Hallyu Spotlight: 4 things to know about Korean rapper pH-1

Korean rapper pH-1 is one rapper known for his signature melodic rap styles and well-thought out lyrics. Despite finishing just shy of the top three in reality programme Show Me The Money 777, he quickly gained traction around the world with his very own distinct sound.

But he actually made his debut back in 2016 with his first single Wavy (2016).

And he’s now signed under entertainment label H1ghr Music, founded in 2017 by Jay Park and Cha Cha Malone, along with a slew of other rappers, producers and DJs.

Ahead of his show in Singapore next Saturday (11 Mar), here are 4 things to know about pH-1.

1. He collaborated with big names like Jay Park, Kang Daniel and TXT

Most of his tracks are written and presented by himself. But occasionally, pH-1 teams up with some of the big names in the industry.

He worked on All In (2021) with Jay Park, as a track for a League of Legends team under an e-sports organisation. He also collaborated with idols, like soloist Kang Daniel for Nirvana (2022) and boy band TXT for a remix rendition of 0X1=LOVESONG (2021).

2. He was born Park Jun-won

He promotes as a rapper under the pseudonym pH-1. But his actual name is Park Jun-won, which gives some explanation as to why he named himself pH-1.

Having moved to America when he was 12, and living in New York for 15 years thereafter, he was also known as Harry Park then.

Joining the initials of his English name and won from his Korean name gives us pH-1.

3. He had an interesting career before being a rapper

Before thoughts of being a rapper even surfaced to him, pH-1 studied Biology at Boston College, where he was schoolmates with Eric Nam.

He later got into dentistry but later changed his mind to become a web developer.

But during his freshman year in college, he realised that rapping was a significant part of his life, and decided to make a career out of it later.

4. He’s actually an introvert

With his charismatic demeanour onstage, it’s easy to assume that pH-1 can do anything to conquer the world.

But offstage, he’s quite the opposite. In an interview with NME, he described himself as “a very introverted and reserved person and, at times, I have very low self-esteem as a person and as an artist”.

He even thinks about whether people would actually spend money to come for his shows, to listen to his music. But he’s assured he made the right choice, which gave him the “motivation to work harder”.

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Tickets to pH-1’s upcoming Singapore concert are selling fast. If you have not gotten yours, you can purchase them via All Access Asia, or here.

You can also participate in our giveaway contest on Instagram.

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Stream to pH-1’s songs to ready yourselves for the About Damn Time Tour: