Jinusean (stylized as JINUSEAN; Korean지누션) was a South Korean hip hop duo signed to YG Entertainment. The duo, which is made up of Kim Jin-woo (also known as Jinu) and Noh Seung-hwan (also known as Sean), debuted in 1997 and rose to fame with the single, "Tell Me." They are considered pioneers of Korean hip hop.[1][2][3]

Jinusean
Jinusean in 2016
Jinusean in 2016
Background information
OriginSouth Korea
Genres
Years active
  • 1997–2004
  • 2015–2020
LabelsYG Entertainment
Past members
WebsiteOfficial website
Korean name
Hangul
지누션
Revised RomanizationJinusean
McCune–ReischauerJinuSean

History edit

Prior to forming Jinusean, Sean worked as a back-up dancer for legendary K-pop group Seo Taiji and Boys in the early 1990s, and Jinu debuted as a solo artist with the song, "I Was The Captain" in 1994.[4] The two debuted as Jinusean with the single, "Gasoline," in 1997 under the guidance of YG Entertainment CEO and former Seo Taiji and Boys member Yang Hyun-suk and former Deux member Lee Hyun Do.[2] Their second single, "Tell Me" (featuring singer Uhm Jung-hwa), was the duo's first hit and propelled them to stardom.[1] Notably, Jinusean became the first hip hop artist to sell over 700,000 copies in South Korea.[5]

Between 2004 and 2014, the duo went on an extended hiatus but remained at YG Entertainment working in various behind-the-scenes roles.[6] They also individually made guest appearances at several YG Family concerts. In 2014 they made an appearance in the Infinite Challenge special "Saturday, Saturday is for Singers" (ToToGa), which features popular singers and groups from the 1990s, and performed as a duo on television for the first time in a decade. In 2015 they released their comeback single "Tell Me One More Time", their first release since 2004.[7] They also appeared in the fourth season of the rap competition Show Me the Money as judges.[citation needed]

Members edit

  • Jinu (지누)
  • Sean ()

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[8]
Jinusean
Track listing
  1. Jinusean Bomb (Feat. Perry, Legacy)
  2. Gasoline
  3. 내가
  4. 말해줘 (Feat. Uhm Jung-hwa)
  5. Celebrate
  6. Young Nation (Feat. D.O, Yang Hyun-suk)
  7. 미행
  8. 서로
  9. Celebrate (English Ver.) (Feat. Lee Sae-yeong, Perry)
  10. Gasoline (D.O Edit Ver.) (Feat. Yang Hyun-suk)
No data No data
The Real
  • Released: January 5, 1998
  • Label: YG Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. Jinusean Bomb (remix) (Feat. Perry)
  2. 이제 더 이상 (MF Family Ver.) (Feat. Yang Hyun-suk FM New Group)
  3. Gasoline (English Ver.)
  4. Celebrate (remix) (Feat. Lee Sae-yeong, Perry)
  5. Throw Them Hands Up (Feat. Perry, FM New Group)
  6. Gasoline (remix)
  7. Like This, Like That (Feat. Jo Wonsun)
  8. What U Wanna Do (English Ver.) (Feat. Perry, FM New Group)
  9. Jinusean Bomb (Original Ver.) (Feat. Perry)
  10. Celebrate (Original Ver.)
Taekwon V
  • Released: March 9, 1999
  • Label: YG Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. Intro
  2. Taekwon V
  3. How Deep Is Your Love
  4. Baby Come Back
  5. Return Of The Bomb
  6. 자유
  7. 자나깨나
  8. Freestyle
  9. 너를 기억해
4
  • KOR: 254,031+[9]
The Reign
  • Released: February 7, 2001
  • Label: YG Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. Holdin’ Down (Feat. Mobb Deep, Perry)
  2. A-Yo!
  3. Real Wunz (Feat. Cypress Hill)
  4. 빙빙빙
  5. Hip Hop Seoul-자(者) (Feat. Chino XL, Masta Wu, Teddy)
  6. Ooh Boy (Feat. J)
  7. 2 Run Hip Hop
  8. 힙合 (Feat. Masta Wu, Lexy)
  9. Follow Me (Feat. M-Flo)
  10. Js Anthem
  11. Outro (Feat. 3534, Lexy, Vanessa)
  12. Ooh Boy (The Black Crow Remix) (Feat. Perry, Lexy, Yoon Hee-joong
4
Let's Play (노.라.보.세.)
  • Released: November 12, 2004
  • Label: YG Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. What’s Up (Intro) (Feat. Perry, Kim Ji-eun)
  2. Phone Number (전화번호)
  3. 요술방망이
  4. 신나는 힙합
  5. Tonight (Feat. Kim Ji-eun)
  6. 미스터 지누션 (Feat. Wheesung, Masta Wu)
  7. Good Time (Feat. Wheesung)
  8. 보이네 (Feat. Gummy)
  9. 2 All My People (Feat. Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Perry)
  10. Welcome (Feat. Lexy)
  11. Micro Phone (Feat. Teddy and Danny of 1TYM)
  12. What’s Up (Outro) (Feat. Perry)
  13. 열정 리믹스 (Remix) (Feat. Seven)
12

Singles edit

Name of the single, year released, selected chart position, sales figure, and name of the album
Title Year Peak positions Sales Album
KOR
[12]
Tell Me One More Time (한번 더 말해줘) (feat. Jang Hanna) 2015 5 Non-album single

Videography edit

Music videos edit

Year Album Song
1997 Jinusean Gasoline
1998 The Real What U Wanna Do
1999 Taekwon V Taekwon V
How Deep is Your Love
2001 The Reign A-Yo!
2004 Let's Play Phone Number (전화번호)
2015 Non-album single Tell Me One More Time (한번 더 말해줘)
Show Me the Money 4 Oppa's Car (오빠차) ft. Incredivle, Tablo

Filmography edit

Television shows edit

Year Title Network Role Notes Ref.
English Korean
2015 Show Me the Money 4 쇼미더머니 4 Mnet Producer with Tablo [citation needed]

Concerts edit

Date Title City Country Venue Attendance
December 13, 2015 JINUSEAN Bomb Seoul South Korea Olympic Hall ± 3.500

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1997 Golden Disc Awards Rookie Artist Award Won [14]
Seoul Music Awards Main Prize (Bonsang) Won [15]
2001 Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Hip-hop Performance "A-yo" Nominated [16]
Best Male Group Nominated
2005 Best Hip-hop Performance "Phone Number" Nominated [17]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Kim, Jae-heun (2015-04-16). "Hip-hop duo Jinusean returns after 11 years". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  2. ^ a b 지누션 [Jinusean]. Mnet (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  3. ^ Bevan, David (2012-03-26). "Seoul Trained: Inside Korea's Pop Factory". Spin. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  4. ^ "JinuSean (지누션)". KBS World Radio. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  5. ^ Jeon Won (August 30, 2013). "지누 근황공개, 션 "YG 해외협력이사로 활동 중"" [Sean Reveals Jinu's Current Status revealed: "He's Working as a Director of Overseas Cooperation at YG"]. TV Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "[K-POP의 개척자들] YG 패밀리 이끄는 양현석·민석 형제". JMagazine (in Korean). joins.com. December 1, 2011.
  7. ^ Ahn, Sung-mi (April 8, 2015). "Jinusean returns after 11 years". The Korea Herald.
  8. ^ "K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  9. ^ "March 1999 K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on 2018-05-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  10. ^ "April 2001 K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  11. ^ "December 2004 K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  12. ^ "Fever's End: Part 1" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  13. ^ * 2015 Download Chart. Gaon Chart. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  14. ^ 역대수상자 [Previous winners]. Golden Disc Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  15. ^ "Award list". Seoul Music Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2014-08-18. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  16. ^ "2001 MMF part 1" Archived 2018-06-15 at the Wayback Machine. MAMA. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  17. ^ "2005 MKMF part 1" Archived 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine. Mwave. Retrieved 2014-08-28.

External links edit