Jerry.k Dies: Hip-Hop King Mourned

Rapper Jerry.K (real name Kim Jin-il, age 42) has passed away after battling a brain tumor. The funeral procession will be held at 9:20 AM on the 29th at the Yonsei University Severance Hospital Funeral Hall in Sinchon, Seoul, with interment at the Gonggam Arboretum in Ilsan. Jerry.K had been battling a brain tumor for approximately two years. He revealed his condition on social media in May 2024, expressing his will to live, but ultimately succumbed to the illness.

A graduate of Seoul National University's Department of Communication and Information, Jerry.K debuted in 2001 with the rap duo 'Rocoberry' and was also an original member of 'Soul Company,' a crew that led the golden age of Korean hip-hop. His first full-length album, 'Mawang' (Demon King), released in 2008, directly criticized human nature and social absurdities, earning him the nicknames 'Mawang' and 'Poison-Tongued Critic.'

In 2011, he established his independent label 'Days Alive' and continued his principled musical activities. His works, including the full-length albums 'Hyeonsil, Jeok' (Reality, Enemy) and 'Call Center' (feat. U Hyo), were nominated for the Korean Music Awards, recognizing his artistic merit. In his final album, the full-length 5th album 'HOME,' released in 2020, he sang of everyday peace and recovery, offering comfort to many, a departure from his earlier style.