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When the interviewer remarked, "You appeared on 'Show Me the Money 1' and 'Show Me the Money 2', so your criticism came as a surprise," MC Meta answered that he's always criticized the show. He said, "Truthfully, during 'Show Me the Money' and afterwards, I have continuously denounced [the show] through a variety of channels. This country's rappers don't have a proper stage where they can meet the mainstream audience [and showcase their talent]. With the weak foundation of the [hip hop] genre, I was initially glad that 'Show Me the Money' came along. But once I entered [the broadcasting world], I felt a certain limit within the 'media system.' From the lack of sound equipment that absorbs low-pitched notes, their general understanding of hip hop was limited. There were also more drama-like elements that were emphasized rather than the music. During the broadcasting, there were several times I just dropped from the show. Afterwards, I thought, 'It'd be better if we created our own stage,' which is the whole idea behind 'Everyone's Mic'."
The interview then asked, "What do you think is the issue with 'Show Me the Money'? MC Meta replied, "Still, in seasons one and two, there was some weight in the music itself. But afterwards, they started emphasizing the provocative elements, and I felt that the contestants were being goaded. Now it's embarrassing to even call [SMTM 4] a 'hip hop program.' Because Korea's hip hop roots are so weak, it sways dramatically even with just one show. The rappers are running helter skelter like a herd of frightened sheep from the howling of the wolf (SMTM 4). When you watch 'Show Me the Money 1' auditions, they make hundreds and thousands contestants line up and rap, bobbing their heads like birds. It's an environment where contestants are forced to show something dramatic. Everything is wrong from there. It's not a system where fair judgement and diversity within the genre is possible."
Regarding the controversial lyrics that surrounded the show, the rapper asserted, "Do we have to accept the negative portrayal of second-class citizens and women in hip hop? Of course not. There is a similar debate in the U.S. Snoop Dogg degraded women so much in the lyrics he wrote that he even earned the title 'pimp.' However, later he said that the environment he grew up in didn't even allow him to learn those things and apologized. It's good to express one's honest thoughts using rap as an artistic tool. But it's a different story altogether on TV. When I watched a certain rap battle program based in the U.S., the rappers omitted the expletives on their own. 'Show Me the Money' on the other hand, seems to keep pulling those [controversial subjects] out."
MC Meta concluded, "The popular kind of hip hop in the U.S. usually has to do with 'money' and 'sex.' But in our country, there was general consensus that those kinds of topics didn't really strike a chord with us. But that suddenly changed. They directly brought the American style of hip hop [over here], emulating their success formula. It's become commonplace to touch upon topics of the longing for success and making an ostentatious display of your current status in the lyrics. I think that view carried over to 'Show Me the Money'. Nowadays even hip hop manias are saying, 'There is nothing meaningful in the lyrics,' 'How did things become this way.' Poetic and literary lyrics are even criticized as 'gay hip hop.' It's a situation that arose with the popularization of hip hop. I think we should overcome this process in the best way possible."
What do you think of his views?
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