For 82MAJOR, Success Is Built Off of Friendship and Hard Work
In a new interview, the group discusses their second mini album X-82 and how their friendship makes them an unstoppable rookie group.
Promotional image for 82MAJOR’s new comeback X-82.
82MAJOR are anti-heroes in their comeback music video “Stuck”. Shot in the style of Bruce Lee films from the 80s, the six-member boy group uses oversized pink combs to style their hair, perform martial arts and engage in a ridiculously over the top spy mission. Yet despite how stylish and referential the video is to Hong Kong cinema auteurs, what is perhaps most captivating about the new single is that each member of 82MAJOR proves they are ferocious rappers.
Like many K-Pop groups, 82MAJOR has a leader, the vocalist, CHO SEONG IL and vocal, dance and rap line. The group, too, is young: all members are between the ages of 18 and 20 years old and each participated in a rigorous training program to prepare for debut. But perhaps what sets the group apart from others in the industry is how heavily they have focused on honing their ability to spit absolute bars. They are, in this way, closer to the wily BIG BANG than many contemporary groups.
If your first time encountering the boys is with “Stuck”, though, lead dancer and rapper YOON YE CHAN says that 82MAJOR is perhaps sweeter than you might think. “I think it would be good to know that all six of us are kind and witty kids,” he told me recently. “I feel confident that we are all fun.” Some of the members, like YOON YE CHAN, are actually quite shy. “I think that charm is a contrast to the image I have on stage.”
“Stuck” shows the group’s potential as both actors and artists. For KIM DO GYUN, the macknae and vocalist, filming the music video brought back memories of his childhood watching Bruce Lee action films. “In the video, I was the chef and had to show off my nice cutting skills,” he explained to me. “I actually don’t cook much, so even though I was unfamiliar with using a knife, I tried to imitate the way I remembered seeing it used in the movies I watched when I was young.”
Two weeks ago, 82MAJOR released their second four-track mini-album X-82. “The second mini album contains new music and charms that are like an "X-file," rapper HWANG SEONG BIN says, noting that this is unlike anything the group has released before. “There are four tracks in total, and they all contain our own vibrant and free colors! Maybe you'll feel the colors of 82MAJOR when you listen to it.”
The video for “Stuck” reached over 5 million views in one day, and 82MAJOR has already led two world tours. Their fanbase 82DE (pronounced “ATTITUDE”) is a growing force in K-Pop fandoms.
The group co-wrote two songs for the mini-album, “Face Time” and “Gossip”. “Our confidence naturally comes out when we write together,” NAM SEONG MO said. “I think those songs compliment the confidence of 82MAJOR when the six of us perform on stage together.”
“If you listen to the song,” leader CHO SEONG IL adds, “you’ll probably fall for us.”
82MAJOR’s biggest strength is likely in the members’ versatility. K-Pop training is meticulously designed to ensure that members are all-around superstars, and the 82MAJOR members’ skills are thanks to this excellence. As HWANG SEONG BIN points out, all members could pass as part of the rap line because of how hard they worked. “I hope people know that all of our members have outstanding rap skills,” he said. “Although there are separate members in the rap position, vocal members CHO SEONG IL and KIM DO GYUN are actually good at rapping as well.”
For rapper PARK SEOK JOON, this comeback gave him the opportunity to hone in on his skills. “I worked hard to improve my performance skills and am still working on it,” he told me.
SEONG BIN, whose fierce performance style is best seen in fancams, also put in hours at the studio to make this comeback a success. “I think my performance style is the result of hard thinking and practice. I tried to pick up a lot of gestures and facial expressions by watching performers I admire,” he says. HWANG SEONG BIN is especially grateful to the members who supported him throughout the rehearsal period for the comeback. “The members have also stayed up late with me to practice,” he adds.
“All six of us are kind and witty kids.”
PARK SEOK JOON is similarly thankful to the members for their encouragement throughout the training period. “I practiced every day until late at night for this album, and I want to show 82DE and the public how far I’ve grown,” he says. NAM SEONG MO was particularly helpful to PARK SEOK JOON as he taught the singer how to “spit out” his rap verses.
Reaching this point a year into his career, brings out new feelings for PARK SEOK JOON. When he thinks about it, PARK SEOK JOON says, he realizes, “I did it! I’m a growing idol in 82MAJOR.”
The members feel that their close friendship is a big reason for their success. “I think we especially value feedback,” HWANG SEONG BIN explains, noting that he is quick to send songs he works on to the boys for their thoughts. “Since the members are close friends, giving and receiving feedback is done in a comfortable atmosphere.”
HWANG SEONG BIN is quick to credit his members with giving him the confidence he is today. When I ask what the best part is about being a member of the group, he responds with a laugh, “Being able to see our 82MAJOR members every day. Then he goes on, “Because we are so close, there are times when I say I don’t want to see them, but really, I feel like the members are the most comfortable with me and rely on me the most. I constantly laugh when I’m with the members.”
For CHO SEONG IL, who feels he is empathetic, being the leader is a role that he carries with grace. “I play the role of a mood-maker before going on stage, so that the members can unleash all their energy on stage,” he explains, observing that he encourages the members to release their tension before going out.
But CHO SEONG IL’s chief role, likely, is to be there for the members. “I look after the members, and when someone appears low, I approach them and try to make them laugh. Rather than thinking of myself as a leader leading the team from the front, I think my role is to walk alongside them.”
The members of 82MAJOR debuted with the benefit of K-Pop as a global phenomenon. They come from a small but mighty company, Great M Entertainment, and have grown up with K-Pop functioning as a worldwide entertainment machine.
For NAM SEONG MO who performed BIG BANG’s music in a talent show,, he was grateful to the boy group’s leadership. “I think it's truly amazing that they created a way for K-POP to expand overseas,” he remembers.
The members all have stories about idols who inspired them as they were growing up. As a fourth generation group, 82MAJOR is lucky to have so many examples of groups that made it in a way that seemed inconceivable a little over ten years ago.
“I did it! I’m a growing idol in 82MAJOR.”
“EXO’s Baekhyun made me dream of becoming a singer,” KIM DO GYUN shares. “Even now, I often listen to Baekhyun sunbaenim’s music and watch his stage videos, and I learn a lot from him.” For YOON YE CHAN, who grew up in Canada, NCT’s Mark showed him that it was possible for another Canadian-Korean to make it. “I respect his skills,” YOON YE CHAN tells me. “He writes his own lyrics, dances, raps, and even performs on stage so well.”
While CHO SEONG IL finds the longevity of SEVENTEEN inspiring, he’s most interested in how vocalist SEUNGKWAN is an all-around entertainer, something he aims to be. “I respect his vocals and entertainment skills,” he says. “I want to learn the same sweet yet powerful vocals and witty entertainment skills.” Like many fans, CHO SEONG IL has spent a lot of free time watching SEVENTEEN’s content. “I watched a video of Seungkwan sunbaenim playing badminton, and I decided to become a badminton player as well,” he says, then adds slyly, “I want to play badminton with SEUNGKWAN one day!”
82MAJOR’s world tour gave them a new perspective on their potential as a group. While the members knew that they had a large overseas fanbase, it was a surreal experience to actually meet their fans and see them in person. That stayed with the members. “I felt [their support] in a big way. After performing in front of many fans overseas,” NAM SEONG MO says, “I think I have gained confidence that I can perform even better onstage in the future.”
When I ask what they learned about themselves from the tour and first year of debut, NAM SEONG MO is the most reflective. “I learned that I can have new goals in music. Before debuting, my biggest goal was to be like many artists,” he explains. “But since my debut, I have had a specific goal of meeting 82DE and wanting to show them good music and cool performances.”
The members are adamant that aside from 82DE’s support, this is only possible because of their friendship and respect for one another. “The members put our heads together and we try to move in a good direction,” YOON YE CHAN explains about their relationship with one another. “We give and receive honest feedback from each other about any shortcomings in our performances, and we also practice hard together while giving each other encouragement.”
“We have so many hidden talents,” KIM DO GYUN says about the group’s potential. “It’s been a year since we debuted and we still have so much to show you.”
As the leader, though, CHO SEONG IL sees a correlation between the wild energy of “Stuck” and the group’s capabilities. “I want to let you know about 82MAJOR’s confidence and spirit. As the lyrics say in ‘Stuck,’ we are confident in everything we do,” he tells me in a statement that could sum up the group’s entire year as rookies.
“That’s because,” he says with assurance, “we believe in the hard work we’ve put in.“
