Though it's already 2017, here are 10 of my Korean hip hop songs of 2016, in no particular order.
Mercy (ft AP) – Nafla. With Nafla’s flow of hard hitting bursts that match the
heavy trap beat, and AP’s more laconic flow, prepare to get turnt with this one.
Flight Attendant – XXX. The duo push the boundaries of hip hop with the almost
brutal electronic beat. Though the complex multifaceted beat is the hero of the track, Kim
Ximya's nasally rap is the glue between the tracks' juxtaposing elements.
And July (ft Dean and DJ Friz) – Heize. On a classic beat with killer drum breaks, Heize shows her versatility
by singing and rapping on the track. And you can’t help but notice the synergy
and chemistry between Heize and Dean.
Perfect – PH-1. If you’re having a bad day, listen to this. Reminiscent of Chance
the Rapper, the infectious beat, complete with a choir and whistling, perfectly
complements PH-1’s energetic, joyful flow.
Tribeast – Tribeast. This song epitomises hip hop. The sample heavy beat is
seamlessly cut under Don Malik’s clear but vivacious flow to pay homage to
the classics.
Green Horizon – Punchnello. Over the lush electronic inclined beat, customary of his
crew Club Eskimo, Punchnello’s speedy rap completes another boundary pusher.
상상 – Kim Hyo-Eun. The Illionaire protégée’s deep, grainy tone rides smoothly
on the chill, classic beat, again with killer breaks. Though simple, the track
is perfect to chill out to.
Caffeine – C.Cle. This may seem like a biased choice considering I interviewed
C.Cle, but rest assured it’s not. With C.Cle’s robust, consistent flow over a
definitive g funk beat, your head will be bopping.
Mission (ft Dok2) – The Quiett. Returning to what he does best, the Illionaire CEO’s flow and classic style beat blend seamlessly
on this smooth track. But with a feisty flow, Dok2 adds nice juxtaposition to the song.
Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments.
