K-Hip-Hop is underappreciated in the international Korean music scene, with many fans knowing only of Korean idol rappers in their favorite groups, but if you’re willing to dive deeper, you’ll find a whole other world of super talented Korean rappers that influenced and inspired idols across the board. We all know SUGA of BTS and his outspoken love of Epik High, but hopefully these K-Hip-Hop B-sides can help broaden your horizons even more.

Just as a general heads up, if explicit lyrics (particularly swearing) aren’t your favorites, you may want to avoid these tracks.

“When” - Jay Park ft. Tablo

Speaking of Epik High, Jay Park teamed up with Epik High member Tablo for “When” off the 2015 album WORLDWIDE. “When” is a confrontational track, with the two rappers calling out others in the industry who try to conform in an attempt to fit in rather than be their own person. Jay Park and Tablo are known for sticking true to themselves, only releasing and making music that stays genuine to who they are, so they don’t pull any punches with this track. One of the strongest lines comes from Jay Park in his final verse, with the rapper saying, “Cheap watered down drink is kinda what they music is like,” describing exactly his feelings on the rest of the music industry.

“StrOngerrr” - CODE KUNST ft. LOCO and MINO

With CODE KUNST serving as composer and producer, rappers LOCO and MINO provided the lyrics for their verses on track “StrOngerrr” off the CODE KUNST album MUGGLES’ MANSION. Both verses describe the trials, tribulations, and past experiences both rappers faced along their separate paths to success and how those hard times have made them stronger. In the choruses, MINO raps, “I’m gonna be stronger than Hercules. Never die like a zombie.” While the struggles of the past may have exhausted them, the two rappers reiterate they’re stronger because of it. This is also heard in the minute-long outro, where a voice sings, “I’ll keep pushin’ on. I am movin’ on without you,” and then later singing, “I can be strong again.” 

“Okay” - penomeco

Don’t let the more upbeat tone of this track fool you and pay attention to the delivery of the lyrics. penomeco’s relatively monotone delivery of this otherwise happy-sounding track is the perfect audio representation of when you pretend everything is fine when things are anything but okay. The background is lilting and peppy, but the track itself talks about how penomeco is dealing with the end of something. It’s not specified if it’s the end of his pre-fame life or a relationship, but there is a sense of missing the old times but not missing the struggles that came with it, with the bridge being, “I’m never fine, never fine, never fine. I’m never fine, never fine, never fine” but the ending of the chorus stating, “It’s okay, okay, okay. It’s okay, okay, okay.” 

“The Greatest” - BewhY ft. Verbal Jint

BewhY’s track “Side by Side'' may be featured in hit K-Drama Sweet Home on Netflix (and also discussed in last week’s B-side article), but his track “The Greatest” featuring K-Hip-Hop veteran Verbal Jint is, simply put, the greatest. Each rapper delivers one verse in this shorter track, but they deliver them well. BewhY raps first, with the lyrics of his verse talking about how his music provides for his family but also how he’s changing the scene. His verse is followed by Verbal Jint’s, who raps about his life but also his innovations in the Korean hip-hop scene. Upon first listen, if you listen closely enough, you’ll hear Verbal Jint mention BewhY in the last line. Once translated, the line is, “BewhY, step on my shoulder, you’re the master,” with the torch being passed from one of the greatest to the next. 

“SWERVE” - punchnello

“SWERVE” by punchnello is interesting as the lyrics describe a swerve in ideals that can be assumed a lot of celebrities have faced along the way. punchnello starts out by stating he wants to make music that is authentic, purely him, but will inspire people as well before he swerves to wanting to be the best, make the most money, win all of the awards, and step over the competition that’s in his way. After stating this, he seems to come back to himself, question what he’s saying, before deciding that to be the best, he’s got to step on some toes along the way. It’s a cut-throat side of fame that we don’t expect to really hear celebrities openly expressing, but his honesty is refreshing and we all know how difficult the music industry can be.