- Words Notion Staff
Having just released his new single, ‘random summer night’, Korean rapper Loco talks his forthcoming project, SCRAPS, finding a new version of himself and collaborating with artists beyond his borders.
Loco has long been a defining figure in South Korea’s hip-hop scene, but his latest release feels like a reset. ‘random summer night’, a new collaboration with fast-rising U.S. singer-songwriter Jordan Ward, marks the beginning of a bold new chapter. Built around hazy synths and sharp percussion, the track captures a fleeting moment in time: the kind of night that sticks with you long after it ends.
It’s the first single from SCRAPS, Loco’s upcoming project and his debut as an independent artist after more than a decade with label AOMG. Rather than a clean break, the album is a mosaic of half-finished demos and reimagined fragments: a personal archive made new. ‘random summer night’ captures that energy perfectly: grounded in Loco’s introspective lyricism, lifted by Jordan’s genre-blurring melodies, and produced with a newfound sense of freedom.
For Loco, who rose to fame after winning Show Me the Money Season 1 and has since worked with K-pop heavyweights like BTS’s Jimin and EXO’s Baekhyun, this track signals a more expansive creative direction and another step in his meteoric rise. Having just released his new single, ‘random summer night’, Korean rapper Loco talks his forthcoming project, SCRAPS, finding a new version of himself and collaborating with artists beyond his borders.
Tell us about how your new single, ‘random summer night’ came to be…
We made this beat back in 2020 during a session with DPR CREAM. It was such a great beat, but at the time, I didn’t feel confident enough to pull it off myself. Then in 2024, I stumbled upon it again, and this time, I felt that I could finally turn it into a strong track. I even thought to myself, “Why was I so unsure back then?” And now, here it is, officially released.
How did Jordan Ward end up on the song?
After finishing part of ‘random summer night’, I kept listening to it and Jordan Ward kept coming to mind. I was really into his music at the time and had been listening to it a lot. Then I found out that Dru (Larry June’s manager), whom I had been introduced to through Jay Park last year, was actually friends with Jordan. So I reached out and said I’d love to work on this track together.
What’s the story behind your forthcoming project, SCRAPS?
Just like the backstory of ‘random summer night’, this album is made up of songs and ideas that were once left unfinished or set aside. It’s quite literally SCRAPS. It wasn’t that the songs weren’t good, I think it had more to do with my lack of confidence at the time, or my habit of worrying too much about how others might perceive them. I ended up shelving these tracks for all the wrong reasons, so to finally bring them back and release them as an album feels really rewarding.
Who do you hope takes in the record?
Since I collaborated with artists from different countries, I hope this album can reach wide and far! I also hope it connects with a lot of listeners in Korea. There are quite a few tracks that wouldn’t have been imaginable from my past self, so I think people will find it interesting and refreshing.
What’s one thing fans should know about you that they might not already?
I eat a lot.
When did you realise you wanted to be an artist?
Back in high school, I used to trip over my words all the time. But the first time I rapped on stage, I thought, ‘If I could do this for a living, I’d be so happy.’
Where are you drawing inspiration from currently?
These days, I feel like I’m inspired by this new version of myself, someone who just goes for things without overthinking or worrying about others. It feels really new to me.
What songs do you have on rotation at the moment?
I’ve been playing Oklou’s ‘blade bird’ on repeat lately.
Favourite moment of your career so far?
My solo concerts always sit at the very top of my memories. I think it’s because they’re such meaningful moments, singing the songs I cherish in front of the people I care about most.
What’s next for Loco?
In the first half of this year, I spent my time travelling to different countries, gaining new experiences, and working on finishing the album. Now that the album is coming out in the second half, I really want to do as many shows as possible.