Can you believe it? We’re finally in the last week of 2020. Though this year has been full of turmoil and uncertainty, we’ve always been able to look toward music for some comfort through it all. Let’s take a look back at some of our favorite releases from the K-R&B and K-Hip-Hop scenes this year.

“Dirty Love” - SUMIN feat. Zion.T 

Here at The Kraze we’ve been absolutely in love with SUMIN after discovering her through this release. The talented songwriter and producer has been getting more spotlight recently despite a number of years of experience in the industry, and that may be due to this collaboration with one of the biggest names in the K-R&B space, Zion.T. “Dirty Love” is a breakup song that contains all the elements associated with that experience, from expressions of anger to the underlying hurt that we hide from the public eye. Though it may not appear to be an intense song on the surface due to the funky retro beat and the higher register vocals from both SUMIN and Zion.T, there’s much more to this song than meets the eye. The duo could easily make a power vocalist couple, with both flexing their unique vocal color while harmonizing well. 

“OHIO” - Crush

Crush is a pretty common comfort singer for many, and he continues to provide that in the tumultuous year of 2020. “OHIO” is another track that creates an upbeat atmosphere in the melody with more underlying sadness in the lyrics, where Crush laments the feelings of loneliness after losing a partner. While most of the song is expressing this, the true comfort comes from the ending verse where he declares to the listeners: “I wanna make you feel much better, I wanna make you feel so good.” The song feels like a comforting presence and a listening ear while simultaneously expressing the feelings many of us experience. 

“Love Me Harder” - WOODZ

WOODZ definitely exploded in popularity after making the lineup of X1 despite years of releasing his own self-produced music that at one point was considered fairly underground. He’s certainly far more in the spotlight in 2020, with “Love Me Harder” garnering 15 million views in comparison to older tracks barely garnering one million upon release. Admittedly, “Love Me Harder” was not our favorite upon first listen, but the song quickly grows on you for its unique melody. The driving EDM beat is accompanied by a whistling melody, and while simple, it provides a memorable and unique sound that isn’t like anything else in recent Korean releases. There’s no doubt that WOODZ is a very talented songwriter, and it’s nice to see him finally getting the recognition he deserves.

“Daechwita” - Agust D

Agust D may be part of arguably the most famous K-Pop act in the world, but there’s no doubt as to where his roots come from with the release of his solo mixtapes. “Daechwita” is unique because it combines traditional daechwita musical elements with modern rap influences, bringing a distinct Korean flavor to the world stage unlike anything before. Despite being considered an idol rapper, Agust D’s flow is unmatched, and his roots in underground rapping take the forefront of the stage and put him on the level of even the most respected Korean rappers. Hype song of the year is definitely not an exaggeration when it comes to “Daechwita.”

“우리” - punchnello feat. meenoi

The Kraze is a punchnello support outlet, so there was no way he could be left off this list. Although the rapper did not release much music this year, his singles have been great, and “우리” brings in a more relaxing vibe. While punchnello can release intense rap tracks with flawless flow, this track highlights a more chill side of the rapper and proves to be a comforting R&B track. The addition of meenoi’s soft vocals serve to contrast punchnello’s more rough tone, creating a balance of rap and vocals on this modern R&B song.