Code Kunst
{{short description|South Korean music producer (born 1989)}}
{{family name hatnote|Jo||lang=Korean}}
{{upscaled images|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Code Kunst
코드 쿤스트
| birth_name = Jo Sung-woo
| image = Code Kunst 200306.jpg
| caption = Woo Won-jae's Music High February 27, 2020
| image_size =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|12|18}}
| birth_place = Yeonsu, Incheon, South Korea
| genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop}}
| occupation = {{hlist|music producer|composer}}
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = AOMG
| current_member_of = Legit Goons{{Cite web|url=https://www.artinsight.co.kr/news/view.php?no=58072|script-title=ko:[오피니언] 이상한 보통 사람들, 리짓군즈 입덕 가이드 ① [음악]|last=Shin|first=Dongha|date=2022-01-31|website=Art Insight|access-date=2023-11-03}}
| associated_acts = Tablo, Nucksal, Lee Hi, Paloalto, C Jamm, Loopy
| alias =
| website = {{URL|aomgofficial.com/codekunst}}
| module = {{Infobox Korean name
|child = yes
|title = Birth name
|hangul = 조성우
|hanja =
|rr = Jo Seongu
|mr = Cho Sŏngu
}}
}}
Jo Sung-woo ({{Korean|hangul=조성우}}; born December 18, 1989), better known by his stage name Code Kunst ({{Korean|hangul=코드 쿤스트|labels=no}}), is a South Korean composer and music producer. In 2015, he released his second studio album Crumple and joined Highgrnd. In 2017, he released his third studio album Muggles' Mansion. In 2018, he signed to AOMG and appeared as a judge alongside Paloalto on Show Me the Money 777. He released his fourth studio album People in 2020 and won Producer of the Year at the Korean Hip-hop Awards in 2021. In 2023, he released his fifth studio album Remember Archive.
Early life and education
Jo Sung-woo was born on December 18, 1989, in Yeonsu, Incheon.{{Cite web |title=코드 쿤스트 |url=https://100.daum.net/encyclopedia/view/33XXX1512055 |website=Daum Encyclopedia}}{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Eun-hae |date=February 18, 2022 |title=샤이니 민호 서울대 출신 엄친아 형, 코드쿤스트 절친으로 깜짝 등장 '나혼산' |trans-title=Shinee Minho's brother, Mr. Perfect who graduated from Seoul National University, made a surprise appearance as a close friend of Code Kunst |url=https://news.nate.com/view/20220218n35905 |website=Newsen |language=ko}} He became interested in hip hop after listening to Nas' "Doo Rags".{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2020 |title=[GL Interview] 다양한 장르의 용광로에서 주조된 Code Kunst의 음악 바이오그래피 |url=https://gearlounge.com/editorial/gearlounge-code-kunst-interview |website=Gear Lounge |language=ko}} He decided to pursue a career in music after serving in the military.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Su-in |date=March 5, 2017 |title=[팝인터뷰]코드쿤스트, 하루를 이틀처럼 2년 같은 1년 보낸 이유 |url=http://www.heraldpop.com/view.php?ud=201703051507400387936_1 |website=Herald Pop}} He studied design at Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts, but got expelled.{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2020 |title=코드쿤스트 "이하이 백예린 AOMG행? 아티스트 판단에..." / CODE KUNST(코드 쿤스트) _ Flower(꽃) / 본인등판 / Look Me Up |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9gZXQzhOxE |website=1theK Originals |publisher=YouTube}}
The word "Kunst" means "Art" in German, so the stage name Code Kunst has a meaning of "the music I produced will become arts."{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Il-gwon |date=June 20, 2014 |script-title=ko:코드 쿤스트 – 이례적인 비트메이커, '코드명: 쿤스트' |url=http://board.rhythmer.net/src/go.php?n=14907&m=view&s=interview |website=Rhythmer}}
Career
= 2013–2017: Signing to Highgrnd =
In 2013, Code Kunst released his debut single "Lemonade", starting his music career relatively late in his life. Upon being asked whether he was nervous about his career in the beginning, he said, "At first, I wasn't nervous because in the beginning I was really going to do music as a hobby. I was already somewhat old and I didn't have the skills at first, but I felt that I needed to hurry. I'm too late, I'm too late... this thought was so strong. So I made the decision to spend the years I was 24 and 25 years old, 2 years--2 years, let me use that as if it were 4 years."{{cite web |title=[Producer Code Kunst] All About_Code Kunst : part.1 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtG5ROFoOEw |access-date=29 September 2020 |website=YouTube| date=17 May 2016 }}
In April 2015, he released his second studio album Crumple, which was later nominated for Best Rap Album at the Korean Music Awards.{{Cite web |title=CODE KUNST [CRUMPLE] |url=https://koreanmusicawards.com/project/code-kunst-crumple/ |website=Korean Music Awards |language=ko}} In September 2015, Code Kunst joined the label HIGHGRND under YG Entertainment due to the impact of Tablo.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Mi-yeong |date=September 22, 2015 |script-title=ko:코드쿤스트, 혁오 이어 하이그라운드 합류 |trans-title=Code Kunst, joins Highgrnd after Oh Hyuk |url=https://www.inews24.com/view/920346 |website=iNews24 |language=ko}} He specifically cited Tablo's willingness to work together in person, such as on tracks like "Hood" featuring Tablo and Joey Bada$$, made him believe HIGHGRND was a good label for him.{{cite web |title=Picking at the mind of producer Code Kunst! | website=YouTube | date=27 February 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wsJGeoi-uA}} He released his third album Muggles' Mansion in February 2017,{{cite web|url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1145127|script-title=ko:코드 쿤스트, 신곡 'FIRE WATER' M/V 티저 공개|publisher=Ten Asia|language=ko}} which received critical acclaim.{{Cite web |date=December 2017 |title=2017 올해의 가요 앨범 |url=http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=28926&bigcateidx=19&subcateidx=20&view_tp=1 |website=IZM}}
= 2018–present: Signing to AOMG =
Code Kunst left HIGHGRND and joined AOMG in June 2018.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Eun-ae |date=June 11, 2018 |title=AOMG, 코드 쿤스트 정식 영입..신곡 타블로 피처링 |trans-title=AOMG, officially signs Code Kunst..Tablo features on new song |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/06/11/2018061100410.html |website=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}} In September 2018, he officially appeared in the Korean Hip-Hop survival show Show Me the Money 777 as one of the judges.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Se-hoe |date=July 15, 2018 |title=(공식)'쇼미더머니 777'의 프로듀서 라인이 완성됐다 |trans-title=The producer line of 'Show Me the Money 777' is completed |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=71976 |website=Huffington Post Korea |language=ko}} "Good Day", a song he composed on the show, received positive reviews from critics.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2019 |title=《2018, 음악취향Y의 추천》 장르별 싱글 (6) : 힙합 #2 |url=http://musicy.kr/?c=zine&s=1&gp=1&ob=idx&gbn=viewok&ix=6563 |website=Music Y}} Loopy and Kid Milli from his team won second and third place in Show Me the Money 777.
In 2019, Code Kunst, along with Jay Park, Simon Dominic, Woo Won-jae, and Gray, appeared as judges on the audition program Signhere started by Korean Hip-hop label AOMG and MBN.{{Cite web |date=22 March 2019 |title=MBN, 첫 힙합 예능 'SignHere' 론칭한다…KBS 출신 남성현 PD 첫 작품 |url=https://www.mk.co.kr/star/hot-issues/view/2019/03/172737/ |access-date=2020-01-25 |website=스타투데이 |language=ko}} In the same year, he appeared in another Hip-hop reality survival program High School Rapper 3.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-22 |title=[HD스압포토] '고등래퍼3' ① 더 콰이엇-코드 쿤스트, 힙합 어르신 납시오!(제작발표회) |url=http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=124338 |access-date=2020-01-31 |website=제니스글로벌뉴스 |language=ko}} He was in the same team with The Quiett. Together they produced "Go High" (feat. Changmo, Woo Won-jae), sang by female rapper Lee Young-ji, who became the final winner to the show.
Code Kunst released his fourth studio album People in 2020. In the same year, he was announced as a producer for 'Show Me the Money 9' along with Paloalto as a team.{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2020 |script-title=ko:엠넷 '쇼미9' 프로듀서 4팀 결성·자이언티-기리보이 등 |trans-title=Mnet 'Show Me 9' 4 producer teams are formed, Zion.T-Giriboy etc. |url=https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/202008193314Y |website=The Korea Economic Daily Entertainment |language=ko}} In 2021, he won Producer of the Year at the Korean Hip-hop Awards. He then appeared as a winning producer for Show Me the Money 10 along with Gaeko of the rap group Dynamic Duo.
In 2023, he released his fifth studio album Remember Archive.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Jin-ju |date=March 3, 2023 |script-title=ko:코드 쿤스트, 정규 5집 'Remember Archive' 16일 발매 |trans-title=Code Kunst, releases fifth studio album 'Remember Archive' on 16 |url=https://www.bntnews.co.kr/article/view/bnt202303030044 |website=BNT |language=ko}}
= Television =
Jo has appeared on I Live Alone as a regular cast since 2022. For his appearance on the show, he won the Rookie Award in 2022 and Popularity Award in 2023 at the MBC Entertainment Awards.
In March 2024, Jo was announced as one of the panelists for South Korean dating reality show, My Sibling's Romance.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-29 |script-title=ko:'연애남매' 이진주 PD "후반부 관전포인트는 남매들 팀플레이"[N인터뷰]① |url=https://www.news1.kr/articles/?5366215 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website={{ill|News1 (South Korean company)|ko|뉴스1|lt=News1}} |language=ko}}
Artistry
Code Kunst said that looking at his mother's paintings while growing up has greatly influenced and aided him in visualizing music.{{cite web |title=[CODE KUNST : 9¾ DOCUMENTARY] EP 01 엄마의 그림들 (Mother's Drawings) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdVaFy_9mxE |website=YouTube| date=17 June 2016 }} Additionally, in an interview-style conversation with fellow AOMG member Punchnello, he has said that he draws musical inspiration from the simple and common experiences of everyday people which he also had before signing with larger labels (including "financially troubling situations and the kinds of things that happen in such situations"). As a result, he thought signing with a label too early might hinder his ability to experience the things regular people go through in their mid-20s.{{cite web |script-title=ko:코드 쿤스트(CODE KUNST) & 펀치넬로 (punchnello) {{!}} AOMG ANJU(안주) (ENG) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxpn5qe5m5k |publisher=AOMG | date=12 February 2020 }} For similar reasons, he had decided to name his 2017 album, "Muggles' Mansion." Specifically he has said that the world "muggles" has two meanings to him, one which means very common and one that does not. For the album he wanted to "tell common stories with sources that reflect myself, yet includes sounds which aren't so common."{{cite web |title=[ENG SUB] COMMENTARY&BEHIND : CODE KUNST - MUGGLES' MANSION | date=9 March 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJCfwmt0wYQ&t=64s |publisher=SEOUL MUSIC (서울뮤직)}}
He adds a lot of vocal chopping in his music which became one of his unique music styles.{{Citation |title=AOMG - [코드 쿤스트 (CODE KUNST)] MBC, '라디오스타' - 2019. 06. 19.... {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/AOMGOFFICIAL/posts/2293078497572840/ |language=en |access-date=2020-01-31}} Rolling Stone India commented that "he takes deep dives into old-school blues, rock, soul and hip-hop, tying it all neatly together with his signature vocal chopping techniques and flawless loops of instrumentals."{{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Riddhi |date=April 5, 2020 |title=Kulture Kolumn: Appreciating the Genius of Code Kunst |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/kulture-kolumn-appreciating-the-genius-of-code-kunst/ |website=Rolling Stone India}}
He cited Mac Miller as his biggest influence.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ju-han |date=September 8, 2018 |script-title=ko:'쇼미더머니 777' 코드 쿤스트, 故 맥 밀러 추모 "진심으로 동경했던 유일한 뮤지션" |url=https://m.sedaily.com/NewsView/1S4K2IV1UE#cb |website=Seoul Economic}}
Philanthropy
In 2020, Code Kunst donated to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund, stating that Black music made a big impact on his life.{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2020 |script-title=ko:국내에서도 뜨거운 'Black Lives Matter' 운동 |url=https://www.melon.com/musicstory/detail.htm?mstorySeq=10388&startIndex=0&musicToday=Y |website=Melon |language=ko}}
Personal life
Filmography
= Television shows =
= Web shows =
= Music video appearances=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Song Title ! scope="col" | Artist ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2021
| "Lipstick" | Lee Hi (Feat. Yoon Mirae) | style="text-align:center"|{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=396&aid=0000591522|last=Choi|first=Jeong-ah |script-title=ko:이하이, 등장한 '빨간 립스틱' 뮤비 티저 공개…박재범→정찬성 총출동 |trans-title= Lee Hi, 'Red Lipstick' MV teaser released... Jae-beom Park → Chan-seong Jeong |work=Sportsworld |via=Naver |date=September 9, 2021 |access-date= September 9, 2021 |language=ko}} |
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" style="width:5em;" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Sales |
| KOR Circle Chart peaks:
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Novel
|
| — | {{N/A}} |
| scope="row" | Crumple
|
| 34 | |
| scope="row" | Muggles' Mansion
|
| 26 | |
| scope="row" | People
| | 10 | |
| scope="row"|Remember Archive
|
| 19 |
|
| colspan="4" align="center"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;" | EP details |
| scope="row" | Hear Things
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.aomgofficial.com/codekunst Code Kunst] on AOMG
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Code Kunst}}
Category:Musicians from Incheon