It’s a shame how much truly elegant hip-hop gets missed in the world. This goes almost double for South Korea, which oftentimes falls into the trap of latching on to fads and the superficial “look” and feel of hip-hop and presenting that as the culture. However, there are moments of brilliance in South Korea that need more attention. In 2018 we got just that. A wide majority of artists were intent on showing the world what the country really has to offer. The most incredible proponents of the craft showed out last year. Here are my Top 10!
10. FWRYEYE – Chill
FWREYE released one of the most shockingly brilliant pieces of 2018. By that I mean he created an album that, without shaming any aspect of it, traversed the genre from its earliest roots in Korea to its current manifestations. “Chill” really surprised me early on in 2018. I can’t say that I’ve ever expected something like this outside of MFBTY. This is hip-hop at its purest, music that spans musical landscapes but stays true to the heart of the matter: honest-to-goodness lyricism.
9. Mon Navy & Jazzy Moon – EGO
As I mentioned, it’s a crime and shame how much hip-hop really does get missed in Korea. The rapper-producer duo of Mon Navy and Jazzy Moon created an album that was hip-hop at its purest. There were no frills. Nothing added for the sake of showing out. It’s just pure production — close nods to late-’80s, early-’90s hip-hop à la the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and Slum Village — and effortless delivery. “EGO” is everything about the genre that made me fall in love with it in my childhood. It’s emotional, intelligent, elegantly rendered hip-hop that holds true to the roots of the genre with respect and reverence.
8. AWAKFINA – In Fina We Trust
Y’all gon’ stop sleeping on AWKWAFINA today! This woman deserves everything. This seven-track EP reveals exactly why. We all know she’s a character, sometimes bordering on goofy. It’s a trait that effortlessly endears her to so many people. However, very few acknowledge that the woman has a mind like a steel trap. Her bar game is just vicious. Don’t get yourself caught trying to outwit her. The pen is just too mighty. “In Fina We Trust” is the perfect way to not only showcase her remarkable lyrical prowess. It also reveals that at the core of all that cheek and sass is an emotional and intellectual woman who’s more brazen and ballsy than some of your favorite male MCs could ever be.
7. PUNCHNELLO – at 5:43am
Everyone knows how I feel about “at 5:43am.” The utter compositional mastery of that thing left me breathless for days after I’d listened to it. PUNCHNELLO is truly underrated as an all-around artist. His emotional depth manifests itself in some truly rich music. The narrative is clear, even with very few actual lyrics. But that production is utterly to die for. The aural landscape is wide, as is ‘NELLO’s range. Sorely underrated as a producer and composer.
6. XXX – Language
What can I say? I fall more and more in love with XXX the more music they release. While their first few singles were more on the irreverent side, there was always a sense that they had something heavy to get off their chests. Kim Ximya has a bite and snarl in his tone reminiscent of the likes of Schoolboy Q. Meanwhile, FRNK has taken his love of complex thematic elements (taken from a love of both legendary director Stanley Kubrick and mad scientist artist Clarence Clarity) and really given us music that’s both intricate and heady. With “Language,” the duo have once again reinvented themselves, showcasing more musical depth and ferocity than they ever have.
5. SLEEQ – Life Minus F Is Lie
https://open.spotify.com/track/4chGnvU5UpJoeMh9xtDvLy
SLEEQ can do no wrong in my eyes. A hardcore and unapologetic feminist, she always speaks from a place of honesty and fearlessness. In “Life Minus F Is Lie,” she opens herself up more than she ever has in the past. In eight songs, she unfolds the deeper, more emotional aspects of herself. Along with the brazenness of her pen, there’s also the emotional weight of the musical composition. We also have to consider her choice of features — two vocalists who represent extensions of SLEEQ’s own personality: Dennis Jin, the vocal powerhouse of rock-blues band Decadent, and YESEO, an electronica artist that shares SLEEQ’s fearlessness and wraps it in a lovely voice. This was a step beyond hip-hop for SLEEQ. For my part, it further endeared her to me as one of the most important female MCs to come from Korea.
4. Drunken Tiger – Drunken Tiger X: Rebirth of Tiger JK
If you’re going to even touch the subject of Korean hip-hop, you absolutely and unequivocally must pay homage to The Godfather, Tiger JK. “Rebirth of Tiger JK” is a brilliant piece of music that dug into the Drunken Tiger legacy and redefined the man behind the moniker. It’s fitting that he used this two-album opus to put a final cap on the name he’s used as his calling card for the past two decades. This was certainly a rebirth of Tiger JK as an artist. He opened up his world and added elements from all the artists and sounds that inspire him, broadening his scope and allowing the world another peek into who he is as an artist and a man. As we bid a final yet fond farewell to the name itself, we can only anticipate what the next chapter in JK’s life and his music will bring.
3. DUMMIE – CAFE BLEU
As far as I’m concerned, DUMMIE (f.k.a. Dumbfoundead) is probably the most critically successful MC to graduate from the world of battle rap. The fact of it is up for debate. But you can’t deny that as far as the lyrical and conceptual mastery concern, DUMMIE is one of the best. “CAFE BLEU” was another layer to the man. Another means for fans of his music to dig deep into what makes him tick. His artistry is on full display. He even shows an appreciation for the dramatic to go along with his penchant for narrative. Without even trying, he creates lyrical landscapes that listeners can dive into and live within.
2. Tasha – Gemini 2
There are many MCs out there that I adore. Some may even have the title of “favorite.” HOWEVER, there is only ONE Natasha Yoon Mirae Reed! This woman is an MC’s MC. Her pen is mighty. Her musical ear is flawless. And her tone… There’s no denying that fans of the artist have been waiting with bated breath for the follow-up to the now classic “Gemini.” Ms. Tasha sure as hell delivered the goods with the long-awaited sequel. Coming some 16 years after the first, “Gemini 2” shows growth, added depth, and a more mature perspective than its legendary predecessor. Never mind that it proves Tasha is without a doubt the baddest female MC (and one of the baddest period) to ever do the damn thing!
ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!
1. JJANGYOU – KOKI7
I’m just going to come out and say it: JJANGYOU is my favorite rapper from Korea. I’ve been following him since his days with duo ILLAP, have been moved and utterly destroyed by his latest work in WAVISABIROOM. Now with this solo EP, he’s solidified himself as one of the most provocative, most aggressive MCs to come out of the country. “KOKI7” was another facet of JJANGYOU’s musical personality. Sheer piss and vinegar, yes. But as with all his work there’s a sense of introspective melancholy. Beyond that, the album is just damn good. With his partner in crime J-flow at the helm of the album’s production, there’s a silken beauty that adds emotional depth to an artist and an album that’s already shrouded in various shades.
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What were some of your favorite hip-hop albums from 2018? What albums and artists surprised you in 2018?