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8 DAYSwhat‘s up with...
8 DAYS: You’re the new judge on Season 2 of
Asia’s Got Talent. What is it like to be the new kid
on the block, working with returning judges David
Foster and Anggun?
JAY PARK: They are my seniors in the music
scene, and they have the wisdom, knowledge and
accomplishments to show for it. Sometimes I may
not agree with their decisions, but I trust them. The
most lenient among us is Anggun. She’s a mother,
so she’s quite soft-hearted
and she’s just a very nice
person in general. David
is the strictest, and that’s
because he’s worked with
the greatest out there, and
he’s seen a lot of talents.
His standards are very high.
David Foster once said
that a singer like you isn’t
as good as he is when it
comes to spotting talent.
Everyone has their own
expertise. I’m sure David
doesn’t know that much about hip-hop, in the
same way I don’t know much about opera and
classical music. On Asia’s Got Talent, there are
so many different kinds of contestants. We seeJay Park 30
The Korean-American rapper and
Asia’s Got Talent judge on being signed
with Jay Z, running his own label, and
why he’s rooting for Shigga Shay.magicians, comedic acts, dancers, and even people
sticking knives into their bodies (laughs). It’s all over
the place and I think that’s the beauty of it because
anything can be seen as a talent.
You were known to be a straight shooter when
you were a judge on Korean rap contest Show
Me The Money and Korean dance survival show
Dancing 9.
I’m not someone who sugarcoats things. I don’t want
to be like, “You guys are good”, even if they aren’t, just
for the sake of the show. If they aren’t as good as they
were in the auditions or if I think they could be better,
I’d definitely tell them. I am fair but truthful; I give
constructive criticisms. I don’t
tell them things like, “Oh you
suck”, because that comment
won’t help them in any way.
These shows are great
platforms for discovering
talent. Would you have
joined one back in the day?
Probably not (laughs). The
thing is, I’m not going after
fame. I don’t really care about
fame or money. That stuff is
very short-lived — it can be
taken away from you in an instant
when someone new comes along. For me, I
care more about what I’d leave behind, and
how I can inspire and influence young aspiring
rappers.Passing
judgement: Jay
with Asia's Got
Talent colleagues
Anggun and
David Foster.