Stellar Female Solos Part 2
Female soloists seem to be the trend K-Pop is leaning towards these days, with many girl group artists going solo. As such, not all these ladies get the spotlight they deserve. And even if they do, well, they certainly deserve it too!
Crazy Dog 미친개 - YEZI
Confession upfront: I am probably YEZI’s biggest fangirl. When I first came across “Crazy Dog 미친개,” I was blown away by the amount of raw power, not only in her rapping ability, but in the intensity of her lyrics, which are definitely not broadcast appropriate. There’s something so commanding about the way she fully embraces the ugly things people call her and makes them a part of who she is, shamelessly shutting down all the nonsense she faces and turning it into art. I could have done without San E’s verse, but all and all this song is strong in asserting YEZI’s personality unabashedly, something that is seriously lacking in the K-Pop industry.
Nega Dola 내가 돌아 - BoA
As your resident Mexican-descendant fan, I absolutely love to hear Latin influence in K-Pop songs, as shown in my raving review of SF9’s “O Sole Mio.” BoA’s “Nega Dola 내가 돌아” is obviously more pop-focused but has a nice touch of Spanish guitar and Latin flare in the chorus that make it purely addictive. BoA has continued to prove that she’s an immovable force in the K-Pop world, with a voice that cannot be replicated and an impressive 18-year track record when many groups don’t last past seven years.
Ninano - Minzy
Since officially leaving 2NE1, Minzy has been pretty quiet. Like former bandmate CL, she’s found difficulty in solo success on a scale even larger than CL, who still does fairly well with solo releases, even if it’s not on the same scale as their former group. Minzy’s only solo release to date, “Ninano,” definitely didn’t get the media attention it should have. The song has a more Western pop vibe with a clear Caribbean influence that is a unique sound in comparison to other K-Pop releases. Plus, the song features a pretty sick verse from rapper Flowsik, which adds to the overall catchiness of this track.
Like You - Hoody
AOMG’s princess Hoody isn’t known so much for her solo releases, but rather being featured on tracks of other AOMG members. Hoody has a very smooth and soothing voice, perfect for her target R&B genre, yet she still seems to be overlooked regularly, with less than a million views on her lovely single “Like You.” “Like You” has the perfect slow vibe jam, complemented by Hoody’s sweet vocals that make for the perfect chill track. If you’ve yet to familiarize yourself with Hoody’s work, this is your cue to check her out!
Black Out - IU
There’s no doubt that IU dominates the Korean music scene, but that popularity is certainly justified when she writes and composes her own songs. “Black Out” comes off her mini-album Palette and is an upbeat pop track that has an incredibly catchy and unique backing beat. IU reminds us to let loose and have fun in “Black Out,” a sentiment that we surely need more of this day and age.