Outsider
Outsider in 2019
Background information
Birth nameShin Ok-cheol
Born (1983-03-21) March 21, 1983 (age 41)
Seoul, South Korea
GenresKorean hip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active2004–present
LabelsSniper Sound
ASSA Communication
Korean name
Hangul
신옥철
Revised RomanizationSin Ok-cheol
McCune–ReischauerSin Okch'ŏl

Shin Ok-cheol (Hangul: 신옥철; born March 21, 1983), known by his stage name Outsider (Hangul: 아웃사이더), is a South Korean rapper.[1] He is known for his speed-rapping and is able to rap at 16 syllables per second, more specifically 16.15 syllables per second on his World Record attempt.[2] After a conflict between Outsider and MC Sniper's label, Sniper Sound, in July 2013, Outsider left the label and signed with ASSA.[3]

Career

2004-2008: Discovery and Soliloquist

In 2004, Outsider began his career as an underground rapper and achieved some success with his debut EP "Come Outside". He released his first single "Speed Star" in 2006 and promoted the title track, "Motivation", on the SBS variety show The Truth Game.[citation needed] His fast rapping skills impressed Korean hip-hop legend, MC Sniper, who signed Outsider to his label, "Sniper Sound". On October 25, 2007, Outsider released his first full-length studio album, Soliloquist.[4]

2008-2009: Maestro and mainstream success

After a year hiatus, Outsider's second album, released June 1, 2009, Maestro, had more mainstream success.[5] The title track "Loner" held the #1 spot on both the Mnet and Melon music charts for more than five weeks, making Outsider one of the fastest rappers to reach #1 on Korean music charts. Outsider has performed on MBC, SBS, KBS, Mnet, and had appeared on SBS's Star King as a special guest. After the promotion for "Loner" ended, he started to promote another track from the same album titled "My Youth Confession"; the track was successful. Outsider has worked with underground and overground rappers such as MC Sniper, L.E.O, Illnit, DJ R2, Bae Chi Gi, Dok2, and more. He also did a special performance alongside singer K.Will.[6]

2010-2012: The Outsider, Hero and military service

After a short hiatus, he returned on March 2, 2010, to release an EP titled "Vol. 2.5 The Outsider"[7] along with a music video for the album's single, "Acquaintance (주변인)", in which Outsider revisits the sound of "Loner", which mixes hip-hop with a classical edge. During this period, he garnered publicity for his remake of Big Bang's "Lies". He was also featured on a charity single entitled "Faddy Robot Foundation" with Vasco, Verbal Jint(버벌 진트), Sangchu, Yong Junhyung, Joosuc, Hyuna, and Zico.[8]

On October 21, 2010, he released his 3rd album titled "Hero" along with two singles; "주인공 (Hero)" featuring fellow label-mate, LMNOP, and "Attitude Needed When Breaking Up (이별할 때 필요한 자세)" featuring fellow hip-hop artist, Kuan of All That.[9] The album garnered success, despite being released without a music video or many live performances to promote the album. The song "Hero" rose to #7 on the Mnet Single Charts, #5 on Melon, and #4 on the prestigious Gaon Chart. On December 21, 2010, Outsider enlisted for mandatory military service for five weeks of basic training followed by 21 months of active duty in Wonju, Gangwon Province. He was discharged on September 24, 2012.[10]

2013-present: Rebirth Outsider and Sniper Sound conflict

In June 2013, after a three-year hiatus, Outsider announced plans to release his 4th studio album in July.[11] On June 25, 2013, Outsider pre-released the single "Crying Bird" featuring Lee Soo Young.[12]

On July 4, 2013, Outsider filed a lawsuit against Sniper Sound over financial issues.[13] In a press release, Outsider claimed he never received proper pay or credit for his various activities and copyrights. Sniper Sound in turn filed an opposing lawsuit against Outsider calling him to halt his recent activities. The conflict broke when fans were unable to buy Outsider's previous songs from 2007-2010 released under MC Sniper's Sniper Sound because they were no longer available.[14]

On July 22, 2013, despite the conflict with his former label, Outsider made his first official comeback after being discharged from the military with the mini album "Rebirth Outsider" under his own label "ASSA Communication".[15] The album's title track Bye U features G.O. of MBLAQ as Outsider's first idol collaboration. The album also features San E, Tymee (formerly E.via) and more.[16]

Personal life

Outsider was married on March 31, 2012, at Seoul's Gangnam Imperial Palace Hotel. His wife, Lee Yongbin (이영빈) is director of a dance troupe as well as the CEO of a cultural contents enterprise.[clarification needed][17]

He has a daughter who was born on March 9, 2016. They appeared on KBS reality show 'The Return of Superman' in 2017 (Ep191-192) as special guests.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[18][19]
Soliloquist
  • Released: October 25, 2007
  • Label: Sniper Sound
  • Format: CD
 25
Maestro
  • Released: June 1, 2009
  • Label: Sniper Sound
  • Format: CD
 No data* No data*
Hero (주인공)
  • Released: October 21, 2010
  • Label: Sniper Sound
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 7 —
Pride & Prejudice
  • Released: March 12, 2015
  • Label: ASSA Communication
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 41 —
*Data not available for 2009.

Reissued albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[19]
Become Stronger
Pride and Prejudice reissue
  • Released: April 18, 2016
  • Label: ASSA Communication
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 65 —

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[18][19]
Come Outside
  • Released: January 6, 2004
  • Label: OGAM Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 — —
The Outsider
  • Released: March 2, 2010
  • Label: Sniper Sound
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 6 —
Rebirth Outsider
  • Released: July 23, 2013
  • Label: ASSA Communication
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 6
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[22]
As lead artist
"Lucky Day" (운수 좋은 날)
feat. Azz Chef 		2004 — — Come Outside
"Music Makes Me High"
feat. Baechigi, Soulman 		2006 Speed Star single album
"Like a Man" (남자답게) 2007 Soliloquist
"Loner" (외톨이) 2009 Maestro
"Acquaintance" (주변인) 2010 4 The Outsider
"Think Of You When the Wind Blows" (바람이 불면 너가 떠올라)
feat. Ilac 		53
"Hero" (주인공)
feat. LMNOP 		20 Hero
"Crying Bird" (슬피 우는 새)
feat. Lee Soo-young 		2013 7 Pride and Prejudice
"Bye U"
feat. G.O of MBLAQ 		16 Rebirth Outsider
"Hand" (손) 2014 25 Pride and Prejudice
"Tattoo" (문신)
feat. Navi 		2015 70
"Cloud" (구름)
feat. Mellow 		— Non-album single
"A Flower of the Days" (피고 지는 날들)
feat. La Muse 		2016 — — Become Stronger
"Become Stronger"
feat. Kuan 		—
"Spitting" (카악 퉤)
feat. Yoon Hyun-min 		— Non-album singles
"Street Love"
feat. Kangnam 		2017 —
"3.14"
feat. Kim Myung-hoon of Ulala Session 		2018 —
Collaborations
"Heart Disease" (심장병)
with MC Sniper, Horan 		2009 — — Hwantastic Project
"My Old Story" (나의 옛날이야기)
with MC Sniper 		2010 49 The Artist
"Please Don't Go" (가면 안돼)
with San E, Lee Chang-min 		2011 14 Non-album singles
"The Weather is Good" (날씨가 좋아)
with RapStar 		2014 —
"Star Warz" (별들의 전쟁)
with Twista 		2015 — Pride and Prejudice
"By the Wind" (바람곁에)
with Lee Eun-mi 		—
"Away" (멀어져)
with AA 		2019 — — Non-album single

Filmography

Variety show

Year Title Network Role Note
2020 King of Mask Singer MBC Contestant as "The Last Leaf" (episode 287)[29]

Awards and nominations

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year Category Work Result
2009 Best Hip Hop Performance[30] "Loner" Nominated
2010 Best Rap Performance[31] "Outsider" Nominated

References

  1. ^ "아웃사이더 소개" [Introduction to Outsider]. Mnet (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  2. ^ "Star Focus: Outsider". Arirang. Korea International Broadcasting Foundation. Retrieved May 20, 2011. Amongst the many rappers, Outsider distinguishes himself! He can go through 13 syllables per second, and his rap is the result of hard practice.
  3. ^ "ASSA Communication". ASSA Communication. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  4. ^ "[Album] Outsider". Kpop Explorer. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  5. ^ "[Album] Outsider – Maestro". Kpop Explorer. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  6. ^ "Outsider (with K.will) - Loner". MBC Kpop. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "[Mini Album] Outsider Vol 2.5 – Acquaintance: The Outsider". Kpop Explorer. May 2, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  8. ^ "[News] Faddy Robot Foundation releases a charity song featuring Yong Junhyung". DkpopNews. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "[Album] Outsider Vol. 3 – Hero". Kpop Explorer. October 21, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  10. ^ Lee, Tae-ho (September 24, 2012). "Park Hyo-shin, Outsider Fulfill 2-year Military Service". 10 Asia. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  11. ^ "Outsider To Release 4th Album in July". HipHopKR. June 11, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  12. ^ "Outsider Releases Music Video for "Sad Crying" Featuring Lee Soo Young". Soompi. June 25, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  13. ^ "Side Chatter: 12 July 2013". MTVk. July 12, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  14. ^ "Outsider and Sniper Sound sue each other". All Kpop. July 4, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  15. ^ "Outsider releases MV for "Bye U" ft. MBLAQ's G.O + 'Rebirth Outsider' mini album". AllKpop. July 22, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  16. ^ "Outsider Brings the House Down in "Bye U" (Featuring MBLAQ's G.O.) MV". Soompi. July 22, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  17. ^ "Korean rapper Outsider is married". Yahoo!. April 2, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  18. ^ a b "K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  19. ^ a b c "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  20. ^ "November 2007 K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  21. ^ "July 2013 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  22. ^ "Digital Chart "아웃사이더" Search". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  23. ^ Cumulative sales of "Crying Bird":
  24. ^ "2013년 07월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  25. ^ "2014년 05월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  26. ^ "2015년 02월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  27. ^ "2015년 24주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  28. ^ "2015년 12주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  29. ^ Jung Ji-hyun (December 27, 2020). "'복면가왕' 위키미키 엘리·아웃사이더·남현희·정동남, 아쉬운 탈락…놀라움 선사한 '반전 정체' [종합]". My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  30. ^ "2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards Part1" Archived December 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. MAMA. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  31. ^ Hicap, Jonathan M. (October 29, 2010). "Controversial Mnet Asian Music Awards bares nominees". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
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