The girl group suddenly disbanded because of being humiliated as a prostitute?

On April 21, Yoon Deung Ryong – former director of DR Music company – appeared on the YouTube channel of former entertainment reporter Kim Young Ho. He is the founder of the group Baby VOX, Rania, Black Swan.

Here, he caused a stir in the public when he revealed the truth behind the disbanding of the once-popular girl group Baby VOX According to him, male rapper Lee Ha Neul’s (DJ DOC) offensive words were one of them. the main reason pushing Baby VOX to the brink of disbandment.

The former director of DR Music confirmed that Lee Ha Neul was the reason why Baby VOX had to disband. Photo: Naver.

Disparaged as “prostitute singer”

Director Yoon said the song Xcstacy released in 2004 was the cause of the conflict between Baby VOX and Lee Ha Neul. The song was born after the company suggested that the girl group try the hip-hop genre.

In the hope that the song can make a big impact, Director Yoon went to Interscope Records to buy the rights to the sample music, logo and image of the late rapper Tupac. The group decided to use Tupac’s 30-second rapping in the song Xcstacy. The male rapper also appeared in the song’s MV.

However, after its release, Xcstacy immediately faced opposition from the Korean hip-hop world.

“The Korean rapper community is very angry. They wonder how their ‘god’ is included in the song and MV. They think the group insults their ‘god’,” Yoon Deung Ryong shared. shall.

In April 2004, Amaru Entertainment, the company responsible for part of Tupac’s music copyrights, announced that they would be taking legal action against Baby VOX for using Tupac’s voice without permission.

Although DR Music confirmed that the company paid for the rights to the sample music, Amaru continued to threaten that they would sue. This led Baby VOX to face charges of plagiarism and illegal use of sample music.

Lee Ha Neul was among those who heavily criticized Baby VOX. On his social media account, the male rapper openly called Baby VOX “Miari VOX”, pairing the name of the group with Miari – which used to be a famous red light district in Korea. He repeatedly insulted the girl group, insulting them to be prostitute singers.

The song “Xcstacy” was criticized by Korean Hip-hop fans as deliberately insulting rapper Tupac. Photo: Naver.

Since then, Baby VOX’s reputation has stuck with its pejorative moniker.

Crying after every performance

“I really wanted to kill Lee Ha Neul. At the time the ‘Miari VOX’ issue broke out, many women’s organizations spoke out against it. So in order to protect Lee Ha Neul, some people loved Hip-hop. gathered together. They shouted ‘Miari VOX’ every time the members passed by, making the group burst into tears every day after the end of the recording. I couldn’t stand it,” Yoon expressed.

When the incident broke out, the Baby VOX members were very young. Some of the members didn’t even graduate from high school. They debuted while in middle school.

“This nickname ruined the group, and the members decided to go their separate ways. Every day they cry a lot,” said Director Yoon.

Yoon said he even tried to meet Lee Ha Neul at that time, however, the male rapper always tried to hide.

“Baby VOX pursues a glamorous image. Currently, a girl group with a sexy style is considered cool. However, in the past, some people looked at them with disdain,” commented Kim Yong Ho. He said that if the law at that time also protected women like today, Lee Ha Neul would certainly go to prison.

Director Yoon revealed that after the incident broke out, Lee Ha Neul apologized, but he has not seen the male rapper since. He also received an apology from DJ DOC’s management company.

“At that time, the members were shocked. When other people saw the group, they said ‘Miari VOX’. As a result, the group was hurt a lot. They didn’t even want to go to the recording. The members cried after each episode. concert. We are sad to see this,” Yoon confided.

In 2008, Lee Ha Neul first spoke out about the incident. He said, “I admit I was wrong, but the management company and the media made the problem bigger. I feel sorry for Baby VOX.”

Although Ha Neul apologized, he said his opinion about Baby VOX’s use of Tupac’s rap remained unchanged.

At the show, Yoon Deung Ryong also shared about the difficulties the girl group faced when member Kan Mi Youn was caught in a dating rumor with male singer Moon Hee Jun (HOT). The news spread at the time Baby VOX was promoting their third album Come Come Come Baby in 1999.

Baby VOX cries after every performance because of the pejorative nickname. Photo: Naver.

The wave of hate against the girl group lasted for years. The group even encountered violent behavior, causing physical harm. There are several videos of HOT fans chanting “go away” during a Baby VOX performance.

Yoon revealed, “After all these years, I still don’t need a razor, because HOT fans send a lot of razors with threatening letters to our office and the group’s dorm.”

Popular first generation girl group

In 1997, Baby VOX officially debuted, the group consisted of 5 members Lee Hee Jin, Kan Mi Youn, Kim EZ, Yoon Eun Hye and Shim Eun Jin. The group’s heyday fell in the late 1990s, early 2000s.

Along with Fin.KL and SES, Baby VOX is recognized as one of the most successful first-generation K-pop girl groups, contributing to leading Koreans to enter the Chinese market.

In February 2006, the group officially disbanded after a period of hiatus. Each member continues to pursue their own solo career, in which, Yoon Eun Hye is the one who has achieved the most success as an actress. Some of her typical works include Goong, Coffee Prince, The Vineyard Man…

Kan Mi Youn became the MC for his own radio show Kan Miyoun’s Love Night on SBS’s Love FM. She is also a musical actress. Recently, she appeared on the reality show Kick A Goal season 2. Currently, Mi Youn is still remembered as one of the most beautiful idols in Korea.

After Baby VOX disbanded, Kim EZ decided to pursue an acting career. In 2010, she married stockbroker Song Hyun Seok and gave birth to their first child in 2011.

The other two members, Shim Eun Jin and Lee Hee Jin, also decided to become actors, however, only Hee Jin is still active to this day.

After the group disbanded, Baby VOX members focused on developing their individual careers. Photo: Naver.