Lee Youngji's identity as a rapper called in to question with her lack of her own album
Source: Insight via Instagram
1. [+1,461] Isn't it up to her whether she wants to put out an album or not? Unless you're personally investing your money into helping her release one, I'd stay quiet..
2. [+465] The criticism basically comes from a place of thinking that an album should be the main focus of an artist's career. She can go on 'SMTM' and 'High School Rapper' all the time and build up her popularity that way but all of those are basically just avenues to get people interested in listening to >her album<. She can build up her variety image but if she wants to call herself a rapper, she should at least have one album under her belt, no? I don't know why the critic is being criticized for pointing that out.
3. [+260] I don't think the critic meant to hate on her... just that she's free to be a TV star if that's what she wants but if she wants a real career in rap, she should also be as consistent with her music pursuits as much as her TV pursuits. I don't think that's wrong to point out. She's in a bit of a unique situation where she debuted as a rapper on an audition show but has since built up more of an image as a TV star through variety shows so no one really knows if she's an artist or not anymore. Considering her career history thus far, she's more of a TV celebrity than a rapper.
4. [+213] In the professional rap world, an album is what proves who you are. Everyone on this show is talented so if you really want to prove yourself as an artist, you need tangible results like an album filled with your hard work. An artist can draw something amazing right on the spot but no one will view them as a professional if they don't have a representative work under their name.
5. [+641] Some of the commenters here are up in arms over Kang Il Kwon criticizing Lee Youngji but keep in mind that he never said she was a bad rapper. The topic of her lack of an album was brought up because obviously she has a lot of fans who would also enjoy listening to an album from her. An album is also what defines your identity as an artist. It's important. That's why so many artists work so hard to create that 'legendary' album that defines their careers. It's what makes all of the stress and time worth it. Don't be so mad that Lee Youngji was criticized for not having one album ㅋㅋㅋ she's still young and has time to produce one. The criticism is not wrong, and I actually think the fans who are blindly shielding her are the ones tainting her name.
6. [+68] If she chooses to identify as an artist, then she should be able to prove it with a product like an album. I don't think it's going to be easy for people to recognize her as a singer when she has no song of her own. Her skills may be professional level but what makes her any different from an amateur if all she has to show for her career is winning a competition show? If she wants to avoid being called a variety star that happens to be good at rap, she needs to prove herself with an album.
7. [+455] Not one wrong word was said. There's nothing to be said about Lee Youngji's career when she doesn't even have an album of her own.
8. [+36] This is ridiculous. How can you claim that you need an album to be able to compete on 'SMTM'? This isn't 'I Am a Singer', you know. This reminds me of back when Yang Dong Geun was criticized for being an actor while also pursuing hip hop.
9. [+44] The other 'High School Rapper' contestants aren't as popular as Lee Youngji. They all ahve albums but aren't as active on variety shows or YouTube like LEe Youngji is. It makes no sense that Lee Youngji has built up this level of fame without any album of her own to prove her worth as an artist (other rappers are constantly releasing new albums). Can I call myself a painter if I've never finished a painting?
10. [+10] Doesn't she have digital singles? A few? Maybe not a full album but does she really need one? All that matters is that she works on music and releases new songs, no?
- She won 'High School Rapper' and put out so little in the three years since, which is why this topic is being discussed, I think
- [+4] I don't think it's fair to acknowledge her as a rapper with only digital singles. Even TakeOne used to be hated on as a rapper for not having his own album...
11. [+2] So albums are only what matters? Even low quality ones released by talentless rappers? They're more important?..
12. [+4] Eh, I think there's some bias going on here... If you're super untalented, you don't really get to be acknowledged as a singer just because you've got an album under your name...
13. [+14] Lee Youngji's interview has a play in this as well. She claimed that she was starved for music and yet what she chose is not to produce an album of her own but to go on another competition show. That's where most of the criticisms about her stem from.
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