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Swings (rapper)

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In this Korean name, the family name is Moon.
Swings
Background information
Birth nameMoon Ji-hoon
Also known asMoon Swings, Jonathan Moon
Born (1986-10-14) October 14, 1986 (age 38)
OriginSungkyunkwan University
GenresHip hop
OccupationsRapper
Years active2008–present
Labels
Websitewww.wejustmusic.com
Korean name
Hangul
문지훈
Revised RomanizationMun Ji-Hun
McCune–ReischauerMun Chihun

Moon Ji-hoon (Korean: 문지훈, born October 14, 1986), better known by the stage name Swings (Korean: 스윙스), is a South Korean rapper. Formerly under the label Brand New Music, he is currently signed to P Nation.[1][2]

Career

[edit]

Swings debuted in 2008 with the extended play Upgrade.[3] He joined the hip hop group Uptown in 2009 but left by the end of the year.[4] He released his first full-length album, Growing Pains, in 2010.[5]

He gained popularity after competing on the second season of the TV rap competition Show Me the Money in 2013.[6] That summer, Swings triggered a 'Control diss phenomenon' within the Korean hip hop scene with the release of his diss track "King Swings Part 2", over the instrumental of Big Sean's "Control", in which he accused rapper Simon Dominic of not protecting his Supreme Team member E-Sens from an alleged slave contract offered by label Amoeba Culture.[7][8] Swings was named Artist of the Year for 2013 by Korean hip hop magazine HIPHOPPLAYA.[9]

The "Control Diss Phenomenon" was a career-changing move for Swings. As South Korea started to adopt hip-hop culture late, there were not any significant diss-battles that happened. As diss rapping is a big part of hip-hop culture, the "Control Diss Phenomenon" was a very impactful event that created an environment where other rappers can join battles to stimulate competition and rivalry.[10]

In 2014, he returned to Show Me the Money as a producer for its third season, alongside established rappers including San E and Tablo.[11]

Swings left the label Brand New Music in August 2014 to focus his own record label, Just Music. The label currently represents the rappers Black Nut, Giriboy, Genius Nochang, C Jamm, and Vasco.[2][12]

In April 2017, it established its second label, Indigo Music. It has become one of the most notable hip-hop labels, recruiting Yang Hongwon (previously known as Young B), Kid Milli, Justhis, Jvcki Wai and Noel as its artists.[13]

Psy announced on Instagram on April 29, 2021, that Swings had signed a contract with P Nation.[14] Three years following his signing, he announced his eighth studio album Upgrade V as his first release under the company, to be released on March 8, 2024.[15]

Personal life

[edit]

Swings is a fluent English speaker, having lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and studied English at Sungkyunkwan University.[16]

He enlisted in the South Korean military in November 2014, despite being exempt from mandatory military service due to psychological disorders.[17] He was discharged from the military in September 2015 due to his mental health. Swings said that he has been receiving treatment since he was young for illnesses including obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and bipolar disorder.[18]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[19]
Growing Pains
  • Released: March 11, 2010
  • Label: Hiphopplaya
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Upgrade II
  • Released: July 22, 2011
  • Label: Hiphopplaya
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Vintage Swings
  • Released: October 28, 2014
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Levitate 2
  • Released: October 11, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Upgrade III
  • Released: March 24, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 44
Upgrade 0
  • Released: December 26, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 61
Upgrade IV
  • Released: March 4, 2020
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 46
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[19]
Upgrade
  • Released: May 14, 2008
  • Label: Kakao M
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Mood Swings II Part 1: Major Depression
(감정기복 II Part 1: 주요 우울증)
  • Released: February 26, 2014
  • Label: Brand New Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 31
Mood Swings II Part 2: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(감정기복 II Part 2: 강박증)
  • Released: July 17, 2014
  • Label: Brand New Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Mood Swings II Part 3: Psychotherapy
(감정기복 II Part 3: 심리치료)
  • Released: September 8, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
The Intr0
  • Released: November 30, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Mixtapes

[edit]
Title Album details
#1 Mixtape Vol. II
#1 Vol. II Instrumental
  • Released: June 12, 2013
  • Label: Brand New Music
  • Formats: CD, download
Levitate 1
  • Released: October 11, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
Levitate 3
  • Released: October 11, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
Crumbs (부스러기)
  • Released: May 19, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download

Charted singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart
positions 		Sales (DL) Album
KOR
[20]
As lead artist
"Instincively Remix" (본능적으로 Remix)
feat. Yoon Jong-shin, Taeyang 		2011 59 Non-album singles
"I'll Be There"
feat. Jay Park 		79
"Would You" (줄래)
feat. Seo In-guk 		2013 28
"A Real Lady"
feat. Beenzino, Gray, Zion.T 		9
"Bulldozer" (불도저) 2014 36
"Victorious" (이겨낼거야 2)
feat. Gray 		57 Mood Swings II Part. 1: Major Depression
"Fallin'"
feat. Jay Park 		23 Non-album singles
"The Wrong Way" (역주행)
feat. Dok2, Genius Nochang 		73
"Her Number" (전화번호)
feat. Verbal Jint, 40 		9 Mood Swings II Part. 2: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
"Gravity"
feat. Mad Clown, Giriboy 		34
"Pool Party" 14 Non-album singles
"Rap Star" 85
"My Ballad"
feat. Kim Ye-rim 		60 Vintage Swings
"Your Soul" 2016 98 Non-album single
"On My Way"
feat. Gray, Bewhy 		94 Mood Swings II Part. 3: Psychotherapy
"Clock Out" (퇴근)
feat. Jay Park, Crush 		2017 88 Non-album single
Collaborations
"Money"
with P-Type 		2013 — Non-album singles
"Brilliant Is..."
with Skull, Haha, Geeks, Zico, Mad Clown, Double K, Zizo,
Soul Dive, Heo Kyung-hwan, Kim Ji-min feat. Gill, Jungin 		75 —
"A Real Man"
with Ailee 		2014 4
"Trap"
with U Sung-eun 		27 My Secret Hotel OST
"Not Enough"
with Kid Milli and Mad Clown featuring Yumdda and pH-1 		2019 37 Show Me the Money 8 Episode 1
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Program Network Notes
2013 Show Me The Money 2 Mnet Contestant
2014 Show Me The Money 3 Mnet Judge/Producer with San E
2017 High School Rapper Mnet Judge
2017 Mix Nine JTBC Rap Instructor
2018 Show Me the Money 777 Mnet Judge
2019 Show Me the Money 8 Mnet Judge
2020 Show Me the Money 9 Mnet Contestant

Variety shows

[edit]
Year Title Network Role Notes
2019 Not the Same Person You Used to Know Mnet Main Guest With Giriboy, Han Yo-han (rapper, songwriter), Superbee (rapper), Kwon Hyuk-soo, Im Bo-ra (Swings' girlfriend), Jenny Kim (Swings' mother)

Episode 4

2020 King of Mask Singer MBC Contestant as "Advent of a Bill-god" (Episodes 259–260)[40]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "15 Korean Rappers You Should Know That Aren't Psy". XXL Magazine. February 12, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Swings Leaves Brand New Music to Focus on His Own Agency Just Music". Soompi. August 29, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  3. ^ "Swings, [Upgrade] Track List 공개". Hiphop Playa (in Korean). April 20, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  4. ^ "스윙스의 단독 콘서트, 'FREEDOM CONCERT ' 홍보영상 공개" [Swings release promotional video for solo concert 'FREEDOM CONCERT']. Hiphop Playa (in Korean). December 15, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. ^ "첫 번재 정규 앨범 '성장통' 스윙스(Swings) 인터뷰". Hiphop Playa (in Korean). March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  6. ^ "Show Me The Money". Korean Hip Hop. June 8, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  7. ^ "Hip Hop Battle heating up in Korea, Swings lashes out at Simon D in his newest track". Allkpop. August 23, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  8. ^ "A Concise Guide to the "Diss" Battles Involving E-Sens, Amoeba Culture, Simon D and More". Soompi. August 26, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  9. ^ "Swings and Bumkey Win "HIPHOPPLAYA Awards 2013" Artists of the Year". Soompi. March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  10. ^ Herald, Korea (August 26, 2013). "Hip-hop world caught up in a cutthroat 'diss war'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "San E, Swings and Tablo Will Appear on "Show Me the Money 3" As Producers". Soompi. May 3, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "Just Music Releases 'Ripple Effect' Compilation Album". Hip Hop Korea. June 16, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  13. ^ Yun, Jae-gil. 스윙스 새 레이블 인디고뮤직 설립…양홍원(Young B)·키드밀리(Kid Milli) 영입. Asia Economy (in Korean). Retrieved May 24, 2020 – via Naver.
  14. ^ Gong, Mi-na (April 30, 2021). 스윙스, 싸이 품으로..피네이션 전속 계약[공식]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved April 30, 2021 – via Naver.
  15. ^ Choi, Yuna (March 1, 2024). "스윙스, 3월 8일 정규 앨범으로 컴백…MV 깜짝 선공개" [Swings returns with full album on March 8th... with surprise MV pre-release]. Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Rapper Swings Is An English Major At Sungkyunkwan University". Soompi. July 17, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  17. ^ "Swings to enlist in standard military after being turned down by KATUSA". Allkpop. November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  18. ^ "Rapper Swings Announces He Was Discharged Early From the Army for Mental Health Reasons". Soompi. September 11, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart.
  20. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart. "Not Enough – Week 35 of 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  21. ^ "2011년 03월 Download Chart".
  22. ^ "2011년 17주차 Download Chart".
  23. ^ "2013년 05월 Download Chart".
  24. ^ Cumulative sales of "A Real Lady":
  25. ^ Cumulative sales of "Bulldozer":
  26. ^ Cumulative sales of "Victorious":
  27. ^ "2014년 03월 Download Chart".
  28. ^ Cumulative sales of "The Wrong Way":
  29. ^ Cumulative sales of "Her Number":
  30. ^ "2014년 07월 Download Chart".
  31. ^ "2014년 08월 Download Chart".
  32. ^ "2014년 42주차 Download Chart".
  33. ^ "2014년 45주차 Download Chart".
  34. ^ "2016년 36주차 Download Chart".
  35. ^ "2016년 37주차 Download Chart".
  36. ^ "2017년 46주차 Download Chart".
  37. ^ "2013년 13주차 Download Chart".
  38. ^ Cumulative sales of "A Real Man":
  39. ^ "2014년 09월 Download Chart".
  40. ^ Lee Seung-hoon (June 21, 2020). "'복면가왕' 장미여사, '진주=박혜원' 꺾고 가왕 등극..스윙스∙김민교∙소유미 '반전 매력' [종합]". OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved June 21, 2020.
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