Summer time is in full force, with the heat driving dreams of beach vacations and lazy days that many of us overlook due to work. Take a break from the daily grind of life to soak up the sun with some of these stellar K-R&B summer vibes!

“1+1=0” - SURAN ft. DEAN

Powerhouse vocalists SURAN and DEAN team up for “1+1=0,” an upbeat and retro track mixed with a modern R&B beat expressing the frustration with the current workaholic state of the world. The video depicts a young woman going through the motions of a stressful job, often going through difficult scenarios during the day and collapsing onto the bed at night. The playful song is an important reminder for us to take rest when we need it, and with the lyrics complemented by the cheery tone, nothing feels quite as refreshing and reminiscent of the need for a summer getaway as this lovely song.

“Endorphin” - Crush ft. penemeco & punchnello

It wouldn’t be a K-R&B list without King Crush, an absolute legend in the genre. Though the soloist has plenty of great tracks to choose from, “Endorphin” is one of his B-side gems and features prominent K-Hip-Hop and R&B artists penemeco and punchnello. This track has a breezier feeling; its rhythm and faster tempo elicit the feeling of a beach day, sun shining bright and crashing waves accompanying the bright melody. penemeco’s unique vocal color adds a new dimension to the track, contrasting Crush’s tone. Another level is added when punchnello comes in with his rap verse, nicely wrapping up the entire track.

“Pluhmm” - HA:TFELT

Former Wonder Girls’s Yeeun, now branding herself as HA:TFELT, is the newest big thing in K-R&B. “Pluhmm” is a gem the soloist released back in 2018, one of her first solo releases since Wonder Girls’ disbandment. The track offers a fresh new vibe, taking inspiration from the bossa nova genre as its main focus, something we don’t often hear with Korean releases. The chill beat accompanied by Yeeun’s sweet voice provides a relaxing atmosphere that isn’t easily replicated. 

“Heyahe” - ONE

Back before he left YG Entertainment, soloist ONE did manage to release a couple of songs. One of those was the single “Heyahe,” which we still consider one of the best songs ever released. “Heyahe” has the type of slow R&B beat that already has a sultry affect, but add in the lyrics and a very sexy picture will be fully painted. Even with that aside, it’s hard not to feel captivated by this track, from ONE’s distinct vocal color to the addicting rhythm. It has a relaxing evening vibe that helps the listener mellow out after a tough day and is perfect for a chill summer evening.

“Brown” - SUMIN ft. Hoody

If you want to talk about a power collaboration, nothing tops producer SUMIN teaming up with AOMG’s princess Hoody for a track. SUMIN uses ‘90s R&B influences in a lot of her tracks, and “Brown” is a perfect example of that, but the track also features some retro pop influences as well. Despite having very different vocal timbres, the duo’s voices mesh together very well, with Hoody’s silky smooth tone mellowing out SUMIN’s distinct sound. It’s an upbeat track that’s sure to leave the listener feeling cheery, and it’s always nice to see two powerful women in the industry come together to dominate.

“Accident” - WOODZ

WOODZ is definitely the talk of the town these days, and though it was definitely due much earlier, it’s better late than never. Cho Seungyoun is an expert at the K-R&B genre, and while his latest album is full of summer jams, “Accident” definitely hits home the most. The track features a sultry melody, and accompanied by Seungyoun’s stunning high notes and overall warm voice, goosebumps are sure to pop up on your arms upon first listen.