Phantom (Korean: 팬텀) was a South Korean hip hop boy band consisting of three members: Kiggen, Sanchez and Hanhae. They were managed by Brand New Music and Rainbow Bridge World. The group released numerous single albums and two mini-albums: Phantom City and Phantom Theory. In 2014, the group released its first full-length album, Phantom Power.[1][2] After two years of inactivity, Phantom disbanded in 2017.[3]
Career
Beginnings and YouTube covers
Kiggen began his career as an underground producer and composer. He released his first solo album, a hip-hop and jazz hybrid called Pianissimo, in 2007.[4] That same year, he started an electronic music project called HybRefine. The group's only album, 2010, was released in 2010 and featured Sanchez on the single, "Cosmo Dance."[5][6] Hanhae was a trainee under Stardom Entertainment and an original member of k-pop group Block B. He left the group before its debut and released his own mixtape, Eargasm, in 2011.[7][8]
After joining Brand New Music, all three artists appeared in the music video for label mate Verbal Jint's single, "You Look Good," in 2011.[9] As Phantom, they released several videos that year on YouTube, including "19 Song," a medley of songs that had been banned by the South Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,[10] and "Freddie 'Phantom' Mercury Singing The Boys", which featured Sanchez emulating Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury while singing the song "The Boys" by girl group Girls' Generation.[11]
Hole In Your Face and Rookie of the Month award
On 25 November 2011, Phantom released their first single album, Hole In Your Face (얼굴 뚫어지겠다).[12] The music video teaser was released the same day on their official YouTube channel.[13] The video, which depicted a girl being shot in the head by a gun, was immediately controversial due to its graphic nature, and the group released a censored version soon after.[14]
Phantom was awarded "Rookie of the Month" at the Cyworld Digital Music Awards for December 2011, despite the fact that the group hadn't yet made its official debut.[15] However, they made many performances over the next few months, appearing alongside popular artists including Verbal Jint, Bizniz, Swings, and Mighty Mouth.[16][17][18][19] The group also appeared in music videos by Verbal Jint, Absalute Music, and Skull.[20][21][22]
Phantom City and Phantom Theory
In August 2012, Phantom released the ballad, "Seaweed Soup".[23] They followed up with their first mini-album, Phantom City, a few days later,[24] reaching #10 on the Gaon Album Chart.[25] Phantom made their music show debut with the album track, "Burning", which they performed on M! Countdown, Music Bank, Music Core, and Inkigayo.[26][27][28][29] The group won Best New Artist at the Korean Culture Entertainment Awards that year.[30]
In January 2013, Phantom released their second mini-album, Phantom Theory, which debuted at #12 on the Gaon Album Chart.[31] They also released a music video for the single "Like Cho Young Pil".[32]
Phantom Power
Phantom released their first full-length album, Phantom Power, in May 2014. The album featured guest artists San E, Verbal Jint, Navi, and Ga In, the last of whom featured on title track, "Seoul Lonely".[33] The album debuted at #16 on the Gaon Album Chart.[34]
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