Amoeba Culture
IndustryMusic
Genre
FoundedAugust 18, 2006 (2006-08-18)
Founder
Headquarters
Mapo-gu, Seoul
,
South Korea
Key people
Go Kyung-min (CEO)
OwnerCJ ENM
Websitewww.act-seoul.com

Amoeba Culture (Korean: 아메바 컬쳐) is a South Korean independent record label established in 2006 by Dynamic Duo and Go Kyung-min. The label is home to prominent artists such as Dynamic Duo, Rhythm Power, and Ha:tfelt. The label had the third largest sales among Korean record labels in 2015.[1]

History

Amoeba Culture was founded in August 2006 by Dynamic Duo members Gaeko and Choiza, as well as current CEO Go Kyung-min.[1] The label held open auditions in late 2007 in order to expand its roster.[2] In 2008, composer and producer Primary and hip hop duo Supreme Team joined the company.[3]

In 2011 the label released a series of toy figurines and started the "AMOEBAHOOD" project to promote exhibits and other cultural art projects. They also established the Amoeba Culture recording studio in October 2011. In 2012 the label held the first "Amoebahood Concerts" at Daegu Exco and KBS Busan Hall in February, as well as the House of Blues in LA and the Showbox at the Market in Seattle in April with Kero One.[4][5] Zion.T also announced that he had signed with the label that summer.[6]

In 2013 all of the label's artist participated in the 'NOWeekend' project which culminated in an album.[7] The group also held the "2013 Amoebahood Concerts" on March 16 and 17.[8] On July 19, 2013, Supreme Team disbanded when member E-Sens's contract ended.[9] That summer E-Sens released tracks alleging the company had offered him a slave contract and that they had stolen money which the label denied.[10] In January 2014 the other former Supreme Team member, Simon D, left the label as well.[11]

In November 2017, CJ E&M acquired Amoeba Culture. CJ E&M official stated that, "We are investing to support the development of hip-hop music and free creative activities by artists".[12]

On July 7, 2023, it was announced that Go Kyungmin had died on July 6 at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. [13]

Controversies

Plagiarism accusations against Primary

For the 2013 Infinity Challenge Music Festival, Primary collaborated with Park Myeong-su and label mate Gaeko (Dynamic Duo) for the song "I Got C". Later, netizens noticed similarities between "I Got C" and Dutch singer Caro Emerald's "Liquid Lunch." Rumors of plagiarism later followed.[14]

In an interview by Seoul Shinmun NTN's "Dispatch," Caro Emerald's production team member David Schreurs said, "[Primary] uses our music as a template to create his own, which is an honor but on some songs he’s just going too far with it. I would like to say he should start trusting his own talent, because he sure is a good producer.”[15][16] As a result, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the network behind "Infinity Challenge," as well as KT Music, the publisher of the album and songs from the "2013 Infinity Challenge Music Festival," ceased online sales of "I Got C."[17]

Another Primary composition, Park Ji-yoon's Mr. Lee (featuring San E) was also later accused of plagiarism.[18][19]

2013: "The Control Diss Phenomenon"

  • July 19 – E-Sens (Supreme Team) left Amoeba Culture.[20][21][22]
  • August 12 – American hip hop artist Big Sean released a promotional single called "Control", with a verse from Kendrick Lamar that called on all hip hop artists to "step up and save hip hop".[21]
  • August 21 – Swings, the Korean American rapper affiliated with Illest Konfusion, UPT and Overclass, released the diss track "King Swings" through the YouTube channel of his agency at the time, Brand New Music. It was met with responses from Ugly Duck, Takeone and Deepflow.[23][24][25]
  • August 22 – E-Sens shocked the Korean hip hop community when he released "You Can't Control Me", dissing his former agency and label mate Gaeko (Dynamic Duo).[21][26][27]
  • August 23 – Swings released another diss, "Hwang Jung-min (King Swings Part 2)". He dissed Simon Dominic (Supreme Team) this time.[21][28]
  • August 24 – Gaeko broke his silence and released "I Can Control You", then E-Sens responded with "True Story". Meanwhile, Simon Dominic answered back at Swings through "Control".[21][29][30]
  • August 26 – Swings lashed back at Simon Dominic with "New World". Meanwhile, Amoeba Culture issued a statement saying "it respects the opinions of its artists and will let them handle it themselves (in regards to Gaeko and Simon Dominic's disses)".[21][31][32]
  • August 27 – The exchange of diss tracks came to an end.[21][33]

Artists

Groups

Soloists

  • Snzae (선재)
  • SOLE (쏠)
  • THAMA (따마)
  • Uhm Jung-hwa (엄정화)
  • Huh! (허성현)

Former artists

Discography

Year Work Artist
2007 Enlightened
  • Album
 Dynamic Duo
LOVE is ENLIGHTENED
  • Album
2008 Last Days
  • Album
2009 "Ballad for Fallen Soul Part 1"
Supreme Team Guide To Excellent Adventure
  • Extended Play
 Supreme Team
Band of Dynamic Brothers
  • Album
 Dynamic Duo
2010 Supremier
  • Album
 Supreme Team
Spin off
  • Album
"Ames Room"
2011 "Homage to Quincy Jones" project Primary, Supreme Team, Dynamic Duo
Primary And The Messengers
  • Album
 Primary
DYNAMICDUO 6th DIGILOG 1/2
  • Album
 Dynamic Duo
2012 DYNAMICDUO 6th DIGILOG 2/2
  • Album
Primary And The Messengers Part 2
  • Album
 Primary
Primary And The Messengers Part 3
  • Album
Primary And The Messengers Part 4
  • Album
Everyone is good-looking, Rhythm Power
  • Album
 Rhythm Power
"Air"

Nike Air Force 1 30th Anniversary Collaboration Track

 All
Mohican and the Barefoot
  • Album
 J-Tong
2013 NOWeekend Project
  • Album
 All
2014 Crush on You
  • Album
 Crush

References

  1. 1 2 "Zion.T's Success Pushes Amoeba Culture Ahead Of JYP Entertainment In 2015 Earnings". KpopStarz. January 27, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ "아메바컬쳐, 공개 오디션!" [Amoeba Culture Open Auditions!]. HiphopPlaya Magazine (in Korean). November 4, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Korea's Most Influential Hip-Hop Label Played at the Center of America's Rap Universe". Vice. March 31, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Amoeba Culture History". Amoeba Culture. Archived from the original on 2016-08-30. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Join Dynamic Duo, Simon D, & Kero 1 at the 'Amoeba Culture and Kero 1′ concert in Seattle!". Allkpop. 2012-03-13. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "자이언티, 아메바컬쳐 전속 계약 체결 Zion.T, Amoeba Culture signed an exclusive contract". HiphopPlaya Magazine (in Korean). Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "얀키, 'NOWorkend' 프로젝트 두 번째 주자 28일 음원 공개". HipHopPlaya Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Amoeba Artists for 'NOWeekend' Project, First Up: Gaeko". MTV K. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Supreme Team on the Splits: E-Sens Leaves Amoeba Culture". MTV K. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Hong, Grace Danbi; Hyoun, An So. "E-Sens Releases Diss Track Concerning Dynamic Duo's Gaeko and Amoeba Culture". CJ E&M enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Simon D Goes Solo – Former Supreme Team Member Joins Jay Park's New Label AOMG". KpopStarz. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "[단독]Cj E&M, 다듀·크러시 속한 아메바컬쳐 마저 품는다".
  13. ↑ "[부고] 고경민(아메바컬쳐 대표)씨 별세".
  14. ↑ alim17 (November 6, 2013). "Primary addresses plagiarism controversy on his Infinity Challenge song I Got C". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 8, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ alim17 (November 6, 2013). "Dispatch interviews David Schreurs who shares his thoughts on Primary's plagiarism controversy". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 8, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Kim Hyo-eun, Kim Hae-won (November 6, 2013). (단독) "아이갓씨, 내 노래 참조"…'에메랄드'가 밝힌 표절논란 (인터뷰). Dispatch (in Korean). Seoul Shinmun NTN (via Wyzmob). Archived from the original on 2014-08-22. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  17. ↑ starsung (November 13, 2013). "Infinity Challenge to cease the online sales of I Got C + Primary apologizes". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  18. ↑ jnkm (November 6, 2013). "Primary's "I Got C," "Mr. Lee" Under Scrutiny for Possible Plagiarism of Dutch Artist". Soompi. Soompi, Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  19. ↑ morgenderper (November 7, 2013). "Decoding Primary 'I Got C' Plagiarism Allegations + Caro Emerald team's response". Omona They Didn't. LiveJournal. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  20. ↑ halves in unison (July 21, 2013). "Hip Hop Duo Supreme Team Disbands, E-Sens Wants to Go Solo". Soompi. Soompi, Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 asteriskrolled (August 26, 2013). "A Concise Guide to the "Diss" Battles Involving E-Sens, Amoeba Culture, Simon D and More". Soompi. Soompi, Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  22. ↑ "(DISS+patch) "All That Diss"…2013 디스전, 완전분석 (종합)". Dispatch (Seoul Shinmun NTN) (in Korean). Nate (SK Communications). August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  23. ↑ "스윙스(Swings) – King Swings (Explicit)". Brandnewmusickorea (in Korean). YouTube. August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  24. ↑ "(핫이슈) Control 국내 뮤지션 곡 모음". Hiphop Playa (in Korean). Genuine Music Inc. August 22, 2013. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  25. ↑ IATFB (August 25, 2013). "Korean rap clusterf**k in full "swing", started because Swings missed the point of Control". Asian Junkie. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  26. ↑ serendipity (August 22, 2013). "E-Sens stirs up controversy with a new song targeting his former agency Amoeba Culture and Dynamic Duo's Gaeko". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  27. ↑ Hong, Grace Dan-bi and An So-hyun (August 23, 2013). "E-Sens Releases Diss Track Concerning Dynamic Duo's Gaeko and Amoeba Culture". Mnet enewsworld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  28. ↑ jennywill (August 23, 2013). "Hip Hop Battle heating up in Korea, Swings lashes out at Simon D in his newest track". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  29. ↑ serendipity (August 24, 2013). "Dynamic Duo's Gaeko fires back at E-Sens with track I Can Control You". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  30. ↑ serendipity (August 24, 2013). "E-Sens responds to Gaeko with True Story and Simon D drops Control in response to Swings". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  31. ↑ jennywill (August 26, 2013). "Swings snaps back at Simon D with New World". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  32. ↑ Lee Jeong-a (August 26, 2013). 아메바컬쳐 측 "개코-쌈디 맞디스, 아티스트 의견 존중". SBS funE (in Korean). Nate (SK Communications). Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  33. ↑ starsung (August 27, 2013). "Swings announces his diss tracks have come to an end". Allkpop. 6Theory Media LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  34. ↑ Gong, Mi-na (May 1, 2019). 방재민, 아메바컬쳐와 전속계약 해지 "건강상의 이유" [Bang Jae-min terminated his exclusive contract with Amoeba Culture. "Healthy reasons".]. Starnews (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  35. ↑ 아메바컬쳐와 전속종료 프라이머리, "새로운 시작" 다짐. Yonhap (in Korean). March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
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