View source for E Sens

{{short description|South Korean rapper}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{family name hatnote|Kang||lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = E Sens
| image           =Esens in 2017.png
| caption         =Esens in 2017
| birth_name      = Kang Min-ho
| alias           = Blanky Munn
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|2|9}}
| birth_place     = [[Daegu]], South Korea
| origin          =
| genre           = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| occupation      = [[Rapping|Rapper]]
| instrument      =
| years_active    = 2003–present
| label           = [[Amoeba Culture]]<br>Beasts And Natives Alike
| website         =
| module          = {{Infobox Korean name
| hangul    = 강민호
| hanja     = 姜閔浩
| rr        = Gang Min-ho
| mr        = Kang Minho
|child=yes}}
}}
'''Kang Min-ho''' ({{Korean|hangul=강민호|hanja=|rr=}}; born 9 February 1987),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_artist_detail.htm?No=104815|title=Supreme Team (슈프림팀)|website=KBS World Radio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074737/http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_artist_detail.htm?No=104815|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref> better known by the stage name '''E Sens''' ({{Korean|hangul=이센스|hanja=|rr=}}), is a South Korean rapper. He debuted in 2009 as a member of the [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] duo [[Supreme Team (band)|Supreme Team]], which disbanded in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20130722154000005|title=힙합듀오 슈프림팀 해체..이센스 "솔로 활동"|date=22 July 2013|website=Yonhap News|language=ko|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref> In 2015, he released his first solo album, ''The Anecdote'', which won Album of the Year at the 2016 [[Korean Music Awards]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://sports.khan.co.kr/entertainment/sk_index.html?art_id=201603011134273&sec_id=540301|title=이센스 한국대중음악상 올해의 음반상 '옥중 수상'…빅뱅 3관왕|date=1 March 2016|website=The Kyunghyang Shinmun|language=ko|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref> He released his second album, ''The Stranger'', in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/2019071181824|title=이센스, 새 앨범 '이방인' 한정반 3일 만에 품절…올해 힙합 앨범 최고 판매량|date=11 July 2019|website=Korea Economic Daily|language=ko|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref>
==Early life==
E Sens was born on 9 February 1987 in [[Daegu]], [[South Korea]]. He was 9 years old when his father died, and he dropped out of high school when he was 17. He became interested in hip hop at that time and chose the name E Sens, which is a shortened version of "Essayistic Sense".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.joins.com/article/4422665|title=이센스 "17세 때 아버지 여의고 힙합에 빠졌다" 심경고백|date=31 August 2010|publisher=Joong-ang Ilbo|language=ko|trans-title=E Sens Confesses that He Got into Hip Hop after His Father's Death When He was 17|access-date=3 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/4757|title=My name is 슈프림팀|date=14 August 2010|publisher=Ten Asia|language=ko|trans-title=My name is Supreme Team|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>
==Career==
===2002–2007: Underground beginnings===
In 2002, E Sens won a rap contest in [[Daegu]], where he caught the attention of [[Minos (rapper)|Minos]], then a member of the hip hop team Virus. E Sens soon starting performing alongside Virus and other rappers in Daegu in a regular series of concerts called the "Hip-Hop Train" project. In 2004, he released his debut mini-album, ''Uncut, Pure!'', a collaboration with rapper Planet Black.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hiphopplaya.com/magazine/1845|title=Uncut, Pure! E-Sens, Elcue, Planet Black|date=2 July 2004|publisher=Hiphop Playa|language=ko|access-date=11 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208113212/http://hiphopplaya.com/magazine/1845|archive-date=8 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
E Sens garnered more attention in the hip hop community in 2007 when he featured on the song, "지켜볼게" by Paloalto and [[The Quiett]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopplaya.com/magazine/article/view.html?category=&category2=&page=1&sort=&num=2793&keyfield=&key=|title=Unknown Verses, Interview with E-SENS|date=16 October 2007|publisher=Hiphop Playa|language=ko|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> His popularity continued to increase with the single, "{{lang|ko|꽐라}}", which appeared on the Jiggy Fellaz compilation album ''Xclusive''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
===2007–2013: Mixtapes and Supreme Team===
E Sens released his first mix tape, ''Blanky Munn's Unknown Verses'', in 2007.<ref name=":1" /> Soon after, he signed a contract with record label [[Amoeba Culture]] as a member of the duo [[Supreme Team (band)|Supreme Team]] with [[Simon Dominic]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_artist_detail.htm?No=104815|title=Supreme Team|website=KBS World Radio|access-date=6 April 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074737/http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_artist_detail.htm?No=104815|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before the duo's debut, he released his second mix tape, ''New Blood, Rapper Vol.1'', in 2008, which also garnered much attention from the Korean hip-hop community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopplaya.com/magazine/article/view.html?category=&category2=&mode=&page=1&sort=signdate&num=3172&keyfield=&key=E-Sens|title=이야기 꾼 Minos, E-SENS 를 만나다|date=28 April 2008|publisher=Hiphop Playa|language=ko|trans-title=Storyteller Minos Meets E-SENS|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> The following year, E Sens became a member of Illest Konfusion, a hip hop crew that included Simon Dominic, [[Beenzino]], and [[Swings (rapper)|Swings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopplaya.com/magazine/article/view.html?category=&category2=&mode=&page=1&sort=signdate&num=4084&keyfield=&key=E-Sens|title=E-SENS & Swings Join Illest Konfusion|publisher=Hiphop Playa|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> Supreme Team debuted the same year with the mini-album, ''Supreme Team Guide To Excellent Adventure''.<ref name=":0" /> The duo went on to achieve critical success, winning Best New Male Group at the [[2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards]] and the Hip Hop Award at the [[25th Golden Disk Awards|2010 Golden Disk Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/article/2010/12/winners-from-the-25th-golden-disk-awards|title=Winners from the 25th Golden Disk Awards|date=9 December 2010|website=AllKpop|access-date=7 April 2016}}</ref>
===2013–present: Solo career and drug charges===
In July 2013, E Sens opted not to renew his contract with Amoeba Culture and left the label as well as Supreme Team. Both he and Simon Dominic announced they would pursue solo careers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/07/supreme-team-disbands-e-sens-leaves-amoeba-culture|title=Supreme Team disbands + E-Sens leaves Amoeba Culture|date=22 July 2013|website=AllKpop|access-date=7 April 2016}}</ref> Shortly after leaving the label, E Sens released a song called "You Can't Control Me", which attacked the label and one of its founders, [[Gaeko]] of the hip hop group [[Dynamic Duo (South Korean duo)|Dynamic Duo]]. The song led to an outbreak of [[diss track]]s in the Korean hip hop community, with [[Swings (rapper)|Swings]], Gaeko, and Simon Dominic all weighing in on their own response songs by the end of the summer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soompi.com/2013/08/26/a-concise-guide-to-the-diss-battles-involving-e-sens-amoeba-culture-simon-d-and-more/|title=A Concise Guide to the "Diss" Battles Involving E-Sens, Amoeba Culture, Simon D and More|date=26 August 2013|website=Soompi|access-date=7 April 2016}}</ref>
In 2014, E Sens joined the agency Beasts and Natives Alike and released "I'm Good", his first solo single following Supreme Team's break up. Soon after, he starred in his own internet reality show, also called ''I'm Good''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/94061/20140604/e-sens-tells-everyone-im-good-with-his-own-internet-reality-show.htm|title=E Sens Tells Everyone 'I'm Good' With His Own Internet Reality Show|date=4 June 2014|website=KpopStarz|access-date=7 April 2016}}</ref>
E Sens was arrested for marijuana use for a third time in April 2015, violating his probation period after previously being arrested in 2012. He was sentenced to a year and six months in jail in July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soompi.com/2015/04/08/rapper-e-sens-arrested-for-third-time-for-marijuana-use/|title=Rapper E-Sens Arrested for Third Time for Marijuana Use|date=8 April 2015|website=Soompi|access-date=7 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/07/e-sens-sentenced-to-15-years-in-jail-after-getting-caught-smoking-marijuana-again|title=E-Sens sentenced to 1.5 years in jail after getting caught smoking marijuana again|date=22 July 2015|website=AllKpop|access-date=7 April 2016}}</ref> A month later, he became the first Korean rapper to release an album from jail with ''[[The Anecdote]]''. The album was a success, garnering unprecedented pre-sale orders and winning both Album of the Year and Best Rap & Hip Hop Album at the 2016 [[Korean Music Awards]].<ref name=":2" />
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1" style="width:5em;" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Sales
|-
! <small>[[Circle Album Chart|KOR]]</small><br><ref name="gaon_album">{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon|title=Gaon Album Chart|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALBUM&targetTime=36&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week|title=''The Anecdote'' charting|access-date=6 January 2019}}
* {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=30&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week|title=''The Stranger'' charting|accessdate=1 August 2019}}
* {{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=30&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=''Moneybox'' charting|accessdate=3 August 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Anecdote]]''
|
* Released: 27 August 2015
* Label: Beasts And Natives Alike
* Format: CD, LP, digital download
| 2
|
* KOR: 20,284<!--17,775 + 1,509 + 1,000--><ref>Cumulative sales of ''The Anecdote''"
*{{cite web|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALBUM&targetTime=2015&hitYear=2015&termGbn=year|title=2015년 Album Chart|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=6 January 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?serviceGbn=ALBUM&termGbn=month&hitYear=2016&targetTime=10&nationGbn=T|title=2016년 10월 Album Chart|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=1 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?serviceGbn=ALBUM&termGbn=month&hitYear=2017&targetTime=09&nationGbn=T|title=2017년 09월 Album Chart|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=1 August 2019}}
</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''The Stranger''
|
* Released: 22 July 2019
* Label: Beasts And Natives Alike
* Format: CD, digital download
| 4
|
* KOR: 16,245<ref>{{cite web|title=2019 Monthly Album Chart – July|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=07&hitYear=2019&termGbn=month|website=Gaon Chart|accessdate=8 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''Moneybox''<br />({{lang|ko|저금통}})
|
* Released: 13 July 2023
* Label: Munn Company
* Format: CD, digital download
| 14
|
* KOR: 23,601<ref>{{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=30&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – Week 30, 2023|website=[[Circle Chart]]|language=ko|access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref>
|}
==Awards==
===[[Korean Music Awards]]===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Year
!Category
!Nominated work
!Result
!Ref
|-
| rowspan="3" |2016
|Album of the Year
| rowspan="2" |''The Anecdote''
|{{won}}
| rowspan="3" |<ref name=":2" />
|-
|Best Rap & Hip Hop Album
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Rap & Hip Hop Song
| ''The Anecdote''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2020
|Best Rap & Hip Hop Album
|''The Stranger''
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="2"|
|-
|Best Rap & Hip Hop Song
|''Son of A''
|{{won}}
|-
| 2024
|Best Rap & Hip Hop Song
|''What The Hell''
|{{won}}
|
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South Korean hip hop singers]]
[[Category:South Korean male rappers]]
[[Category:South Korean hip hop record producers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Daegu]]
[[Category:Korean Music Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century South Korean male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century South Korean rappers]]