At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
As a companion to my Top Ten Singles lists, it’s time to look at some of the best album tracks and b-sides from the best artists. In light of the very sad news of 2NE1’s disbandment today, it seems like a perfect time to take another look at their discography. In true YG style, they’ve … Continue reading
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. TEDDY Years … Continue reading
YG Entertainment has a long history of releasing excellent mid-tempo ballads, but none has ever sounded quite like BLACKPINK’s new single Stay. The girls have constantly been compared to 2NE1 (the only other female act in the agency) and portions of Stay‘s melody feel lifted from directly from that group’s oeuvre, but it’s been repackaged … Continue reading
For the past few months, I’ve felt like one of the only k-pop fans who hasn’t been completely won over by new YG girl group BLACKPINK. Luckily their first comeback, consisting of Playing With Fire (불장난) and Stay, has gone a long way in reigniting my interest. At many points, both Whistle and Boombayah felt as … Continue reading
I never found the time to review The Solutions’ July single Ticket To The Moon, even though I found it to be a summer highlight. Korea isn’t exactly known for its rock music, and The Solutions’ particular brand of synthy indie pop is even more unique in the world of k-pop. Paired with Lovelyz’ main vocal Kei forges … Continue reading
When it was first announced that 90’s superstars Sechs Kies had signed with YG Entertainment for their long awaited reunion, I couldn’t imagine what the resulting material would sound like. Sechs Kies older songs don’t really bear anything close to the trademark YG sound, though I suppose a focus on hip-hop creates some sort of through … Continue reading
October is officially here, which means the countdown to Halloween has started. Whether you’re cobbling together a mix for a Halloween party or carnival, or just looking for some seasonal selections to soundtrack your pumpkin carving, K-Pop has a lot to offer. Here are some of the best tracks. If your favorite Halloween K-Pop song … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
K-Pop is an agency-driven genre, meaning that what gets put into the market is often expertly crafted by a team of individuals and hoisted upon a group/artist who then takes it to the next level with their talent and charisma. This doesn’t necessarily take art out of the equation, but it does create an environment … Continue reading
As part of their official sub-unit debut, Winner’s Mino and iKON’s Bobby have released double title tracks that each show off very different charms. After being thrilled with the upbeat exuberance of Hit Me, Full House (붐벼) brings the guys back to a lurching, stereotypical exercise in what apparently makes hip-hop cool. But here’s the problem: … Continue reading
For the past few days, Winner’s Mino and iKON’s Bobby have been building up to their sub-unit with solo releases. And as enjoyable as they’ve both been, it turns out that (for Hit Me, at least) the two are strongest together. I can’t even begin to describe how refreshing it is to hear them actually … Continue reading
A day after iKON’s Bobby released his solo single, fellow YG rapper Mino has unveiled Body (몸), which was billed as a slower, sexier counterpart to his label-mate’s boisterous hype track. This doesn’t necessarily seem like the more interesting description on paper, but in the battle of the solo tracks, I think Body just barely edges … Continue reading
This week marks the long-awaited release from The MOBB, which is the sub-unit of rappers Bobby and Mino (from YG groups iKON and Winner, respectively). But before we get to that collaboration, we’ll be treated to a solo track from each. First up is Bobby, who’s delivered a hype track with a truly obnoxious title. … Continue reading
It seems as if CL’s official American debut has been “imminent” for years now. But even without the ridiculously long wait (which has been a YG hallmark of late), I was never very enthused by the prospect of her going international. I don’t want k-pop artists to “break” the U.S. if it means they’ll be … Continue reading
As part of BLACKPINK’s double title track debut, Boombayah (붐바야) acts as their more uptempo party offering. But whatever BLACKPINK released, the comparisons with YG’s other girl group, 2NE1, were inevitable. Boombayah feels a lot more like 2NE1 than their other track, Whistle, and that becomes both its strength and weakness. Boombayah kicks off with some truly … Continue reading
After years of teasing us, YG Entertainment’s new girl group, BLACKPINK, has finally made their debut. And therein lies one of YG’s biggest problems. After such a ridiculously long wait, anything short of “2016’s best song” is going to come off as a disappointment. Whistle (휘파람) is not among the year’s best, but at the … Continue reading
Though his solo work may not be as colorful or boundary-pushing as bandmate G-Dragon, Taeyang has proved to be one of Bigbang’s most successful members. Driven by his inimitable voice, he’s released three albums on his own and keeps getting better and better. With an emphasis on classic R&B over modern YG beats, he’s given … Continue reading
After taking a look at the songs, it’s time to turn to the albums of 2016. As much as I love a good single, it can only be improved by being part of an excellent album. Last year saw Wonder Girls, Infinite, B1A4 and Shinee releasing my favorite collections. This year, the boy groups have … Continue reading
He may be the most well-known k-pop artist to those unfamiliar with the genre, but PSY is much more than Gangnam Style. It’s an iconic moment, and responsible for introducing millions to k-pop (including myself, to a certain extent), but surrounding this massive achievement is over a decade of hits, many of which pull from disparate genres … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 