August K-Hip-Hop & K-R&B Roundup

It’s been quite a month for K-Hip-Hop and K-R&B releases, so let’s take a look at what August has provided us thus far!

Punch x Mad Clown - “I Miss You”

Dropped on August 3, the single “I Miss You” highlights Punch’s strong and haunting vocals with Mad Clown’s punchy rap flow, making for an interesting combination of longing and intensity in this sentimental track. The modern track mixes the heavy influence of piano in a ballad with a subtle hip-hop beat that on paper might seem like an odd combination, but fits perfectly with this duo. Punch’s vocals in particular really hit with this track. If you’re looking for a more melancholy type of song, this will be a good choice. 

Jay Park x pH-1 - “ALL IN (Prod. GroovyRoom)” 

The H1GHR Music boys collide! In a GroovyRoom produced track, veteran rapper Jay Park teams up with pH-1 for a hard-hitting rap track in “ALL IN (Prod. GroovyRoom).” As with any GroovyRoom track, the composition is immaculate and has something we haven’t heard before, in this case the heavy use of synth in the chorus. If you’re looking for a great hip-hop meets EDM synth influence, “ALL IN (Prod. GroovyRooom)” is the track for you. 

GRAY - “Baby Don’t Cry” feat. YUMDDA, “I Don’t Love You” feat. Coogie & “Make Love” feat. Zion.T

In preparation for his next album release, GRAY has dropped two pre-release singles so far this month. “Baby Don’t Cry” came first on August 6, and features a reggae influenced beat that is certainly infectious. GRAY explores a new feel with more focus on his vocals rather than rap, leaving the rap to his featured artist YUMDDA. The sweet affirmations in the chorus are sure to provide some comfort as well.

“I Don’t Love You” definitely has a different tone, with autotune featured more prominently in the vocals and lyrics declaring a false love. The beat is a more traditional hip-hop and R&B combination with an upbeat tempo. Coogie’s featured verse has a more vocal harmonious tone as well as a higher register, and fits very well into the melody.

The official release of new album grayground. broke on August 17, accompanied by the track “Make Love” featuring Zion.T. “Make Love” is the upbeat R&B summer track we all needed, with a driving funky beat accompanied by a fun and adorable music video. This type of track is a great fit for Zion.T’s brand of vocal flavor as well, which fits in smoothly with the track and just adds even more brightness to the song. It’s not too late to have a fun and carefree summer, and GRAY is here to remind us of that! 

Gaho - “RIDE”

We gave a shining feature to Gaho’s previous single release for its retro influences, so what’s to be expected this time around? As is standard with Gaho, some stellar vocals are guaranteed, but we’ve got some different rock influences. “RIDE” has a groovy beat that is certainly addictive, but what really packs a punch is the shifting melody in the chorus that puts an electric guitar at center stage. It definitely gives the song a more punchy, punk feel. If you haven’t taken to listening to Gaho yet, be sure not to miss out on this single. 

Standing Egg - “What Are You Thinking About”

Standing Egg is a prominent group amongst indie artists, but less well-known amongst the general K-Pop fan population. Still, as an indie artist, they have been able to chart on music charts with little to no promotion and are a testament to the power of indie artists. “What Are You Thinking About” is a soft acoustic track that brings a refreshing and soft sound perfectly fit for a quiet summer day, and is certain to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. The melody is simple, but the vocals are simply stellar, easily eliciting goosebumps. Sometimes simplicity really is the best method, and Standing Egg absolutely illustrates that amongst more intense releases this month.