Rapper BEWHY is at the center of a debate over his political leanings following the release of his new song.
On May 8, BEWHY unveiled “Southside freestyle”, a track from his upcoming third full-length album, “POP IS CRYIN’”, scheduled for release on May 29. This comeback is drawing significant attention as it is his first project since the announced closure of his label, DEJAVU GROUP, and his first full album in seven years.
In this track, BEWHY expresses sincere emotions through lyrics such as “For 1 Queen 2 Angel, I must prepare a new house, new blankets,” evoking the end of his career as a manager, his reconstruction as an artist, and his responsibility as a head of household.
However, controversy erupted due to the song’s introduction, which features a voice recording of the late President SYNGMAN RHEE saying: “It is news of life, news of freedom.” Furthermore, phrases evoking the term “Myeolgong” (Extermination of Communism) appear, notably in the lines: “The prostitute incites sedition / attempts to make love disappear / In my voice, success / In the voice of beauty, exter— (beep).”
Netizens’ reactions have been extremely polarized:
On YouTube and in certain conservative communities, fans hail him as a “patriotic rapper,” calling the track “real hip-hop” and expressing deep emotion.
Conversely, other netizens expressed discomfort with the overt political display, commenting: “This isn’t music, it’s incitement,” “Hip-hop isn’t cool anymore,” or questioning the influence of his religious convictions.
This is not the first time the artist has sparked such a debate. During the semi-finals of “Show Me The Money 12” (which aired in March 2026), his collaboration with OSUN on the track “W.I.N.” caused a stir. His rapid pronunciation of the expression “Seon-gu-an wi” (Above the eye of the precursor) phonetically resembled “Seon-gwan-wi” (National Election Commission), leading some to speculate it was an allusion to election fraud conspiracy theories.
Additionally, BEWHY recently formalized the closure of DEJAVU GROUP. Founded in 2017, the label saw significant growth before facing a mass departure of its artists in 2024. On May 1, the rapper humbly admitted his failure:
“I failed. I have clearly recognized my limits and decided to let go of the things I was obsessed with.”
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: YouTube BEWHY
