Jan 31, 2026 9:53pm IST
Tarzzan’s ‘Medusa’ is a Robust Track that Lingers In your Head Long after the Visualizer is Over
All Day Project, the new co-ed group by The Black Label, an associate of K-Pop giant conglomerate, YG Entertainment debuted in 2025. Tarzzan (Lee Chae-won) due to his alleged ‘cultural appropriation’ issues has made maximum noise on social media. A former model, Tarzzan is the rapper of the group. His solo, ‘Medusa’, was released recently. It is produced by Nick Spiders, Junior Chef and ActualHate. In the past, Spiders has worked on songs like ‘Singapore’, ‘More Chaos’ and ‘Look at Me’. The lyrics of ‘Medusa’ are by members of All Day Project i.e his band members Annie, Bailey Sok and Jo Woo-chan and him. For starters, ‘Medusa’ is different from Korean hip-hop tracks sonically. The start is robust with Tarzzan literally breathing into the microphone. Tarzzan has been discussed and heavily criticized for copying the American hip-hop culture. From the cornrows to his tan and styling aesthetic, his inspirations are obvious.
Related Stories
The lyrics of ‘Medusa’ are quite impressive when compared to what has been released by K-Pop bands from other big labels of late. Tarzzan does the slow rap part quite well but it is evident that he has a long way to go. The rapper’s bars do not flow with the expected emotion at places. However, his dance skills are showcased to the fullest leaving us in awe with his flexibility and swag. The music video is directed by Hidji World who has worked with the likes of Latto, Playboi Carti, The Weeknd in the past. This gives it a very authentic hip-hop vibe on par with what is dished out by American artistes. For months, Tarzzan has been called out for cosplaying Black Culture, and ‘Medusa’ proves his obsession with the classic hip-hop look.
The musical arrangement in ‘Medusa’ is minimal, and we get to hear a lot of Tarzzan’s vocals and rap. It is quite clean with no extra music in the background, which kills many Korean hip hop songs. ‘Medusa’ has strong beats, and the hook is truly unique. Tarzzan gets a distinct song with Medusa and it is a good solo project for the young rapper.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.