[Exclusive] Koncept (New York) 獨家訪談 2019

Koncept是來自紐約布魯克林的饒舌歌手。2008年，在Fat Beats唱片行工作的他，基於對音樂的熱愛，決定和當時其他六名同事一起組成了饒舌團體"Brown Bag Allstars"，至今仍活躍於地下嘻哈圈。

Koncept後來退出團體單飛，將重心轉往個人發展。從2010年發表首張EP "Playing Life"、2012年首張個人專輯"Awaken" (其中還有Royce Da 5'9"和Marco Polo等重量級人物跨刀)，一直到最近2017年的新專輯"14 Hours Ahead"，這幾年之間都保持穩定的速度推出作品。


1. Can u introduce yourself? How did you start rapping? 請做個自我介紹。

• Koncept (以下簡稱KC)：My name is Koncept. I am from Queens, New York, but have lived in a few places. Currently in Seoul, South Korea, and Los Angeles. I rap, make music, create art, and try to beat every fear that I've ever had.
• KC：我是Koncept，來自紐約皇后區，也居住過一些其他地方。目前住在韓國首爾、洛杉磯兩地。我饒舌、做音樂、創作藝術，試著擊倒所有經歷過的恐懼。

2. You released a new album "14 hours Ahead". Can you talk about the concept behind this album? What does the album title mean? 

你的最新專輯叫做"14 Hours Ahead"，創作理念是什麼？

• KC：14 Hours Ahead is the time difference between Asia and New York. It is also seeing whats in front of you, your future, your dreams, and chasing after them. 
• KC：14 Hours Ahead的意思，就是指亞洲和紐約之間的時差。代表的意思也是指你眼前看到的事物，你的未來，你的夢想，以及追逐他們的過程。

3. You also released a new MV "Almost" from the album "14 hours Ahead", which is very powerful and meaningful. Can you talk about this song? What kinds of difficulties and failure you experienced during your music journey?

你前陣子發表了音樂錄影帶"Almost"，非常發人深省。可以談論一下這首作品嗎？在你這段音樂旅程上遭遇過什麼樣的困難？

• KC：Almost is about constantly growing and reaching goals, but also constantly setting new goals, so always feeling like you're "almost" there. So as good as it can be, there is always better. Keep working and striving for greatness. With success comes a lot of difficulties and failing. And that is great. It is all part of the process. Failure teaches you, it makes you stronger, and makes you wiser for your next attempt.
• KC：Almost這首作品談論的是不斷成長、追求目標，但同時也不斷地設定新的目標，所以總是會讓你有一種 "快要" (Almost) 達成的感覺。所以永遠都有進步的空間，就是持續去努力、追求完美。在成功之前，必定伴隨許多困難與失敗。這也是好事，這都是過程。失敗為成功之母，能讓你變得更強，也讓你在下一次嘗試時變得更聰明。 

4. Looks like you have been traveling a lot to Asia in recent years. How's your experience in Asia so far? 

你似乎在這幾年不斷地往返美國、亞洲之間，你對亞洲的感覺如何？

• KC：I love Asia!  I have been back and forth between Asia and USA for over 2 years. At one time I spent about a year and half straight in Asia. I spend a lot of time in South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. I've been to Taiwan a couple of times too and absolutely loved it, so I hope to come back soon!
• KC：我愛亞洲！我這兩年多之間，不斷往返於美國和亞洲。甚至有一次，我直接住在亞洲長達一年半的時間。我在南韓、泰國、日本待了好一陣子，去過好幾次台灣，也同樣很喜歡台灣，希望能趕快再回到這！

5. In my opinion, I think you are definitely a sharp lyricist. What is your favorite track from your past works? What are the notable lines in it?

我覺得你的歌詞也是相當犀利。你自己最喜歡的個人作品是哪一首？有什麼值得一提的歌詞段落嗎？

• KC：I always go through fazes of what my current favorite tracks of mine are. Right now is my whole new album that is coming out later in 2019!! Lol. Also, my song that just dropped called, "Strong". Or take it back to "Plane Ticket" on "The Fuel" EP. Or "The Fuel" title track. (check the lyrics below)
• KC：我總是會去思考現在最喜歡的歌曲是什麼。現在的話，最喜愛的是即將在2019下半年推出的整張新專輯。另外，我比較喜愛的歌詞，像是最近發表的新歌"Strong"： 
• They say Konny's always happy cause Konny's always laughing/ cause a laugh can pause a problem/ but only for a few seconds/ if never fix or solve it and yeah I'm out in Asia making money now/ but Grams back at home having lung problems

• 或是以前在"The Fuel" EP中的作品"Plane Ticket": Plane Ticket, same different city, where the weed at

• 以及"The Fuel"同名單曲：I seen a man once elevate a truck with his own arms, I'm sure you'd do the same for your own son with no prob/ A woman feed her kid full meals having no job and she did it with her clothes on

  
6.  What are your plans in 2019? 今年還有什麼計劃？

• KC：I'm releasing a new song every month all year long. New music videos. New album later this year. New tours, New cities, countries, beautiful faces.Thank you so much for the interview, and all of your support! Thank you to everyone reading this and listening to the music!!!! I hope you love it as much as I do!
• KC：我會在今年的每一個月份都發表新歌！會有新的音樂錄影帶，下半年也會有新專輯。更多的巡迴、造訪新的國家及城市，去看看美麗的人們。感謝你這次的訪問以及支持！也謝謝閱讀這篇訪問、聆聽我的音樂的每個人！我希望你們也和我一樣喜歡這些作品！

會知道Koncept，主要也是因為自己蠻喜歡J57做的beats。不過後來Koncept似乎與Brownbag All Stars完全切割，沒有再後續合作，也讓他近年來的音樂風格轉變蠻大的(在造型上也是)，這或許是想要更貼近主流市場吧。總而言之，不管習不習慣新的曲風，Koncept的饒舌功力、歌詞和聲線的確都是蠻不錯的，而他也時常來台灣，或許有一天也能看到他在台灣演出也不一定。

WEBSITE - http://www.iamkoncept.com
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/Koncept
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/konceptfanpage
INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/champagnekonny