Another year is over, and another slew of releases have graced us in the world of Korean music. Let’s take a look back at 2021 and our favorite releases in K-Hip-Hop and K-R&B from the year.

“No Blueberries (feat. DPR Live, CL)” - DPR Ian

This track was released as a single in late December 2020, but was featured on DPR Ian’s 2021 album Moodswings in This Order. “No Blueberries (feat. DPR Live, CL)” has remained on the heavy rotation playlist all year long because of the refreshing uniqueness of the track. We don’t see bossa nova used as a main melody in Korean music enough, and pairing with the bluesy tone of the lyrics makes it a perfect contrast. The track is catchy and DPR Ian’s unique composition techniques shine through. CL’s vocal additions at the chorus add a beautiful vocal color and smooth out the track altogether. Add in a rap verse from DPR Live and you have a formula for a perfect track.

“Rosario (feat. CL, ZICO)” - Epik High

In this house, we believe in Epik High supremacy. “Rosario (feat. CL, ZICO)” kicked off 2021 with a bang, the classic, biting hip-hop track putting everyone in their place. The choice to feature CL and ZICO added to the epicness of the track, and gave us a taste of just how much CL would return in the year. The lyrics are guaranteed to give you chills with their intensity and brilliance, and the beat itself is simply addicting. Some personal bias may come into play here, as the track gave me strength during uncertain times in my dog’s cancer treatment, but overall it’s a stellar return that we’ve come to expect from Epik High.

“Rush Hour” - Gaho

It’s been a big year for singer-songwriter Gaho, with the release of his first full album Fireworks coming at the end of the year. “Rush Hour” was released as a single in May and immediately charmed us for its nostalgic feel. The track takes inspiration from the heavy rock era of the early 2000s while incorporating a softer acoustic tone in each verse that highlights his strong vocal talents.

“비가 그치면 (When The Rain Stops)” - Hoody

Sometimes we just need a good melancholy song. Anytime Hoody has a release, it’s bound to be an R&B classic, and that remains true with “비가 그치면 (When The Rain Stops).” Hoody’s vocal tone is a perfect match for this type of melancholy R&B ballad, with the chorus guaranteed to elicit goosebumps just at the beauty of her tone. The song is good for the quieter days of winter, with a calming feel that definitely makes one reflect on their own feelings.

“크림빵 (Creamppang)” - SUMIN & Zion.T

We’ve said it before, but there’s something magical about the quirky natures of SUMIN and Zion.T coming together to create music. While nothing can beat the mastery that was “DIRTY LOVE” in 2020, “크림빵 (Creamppang)” is a close second. The song is unique, beautifully quirky, and features an amazing harmonization between the two artists. Their collaborations always bring me a type of joy that’s hard to properly articulate, and hopefully in 2022 we’ll see more of this duo.

“WAITING” - WOODZ

A WOODZ release is always promising, but there’s something even more special about the driving beat featured in “WAITING.” This track incorporates more pop influences in the melody, but it’s quite refreshing in his style. The contrast between the upbeat and driving melody to the darker and sad lyrics is a beautiful juxtaposition, and something WOODZ has mastered in his music.