It’s no surprise that 2018 was a solid year for R&B in Korea. The country has been churning out some of the most interesting takes on the genre for the past few years. Last year in particular, artists were compelled to take a genre they love and respect and give it nuance. While there were probably 20 albums I could’ve listed here, I decided to be polite and list my Top 10 favorite R&B albums from 2018!
10. SAAY – CLASSIC
There’s very little I can say about SAAY without devolving into fits of fangirly nonsense. Quite frankly, she’s got a voice that could change your religion. Indeed, it’s always something close to church listening to her wrap her voice around the music. Taken as a whole, it goes from something holy to something utterly sinful. The production that accompanies that vocal is really just stellar. It’s no mistake the name of the album is “Classic.” SAAY takes traditional aspects of R&B, drawing from its roots to share some utterly earthshattering vocal and lyrical work.
9. MRSHLL – Breathe
MRSHLL is one of those artists who constantly surprises me. Yes, we’re all fully aware of the all-out power of his voice. However, with “Breathe,” he gives us more of himself: more grit, honesty, emotion. His lyricism is commendable, fearless much in the same way he is in life. Then, of course, there’s that voice! That husky tenor, smooth as melted honey. It’s just a force of nature. There’s a purity in it that adds a dimension of heartache to the words and draws listeners ever deeper into what it is that makes Marshall Bang who he is.
8. Jooyoung – Fountain
Since his debut EP, “From Me to You,” I’ve been waiting with bated breath for more from the talented R&B vocalist. Among all the drippy vocalists pervading the genre, Jooyoung’s voice is both strong and lovely. Mixed with a love of R&B, it’s no surprise that he was somewhat pigeonholed into a role he wasn’t comfortable filling. Then there was “Fountain.” It’s strong of R&B, obviously romantic in parts, but mostly laden with heavy emotions and a surprising amount of honesty.
7. Cherry Coke – Blind
https://open.spotify.com/track/3TLgiFSrODBQN5Qa5Ea9eN
Like Samuel Seo, Cherry Coke is turning out to be an artist that many miss on their path to R&B. “Blind” was a brilliant piece of straight-up neo-soul. Though its biggest proponent is Nuz (and at times SOMA), the genre really takes a back seat to what’s been dubbed “future R&B” (a subgenre that has elements of lo-fi, hip-hop, and of course neo-soul). With “Blind,” Cherry Coke uses neo-soul as a vehicle to deliver an emotional, understated piece of music that unfortunately went largely unnoticed in the onslaught of R&B and hip-hop coming out of Korea.
6. Crush – wonderlost
Quite frankly, Crush is one of the most brilliant musical minds to come out of Korea. This isn’t for anything. The man spends as much time studying the craft as making the music – if not more. He’s dedicated to digging deep into his musical roots (which stem from an initial love of R&B, then a lifelong obsession with jazz). He takes all of this knowledge and melds it with the R&B that birthed him. Thus we come to something like “wonderlost.” The piece is intelligent, thought-provoking. It is an in-depth examination of the microcosm of pop music and how even those roots can be traced back to moody rhythms and heady blues. He then turns that reflection on himself and creates really one of the more intriguing pieces of music to come out of South Korea.
5. Ann One – SUPERNOVA
Ann One is a master vocalist. Point blank. There’s very little one can say about her that hasn’t already been said ad nauseam. She has a range that could rival anybody. She also has had a helping hand in some of the vocal power of Queen T herself. With “SUPERNOVA,” Ann took her powerhouse vocals and brilliant songwriting and gifted fans with a piece of music that was really unforgettable. It’s a mature album, heavy nods to early-mid-’90s R&B. More than that “SUPERNOVA” is a sweeping examination of how to stretch and magnify one’s vocals to tell intriguing and relatable stories.
4. 2xxx! – Life+consciousness
https://open.spotify.com/track/5hpJwLiUV02mx6aZQW0aUu
Probably one of lesser known members of the clubeskimo collective, 2xxx! has an enviable musical mind. “Life+consciousness” shows the man has an incredible depth in everything he creates. There’s lightness in his sound. Something that inspires a great deal of nostalgia. The collaborations on the album are no less inspiring. He obviously has his pick of enormous talent from his tribe of friends. MISO‘s contribution, for instance, shows her at her most vocally powerful, which says a lot considering how much of an impression her husky alto makes on its own. While most know Millic as the producer focal point, really 2xxx! has an incredible ear for the waves and curves of music and how certain sounds interact with one another.
3. Samuel Seo – UNITY
https://open.spotify.com/track/0G94mkN5scLEgD8iVvxeDc
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times: Samuel Seo is one of the most genuinely good artists to come out of South Korea. When I say that I mean he continues to reinvent is his sound, evolve his craft. He defies the norm in the Korean music industry more than almost any artists from the country. He’s ever-evolving, never resting on his laurels. He gives us music that’s transformative, evocative, and just damn good to listen to. “UNITY” is a piece of contemporary jazz-soul magic. He keeps things uncomplicated, yet there’s so much depth. It’s a shame that he continues to be underappreciated even in a musical environment riddled with underappreciated artists.
2. Cavalier – Innate
While the artist himself is half-Japanese, half-Mexican, his work with Korean artists on this album makes it count. (That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it!) In all seriousness, now… “Innate” was without a doubt one of the most gorgeous pieces of music that came out of 2018. The level of intimacy. The closeness to the skin. Cavalier’s crazy musicianship. The compositional DNA of this piece is enough to leave anyone breathless.
iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud
1. Anderson .Paak – Oxnard
I know we don’t usually talk about Anderson .Paak under the qualifier of “Korean artist.” But he is, after all, part Korean. His wife is Korean. His children are half Korean. So it fits that we put him here. Quite frankly, Oxnard is one of the more exceptional albums to come out of 2018. Anderson’s penchant for the nostalgic lays the foundation for thematic and musical greatness. Oxnard shows Anderson right in his pocket: music that’s timeless and lyrics that are relatable and honest. There’s undeniable sincerity in the piece. There’s also something intangible, something deeper that proves that Anderson .Paak is one of the most brilliant musical minds to come out of the last decade.
What were some of your favorite R&B albums last year? What were some surprises that came out of the onslaught of releases?
Really felt as though you missed out by not mentioning any of Leebada’s three LPs, or at least combining them as they are a singular project! Other than that this was a great read.