Jo Dong-rim (Korean: 조동림; born March 25, 1985),[2] better known by the stage nameMad Clown (Korean:매드클라운), is an Americanrapper,songwriter, andrecord producer. He debuted with the single "Luv Sickness" in 2008[3] and released his first extended play,Anything Goes, in 2011.[4] He broke into the mainstream following the release of "Stupid in Love," his hit 2013 collaboration withSoyou of the girl groupSistar.[5] He has since released the extended playsFerocity (2014),[6]Piece of Mine (2015),[7]Love is a Dog From Hell (2017),[8] and0 (2020).[9]
Jo Dong-rim was born just outside of Chicago inEvanston, Illinois, on March 25, 1985. He and his parents moved back to South Korea when he was around one year old. His family sent him back to the U.S. to study when he was 14. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by Rapper2Pac. He was pursuing a degree in sociology in the U.S. but later left his studies to continue to pursue music.[1]
He has worked on several collaborations, includingStupid in Love with South Korean singerSoyou from the South Korean groupSistar, released on September 10, 2013.[5]
On March 28, 2014, Starship Entertainment announced on their Twitter account thatSistar'sHyolyn would feature in Mad Clown's comeback track, "Without You".[10][unreliable source] The music video for "Without You" was released on April 3, 2014.
On December 12, 2014, Mad Clown featured on "Anxious" byMelody Day.[11][unreliable source] In December, he also began working as a mentor onNo.Mercy, a survival show of trainees from Starship Entertainment which led to the formation ofMonsta X.[12] In 2015, he featured onJooheon of Monsta X's first mixtape,SUPEXX.[13][14]
Mad Clown released his third extended playPiece of Mine in January 2015.[15]
In 2018, Mad Clown did not renew his contract with Starship.[18] That year, he also participated in the seventh season of "Show Me The Money" under the alias of "MOMMY SON", donning a pinkski mask to cover his appearance. After being eliminated from the show, he released the song, "Shonen Jump (ft. Bae Gisung)" in mock retaliation against those who eliminated him. He also performed the song during the filming of the final episode of the show.
2019–present: New label, more collaborations, further releases
In January 2019, Mad Clown collaborated withStella Jang, releasing the single "No Question".[19]
In September 2020, Mad Clown announced his first EP following his departure from Starship. The album, titled0, was released on October 6 through Sameside Company and has four ballads.[20]
^ab래퍼 '매드클라운', 5월 15일 일반인 여자친구와 결혼 [Rapper 'Mad Clown' to marry non-celebrity girlfriend on May 15th].Sisun News (in Korean). April 25, 2016.Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. RetrievedJuly 30, 2019.
^매드클라운이 들려줄 발라드…미니앨범 '0' 오늘 발매 [The ballad that Mad Clown will tell you... Mini album '0' released today].NoCutNeww (in Korean). October 6, 2020.Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. RetrievedApril 6, 2021.
^'노머시' 매드클라운부터 바스코까지 정면 대결 [Head-to-head confrontation from 'No Mercy' Mad Clown to Vasco].10Asia (in Korean). January 28, 2015.Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. RetrievedAugust 18, 2020.
^매드클라운 주헌, '털어' 공개 '특급 콜라보' [Mad Clown and Jooheon releases 'Break It Out' 'Exclusive Collaboration'].News1 (in Korean). July 10, 2015.Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. RetrievedAugust 16, 2020.
^'쇼미더머니5' 길·매드클라운, 프로듀서 나선다 "기회줘서 감사" ['Show Me the Money 5' Gil · Mad Clown, Producer "Thank you for giving me the opportunity"].Asia Today (in Korean). March 12, 2016.Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2023.
^[뮤직와치]'쇼미5' 탈락자? 길, 더할나위 없이 완벽한 복귀전 [[Music Watch] Who was eliminated from 'Show Me 5'? Gil, the perfect comeback match].Newsen.Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. RetrievedAugust 16, 2020.
^매드클라운 스타쉽과 전속계약 종료..홀로서기 한다 [End of exclusive contract with Mad Clown Starship... Stand alone].10asia (in Korean). September 30, 2018.Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 18, 2020.
^매드클라운, 10월 6일 컴백 확정..발라드 앨범 '0'[공식] [Mad Clown confirms comeback on October 6.. Ballad album '0' [Official]].Star News (in Korean). September 29, 2020.Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. RetrievedSeptember 28, 2020.
^조현철 "매드클라운 동생이지만, 형 랩 안 좋아해" [Jo Hyeon-cheol "I am Mad Clown's sibling, but I don't like my older brother's rapping"].TV Report (in Korean). October 22, 2017.Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. RetrievedJanuary 31, 2018.
^Yoon, Jun-ho (September 22, 2022).매드클라운(마미손), 일반인 아내와 지난해 이혼 [Mad Clown (MOMMY SON) divorced his wife last year].Ten Asia (in Korean).Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. RetrievedSeptember 22, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart.Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. RetrievedJanuary 17, 2018.
^역대 시상식 [Awards Ceremony].Gaon Chart Music Awards (in Korean).Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. RetrievedApril 9, 2018.
^ab[32회 골든] 소속사별 후보 배출 비율..YG 최다·플레디스 약진 [[Episode 32 Golden] Ratio of nominations by agency... YG's highest number, Pledis' breakthrough].Ilgan Sports (in Korean).Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. RetrievedApril 9, 2018.
^"Yearly Award".Melon Music Awards (in Korean).Archived from the original on November 26, 2019. RetrievedApril 9, 2018.
