Crush Turns 34: Essential Tracks From the Korean R&B Artist

As Crush turns 34, HiphopKR looks back at ten standout tracks from one of Korean R&B’s most recognizable voices.

Crush turns 34 today, marking another year for one of Korean R&B’s most recognizable voices. Born Shin Hyo-seob on May 3, 1992, Crush has built a catalog that moves across R&B, soul, funk, jazz, pop, and hip-hop without losing the tone that made him stand out in the first place. His profile has long placed him within Korean R&B and hip-hop, and his official discography shows how much of his music has been shaped by his own writing, production, and close collaboration with other artists.

To celebrate his birthday, HiphopKR put together this article highlighting ten tracks from different points in his run. It is not a definitive ranking. It is a curated snapshot of what makes Crush’s catalog so durable: the heartbreak records, the grooves, the soft-touch collaborations, the playful singles, and the songs that remind listeners why his voice has remained central to Korean R&B for over a decade.

Rush feat. j-hope of BTS

“Rush Hour” is one of Crush’s biggest crossover moments, but it works because it still sounds like him. Released as a digital single in 2022, the track was officially categorized by P NATION as R&B/Soul with a funk direction. Its credits list Crush, j-hope, and PENOMECO as lyricists, with Crush and Hong So Jin handling composition and arrangement.

The result is a record built on movement. The hook is immediate, the bassline has bounce, and j-hope’s verse does more than add star power. It extends the track’s energy. “Rush Hour” feels like a celebration of momentum, which makes it a fitting opener for this birthday run.

Mayday feat. Joy of Red Velvet

“Mayday” captures Crush at his most charming. Released through homemade 1 in 2020, the track features Joy of Red Velvet and arrives with the kind of light, warm energy that made it instantly replayable. P NATION’s release notes frame the song around the idea of clapping through heavy, stressful, or gloomy moments, which matches the track’s easygoing lift.

It is playful without feeling disposable. Crush’s tone brings softness, Joy adds brightness, and the song lands as a small burst of comfort. In his catalog, “Mayday” shows how well Crush can make a light record without sanding down the musicality.

Hmm-cheat

From his third full-length album wonderego, “Hmm-cheat” shows Crush leaning into rhythm, personality, and vocal texture. The album itself was released in 2023 and described by P NATION as a 19-track project spanning R&B, soul, pop, funk, and house, with “Hmm-cheat” listed as one of the title tracks.

The track has a looseness that feels intentional. It is slick, percussive, and built around the kind of groove that lets Crush move between vocalist, producer, and performer. It is less about showing off a perfect vocal line and more about showing how comfortably he can sit inside a pocket.

NAPPA

“NAPPA” remains one of Crush’s cleanest pop-R&B moments. Released in 2019, the single’s official notes center on apology, guilt, and the emotional weight of hurting someone. P NATION credits Crush as lyricist and lists Crush and haventseenyou as producers.

What makes “NAPPA” work is restraint. It does not overstate the feeling. The melody is direct, the production is smooth, and Crush lets the regret sit in the song without forcing it into melodrama. It is the kind of track that shows how effective he can be when he keeps the arrangement simple and lets the writing lead.

Ego

“Ego” is another key moment from wonderego. On the album’s official tracklist, it appears as a title track, with credits listing Crush and Kim Mandy on lyrics and Crush with haventseenyou on composition and arrangement.

Where “Hmm-cheat” plays with swagger and bounce, “Ego” moves with a softer emotional pull. It fits the wider concept of wonderego, an album built around identity, incompleteness, desire, and the different versions of the self. In that context, “Ego” feels like Crush using romance as a way to explore vulnerability.

Let Me Go with Taeyeon

“Let Me Go” sits at the center of with HER, Crush’s 2020 EP built around collaborations with female artists including Taeyeon, Lee Hi, Lee Sora, Yoon Mirae, and BIBI. P NATION describes “Let Me Go” as a smooth R&B/Soul track, highlighting its lonely piano line, warm guitar, and the harmony between Crush and Taeyeon.

It is one of his most emotionally measured collaborations. Taeyeon does not simply appear as a feature. Her voice changes the weight of the song. Together, they turn the end of a relationship into something quiet, resigned, and deeply melodic.

UP ALL NITE feat. SUMIN

“UP ALL NITE” brings the list into Crush’s newer era. Released as the title track from his 2025 EP FANG, the song features SUMIN and was officially listed under R&B/Soul by P NATION. Its credits include Crush, SUMIN, Gabriel, Devin Morrison, and CUBE across lyrics and composition.

The track feels nocturnal and stylish, built for late-night movement rather than big emotional release. SUMIN is a natural match for Crush here, bringing her own sleek vocal colour into a song that sits comfortably between R&B, dance, and neo-soul textures.

With You

“With You” comes from From Midnight To Sunrise, Crush’s 2019 full-length album. P NATION’s album notes describe the project as music meant to move alongside listeners through different hours of the day, offering comfort and connection. The album is officially listed under R&B/Soul and jazz, with “With You” credited to Crush and Hong So Jin.

It is a track that rewards full-album listening. “With You” does not chase the instant single moment as aggressively as some of his bigger records. Instead, it shows Crush’s strength as an album artist, someone who understands atmosphere, pacing, and the emotional value of a softer cut.

OHIO

Released in 2020, “OHIO” is one of Crush’s brighter, looser singles. P NATION’s release notes frame the song around letting go, singing, and dancing, while the credits list Crush and Tablo as lyricists.

It is a reminder that Crush’s catalog is not only built on heartbreak. “OHIO” has a sense of release to it. It feels open, unguarded, and slightly off-center in the best way, showing the playful side of an artist often associated with emotional R&B.

Sometimes

“Sometimes” remains essential because it introduced so much of what listeners would come to recognize in Crush: the longing, the melodic control, the understated delivery, and the ability to make heartbreak feel conversational. The track appeared in 2014 and was included on his debut album Crush on You.

More than a decade later, it still feels like a foundation record. “Sometimes” is not the loudest song in his catalog, but it helped establish the emotional language that would follow him through later ballads, collaborations, and full-length projects.

A catalog built to last

The strength of Crush’s catalog is not only in individual songs. It is in the range. He can write a clean breakup record, hold his own beside some of the biggest names in Korean music, move into funk, build a jazz-influenced album, or strip things back to a voice and feeling.

That is why this birthday carousel works as more than a simple throwback. These tracks show different versions of Crush, but they all lead back to the same thing: a voice, a sensibility, and a catalog that has helped shape how Korean R&B travels across scenes and audiences.

Happy birthday to Crush.