Zion.T and Crush want to change the soundscape of Korean music, with a combination of soulful pop and rapid-flow rap. Back in February, the duo, both signed to South Korean hip-hop label Amoeba Culture, released the stirring single "Just." The following month Zion T. and Crush were out on the road, their onstage duets a highlight of the North American leg of the 2015 Amoeba Culture Tour. Last week the fearsome twosome returned to the US to deliver a show-stopping four-song performance at KCON LA. Shortly before the smoldering KCON performance, Zion.T and Crush sat down with KpopStarz for an exclusive interview.

KpopStarz: As producers and songwriters, does your involvement in the creative process help or hinder your performance?

Zion.T:  Since they are songs that originate from my mind, songs that I’ve made, my story, on the stage, I just have to perform. I don’t have to memorize lyrics, so it does help.

KpopStarz: What is your advice for aspiring Korean or American hip-hop artists?

Zion.T:  Since I’m a Korean hip-hop performer whose music is inspired by American hip-hop and since the American music landscape is different, I’m not sure what advice to provide. Maybe, when you write a letter, if you write down the words, the stories, you want to to express, translate them honestly into music. Maybe it can give the music a kind of energy.

KpopStarz: What are your thoughts on the effects of programs like “Show Me the Money” on the Korean underground hip-hop scene?

Crush:  I think it is a great thing that hip-hop music is being embraced more in Korea.

KpopStarz: What are your thoughts on returning to the U.S. to perform, following your recent appearance as part of the Amoeba Culture tour? Would you like to return to KCON, in the future?

Crush: Of course! Zion.T and I would love to come back.

KpopStarz: What influenced your decision to pursue singing or rapping?

Crush: From my youth, I loved hip-hop, R&B and soul music. I found inspiration from the music and instead of feeling this was something I needed to do, I found myself creating it naturally because I loved it. Now, I still find myself creating it.

Zion.T: My first love was hip-hop music and I wanted to create it. So, I did and am still doing it now.