2021 was an incredible year for Korean music, regardless of genre. From international accolades to legendary collaborations, a global focus on traditional Korean music to a critical appreciation of South Korea’s reworking of Hip Hop/rap, K-Music thrived in every sense of the word. Here are our picks for the top 10 best Korean rappers of 2021! Note: This list is inclusive of K-Pop and K-Hip Hop rappers with solo releases in 2021.
1. Tiger JK
2021 marked the return of the godfather of K-Hip Hop, Tiger JK and without a doubt, he holds the number one position on this list. ‘Love Peace’ is so wonderfully representative of Tiger JK’s musical identity that it is especially fulfilling to see him make a comeback with this song. Be it technique, flow, or lyrics, Tiger JK is unbeatable.
2. iKON’s Bobby
The undisputed master of rap in the K-Pop industry, Bobby gets darker and grittier in his 2nd full album “Lucky Man”. The subject matter goes even deeper into his psyche and brings us a raw, unadulterated version of the star, telling us all the stories that were left untold.
3. (G)I-DLE’s SoYeon
SoYeon’s solo comeback this year was highly anticipated and she delivered with absolute excellence. Her album “Windy” was a refreshing wind of change in the industry and it truly brought us the relief we needed during the peak of summer. Needless to say, her technique is top-notch and her style, brilliantly unique.
4. Verbal Jint
Verbal Jint released 2 studio albums in 2021: “Inflection Point” and “Modern Rhymes XX” that reflect his musical evolution and a maturity unlike anything we’ve seen before. He gets experimental with his flow and incorporates a varied range of styles to curate a coherent yet new sound that is hard not to get addicted to. As a matter of fact, “Inflection Point” could very well be called one of his best albums so far.
5. WINNER’s MINO
MINO came in at the end of the year with full force, swept us off our feet with his album “TO INFINITY” and as always, it was one of the best things about the year. Being the artist that he is, this album was entirely his brainchild: from the design to the production, composition, lyrics, visual concept, and more. One simply cannot deny MINO’s artistic prowess.
6. CL
The Queen, CL, came, saw and she conquered with “ALPHA” in 2021 and there are simply no two ways about it. CL’s brand of hip-hop is incomparable and this album is just a culmination of her creative genius. The visuals are, of course, the “cherry” on the cake.
7. Ash B
Ash B has a very strong stance on her musical style and she isn’t afraid to stand by it, which is what makes her special. Without a doubt, she deserves much more love and appreciation for her art, and “Brat Of The Year” was just proof that there’s no one like her in the industry.
8. BIG Naughty
BIG Naughty went from being a rising star to a fully realized force to be reckoned with, gaining popularity both in the mainstream of the Korean music scene as well as the K-Hip Hop niche. His soulful singing voice coupled with hard-hitting rap makes him one of a kind and we cannot wait to see more from him in the future.
9. BLACKPINK’s Lisa
“LALISA” broke the internet and took over the world and for good reason too! BLACKPINK’s Lisa spits bar after bar in her debut single album and we cannot help but be obsessed. It is also clear that her solo music style is rather distinct and quite different from her music as a part of BLACKPINK, which makes it all the more exciting to anticipate her solo work.
10. Bibi
An artist who is defining new-age sing-rap, Bibi has a vision and she knows exactly how to put it across to a global audience. Her voice is alluring and her lyrics, meaningful, which gives her an edge above the rest. “Life is a Bi…” is nothing short of a masterpiece and we cannot wait for what Bibi has in store for us next.
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