South Korea’s groundbreaking producer/rapper duo XXX recently released ‘Second Language’, the direct follow-up album to their innovative debut ‘Language’, and the second half of the duo’s two-disk double album. The new album builds on the statement of sonic dissonance from mainstream Korean music that rapper Kim Ximya and producer FRNK made with their debut. The duo channel their anger and discontent with the preconceived formula of Korean pop hits into dense new layers of hip hop and instrumentation. With their new album, XXX aims to push the envelope even further as the torchbearers for this new direction of Korean hip-hop.

Prior to their performance at the Korea Spotlight during SXSW, XXX spoke to KOCOWA in Austin to introduce themselves and talk about their music.

KOCOWA:How did you meet?

X: We met a little over 6 years ago on an online community where people upload and share their music.

KOCOWA: Since your debut, how have you been received by those who listen to your music?

X: Honestly, we have been met with a little bit of confusion since the type of music we create isn’t the average hip-hop that is currently being consumed in Korea. As mentioned before our songs have some anger in the lyrics which can sometimes be too much for the Korean audience to digest. Our music is definitely received with more enthusiasm when we perform abroad.

KOCOWA: What is the type of music from which you pull your inspiration from?

F: We tend to listen to different types of music, including electronic music and artists like Bjork and Sophie.

X: Right, FRNK tends to listen to so many different types of music that sometimes he doesn’t know what he’s mixing.

KOCOWA: What do you do when your experience “writers block” during music production?

F: Scrap it! We throw away the whole song and start from the beginning.

KOCOWA: What’s the most difficult aspect of making music since your debut?

X: The most difficult part would have to be that cash money and the entire music making process. It was a long and struggling journey considering both albums were finished over a year ago. First we have to go through writing, editing, mastering, and then have our label make the final approvals which can take time since the visual aspects need to come into the picture as well.

KOCOWA: What would you say is your most favorite song out of all your albums?

F: I love the whole ‘Language’ album, mainly because I truly poured all my feelings into it with Ximya.

X: For me, I would have to say “18G 1517” is my favorite song. 2015 is when we started working on the track and then fully completed the second half in 2017, hence the numbers “1517” in the name. It captures the emotional change that we went through over the years. It sets the different tone between ‘Language’ and ‘Second Language’ album.

KOCOWA: What do you hope to accomplish at this year’s SXSW and do you have any message for your fans?

X: We hope to get more exposure, especially since people in the States seem to be more receptive to our music. Sometimes I feel like people back home just follow us because of the shows and media coverage we do abroad. It’s cool but I wonder if they’re really understanding our music and the lyrics.

F: I just want our fans to love us so that we can come back to perform for them!

X: Since I’m Korean, I want us to blow up back home, then again, I’m interested to see in which territory we’ll blow up in first.

KOCOWA: Are there any collabs you would like to work on in the future?

X: MM6, I’m waiting for your call, lets collaborate! [burst into laughter]

F: Needles! [Japanese clothing brand by Keizo Shimizu]

https://open.spotify.com/album/50wnGLBCMp00CrQVZv1GGB