The 'Yang Hyun-suk risk' appears to be becoming a reality.
YG Entertainment's new girl group BabyMonster (members: Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Rami, Rora, Chiquita) released their debut single 'BATTER UP' at midnight on November 27. Despite meticulous song selection involving multiple song camps with renowned international composers and in-house producers, the response to 'BATTER UP' seems to be sharply divided.
'BATTER UP' embodies the distinct hip-hop vibe of YG Entertainment, emphasizing the musical identity of the members over mainstream appeal. As shown in their 8-episode reality show 'Last Evaluation', BabyMonster's ability to interpret and deliver songs is exceptional, especially in the crucial rap parts of the hip-hop genre.
Combining the members' efforts and the halo effect of YG's senior group BLACKPINK, the response from overseas has been enthusiastic. The 'BATTER UP' music video uploaded on BabyMonster's official YouTube channel surpassed 14.5 million views within 15 hours of its release (as of 3 PM on the 27th). The video also received numerous positive comments in various languages including English and Spanish.
However, the domestic response in South Korea is noticeably different. Some listeners have criticized the song and music video for feeling outdated, pointing to Yang Hyun-suk, the general producer, as the reason. Yang Hyun-suk directed BabyMonster's debut project and was involved in the lyrics, composition, and arrangement of 'BATTER UP'. Listeners commented that Yang's outdated touch resulted in a song that failed to showcase the unique vocal colors of each member.
On the anonymous work community app Blind, within the YG Entertainment internal board, there have been critical comments about Yang Hyun-suk. Some employees expressed disappointment, saying, 'Everyone thinks it would be better if Yang Hyun-suk stepped back', 'With 2NE1 and BLACKPINK, there was a sense of leading trends, but now it's unclear why it's like this', 'Teddy, the former representative producer of YG Entertainment, needs to return'.
Moreover, Yang Hyun-suk's public image has been tarnished due to legal disputes. He was recently found guilty in an appellate trial under the Aggravated Punishment, etc. for Specific Economic Crimes Law. Although he has submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court, public opinion remains cold. It seems that Yang Hyun-suk is becoming a negative factor for BabyMonster in various ways.
