Swings (rapper)

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In this
Moon
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Swings
Background information
Birth nameMoon Ji-hoon
Also known asMoon Swings, Jonathan Moon
Born (1986-10-14) October 14, 1986 (age 37)
OriginSungkyunkwan University
GenresHip hop
OccupationsRapper
Years active2008–present
Labels
Websitewww.wejustmusic.com
Korean name
Hangul
문지훈
Revised RomanizationMun Ji-Hun
McCune–ReischauerMun Chihun

Moon Ji-hoon (Korean: 문지훈, born October 14, 1986), better known by the stage name Swings (Korean: 스윙스), is a South Korean rapper. Formerly under the label Brand New Music, he is currently signed to P Nation.[1][2]

Career

Swings debuted in 2008 with the extended play Upgrade.[3] He joined the hip hop group Uptown in 2009 but left by the end of the year.[4] He released his first full-length album, Growing Pains, in 2010.[5]

He gained popularity after competing on the second season of the TV rap competition

E-Sens from an alleged slave contract offered by label Amoeba Culture.[7][8] Swings was named Artist of the Year for 2013 by Korean hip hop magazine Hiphop Playa.[9]

The "Control Diss Phenomenon" was a career-changing move for Swings. As South Korea started to adopt hip-hop culture late, there were not any significant diss-battles that happened. As diss rapping is a big part of hip-hop culture, the "Control Diss Phenomenon" was a very impactful event that created an environment where other rappers can join battles to stimulate competition and rivalry.[10]

In 2014, he returned to Show Me the Money as a producer for its third season, alongside established rappers including San E and Tablo.[11]

Swings left the label Brand New Music in August 2014 to focus his own record label, Just Music. The label currently represents the rappers Black Nut, Giriboy, Genius Nochang, C Jamm, and Vasco.[2][12]

In April 2017, it established its second label, Indigo Music. It has become one of the most notable hip-hop labels, recruiting Yang Hongwon (previously known as Young B), Kid Milli, Justhis, Jvcki Wai and Noel as its artists.[13]

Psy announced on Instagram on April 29, 2021, that Swings had signed a contract with P Nation.[14] Three years following his signing, he announced his eighth studio album Upgrade V as his first release under the company, to be released on March 8, 2024.[15]

Personal life

Swings is a fluent English speaker, having lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and studied English at Sungkyunkwan University.[16]

He enlisted in the South Korean military in November 2014, despite being exempt from

obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and bipolar disorder.[18]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[19]
Growing Pains
  • Released: March 11, 2010
  • Label: Hiphopplaya
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Upgrade II
  • Released: July 22, 2011
  • Label: Hiphopplaya
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Vintage Swings
  • Released: October 28, 2014
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Levitate 2
  • Released: October 11, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Upgrade III
  • Released: March 24, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 44
Upgrade 0
  • Released: December 26, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 61
Upgrade IV
  • Released: March 4, 2020
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 46
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[19]
Upgrade
  • Released: May 14, 2008
  • Label: Kakao M
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Mood Swings II Part 1: Major Depression
(감정기복 II Part 1: 주요 우울증)
  • Released: February 26, 2014
  • Label: Brand New Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 31
Mood Swings II Part 2: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(감정기복 II Part 2: 강박증)
  • Released: July 17, 2014
  • Label: Brand New Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
Mood Swings II Part 3: Psychotherapy
(감정기복 II Part 3: 심리치료)
  • Released: September 8, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
The Intr0
  • Released: November 30, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
 —
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Mixtapes

Title Album details
#1 Mixtape Vol. II
#1 Vol. II Instrumental
  • Released: June 12, 2013
  • Label: Brand New Music
  • Formats: CD, download
Levitate 1
  • Released: October 11, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
Levitate 3
  • Released: October 11, 2016
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download
Crumbs (부스러기)
  • Released: May 19, 2018
  • Label: Just Music
  • Formats: CD, download

Charted singles

Title Year Peak chart
positions 		Sales (DL) Album
KOR
[20]
As lead artist
"Instincively Remix" (본능적으로 Remix)
feat. Yoon Jong-shin, Taeyang 		2011 59 Non-album singles
"I'll Be There"
feat. Jay Park 		79
"Would You" (줄래)
feat. Seo In-guk 		2013 28
"A Real Lady"
feat. Beenzino, Gray, Zion.T 		9
"Bulldozer" (불도저) 2014 36
"Victorious" (이겨낼거야 2)
feat. Gray 		57 Mood Swings II Part. 1: Major Depression
"Fallin'"
feat. Jay Park 		23 Non-album singles
"The Wrong Way" (역주행)
feat. Dok2, Genius Nochang 		73
"Her Number" (전화번호)
feat. Verbal Jint, 40 		9 Mood Swings II Part. 2: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
"Gravity"
feat. Mad Clown, Giriboy 		34
"Pool Party" 14 Non-album singles
"Rap Star" 85
"My Ballad"
feat. Kim Ye-rim 		60 Vintage Swings
"Your Soul" 2016 98 Non-album single
"On My Way"
feat. Gray, Bewhy 		94 Mood Swings II Part. 3: Psychotherapy
"Clock Out" (퇴근)
feat. Jay Park, Crush 		2017 88 Non-album single
Collaborations
"Money"
with P-Type 		2013 — Non-album singles
"Brilliant Is..."
with Skull, Haha, Geeks, Zico, Mad Clown, Double K, Zizo,
Soul Dive, Heo Kyung-hwan, Kim Ji-min feat. Gill, Jungin 		75 —
"A Real Man"
with Ailee 		2014 4
"Trap"
with U Sung-eun 		27 My Secret Hotel OST
"Not Enough"
with Kid Milli and Mad Clown featuring Yumdda and pH-1 		2019 37 Show Me the Money 8 Episode 1
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Filmography

Television

Year Program Network Notes
2013
Show Me The Money 2
 		Mnet Contestant
2014
Show Me The Money 3
 		Mnet Judge/Producer with San E
2017 High School Rapper Mnet Judge
2017 Mix Nine JTBC Rap Instructor
2018 Show Me the Money 777 Mnet Judge
2019 Show Me the Money 8 Mnet Judge
2020 Show Me the Money 9 Mnet Contestant

Variety shows

Year Title Network Role Notes
2019 Not the Same Person You Used to Know Mnet Main Guest With Giriboy, Han Yo-han (rapper, songwriter), Superbee (rapper), Kwon Hyuk-soo, Im Bo-ra (Swings' girlfriend), Jenny Kim (Swings' mother)

Episode 4

2020 King of Mask Singer MBC Contestant as "Advent of a Bill-god" (Episodes 259–260)[40]

References

  1. ^ "15 Korean Rappers You Should Know That Aren't Psy". XXL Magazine. February 12, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Swings Leaves Brand New Music to Focus on His Own Agency Just Music". Soompi. August 29, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  3. ^ "Swings, [Upgrade] Track List 공개". Hiphop Playa (in Korean). April 20, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  4. ^ "스윙스의 단독 콘서트, 'FREEDOM CONCERT ' 홍보영상 공개" [Swings release promotional video for solo concert 'FREEDOM CONCERT']. Hiphop Playa (in Korean). December 15, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. ^ "첫 번재 정규 앨범 '성장통' 스윙스(Swings) 인터뷰". Hiphop Playa (in Korean). March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  6. ^ "Show Me The Money". Korean Hip Hop. June 8, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  7. ^ "Hip Hop Battle heating up in Korea, Swings lashes out at Simon D in his newest track". Allkpop. August 23, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  8. ^ "A Concise Guide to the "Diss" Battles Involving E-Sens, Amoeba Culture, Simon D and More". Soompi. August 26, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  9. ^ "Swings and Bumkey Win "HIPHOPPLAYA Awards 2013" Artists of the Year". Soompi. March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  10. ^ Herald, Korea (August 26, 2013). "Hip-hop world caught up in a cutthroat 'diss war'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "San E, Swings and Tablo Will Appear on "Show Me the Money 3" As Producers". Soompi. May 3, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "Just Music Releases 'Ripple Effect' Compilation Album". Hip Hop Korea. June 16, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  13. ^ Yun, Jae-gil. 스윙스 새 레이블 인디고뮤직 설립…양홍원(Young B)·키드밀리(Kid Milli) 영입. Asia Economy (in Korean). Retrieved May 24, 2020 – via Naver.
  14. ^ Gong, Mi-na (April 30, 2021). 스윙스, 싸이 품으로..피네이션 전속 계약[공식]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved April 30, 2021 – via Naver.
  15. ^ Choi, Yuna (March 1, 2024). "스윙스, 3월 8일 정규 앨범으로 컴백…MV 깜짝 선공개" [Swings returns with full album on March 8th... with surprise MV pre-release]. Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Rapper Swings Is An English Major At Sungkyunkwan University". Soompi. July 17, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  17. ^ "Swings to enlist in standard military after being turned down by KATUSA". Allkpop. November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  18. ^ "Rapper Swings Announces He Was Discharged Early From the Army for Mental Health Reasons". Soompi. September 11, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart.
  20. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart. "Not Enough – Week 35 of 2019".
    Gaon Chart
     (in Korean). Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  21. ^ "2011년 03월 Download Chart".
  22. ^ "2011년 17주차 Download Chart".
  23. ^ "2013년 05월 Download Chart".
  24. ^ Cumulative sales of "A Real Lady":
  25. ^ Cumulative sales of "Bulldozer":
  26. ^ Cumulative sales of "Victorious":
  27. ^ "2014년 03월 Download Chart".
  28. ^ Cumulative sales of "The Wrong Way":
  29. ^ Cumulative sales of "Her Number":
  30. ^ "2014년 07월 Download Chart".
  31. ^ "2014년 08월 Download Chart".
  32. ^ "2014년 42주차 Download Chart".
  33. ^ "2014년 45주차 Download Chart".
  34. ^ "2016년 36주차 Download Chart".
  35. ^ "2016년 37주차 Download Chart".
  36. ^ "2017년 46주차 Download Chart".
  37. ^ "2013년 13주차 Download Chart".
  38. ^ Cumulative sales of "A Real Man":
  39. ^ "2014년 09월 Download Chart".
  40. ^ Lee Seung-hoon (June 21, 2020). "'복면가왕' 장미여사, '진주=박혜원' 꺾고 가왕 등극..스윙스∙김민교∙소유미 '반전 매력' [종합]". OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved June 21, 2020.
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