavu” and “Bichael Yackson” and a couple older tracks before returning to the current album with “Won.” With “Won,” BewhY quickly pumped up the room with his fast delivery and the sharp horns projected in the song. One track would seamlessly flow into another with a delivery that only BewhY can bring. Performing more songs from his latest album including “CHALLAN,” “The Greatest” and “The Mainland,” the rap star who had beads of sweat flickering down past his buzz cut fringe showed the audience that he was the “Star” he proclaimed to be.
During the show, BewhY took a moment to introduce himself while asking who had attended his concert two years ago. With a humbleness that belied his image, he thanked those for attending as well as those who were friends of fans who might be unfamiliar with him. Stating, “New York City is so crazy, so crazy a city,” in a humorous twist, he asked the head of the club to limit the smoke spray to three seconds because of the intensity of the sprays was messing up the bangs of those in the front. Later on, he told fans to make sure the cameras were set so they were filming him and not themselves (as he had seen images on their screen to the contrary) and advised everyone to use the restroom if needed, to get air if hot, and to leave if bored as he was there for them.
Segway into an intro to the guest artist that would take the stage next, BewhY stated in Korean, “I don’t know if you’ve seen the many articles about me going my ‘independent way,’ well last year, in 2019, I created my own label and have recruited 3 artists. The company name is called Dejavu Group and I’ve brought a special guest everyone. My company’s artist everyone, Simba Sawadi.”
Plain-clothed, and a bit star-struck, often rapping with eyes closed, BewhY’s protégé Simba took to the stage. With a solid rhythm, one could hear why he was brought underwing, and soon a bit of the uneasiness was shed. But the audience was more than ready for BewhY to return to the stage and BewhY brought it. With “Forever,” “The Time Goes On” and the popular and catchy extravagance of excess “9ucci Bank” he had recorded with Dok2, the audience was pumped again.
Continuing with the smash hits, he would move to “Superbewhy” from his Show Me the Money days before performing “The Rose” from The Movie Star. Intermittently through the later part of the show, BewhY shared how much he loved the New York crowd. From passing out water to reminding everyone to shower when they got home (for concerns about coronovirus), to asking them to post on Instagram with the hashtag #BEWHYNY on their photos and videos stating that he would personally like every one of them, BewhY showed a graciousness that is sometimes missed in hip-hop circles. Not forgetting “GOTTASADAE” amongst a few more tracks, BewhY ended the night in a way that was complete without a need for an encore. The movie was over but attendees would leave not only with the rhythm of the flow of his words riding through them, but infused with the words and care of a star whose consciousness of self is not only infused in his music, but within the core of who he is.