Junoflo Wants You to Work Up a Sweat

Welcome to Golden Dragon, a newsletter by Eric Diep about Asians in hip-hop and my takes on trending topics in AAPI pop culture. Golden Dragon is a rotation of interviews, reviews, news, critical perspectives, and random blogs about music I recommend.

• An interview with Junoflo! He reveals the stories behind making his fourth studio album, why he pivoted to a new sound, and why he isn’t worried about people sleeping on him.

In June, I told Junoflo over Zoom how refreshing it was to listen to his latest album JUST JUNØ after cycling through new rap releases. I’m a new fan who came across his music through the OOYEH compilation where he appears on six tracks, and am pleasantly surprised by his electronic and house music turn, immersing himself within these genres to craft his take. “That’s what I want to do for people when they listen to my music,” Junoflo says. “I want them to experience what I experience when I hear producers or artists that make something different. Like, ‘Whoa, I never expected this from this person.’ I think there’s a beauty in that.”

He teases JUST JUNØ as a product of “endless nights dancing through various basements, warehouses, and concerts over the last two years.” After moving from Los Angeles to New York City, he’s now familiar with spots like Public Records, Elsewhere, Basement, and H0L0 and hit major clubs like Nebula or K-Town hot spot Mission Nightclub. Junoflo is building up his versatility as a hip-hop artist through this authentic approach to exploration, searching for electronic music in different settings to bring his ideas to fruition.

As a rapper, producer, and DJ, Junoflo is a jack of all trades. He’s having fun creating again, whether with friends or by himself, and enjoying the freedom of making music that isn’t tied to chasing a Hot 100 hit or a trend. Previously known as a contestant on Show Me the Money, a South Korean rap competition TV show, and signed to Feel Ghood Music (founded by Tiger JK of Korean hip-hop group Drunken Tiger), Junoflo started out making chill, jazz raps before pivoting to boom bap and aggressive lyricism heard on STATUES. Coming off a tour in China last year, Junoflo invites his fans to evolve with him and follow whatever sound inspires him next.

For my second Golden Dragon interview, Junoflo broke down the process of creating JUST JUNØ, how hip-hop is his foundation, and being honest about making it in South Korea as a Korean American rapper. Stream JUST JUNØ here and read our conversation below.