6 K-Hip hop Artists to Add to Your Playlist

From K-Pop all the way to K-Indie, South Korea has become known for how full of life its music scene is. But with how there are just so many genres in Korea’s music industry, there is a need to bring others to the spotlight for listeners to know more about them.

In this article, The Daebak Company has compiled a list of six K-Hip hop artists you must listen to. This selection includes influential figures from the genre's early stages up to the present scene.

Let's first talk about the iconic K-Hip hop artists who have not only made a name for themselves but have also brought significant recognition to Korea's music industry. Their creativity, unique sound, and powerful performances have played a crucial role in shaping and promoting the K-Hip hop genre on a global scale.

Why don't we get into them?

Their name strikes familiarity for many fans of Korean Music as Epik High is considered one of the most influential music groups of the 2000s. Epik High consists of members Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz and has been making music for 21 years.

This K-Hip Hop group is known for pairing sentimental and slow melodies with a fast yet still gentle rap style, which is sure to catch listeners' attention.

While BLACKPINK was the first K-Pop group to headline at Coachella, did you know that Epik High also holds a significant place in the event?

The group participated in 2016 and were scheduled to perform again in 2020, but the event was unfortunately canceled due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. Notably, they hold the distinction of being the first Korean idols to receive three invitations to this esteemed music festival.

Epik High's popularity soared following the launch of their hit track "Fly" in 2005. Their album, Swan Songs, initially intended to be their last, brought them into the limelight. The standout song, "Fly," dominated music rankings and clinched the Song of the Year accolade at the Melon Music Awards in 2005.

Want to start listening to Epik High? Check out their album and purchase it here from The Daebak Company. For now, here are our recommended songs from this K-Hip Hop trio:

• Catch (feat. Hwasa)
• On My Way (feat. Jackson Wang)
• Can You Hear My Heart (feat. Lee Hi)
• Rosario (feat. CL & ZICO)
• God's Latte

Hong Da-bin, more popularly known as DPR Live, is a Korean rapper and singer–another known name to many Korean music fans. Along with rappers Christian Yu (DPR Ian) and Scott Kim (DPR Rem), he co-founded the label Dream Perfect Regime (DPR) back in 2014.

DPR Live is known for combining both hip hop and R&B into a style he is best known for - sensual and slow. His deep and rough voice compliments the melody of the music well.

During a recent Instagram live, DPR Live made it public that he plans to take a break from the DPR collective. His upcoming album will be launched under his birth name, Hong Da-bin.

Want to start listening to DPR Live? Listen to his songs here and collect his albums from The Daebak Company. Here are some of our favorite songs from him:

• Martini Blue
• Know Me (feat. DEAN)
• Gravity
• Here Right Now (feat. LOCO & JAY PARK)
• Summer Tights

Besides being known as the former leader and main rapper of YG Entertainment's 2NE1, Lee Chaerin, CL, has made a name for herself as a strong and fierce female performer. She is a Korean rapper and singer-songwriter who has been active in the industry since her group debuted in 2009.

If the former artists featured in this article were known for slow or gentle raps that stayed on the softer side of hip hop, CL's discography shows to be different. She's best known for her hard-hitting raps complementing a fast-paced and energetic melody.

Wondering what songs to listen? Check out our list of favorites from this legendary K-Hip hop artist:

• Chuck
• Hello Bitches
• Lover Like Me
• Spicy
• The Baddest Female

Get ready to meet the new wave of K-Hip hop artists who are making major strides in the music scene. Let's take a closer look at these promising talents and their contributions to the music industry.

BIBI, real name Kim Hyungseo, is a Korean soloist currently making waves in the K-Hip hop scene. She is a soloist under Feel Ghood Music and has been in the industry for just four years, as she debuted in 2019.

Since then, BIBI has been steadily carving out a niche for herself. Her distinctly pop tune "The Weekend," which was performed at Head In The Clouds, garnered significant international recognition and even secured the #29 spot on the US Top 40 radio charts.

Known for her uniquely thin and high-pitched raps, BIBI's music still impacts strongly. Her vocals go well with how she mixes both the hip-hop and R&B genres, which will surely draw listeners in.

Don't know where to start with BIBI? Try listening to these songs:

• Vengeance
• The Weekend
• ZAKINO
• Best Lover (with 88rising)
• BAD SAD AND MAD

Lee Byungyoon, commonly known as BewhY, is a Korean rapper and member of the underground hip hop group $exy $treet & Yello Music crew. He is most famous for placing first in the fifth season of Show Me The Money back in 2016. 

BewhY is best known for pairing his beat-induced rap to a heavy-bass melody–which listeners are bound to enjoy if they are a fan of Kanye West as it's reminiscent of his early tracks.

If you're planning on getting into K-Hip hop icon BewhY's songs, here are some to begin with:

• GOTTASADAE
• Day Day (feat. JAY PARK)
• Crimson (Prod. Czaer) as one of the Street Woman Fighter2 (SWF2) Crew Songs
• Dejavu
• Holy Toast

Jvcki Wai, real name Hong Yeeun, is a Korean rapper known for hailing from Jay Park's label AOMG. She was announced to be their newest artist just back in 2022. Although she joined AOMG recently, she has been in the industry since 2018.

The artist is known for her fast vocals, dropping raps beat by beat. Her choice of vocals is a high-pitched rap that hits listeners sharply.

While she's still working her way to become a widely recognized figure beyond Korea, Jvcki Wai's song "DDING," which she made with Young B, Osshun Gum & Han Yo Han, created a lot of excitement. Billboard even included it in their list of the Best K-pop songs of 2019, taking the 24th spot. This song did better than SUPERM's 'Jopping' (Top 25) and made it on the popular list, joining other hit songs like BLACKPINK's 'Kill This Love' (Top 21), Red Velvet's Psycho' (Top 18), and EXO's 'Obsession' (Top 1).

This was a meaningful time when Korean rappers, who looked up to artists like Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug, gained a lot of success on their own, without any help from reality TV shows. Jvcki Wai was one of the leading forces behind the single, with her auto-tuned singing standing out sharply.

Wanna start listening to Jvcki Wai's swag? Here's a list of some of her songs:

• Go Back
• Enchanted Propaganda
• Dogma
• EvEry Breath
• Hyperreal (with Kid Milli and 스윙스 Swings)

As much as we keep an eye out for new and upcoming artists, it's always important to give credit to the artists who have come before them, and with K-Hip hop still growing in numbers, it's nice to bring back the artists who stood as the foundation for the genre.

There are just too many artists to feature in this article as the list goes on and on. Which artist will be on your next playlist?