Urban Zakapa | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Seoul |
Genres | R&B, ballad, K-pop |
Years active | 2009 | —present
Labels |
Fluxus Music (2009-2016) MakeUs Entertainment (2016-present) |
Website | www |
Members |
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Past members |
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Urban Zakapa (Hangul:어반자카파) is a South Korean R&B singer-songwriter group formed in 2009 by Fluxus Music. Originally a 9-member group, in 2012 they became a trio, consisting of Park Yong-in, Jo Hyunah and Kwon Soon-il. The group's name is an abbreviation for Urban+Zappy+Kaleidoscopic+Passionate.
In 2004, Park Yong-in met Jo Hyun-a at practical music academy. He asked her to form a singing duo. At first Jo Hyun-a's parents opposed that idea, but Hyun-a showed passion to music and was awarded 'MBC 별밤뽐내기'. Eventually, Hyun-a's parents eventually decided to support their daughter.
Kwon Sun-il also dreamed of being a musician. His alumnus, Yong-in, suggested he join to make a trio.
Although the group debuted in 2009 as a nine-piece with four vocalists and five instrumentalists with the song "Café Latte (커피를 마시고)", there are currently only three vocalists due to artistic differences. Kwon Sun-il and his childhood friends, Jo Hyun-a and Park Yong-in write, compose and produce all of their own music.
Kwon won 1st place (singer) at S.M. Entertainment's first SM Youth Best contest and was a former SM Entertainment trainee with Super Junior and TVXQ. Park was part of the Korean R&B/Soul group Bluewind Soul with Han Won-jong, SG Wannabe's Lee Suk-hoon and others. Jo, the only female member of the group, was the vocalist of the hip-hop crew Overclass.
After releasing their first two EPs (Coffee, Sweety You) in 2009, the group released their first studio album titled 01 in 2011. In the same year, they released the single "Just A Feeling" which debuted at #59 on the Gaon Digital Chart and on December 6, they also released "Snowing" which debuted at #32.
Their third EP, Beautiful Day was released on April 3, 2012, and marks as the group's first album as a trio. "Beautiful Day" debuted at #41 on the Gaon Digital Chart. Months later, the group released their second studio album on October 30, titled 02. "I Hate You (니가 싫어)" was released on September 5 as a single and debuted at #9 on the Gaon Digital Chart, but was re-released with the album as its lead single. The album also had two other pre-released tracks, "River" and "All the Same (똑같은 사랑 똑같은 이별)". Both songs charted.02 topped the Gaon Album Chart in its first week, and in January 2013, the album was nominated for Best R&B and Soul album at the 10th Korean Music Awards. "I Hate You (니가 싫어)" also earned the group two nominations at the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards, one for Song of the Year and another for Best Vocal Performance by a Group.