Well-known hip-hop artist and entertainer MC Mong announced that he would return to his musical roots for the first time in four years with the release of a new album this year.

MC Mong is reported to have signed an exclusive contract with entertainment agency Wellmade Yedang and is working on an album to be released in September or October.

The star’s last album release was his fifth studio album “Humanimal” in 2009. Shortly after, he was caught up in a legal scandal that temporarily halted his career.

MC Mong left the public eye for nearly four years after being charged with violating the country’s mandatory military service laws in October 2010.

Evidence that Mong had deliberately tried to dodge his military enlistment led to a public outcry, which halted his public appearances, both on stage and on TV programs.

The artist debuted as part of the hip-hop group People Crew in 1998, but his career took off after he branched out as a solo artist. MC Mong is also widely known for his collaborations with popular stars including SG Wannabe, Jo Sung-mo and g.o.d.’s Kim Tae-woo.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)