"Show Me The Money 10" rapper and contestant slammed for allegedly making subtle references to the late SHINee member Jonghyun in his semi-finals song. Keep on reading for all the details.
Show Me The Money 10' Contestant Allegedly References SHINee Jonghyun in Latest Song
On November 27, Mnet aired the semi-finals episode for the rap-based survival show, "Show Me The Money 10." While many were anticipating this episode due to the star-studded line-up of guests, one particular contestant stood out and started making headlines for his lyrics.
One contestant, rapper Mudd the Student, collaborated with AKMU for his semi-final stage. There, they performed his latest song, "Dissonance." Upon release, the song went viral in South Korea for its upbeat melody and catchy lyrics. However, after some internet users closely inspected the lyrics, the rapper was soon criticized.
Many believe that "Dissonance" contains several subtle references to the late SHINee member, Jonghyun.
Several verses are allegedly about the late idol. In Mudd the Student's verse, he raps, "I am like the door of an elevator." People believe this refers to Jonghyun b-sidetrack, "Elevator," which was included in his compilation album "Story Op. 2."
Another lyric from "Dissonance" reads, "A phantom pain replaced the loss of my childhood." The term for phantom pain in Korea is translated as "환상통," which is the title of another Jonghyun song, "환상통 (Only One You Need)." The song was included in Jonghyun's final album, "Poet | Artist," released posthumously after his passing.
Another lyric from "Dissonance" reads, "You kept breathing until you ended your life." People believe this lyric does reference not only Jonghyun's passing but also Lee Hi's song "Breathe." The song was written and composed by Jonghyun after Tablo of Epik High revealed that he had requested the SHINee member to write a song for Lee Hi's album "Seoulite."
Show Me The Money 10' Contestant Under Fire for Referencing SHINee Jonghyun in Latest Song
Those who watched Mudd the Student's performance took to online community forums and social media sites to express their disappointment with the track. People believe that the song felt like the rapper was comparing himself to Jonghyun, but he is different because he will overcome his pain, unlike Jonghyun, who passed away.
One internet user commented, "Whenever I see people defend themselves from malicious comments by claiming these types of songs are made out of respect as a tribute, I cannot help but wonder what is going on in their heads. There are billions, trillions of sad stories in South Korea. So why do people insist on using the narratives of the ones who passed away? [...] Why do people believe it was made with good intentions? This is a sensitive topic that even close people are conscious of mentioning, so I do not know where he gets the nerve to mention it so easily."
Another user wrote," 'Breathe' is a song that Jonghyun wrote and composed. The lyrics 'you kept breathing until you ended your life' show that you are the type of person that does not know what the meaning behind 'Breathe' actually is. Who shows respect in such a way?"
ALSO READ: 6 Songs SHINee Jonghyun Wrote For Other Singers You Should Listen to, Proving He's Really K-pop's 'Poet|Artist'
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Written by Alexa Lewis
