Year of the Ox (Rappers)
| Year of the Ox (Rappers) | |
|---|---|
| File:Year of the ox JL Lyricks.jpg Left: JL Right: Lyricks | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Virginia Beach, VA & Fairfax, VA |
| Genres | Hip-Hop |
| Years active | 2014-Present |
| Labels | Transparent Agency, Born CTZN |
| Associated acts | Reddy Dumbfoundead |
| Website | https://www.officialyox.com/ |
| Members | JL, Lyricks |
Comprised of rappers John Lee (JL) and Rick Lee (Lyricks), YOX (short for Year of the Ox), is a Korean-American rap duo out of Virginia Beach, and Fairfax Virginia respectively. Given their name by rapper Rekstizzy, the name Year of The Ox is derived from the Chinese Zodiac. Both members being born in 1985, their astrological sign is represented by an ox[1]. They have been featured on Complex,[2] MTV Asia(Yo MTV Raps), Genius[3] Vice Huff Post, and the NBA Live 18 Soundtrack.[4]
History[edit]
The duo met via an introduction from Mutual friend, Peter Kang. Kang, a rapper/producer under the name Manifest[5] attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA with JL. The trio had worked together numerous times, including a track on Year of the Ox's debut EP.[6]
Career[edit]
Seven Rings and YOX EP[edit]
Despite collaborative efforts together predating the Year of the Ox moniker, the duo's first official song/video "Seven Rings"[7] was released November 13, 2015. The release was met with positive reception and viral success after being featured on TeamBackPack's facebook account. TeamBackPack is a community/platform aimed at highlighting talent in the Hip-Hop genre. Prior to "Seven Rings" YOX made several appearances on the site, as participants of famed Bar Fight Series,[8]and as part of Cyphers and a concert live-streamed on TBP's website. According to an Interview with Julie Young of Korean American Story,[9]the single marked a turning point for member JL; who in part of the notoriety, shifted career focus to that of pursuing Hip-Hop as opposed to taking over the family's clothing store. "Seven Rings" garnered a whopping fifteen million views and streams across multiple platforms. With eleven million due to the exposure from Team Back Pack.
The following release as a group "Check 2 Check,"[10]arrived April 1, 2016. They shot the music video at the legendary New York venue Sounds of Brazil (SOB's for short). The venue has housed an array of legendary Hip-Hop acts and was also where member Lyricks worked while living in New York City. YOX would perform multiple shows there. "Check 2 Check" (Produced by the late EOM) remains one of the highest viewed videos on their official Youtube channel.[11] They would feature both tracks on the January 26, 2017 debut YOX EP [12]under Transparency Arts (Formerly known as Transparent Agency[13]). Six tracks in total would be a part of the official EP release. Though not featured, seventh song "Home" was made available for free download and on SoundCloud.[14] Visuals for Sesame Seed Oil[15] (November 6, 2019), and "YOX" (December 25, 2016), followed after. "YOX"[16] would be on the Self-Titled EP. The next year they'd release their first non-album single with "Jet Lag[17] April 24, 2017. The video directed by NoLedge Productions, opens with footage of the infamous United Express Flight 3411 incident, with member Lyricks appearing in a look reminiscent to that of David Dao's the time of the April 9, 2017 incident. "Jet Lag" has amassed over two hundred thousand views since its premiere. A remix featuring artists G Yamazawa and Lyrics Born dropped in the summer of 2017.[18]
We Might Die Tour (2017)[edit]
Alongside longtime friend, rapper Dumbfoundead and DJ Zo, We Might Die tour kicked off on January 25, 2017, in Seattle, Washington. Spanning across 12 U.S. cities with two stops in Vancouver, B.C.[19] and Toronto, ON. It would be the first major tour as a group.
BORN CTZN 2017-[edit]
The collective/label launched May 9, 2017, under the Transparent Arts (TA) banner. It was announced Year of the Ox alongside TA label-mate and Born CTZN[20] creator Dumbfoundead, were the first acts signed to the label. Soon after the announcement, Dumbfoundead released his Foreigner EP May 23, 2017. One of the tracks "Send me to War"[21] featured verses from YOX. It would be their first collaboration together since "Ancestors"[22] the previous year. Less than a week removed from release, YOX would premiere the"Stampede" music video. [23] "Stampede," would be the fourth song from the EP to have a music video, with a live recording of "Hajima"[24] dropping months later in September. The live recording came via CutStudio based out in Korea. October 27, 2017, serving as the release date for the "Stretch" music video.[25] Making it the final track of the Self-titled EP to receive a video. With the exception of "Hajima," the above videos were directed by previously mentioned were directed by visual content creators NoLedge Productions[26]. Their work together would continue for non-album single "Thoughts & Prayers" November 30, 2017.[27] "A-Zn Foods" and latest single "Street Fight(An ode to Capcom)[28] the following months.
A-Zn Foods[edit]
"Of course on the surface, it is a list of Asian foods, but the hidden message is the duality of being Asian and American." - Lyricks on Year of the Ox's December 22, 2017 release "A-Zn foods."
The Duo chatted with Complex Magazine online[29] about their lives as rap artists and Asian-Americans. A-Zn foods (Produced by Big Banana),[30] is not only a celebration of their favorite South Asian delicacies, the track also focuses on the importance of the culture attached to the food. A-Zn foods would garner interest from media publication Vice.[31] The Piece written by Jelisa Castrodale; spoke with Rick Lee on the rise of gentrification, fusion food trends, and a look into Year of the Ox and previously released music. The song was also covered by Greg Morabito of eater.com January 5, 2018.[32] and Kimberly Yam of Huff Post.[33] The music video was shot in Philadelphia at popular Korean Restaurant Seorabol.[34]
Yikes! Tour (2018)[edit]
Doubling the length of the previous outing, Year of the Ox would join forces yet again, with Dumbfoundead and DJ Zo for another outing on the road for the Yikes! Tour.[35] The nearly two-and-a-half month tour spanned across roughly thirty U.S cities and included stops in Canada. The tour began March 19, 2018, at the Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver, BC. The was also supported by G Yamazawa, Issac Flame, and Korea based acts NAFLA and Ted Park for select cities, while YOX played the bulk of the tour. The last stop took place in Honolulu, HI on May 5th, at Republik.[36]
Eightyfivesoul EP[edit]
Their many personal and professional ties to a slew of talented artists have resulted in various music collaborations stateside and in Korea. One result of that is their Eightyfivesoul EP[37][38]. A project with Hi-Lite record artist Reddy. The EP came to be after the pair recorded tracks together on a YOX visit to Korea. They'd previously worked on a track called "Turkey" [39] off of Reddy's Telescope album earlier the same year. For the October 5, 2018 release of the EP, Year of the Ox and Reddy promoted the release with a trip to Dingo Freestyle's office to play their new music,[40] and later live performance of "No More Parties[41] was recorded for Dingo Freestyle's YouTube account." Based out of South Korea, Dingo Freestyle[42] is a music/media outlet specializing in original content and promotion of acts in Korea's burgeoning Hip-Hop scene.
Move to Los Angeles[edit]
On February 9, 2019, with a Lyricks "39 Hours Freestyle,"[43] Year of the Ox announced they were heading out West to Los Angeles. 39 Hours signified the length of the road trip from Virginia to L.A. Known for fan interactions and loyal supporters in OXGANG; with the help of crowdfunding site Ko-Fi, YOX met crowdfunding goals. With the help of a new sponsor, CBD and Hemp Oil company Beleaf[44] the group launched "A Year With the OX."[45] A vlog series, chronicling their journey from Virginia and the impending year in Koreatown Los Angeles. They featured the first ten videos of the series on the duo's YouTube Channel. They announced the series would move to Beleaf's website with final upload "Hexagonal Ray-Bans"[46] on June 20, 2019.
Discography[edit]
Extended Plays[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| YOX EP | Released: January 26, 2017
Label: Transparent Agency Format: CD, digital download |
| Eightyfivesoul
(with Reddy (rapper) |
Released: October 5, 2018
Label:Stone Music Entertainment Format: Digital Download |
Singles[edit]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Rings | 2015 | YOX EP |
| Jet Lag | 2017 | Non-album single |
| Jet Lag Remix
ft. Lyrics Born & G Yamazawa |
2017 | Non-album single |
| Thoughts & Prayers | 2017 | Non-album single |
| A-Zn Foods | 2017 | Non-album single |
| STREET FIGHT | 2018 | Non-album single |
References[edit]
- ↑ "Chinese New Year/Ox".
- ↑ Complex Live Interview: Year of the Ox, retrieved 2019-08-01
- ↑ "Inside The New Wave of Asian Hip-Hop". Genius. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ Mazique, Brian. "'NBA Live 18' News: Official Soundtrack Released Featuring Kendrick Lamar's 'DNA'". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ "MANIFEST". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ↑ Hajima feat. Manifest & DJ Zo (prod. by Manifest), retrieved 2019-08-05
- ↑ YEAR OF THE OX (2015-11-13), YEAR OF THE OX - SEVEN RINGS, retrieved 2019-07-29
- ↑ WRLDUNDGND (2016-08-03), BAR FIGHT™ - ALIEN FAMILY VS. YEAR OF THE OX, retrieved 2019-07-29
- ↑ http://koreanamericanstory.org/portfolio_page/not-your-average-yox/
- ↑ Productions, Noledge (2016-07-06), Year of the OX | Check 2 Check, retrieved 2019-08-07
- ↑ "YEAR OF THE OX". YouTube. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- ↑ "YEAR OF THE OX - Yox EP". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- ↑ "YEAR OF THE OX (LYRICKS & JL)". Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ↑ Home feat. Donye'a G (prod. By Ghost Loft), retrieved 2019-08-02
- ↑ YEAR OF THE OX - SESAME SEED OIL, retrieved 2019-08-04
- ↑ YEAR OF THE OX - YOX, retrieved 2019-08-04
- ↑ "Video: Year of the OX – Jet Lag « Blackout Hip Hop". Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- ↑ JET LAG REMIX feat. LYRICS BORN & G YAMAZAWA, retrieved 2019-08-05
- ↑ "Dumbfoundead brings the 'We Might Die' tour to Vancouver". Vancouver Weekly. 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ "bornctzn | ABOUT". bornctzn. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- ↑ Dumbfoundead - Send Me To War (Feat. Jessi & Year of the OX) [Official Audio], retrieved 2019-07-31
- ↑ https://music.dumbfoundead.com/track/dumbfoundead-ancestors-ft-donyea-g-year-of-the-ox-prod-by-stereotypes
- ↑ Year of the OX - Stampede (Official Music Video), retrieved 2019-07-31
- ↑ THECUT. "YOX 라이브 - 하지마". THECUT (in 한국어). Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ YEAR OF THE OX - STRETCH, retrieved 2019-08-05
- ↑ "production". Noledgeproductions. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ↑ Year of the OX - Thoughts & Prayers, retrieved 2019-08-05
- ↑ link, Get; Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest; Email; Apps, Other. "New Video Drop: YEAR OF THE OX - "STREET FIGHT" (An Ode to Capcom)". Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ "Year of the Ox | Complex". www.complex.com. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ Year of the OX - A-Zn FOODS (Prod. By Big Banana), retrieved 2019-08-02
- ↑ Pollack, Hilary; Castrodale, Jelisa (2018-01-12). "These Korean-American Rappers Want You to Stop Gentrifying Korean Food". Vice. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- ↑ Morabito, Greg (2018-01-05). "Watch Two Rappers Run Through the ABCs of Asian Food". Eater. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- ↑ Yam, Kimberly (2018-01-04). "This Rap About Authentic Ethnic Food Is The Asian-American Anthem We Need". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ "Seorabol - Korean Restaurant in Philadelphia". seorabolcentercity.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- ↑ "Dumbfoundead & friends set L.A. ablaze for hometown show of 'The Yikes! Tour'". REVOLT TV. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
- ↑ "LA rapper Dumbfoundead announces The Yikes! Tour". AXS. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ↑ TKL_Cessa (2018-10-06). "Reddy, Year of The Ox Drop EP "eightyfivesoul"". THE KHOP LOYALIST. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- ↑ Eightyfivesoul, retrieved 2019-08-05
- ↑ Reddy - Turkey (feat. Year of the OX) [Official Video], retrieved 2019-08-01
- ↑ 딩고사무실에서 신나게 놀다간 래퍼들!! [들어줍쇼] 레디 & YOX 편, retrieved 2019-08-05
- ↑ Reddy & Year of the OX - No More Parties [DF LIVE], retrieved 2019-08-05
- ↑ "Dingo Freestyle(딩고 프리스타일)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ↑ LYRICKS - 39 HOURS FREESTYLE, retrieved 2019-07-30
- ↑ "Beleaf". www.beleaf.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- ↑ "'A YEAR WITH THE OX' VLOG - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- ↑ [AYWTO] HEXAGONAL RAYBEES MV, retrieved 2019-08-05
External links[edit]
This article "Year of the Ox (Rappers)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Year of the Ox (Rappers). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
