Rapper and TV personality DinDin sparked buzz after revealing that, following deep musical soul-searching, he plans to step back from hip-hop.
In the March 30 episode of the web variety show Wanna come here?, DinDin joined Super Junior members Eunhyuk and Donghae to open up about his music career since debut, real-life worries, and how his values have changed.
Having first gained attention through Mnet’s audition program Show Me The Money, DinDin stunned everyone by saying, “I can’t do hip-hop anymore.” He explained, “The current flow of hip-hop doesn’t fit me,” adding, “I don’t think it’s cool to use lines like ‘I’m wearing a 300-million-won watch’ in lyrics.”
He continued, “The only kind of flex I could claim is ‘I won a grand prize at an entertainment awards show,’ but even that doesn’t feel cool to me,” sharing his honest thoughts. He recalled that, in the past, he wanted to flaunt accomplishments at a young age by referencing food or spending in his lyrics, but looking back now, those things don’t hold much meaning to him.
DinDin also spoke candidly about the practical struggles of making music. “Releasing an album almost always puts you in the red,” he said, pointing to production costs and a tough revenue structure. “I used to think I had to write every song myself, but that actually led to more creative blocks,” he added, noting that he now also works with outside composers.
He addressed the ‘model celebrity’ image he gained through various web shows. “I once spoke about how some celebrities can be out of touch with reality, but the message was delivered differently than I intended,” he clarified. “Some of the editing was made to be provocative. What I meant was, let’s at least stay aware of how the world works.”
Toward the end, DinDin said he wants to prioritize emotion over genre. “Whether it’s hip-hop or idol-style pop, I just want to make music that makes you feel good the moment you hear it,” he shared, signaling a new direction.
DinDin first made his mark by finishing seventh on Show Me The Money 2 in 2013, and he has since continued to stay active with music releases and a wide range of variety shows.