KMK: NB2 Hip Hop in Hongdae

When it comes to clubbing in Seoul Hongdae is the place to be. Not only does Hongdae boast a huge number of clubs but also the diversity of these clubs is dizzying. For instance, djs at M1 are all about trance and progressive house, Sk@ rocks out with a sprinkling of pop, club DD blasts hip hop and R&B, JokerRed trips out on trance and techno, while Myungwolgwan (MWG) is all about tribal and progressive house and NB2 delivers the hip hop people love.

NB2 is where I headed for my birthday bash last Saturday. Nothing beats it if you’re looking for hip hop, though things start off light with a steady mix of K-pop and pop hits that fade away into old school rap and and head swaying hip hop beats as the night wears on. It’s at this point that so many people are packed inside the club that I’m sure babies are being conceived just by trying to make it to the bar. People literally cannot move unless the whole crowd sweeps you along. Rebecca couldn’t even make it to the restroom since the crowd would turn her around and send her in an entirely different direction. Dancing amounts to bobbing your head to the beat. That’s a weekend night.

Thankfully, for my birthday, my friends secured a VIP room which put us out of the sea of trapped sardines. And once you add up the price of drinks ten people would spend it’s about the same as getting a room. Plus they throw in a bottle of booze (rum, tequila, or vodka), mixers, a fruit and nut platter, as well as a few cans of beer. You can dance the night away and if you’re feeling adventurous still be able to dive into the crowd for a bit with the knowledge you have a safe place to escape to if you start to drown in the sea of people.

If VIP is out of the question then the thing to do is go on a weeknight. Thursday the music is just as good, the vibe just the same, but with half the crowd. Thankfully, half of overcrowded is just about right for NB2.