K-HipHop and R&B, At Its Finest

Korea is known for its vibrant, innovative music industry which includes world-famous artists such as BTS and Jay Park. In this article, I wanted to delve into one of Korea's trendiest music genres: hiphop. With both well-known and rising artists alike, Korea's hiphop scene is overflowing with talented musicians. Hiphop has been steadily rising in popularity over the past few years in Korea, especially through exposure from reality programs such as Show Me The Money and High School Rapper. With that said, artists in the Korean hiphop industry have worked hard to hone their craft and continue to create groundbreaking music. In this article, I will be highlighting some of my personal favourites from the K-hiphop scene.

1. Simon Dominic

Simon Dominic began his rapping career in the underground Korean hiphop scene in the early 2000's. He quickly rose to fame after his debut as a member of hiphop duo Supreme Team in 2009 and won several major awards. After Supreme Team's disbandment, Simon Dominic signed with the renowned label AOMG, even becoming its co-CEO. Simon Dominic's discography is filled with funky, groovy tracks such as his self titled single "Simon Dominic." Not only is Simon Dominic an iconic member of the Korean hiphop industry, but he has made numerous appearances in popular Korean variety shows, such as "I Live Alone," as well as the hit reality dating show "Transit Love" as an MC. Today, Simon Dominic is a beloved public figure in Korea, for both his unrivaled rapping skills and goofy personality.

2. Meenoi

Meenoi is a rapper and R&B artist who debuted in 2019. Her soft, mesmerizing vocals  add a unique quality to her songs and combined with light, funky beats, her discography is truly one-of-a-kind. Her quirky vocals shine in tracks such as "Ghosting," sung with fellow hiphop artist Woo Won Jae, and "Salang Salang," a bright, flirty song that perfectly captures the heart-fluttering sensation of being in love. In addition to her entrancing vocals, Meenoi is popular for her cooking show "Meenoi's Yori Zori," where she cooks for her guests and gets to know them. Her humorous and often times chaotic approach to hosting her show has won many hearts and led to instant, groundbreaking success. With her adorable, yet feisty personality and breathtaking vocals, its no wonder Meenoi is one of Korea's top rising stars!

3. Woo Won Jae 

Woo Won Jae gained a lot of popularity through his appearance on the sixth season of the rapping survival show Show Me The Money, where he placed third. He released his debut single "We Are," featuring hiphop sensations Gray and Loco, in 2017, which gained huge success and topped numerous Korean music charts. Woo's low voice and calm delivery has a soothing affect on his listeners, making his songs perfect for enjoying the gloomy vibe on rainy nights. His latest album, Comma, features songs with honest lyrics as he bares his deepest thoughts and opens up about his darkest feelings. If you are looking for a talented artist with just the right amount of brooding, Woo Won Jae is the perfect choice. 

4. Lee Young Ji

As the reigning queen of Show Me The Money 11, Lee Young Ji has found huge success in her career at the age of 20. Her deep, gravelly voice and powerful rapping style have been acknowledged by fans and veteran hiphop artists alike, and has won the hearts of many. In addition to her vocal talent, Lee Young Ji's strong, humorous personality has allowed her to gain success in the Korean entertainment field, and she is featured in many hilarious variety shows such as Na PD's show "Earth Arcade," as well as her own hit show "No Prepare." With her powerful rapping skills and uproarious personality, Lee Young Ji clearly has it all.

5. Layone

Layone, at the age of 21, is one of the younger artists in the K-hiphop industry. Due to his young age and extraordinary rapping skills, he is often referred to as the "Gen-Z Representative" of Korean hiphop. Having debuted in September 2019, he gained popularity when he made an appearance on Show Me The Money 9, where he placed third. Layone's music consists of unique, honest lyrics that express his thoughts in a poetic manner. His latest EP "Origin" consists of 7 deeply mesmerizing songs that convey his deepest thoughts with an intriguing style of lyrics. The songs on his album have an otherworldly, almost ethereal quality to them, which have the ability to make the listener feel as if they have just stepped into another universe when listening to the songs. From his amazing rapping skills to his uncanny ability to craft beautiful, elegant lyrics, it is no wonder Layone is one of the hottest rising stars of Korean hiphop.

With that being said, this in no way begins to cover all of the talented artists in the Korean hiphop industry. There are countless artists with amazing talent and to talk about all of them would require a thousand sleepless nights! However, whether you are new to the world of K-hiphop or are a connoisseur of the field, I hope you enjoyed this article on some of my favourite hiphop artists, and continue to delve deeper into the genre. Thanks for reading!

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