Swings (rapper)

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 contracted under his own record label, Just Music.[1][2]

Swings
Background information
Birth nameMoon Ji-hoon (문지훈)
Also known asMoon Swings, Jonathan Moon
Born (1986-10-14) October 14, 1986
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active2008–present
LabelsJust Music, Indigo Music
Associated actsE Sens, Giriboy, Genius Nochang
Websitewww.wejustmusic.com
Korean name
Hangul
문지훈
Revised RomanizationMun Ji-Hun
McCune–ReischauerMun Chihun

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 Show Me the Money in 2013.[6] That summer, Swings triggered a 'Control diss phenomenon' within the Korean hip hop scene with the release of his diss track "King Swings Part 2", over the instrumental of Big Sean's "Control", in which he accused rapper Simon Dominic of not protecting his Supreme Team member 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]

In 2014, he returned to Show Me the Money as a producer for its third season, alongside established rappers including San E and Tablo.[10]

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][11]

In April 2017, it established its second label, Indigo Music. It has become one of the most notable hip-hop labels, recruiting Young B, Kid Milli, Justhis, Jvcki Wai and Noel as its artists.[12]

Personal life

Swings is a fluent English speaker, having lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and studied English at Sungkyunkwan University.[13]

He enlisted in the South Korean military in November 2014, despite being exempt from mandatory military service due to psychological disorders.[14] He was discharged from the military in September 2015 due to his mental health. Swings said that he has been receiving treatment since he was young for illnesses including obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and bipolar disorder.[15]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[16]
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
[16]
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
[17]
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 N/A
"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)[37]

References

  1. "15 Korean Rappers You Should Know That Aren't Psy". XXL Magazine. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  2. "Swings Leaves Brand New Music to Focus on His Own Agency Just Music". Soompi. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  3. "Swings, [Upgrade] Track List 공개". Hiphop Playa (in Korean). 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  4. "스윙스의 단독 콘서트, 'FREEDOM CONCERT ' 홍보영상 공개" [Swings release promotional video for solo concert 'FREEDOM CONCERT']. Hiphop Playa (in Korean). 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  5. "첫 번재 정규 앨범 '성장통' 스윙스(Swings) 인터뷰". Hiphop Playa (in Korean). 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  6. "Show Me The Money". Korean Hip Hop. 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  7. "Hip Hop Battle heating up in Korea, Swings lashes out at Simon D in his newest track". Allkpop. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  8. "A Concise Guide to the "Diss" Battles Involving E-Sens, Amoeba Culture, Simon D and More". Soompi. 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  9. "Swings and Bumkey Win "HIPHOPPLAYA Awards 2013" Artists of the Year". Soompi. 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  10. "San E, Swings and Tablo Will Appear on "Show Me the Money 3" As Producers". Soompi. 2014-05-03. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  11. "Just Music Releases 'Ripple Effect' Compilation Album". Hip Hop Korea. 2014-06-16. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  12. "스윙스 새 레이블 인디고뮤직 설립…양홍원(Young B)·키드밀리(Kid Milli) 영입". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  13. "Rapper Swings Is An English Major At Sungkyunkwan University". Soompi. 2014-07-17. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  14. "Swings to enlist in standard military after being turned down by KATUSA". Allkpop. 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  15. "Rapper Swings Announces He Was Discharged Early From the Army for Mental Health Reasons". Soompi. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  16. "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart.
  17. "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart. "Not Enough – Week 35 of 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  18. "2011년 03월 Download Chart".
  19. "2011년 17주차 Download Chart".
  20. "2013년 05월 Download Chart".
  21. Cumulative sales of "A Real Lady":
  22. Cumulative sales of "Bulldozer":
  23. Cumulative sales of "Victorious":
  24. "2014년 03월 Download Chart".
  25. Cumulative sales of "The Wrong Way":
  26. Cumulative sales of "Her Number":
  27. "2014년 07월 Download Chart".
  28. "2014년 08월 Download Chart".
  29. "2014년 42주차 Download Chart".
  30. "2014년 45주차 Download Chart".
  31. "2016년 36주차 Download Chart".
  32. "2016년 37주차 Download Chart".
  33. "2017년 46주차 Download Chart".
  34. "2013년 13주차 Download Chart".
  35. Cumulative sales of "A Real Man":
  36. "2014년 09월 Download Chart".
  37. 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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