Speculation has arisen that part of the rap written by ATEEZ's Hongjoong targets Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of HYBE.
On the 15th, Hongjoong released the song "SMB," a collaboration with American rapper Odetari. The lyrics of the song include somewhat blunt expressions such as "Act your age, you fool" and "Do you think you’re something, hitman." The term 'hitman' is a nickname for Bang Si-hyuk.
In particular, the lyrics "If you have time to observe others, watch your back" seem to poke fun at the internal documents revealed during the National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee's audit last October, which criticized the appearance evaluations of idols from HYBE. This can be interpreted as a critique not only of Bang Si-hyuk but also of HYBE and the realities of the entertainment industry.
In relation to this, the agency KQ Entertainment has not made any official statement.
As the leader of ATEEZ, Hongjoong has been actively working on music. Recently, he showcased his musicality by appearing on KBS2's music travel reality show "I Am a Singer in Germany." The team is set to hold their World Tour concert in Seoul at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in March.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
