Leessang’s newest single sweeps charts

The dynamic duo of Leessang released its latest hip-hop single “Tears” on Jan. 25, immediately topping all of the major Korean real-time music charts.

The track knocked off Superstar K2 winner Huh Gak’s newly released “Monodrama,” which had sat at the top spot on most of the charts.

As of Monday morning, the mid-tempo ballad rap piece ranked at the top on the Naver, Daum, MelOn, Mnet and Bugs music charts. Hip-hoppers Gary and Gil worked the hit-making production team Duble Sidekick on the track, which also features vocals from Eugene of The Seeya and Yoon Gun on the piano. 

Leessang also held two concerts in the United States for the first time last week with sold-out performances at the Best Buy Theater in New York on Jan. 24 and at Club Nokia Los Angeles on Jan. 26.

The veteran members of Leessang debuted in the Korean hip-hop scene more than 10 years ago in 2002 with their first album “Leessang of Honey Family.” Since then the duo has released eight full albums, along with more than five other EP albums.

Both Gil and Gary also appear regularly on TV variety programs.

Gil gained tremendous popularity and has made a name for himself not only as a rapper, but as an entertainer on the hit Korean reality TV show, “Infinite Challenge.” He first appeared on the show in 2009 and that year won both the Mnet 20’s Choice “Hot Variety Star” award as well as the “Newcomer” prize at the MBC Broadcasting awards ceremony.

In 2012, Gary debuted as a cast member of the popular reality show “Running Man” ― a variety program where guest stars race against the clock to complete various missions ― winning the “Variety New Star Award” that same year at the SBS Entertainment Awards ceremony along with the “Excellence Award” in 2012.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)