HiphopLE
HiphopLE is a Korean online music magazine which was founded in November 2010 by Heman. The magazine mostly focuses on "Urban music" such as hip-hop and R&B. Its goal is to improve the understanding and provide easier approach for Korean people to urban music. It provides worldwide news, subtitled music videos, editorials, interviews, and also hosts various events such as album sales and concerts.
 | |
Type of site | Music website |
|---|---|
| Available in | Korean |
| URL | http://hiphople.com |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | 2010 |
| Current status | Active |
The name "HiphopLE" stands for "Hiphop Limited Edition" and the slogan is "One Step Closer to Hiphop and R&B Music", which plays as an intro on the most of the video that LE presents. The voice is recorded by Kayla J.Yoo, the editor of HiphopLE.[1]
History
Since 2009, Heman had been running his blog called "heQmentary", which provided up-to-date hip-hop & R&B news outside of Korea, and eventually, he came to a point where he wanted a well-organized website. After recruiting a few editorial writers and translators for the English lyrics, he designed and made the page to open the site in November 2010.
The site was initially known for its fast hip-hop news and its translated subtitled music videos, attracting many visitors. As the time went on, HiphopLE expanded its range of materials from only American and other foreign musics, to both foreign and Korean Hip-hop and R&B music. On top of that, they also continued to recruit more writers to upload various contents.
In 2013, HiphopLE opened a new section "Lifestyle" to cover additional cultural elements such as fashion, exhibition, art, etc. The variety of its contents was even furthered by beginning of its own radio broadcast ("The Art of Hip-Hop"), creation of the mobile phone application, video contents ("LE TV") and other off-line activities like HiphopLE Party, various campaigns & workshops, listening sessions, and book talk. Collaborations with other magazines or websites are also notable including contribution of articles to them.
In 2016, after going through renewal of web & mobile site format, the site commenced many of its projects; namely, launching of HiphopLE China, along with other fashion & culture brand production, book publishing, video directions and lectures.
Since then, HiphopLE has continued to produce various projects including talent discovery projects, live clips, freestyle video series, competitions, and the KoreanHipHopAwards.
Components
Website menus
HiphopLE features following menus:
- News - News on worldwide urban music artists
- Music - Interviews, features, etc.
- Video - Original video content, including projects
- Community - Domestic and international boards, workroom, icon shop, sticker shop, etc.
Characteristics
HiphopLE is ranked first in terms of visitors and pageviews among webzines/magazines related to black music in Asia, and is producing and distributing the most content.
In addition, HiphopLE actively uses social media such as Instagram and Facebook to plan and promote content in real time. Through this, content exchange, discussion, and communication are actively taking place.
HiphopLE's main original video content is mainly uploaded to its YouTube channel, where you can meet most Korean black music artists.
In the case of black music news, it has been praised by users for delivering more news faster than any other web magazine. The magazine section covers not only hip-hop, but also R&B, soul, funk, and other black music, and there are several columns and editorials that provide information about black music.
In the Features menu, you can find interviews with various artists, Seeing Sounds, a series that introduces producers to their music making process, and UNHYPED, an underground curation series.
Notable contents
Featured projects
- THE:RISE: An artist curation project with promising new musicians in the hip-hop/album scene, currently in its fourth season.
- DRAFT: A project to discover new musicians hidden in the shadows.
- Campaigns: West Coast Month, Mixtape Month, Do The Right Rap, and more.
- Competitions: Projects for creatives to compete by utilizing artists' sources or creating new music. We host occasional competitions with various artists.
- Merchandise: HipHopLE has been selling its own merchandise. So far, we have introduced snapbacks and notebooks, and we are also planning and carrying out project collections in collaboration with other brands.
- Book release: In June 2015, HiphopLE released a book called "American Hip Hop". The book contains information about American hip-hop in the 2000s, and has been a best-seller in the pop culture book category since its release.
- Music Film Screenings: 'Participated in music-related film screenings and events such as the 1st Seoul Hip Hop Film Festival and the film Time Is Illmatic in roles such as planning and promotion.
- Festivals, Performances, and Parties: HiphopLE has served as a media partner for festivals such as World Hip Hop Fest, Seoul Soul Festival, and Seoul Sessions Live, and has organized talk concerts that combine talk shows and performances, artist listening sessions, and club parties.
- Tours: HiphopLE has organized and planned overseas tours with domestic artists such as MKIT and ADV.
- Korean Hiphop Awards: HiphopLE organised the Korean Hip Hop Awards, the only genre music award ceremony in Korea, every year.
References
- "HiphopLE "About" page". Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-08-14.