A newcomer’s guide · Gugak hip-hop

A story told
in 36 songs.

In a fictional Joseon, a woman’s murder changes a king. The consequences pass from the palace to exiles, islanders and soldiers.

Nine Korean hip-hop albums, in story order.
Explore the people and follow the words in English.

Explore the chapters
Korean ink landscape: palace fire, sea and snowy mountains
Fiction set in historical Joseon불 · 바다 · 쇠

The main story

Nine chapters. Listen in this order.

Start with chapter 1. Each album has four songs. Choose a chapter to explore its music and people.

The storm · the wreck
0장: 광대

Optional origin EP · 4 songs

Chapter 0: The Clown

Before the mask, TALSWE was a nobleman’s son. This EP tells how he lost his family name and became a performer. It sits outside the nine-album sequence.

Explore Chapter 0

Read, listen, or follow a place.

The complete chapters, lyrics, map and book are here in both languages.

Open the story map
기록

Gugak means Korean traditional music. Gayageum, haegeum and janggu meet hip-hop here. The original Korean lyrics and English translations are available throughout the archive.