K-Hip Hop Meets Buddhism: Cheetah Teams Up with YouTube Monk for ’18 Agonies’

Rapper Cheetah, best known for her commanding presence in Korea’s hip-hop scene, is stepping into uncharted musical territory with an unexpected collaborator — a modern monk known as ‘Newjins-nim’. On July 5, the duo will release their anticipated track ’18 Agonies’, according to her agency, Double X Entertainment.

The song, described as a ‘modern mantra’, creatively explores the complexities of desire and inner turmoil through a witty Q&A lyric format. The track aims to break traditional genre boundaries by blending Buddhist philosophy with hard-hitting hip-hop flair. Their collaboration brings together stark contrasts — the sacred and the street.

‘Newjins-nim’, an unorthodox Buddhist content creator and DJ, has been capturing the attention of Gen Z and Millennials in Korea by mixing EDM with spiritual messaging. His previous hits like ‘Reincarnation in Sukhavati’, ‘Don’t Be Greedy’, and ‘Bucheo Handsome’ have proven his uncanny ability to connect across cultural lines.

The track will mark Cheetah’s official comeback nearly two years after her last digital single ‘Polyphony’. Since her debut in 2010 with the group Blacklist, and her breakthrough win on Mnet’s Unpretty Rapstar Season 1 in 2015, Cheetah has solidified her position as a hip-hop heavyweight. She’s also gained widespread recognition for mentoring roles on survival programs such as Produce 101 and High School Rapper 2.

Now represented by Double X Entertainment, Cheetah is set to embark on a new musical journey, with ’18 Agonies’ as its spiritual and sonic opening act.

Brace for an experience that’s more than just sound — it’s a philosophical awakening. ’18 Agonies’ drops across all major streaming platforms on July 5.