The Genius of Balming Tiger
by Saffron Mears
In a group that defines themselves by their limitless potential, the nine-member Korean collective Balming Tiger proves that rules are meant to be broken. The Seoul-based hip-hop group, with a name inspired by the famous household product Tiger Balm, has garnered international attention and a wide-reaching audience since their formation in 2018. With a recent performance in the first-ever SXSW “Virtual Showcase”, to an 88rising collaboration amongst big names such as Anderson .Paak and AUDREY NUNA, it is safe to say that Balming Tiger’s success is only just beginning.
The members, whose ages range from 21 to 38, are an amalgamation of singers, songwriters and rappers who effortlessly juggle both their solo and group activities. Balming Tiger refuses to be defined by one genre, instead taking diverse inspirations from artists spanning from Girls’ Generation to Micheal Jackson.
“We just wanted to be fun, and have fun,” stated San Yawn, Balming Tiger’s creative director and founding member, in a recent Office magazine interview. In one of their latest singles, “Kolo Kolo”, lead rapper Omega Sapien switches between rapping in English, to Korean, to Spanish with ease. The chaotic vocals supported by a bouncy uptempo beat create a song that leaves you breathless. Whether it is a live performance or in music videos, Balming Tiger creates a sense of raw, unfiltered rebellion that leaves listeners eager for more.
From light playful tracks such as the 2021 single “JUST FUN!”, to grunge-filled destructive mixtapes such as the 2018 release “I’m Sick”, Balming Tiger proves their versatility and range time and time again. This ability to switch genres has amassed the attention of fans and award shows alike, earning the group a nomination for “Kolo Kolo” at the Berlin Music Awards as well as “Music Video of the Year” at the Korean Hip-Hop awards for their single “Armadillo”. The future looks bright for the nine-member group, with their sights set on both solo and group album releases in the upcoming months. Whatever the group decides to do next, Balming Tiger will undoubtedly be doing it their way.