Dynamic Duo Cement Their Legendary Status With the Release of their 10th Album, ‘2 Kids On The Block - Part.3’
Photo Courtesy of Amoeba Culture
South Korean rappers Gaeko and Choiza, more commonly known as Dynamic Duo, first arrived on the hip-hop scene back in 2004 with their debut album release: Taxi Driver. Throughout the past two decades, Dynamic Duo has earned charting hits such as “Ring My Bell,” “BAAM,” “Guilty,” and “nosedive,” which featured EXO’s Chen and went on to win ‘Best Collaboration’ at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards. In addition, they have participated as producers on Season 6 of South Korea’s hip hop competition Show Me The Money, where their team won runner-up with artist Nucksal and released “1/N.” Four seasons later, in 2021, Gaeko returned to the program once more to participate as a producer, pairing up with rapper and previous judge CODE KUNST where they cemented a win for their team with their artist, Jo Gwang-il.
While they have established their status as a powerhouse within the South Korean hip-hop industry by even founding and signing to their label, Amoeba Culture, the last two years have truly skyrocketed Dynamic Duo to another level. Their 2014 release, “AEAO,” went viral on TikTok last year, making it not only earn first place in Korea’s popular weekly charts, but it re-entered national and international charts. The rise of “AEAO” almost ten years after its initial release truly demonstrates how Dynamic Duo’s music has that timeless sound and impeccable flow that will never go out of style. Furthermore, that same year, Dynamic Duo went viral once more for their incredible track “Smoke” featuring the winner of Season 11 of Show Me The Money, Lee Young-Ji. The song blew up overnight as it was used for Mnet’s Street Woman Fighter 2, where dancer Bada Lee set up an amazing dance that had all idols, dancers, and viewers covering it. “Smoke” went on to be selected as one of the 25 Best K-POP Songs of 2023 according to Billboard, and if you ask any K-Pop fans, they would easily agree.
Their furthering success in 2023 awarded them with the ‘R&B Hip Hop Award’ at the 33rd Seoul Music Awards and now Dynamic Duo is back and geared up for the release of their 10th album 2 Kids On The Block - Part.3. It comes as the final part of the 2 Kids On The Block trilogy, the first two parts released throughout 2023 as EPs and have so far gained more than 800K streams on Spotify -- these EPs consisted of fan-favorite tracks such as “19” and “Tear Drops.”
The new album unveils five completely new tracks with features from renowned artists such as Crush and BewhY. The title track “PITAPA” features pH-1 and JUNNY, which is an upbeat hip-hop track with lots of funk and soul added into the mix. The song has the perfect mix of Dynamic Duo and pH-1’s impressive, well-timed and hitting rap flows while leaving enough space for JUNNY’s smooth vocals to take you through the ends of the track. “PITAPA” shares the journey of Dynamic Duo, one where they once started twenty years ago and how they have made their mark and success in the world. pH-1’s verse shares his similar journey, how he started as a ‘Dynamic Duo Kid’ growing up with the duo’s music to now featuring on their 10th album. It makes complete sense why they chose this for the title track, as just as their previous hits, it has that timeless feel that will never grow old, as it shares a message of growth and moving forward with greatness while always looking back at the journey that made you who you are today.
Opening up the continuation of the story that is 2 Kids On The Block is track number 8, “911” which features alternative rapper and singer Tabber. The track’s instrumental not only begins with Tabber’s ever-so-impressive voice but also with what feels like an orchestral symphony, highlighting a single trumpet loop. This is all followed by a flow of strong and impactful raps matching the same strength of the trumpets in the background, with said trumpets getting softer and being replaced with a symphony of strings as the song transitions in and out of vocals and back into rap. This is probably one of my favorite songs on the album. It marks a strong opening and Tabber could not have been a more perfect choice for this.
Photo Courtesy of Amoeba Culture
Up next is track number 9, “Dramatic,” which features rapper, fellow label mate, and previous Show Me The Money contestant Huh and is also narrated by South Korean actor Jung Man-Sik. With a more laid-back instrumental, the song shares a very old-school vibe as the beat and the acoustic come together in an almost film-worthy way. Huh’s distinctive rap and voice stand out in his verse while still fitting in well with both Gaeko and Choiza throughout the track. It is no surprise that they made this collaboration go through so smoothly as it is not their first one together. They all came together on season 11 of Show Me The Money, appearing on Huh’s track and a personal favorite, “Burn up.” They all performed it at the live shows in the final stages of the show and secured Huh the win for that round with that song. The crowd loved it, and from there, a harmonious collaboration was born. “Dramatic” feels like the perfect follow-up to such an upbeat and explosive track. This showcases a whole other side of all three artists and the way they can work together.
The album takes a slower-paced turn with “Fly or Die,” featuring Crush, and the overall mood of the story shifts. The track entrances you into a brighter, smoother atmosphere that at some point truly makes you feel like you’re flying. Maybe we’re exaggerating at the flying, but we most definitely are not when we say that “Fly or Die” needs to be added to your spring playlist ASAP. This is the song to listen to on a sunny day, walking in the park as all the beautiful flowers are about to bloom.
Following the smoother and brighter vibe from the previous track and featuring none other than BewhY is the eleventh track, “Love Myself.” There is something almost so jazzy about this song. It could be the use of what almost sounds like a saxophone through the background. It could be the fact that throughout the song Gaeko, Choiza, and BewhY showcase their unique sound while simultaneously melting so perfectly with each other with each passing verse. “Love Myself” is the perfect track to close up with, and while the title track closes the album officially, truly it feels like the real seal of the entire trilogy.
Overall, this is an amazing addition and a perfect way to close up 2 Kids On The Block. The use of the instrumentals in all the tracks to match up the speed, strength, and feeling of both rap and vocals is one of my favorites that I have ever heard in an album by far. Each track takes you on a different ride, with the progression from the faster, stronger tracks at the beginning of the album to the more laid-back ones. It makes everything come together and I truly cannot think of a better time for this album’s release than now. With the beginning of spring, a new era of Dynamic Duo has bloomed and here at HALSUG, we are so here for it.
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Editor: Imonitie Omosun
Editor-In-Chief: Martina Yee