“I used to be a sensitive person who would scream and get angry even if someone just knocked on the door while I was working on music. But now, I’m not like that. I have someone I can lean on like a comfortable sofa. I think I’ve changed thanks to my wife, whom I fell in love with at first sight. (laughs)”
With nearly 30 years in the music industry, Bobby Kim (52, real name Robert Do-kyun Kim) has gone from being the ‘rap uncle’ to now being the ‘rap grandfather.’ Having faced various challenges during his long career, including the COVID-19 pandemic and airplane disturbance controversies, he has strengthened his inner self while continuing his career as a singer.
Recently, Bobby Kim released his second mini-album ‘Part of Me’ and met with Maeil Business Star Today to talk about his current situation and new album. This comeback comes about three years after the release of his single ‘I’m Drunk’ in 2022. Bobby Kim said, “While working on the songs for a long time, I reflected on my life and sought inspiration in many areas.” According to him, this album features four calm ballads and one slightly rhythmic song.
Bobby Kim mentioned that he tried to showcase both the public's needs and his own charm evenly. In addition to the title track ‘Letting Love Flow... and 3 Days,’ the album includes ‘Morning Routine,’ ‘Organizing,’ ‘Moonlight Serenade,’ and ‘Living Seems Like a Joke.’
Bobby Kim explained, “I actually wanted to release the album a bit earlier, but I decided to wait until now to match the warm weather with the style of the songs. The concept of the album is ‘warmth.’ I sang it in a way that conveys as warm a feeling as possible.”
The title track was composed by Bobby Kim and written by Park Sun-joo, who is known for writing and composing Bobby Kim’s hit song ‘That Guy in Love.’ Bobby Kim briefly introduced the song, saying, “It contains various emotions about people,” and then shared his thoughts about Park Sun-joo. He said, “Park Sun-joo is a scary person to me. She’s a bit eccentric. As a singer-songwriter, she has pride in her compositions. I also have my own stubbornness, so there were differences in how we expressed the bridge part, but we ultimately worked it out together,” adding, “She’s like an older sister to me. I’m really grateful that she took care of it as if it were her own song.”
Bobby Kim revealed traces of his deep contemplation during the preparation for this album. He said, “I didn’t want to follow trends. I wanted to focus on what I can do well and what I’m good at. I thought about how I could bring changes to my existing music or what kind of feeling I could create by collaborating with a band.”
Having debuted in 1994 with Dr. Reggae’s first album, Bobby Kim has now become a 30-year veteran in the music industry. Reflecting on this, Bobby Kim said, “I, like everyone I work with in music, am quite stubborn. We have a strong desire for perfection and pursue the accurate expression of the songs.” He described himself as “a sensitive person,” stating, “I’m not usually like that, but when it comes to music work, I was really sensitive. I can’t say I’m not anymore, but in the past, I had such a strong tendency that it caused troubles with those around me.”
Bobby Kim, who used to express his emotions by yelling at the slightest disturbance, found solace in his wife. Bobby Kim and his wife got married in 2022. He said, “During our relationship, I gained a lot of positive and bright feelings. My wife has a calm personality, and being next to her naturally allowed me to view music with a more relaxed mindset.”
Bobby Kim expressed, “When I look at my wife, I feel the need to work hard to earn money and take responsibility for her. That’s why I work harder on my music and my career as a singer.”
When the topic of his wife came up, his eyes sparkled with intelligence. Bobby Kim reminisced, “She was the person I fell in love with at first sight. She was one of the staff members during my 2010 Hawaii concert. My stylist sister became friends with my wife, and later she came to Korea to work with us. We dated for a little less than a year back then.”
He continued, “After we broke up, we didn’t meet again until 2019 when she suddenly appeared in my dream. Then I participated in ‘King of Mask Singer’ (MBC), and two days later, I received a text, which allowed us to reconnect. I found out she was working as a beautician in Hawaii, and I went there to propose. Eventually, it led to our marriage,” sharing his happy memories with a smile.
While passionately talking about his wife, Bobby Kim shifted his focus back to his music career. In February, he signed an exclusive contract with Attract, promising to work together. Attract is the company of Jeon Hong-jun, who has been with Bobby Kim since his debut for over 21 years. Bobby Kim stated, “Jeon is someone I trust 100%. I rejected all other offers. We will create great music together in the future,” also hinting at the launch of a YouTube channel.
Bobby Kim emphasized that he will continue to release new songs after this album. He said, “I will work really hard on music. Whether it’s music programs, concerts, or entertainment shows, I plan to participate anywhere without hesitation,” leaving a strong ambition as a ‘30-year rookie.’
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
