WNYC supports a program called Radio Rookies "that provides teenagers with the tools and training to create radio stories about themselves, their communities and their world."
This past week featured a story by Rayon Wright an 18 year old Jamaican-American with big dreams of becoming a Korea K-pop sensation. What is K-pop you ask?
K-pop is everywhere. You can't past a store, turn on the TV or go to a club without hearing the sound of K-pop ringing in your ears. K-pop can best be likened to boy/girl group music from the early 2000's like N*SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls etc. Popular K-pop groups include 2NE1, Girls' Generation, SHINee, Big Bang, Wonder Girls, Super Junior... the list goes on and on. My friend Chris does a K-pop song of the week on her blog if you are interested, but don't expect to hear any K-pop here folks. Sorry, but I'm not one for shellacked boy groups in color-coordinated outfits. To each his own right?
So back to Radio Rookies. Rayon Wright is as I said is a Caribbean American living in Brooklyn. He happened upon some K-pop videos online a few years ago and his life hasn't been the same since. He has dedicated his time and energy to learning Korean so that he can write K-pop songs in Korean so that he can one day achieve his goal of becoming a K-pop producer under the pseudonym Gamun-Pyul or Black Star.
So back to Radio Rookies. Rayon Wright is as I said is a Caribbean American living in Brooklyn. He happened upon some K-pop videos online a few years ago and his life hasn't been the same since. He has dedicated his time and energy to learning Korean so that he can write K-pop songs in Korean so that he can one day achieve his goal of becoming a K-pop producer under the pseudonym Gamun-Pyul or Black Star.
If you have a second take a listen, its an endearing story and you will certainly get a good laugh listening to the friends and family Rayon interviewed. I admire Rayon's steadfast devotion to his K-pop dream no matter the obstacles or the funny glances it might warrant. He is a man on a K-pop mission. I particularly loved the dialogue between Rayon and his father... sounded all too familiar:
Dad: How are you gonna get to Korea? A bicycle or stuff? How you gonna finance yourself?
Rayon: How you gonna eat sleep drink hmph hmph hmph?
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