It's been 10 years since "Part Of The Nation," the first full-length album by Seoul-based rapper Snacky Chan was released.

In the decade that followed, Chan, whose real name is Roy Kim, released six more albums and nine singles both as a solo act and as a member of the seminal South Korean R&B act Uptown, which he joined in 2009.

KpopStarz recently caught up with the prolific recording artist, who discussed his early days rising through the ranks of the hip-hop underground, the reasons he decided to start his own record label Dynasty Muzik and why Psy deserves your respect.

KpopStarz: How old were you when you started rapping?

Snacky Chan: I started rhyming for fun when I was maybe 14. I'm not exactly sure [when I started]. I was just fooling around with it, more rapping along to other people songs than writing my own stuff. I got heavy into freestyling when I hit 18.

KpopStarz: According to VIBE Magazine, you were born in New Jersey and then came up through the Boston underground hip-hop scene. Talk about your early hip-hop days.

Snacky Chan: I lived in a neighborhood close to Philadelphia. Back then, and to this day, hip-hop is really ingrained into the culture of Philly. Even if you just take a listen to [rapper] Meek Mill, you'll get an idea of what Philly hip-hop is all about. We had Philly news, Philly newspapers and, luckily, Philly radio. Radio at that time was playing the classics like Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy, De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim. So, I guess by fate, I was surrounded by it and the culture of it was just so appealing. It was dance, fashion, music, attitude. Who wouldn't be affected by it?

KpopStarz: What made you decide to get serious about rapping? What was it like making your first album?

Snacky Chan: I think it was a gradual thing. One thing led to another and before you know it, I was freestyling all the time, writing lyrics. I think I got serious about it after I met Verbal [the rapper for the Japanese hip-hop group] M-Flo in the mid-90s. He helped me discover my talent and seeing him succeed made me think my own success was possible too. Making my first album was extremely hard work. I was living in Boston on my own, with barely enough money to live on. I was so broke I remember I used to steal food at the local market. My dream of making it was the only thing keeping me going in those tough times. I would get beats from my producer, write the lyrics, save up money to hit the studio, record, edit, mix and then repeat that process over and over.

KpopStarz: Who were your biggest influences early on? Who are your favorite rappers?

Snacky Chan: I would have to say the whole Queensbridge movement really influenced me early on, especially Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Nas. As my career progressed, I was influenced by my peers in the Boston Underground scene, like Akrobatik, Reks and Singapore Kane.

KpopStarz: Were there styles of music beyond hip-hop that inspired you? Do you play any instruments?

Snacky Chan: In the early days I was just heavy into rap, so mostly I was inspired by other hip-hop artists. Outside of hip-hop, I listen to pretty much everything. I like old school songs that bring back memories. {laughs} I've played violin, piano, guitar and the drums throughout my life, but the only thing I can still remember how to play is the guitar.

KpopStarz: Do you classify yourself as a Korean-American artist or just Korean?

Snacky Chan: Both of my parents are full-blooded Koreans. They both immigrated to the US when they were in their 20s. Definition-wise it's probably most accurate to say I'm a Korean-American because I was born and raised in the US. There are some aspects of my thinking and ideology that are American. At the same time, I can't really say I ever felt at home in the US. My blood is Korean, so that is what I am, first and foremost.

KpopStarz: You mostly rap in English, do you speak fluent Korean as well? If so, do you ever rap in Korean?

Snacky Chan: I have rapped in Korean but it still feels awkward. My Korean is improving gradually, so I think it's only a matter of time before I can do it well. If you check out some of the material I made with Uptown and [the 2011 collaboration with fellow Uptown new recruit Michael "Maniac" Horton] New Dynasty, you'll be able to hear some of it.

KpopStarz: What year did you move to Seoul? What caused the move? How does it differ from your lifestyle when you lived in the states?

Snacky Chan: I moved here in winter of 2008. What caused the move? Man, so many things. If I have to sum it up with one reason, I saw more opportunities for growth here. As for the differences in my lifestyle, well, before I got married, life was pretty wild. I took full advantage of my semi-celebrity status and met as many girls as I possibly could. In the US, it was pretty much impossible for me to find part time work and make a sufficient income. In Korea, I can work three or four hours a day and have plenty of time and money left over to invest in music.

KpopStarz: Which of your albums are you the most proud of? What do you think is your greatest rap of all time?

Snacky Chan: I'm the most proud of my [first] solo full-length album "Part of the Nation." It was the most difficult to create and I was really focused at the time. After releasing that album, I became more focused on building my label, signing artists, et cetera. If I had to choose my favorite verse, I'd say the verse from Jin the Emcees's "4th Chamber" Remix in 2004.

KpopStarz: What is your most recent release?

Snacky Chan: The last thing I released was "The Jazz EP," last October.

KpopStarz: What are you working on now? How has your creative process changed since you started out?

Snacky Chan: Right now I'm collecting beats and waiting for the right idea to hit me. I'm not really set on making an album or single, I just want to collect songs for now and decide afterwards what to do with them. My creative process is still the same. I just find the right beat and write what it makes me feel. The immediate challenge I have is to make something dope that's in Korean.

KpopStarz: You consistently have great beats in all of your songs. What do you think makes a great hip-hop beat?

Snacky Chan: Of course, everyone has different taste. so I can't speak for everyone. But me personally, I like sample-based beats. The MIDI sound is just not me and I don't think it ever has been. There's something genuine about the sounds you get from old vinyl and for those that don't understand what I mean, just listen to anything DJ Premier produces.

KpopStarz: What tips for the recording studio would you give other hip-hop artists?

Snacky Chan: Focus on your voice. Like Guru said, "it's mostly tha voice." I couldn't agree with him more, because the voice is what separates the pro from the amateur. Not everyone starts off with an ill voice but if you practice hard enough, you'll find it.

KpopStarz: What year did you start your record label Dynasty Muzik? How many artists do you currently have on the roster?

Snacky Chan: Dynasty Muzik is a label and management company that I started back in 2003. I was releasing music on my own, so just to make it look more professional I would slap the Dynasty logo on my CDs. I think other artists were impressed with the quality [of the songs] and recognized we had a good system. Soon I was getting emails and phone calls from artists asking if I could help them with their projects. Currently we have three acts on the roster, myself, MSG and ILLAP. In total, we've released 22 projects including albums, EPs, mix tapes, and singles.

KpopStarz: What do you look for in an artist?

Snacky Chan: When I sign an artist, the first thing I want to know is what his or her attitude is. It doesn't matter how talented someone is if he isn't willing to work hard and be a team player. Selfish and negative people will drain your energy and it's just not worth it. If the artist has a good attitude, the next thing I'll look at is his or her talent.

KpopStarz: What made you decide to start your own label?

Snacky Chan: I really had no interest in it until people started hitting me up to help them with their own projects and careers. I started promoting other artists, assisting them in any way I could. I felt like a proud parent every time one of them accomplished something. Being an entrepreneur is one of the illest challenges in my opinion. It really tests your mind's ability to communicate, lead, persevere, be creative and strategize. It's a big chess game.

KpopStarz: What medium does Dynasty Muzik sell the most music? Vinyl, CD or digital download?

Snacky Chan: Right now, most of our stuff is digital. Pressing up CDs is a luxury in this day and age. Sometimes we do it, but rarely.

KpopStarz: Is the label based out of Seoul?

Snacky Chan: Yes, we are. I started Dynasty Muzik back up after we signed The Money Maker$ in 2011. We're still laying the foundation of our business and there's still a lot to learn. I want to take it as far as possible.

KpopStarz: You signed the experimental hip-hop duo ILLAP to your label. How did you discover them? What are your thoughts about their direction as an artist?

Snacky Chan: I have a unique arrangement with ILLAP. They really don't want to be tied down [to a record label] and understandably so. Unlike other artists, they came with their album completely finished. The videos were done, the album art was done, everything. So we have a non-exclusive management agreement. When they first showed me their music, I was taken aback like everyone else. I just thought 'wow, people are either going to love these guys or hate these guys.' Their music is very polarizing. Most of the feedback has been very good, so the future looks bright.

KpopStarz: What tips on the music business can you offer to aspiring rappers?

Snacky Chan: I think no matter what you do, your attitude is what will determine how far you will go. You have to feed yourself positive thoughts and surround yourself with positive people. No matter what, you will face adversity and at times you'll feel like the world is against you, but you have to hold on. My next piece of advice would be to be as honest as you can with yourself. Look for honest feedback and don't be so prideful that you can't make changes. If you're doing music for yourself, just stay on SoundCloud. If you're trying to make some money, pay attention to what the people want.

KpopStarz: On your song "I Feel Sorry For Your Mother" you rap about a friend who died from gun violence. Was this a real life incident?

Snacky Chan: Yes, it was a real incident. His name was Dave Jin and he was a really good guy. His father had gotten cancer and passed away when Dave was very young. He and his older brother really had it rough. Despite the circumstances, he was able to attend college and paid his way by working in a deli. It was a senseless killing, not gang related, not drug related, just the wrong place at the wrong time. The funeral is something I'll never forget, especially the sorrow of his mother. She had lost her husband and youngest son to tragedy. I can't even imagine the pain.

KpopStarz: How do you feel about the state of rap music in Korea? How about internationally?

Snacky Chan: I think the Korean hip-hop scene is really going through a renaissance right now. For the first time ever, kids are taking their career into their own hands and becoming successful by using the Internet. For a very long time, management companies were the ones with the power. They were the ones who had connections with TV and radio, which at the time, were the only effective means of getting your music out. Now we have a situation where the media knocks at the artist's door and asks them for favors. The old school industry folks are trying to resist this change, but it's inevitable.

KpopStarz: Do you feel like you are part of the K-pop scene?

Snacky Chan: I'm not a part of the K-pop scene. {laughs} I like some K-pop though. I don't really just look at it from a fan perspective though. I see it from a business standpoint and really see the genius in what a lot of companies have done. What a lot of kids don't understand is that when you're seeing an artist perform, nine times out of 10 you're applauding the people behind the scenes-- the stylist, the songwriter, the producer, the choreographer, the vocal coach. The person on stage ain't sh*t without those people.

KpopStarz: Do you consider Psy to be part of Korea's rap scene?

Snacky Chan: Psy is a genius, hands down. People diss him for whatever reason, but he did the impossible. An ugly, middle-aged dude with a potbelly making it in Korea, itself, is unheard of, but around the world? It wasn't luck either. I mean the timing was right, but as far as the music, the choreography, his outfit, it was all carefully thought out by him. He might not be hip-hop but who cares? He's the shit.

KpopStarz: What else would you like our readers to know about you or your music?

Snacky Chan: I just want people to know that I really appreciate their support. My first kid is due in May. I'm excited and scared at the same time! Much love to all my friends, family, and fans. One love.

Check out Snacky Chan's pick for his best rap ever on Jin the Emcees's 2004 "4th Chamber" remix RIGHT HERE