Jay Park hypes it up

SEATTLE-BASED singer Jay Park has taken a bit of a beating in the entertainment scene in the past year.

Park - also known as Park Jaebeom to fans - was the 23-year-old former leader in Korean boyband 2pm, but was dropped from the band's former record label, JYP, last year.

No one quite knows why, but rumour has it that JYP made the decision after Park - who broke out in South Korea in 2008 - made controversial comments on his MySpace account that suggested that he was unhappy with his life in South Korea.


The energetic Park - who will be in Singapore on Sept 25 for a performance at Wave House in Sentosa - now tells my paper over the phone from his home in Seattle, where he relocated after his record label dropped him, that he wouldn't have done things differently.

Sounding chirpy (even at the ungodly hour of 6am in Seattle, the time he took this call), the performer says he has moved on with his life.

Reflectively, he says: "I guess (at the end of the day) it's really about being true to yourself." He adds: "I have learnt to be appreciative in these few years. I'm just really thankful for (my fans') support."

Following the Edmonds, Washington-born singer's MySpace comments, fans had even boycotted 2pm shows. Park took to his official website to ask fans to "move on".

Park - who quickly readjusted to life in the United States and entered the hip-hop scene by entering rap "battling" contests - is now part of a Seattle- based b-boy crew, Art of Movement (AOM), set up in 2002.

Last year, fans proved that there was still a demand for his work. He set up his own YouTube channel, "jayparkaom", and posted a video of his rendition of the song Nothin' On You (originally by North Carolina-born performer B.o.B).

That rendition featured his own raps and lyrics, and drew over 1.5 million views in less than 24 hours.

Park's most recent work includes an English album, Demon, released last Saturday.


The album also serves as the soundtrack for the movie Hype Nation, the upcoming American hip-hop movie which stars Park. Filming began in June.

Of his latest release, he says: "I'm hoping that this album will kick-start my career here."

He's also taken on a new role for AOM - that of manager for the seven-man crew.

On top of that, Park's busy days include working hard to keep in shape. He says with a mock-groan that he works out intensively for at least two hours daily, on top of his half-day dance practices with AOM.

Asked about his future, he turns reflective once again.

"I am not sure what the future will look like," he says seriously.

"But I am going to work as hard as I can and see where it will take me."

Catch Jay Park on Sept 25 at the Wave House, Sentosa. Tickets at $120 are available through Sistic (tel: 6348-5555).

Want a chance to participate in a dance battle against Park?

Join F&N's Breakin' The Groove Dance Challenge. Visit www.fnn.com.sg or www.facebook.com/FnNFun

C: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20100906-235729.html