In music, "R" stands for "Rhythm," which is the pulse of a song, establishing its groove and tempo through patterns of beats and timing. The letter "B" stands for "Blues," a musical style with 12-bar structures and soulful, emotional lyrics that frequently reflect themes of adversity and suffering. Together, rhythmic and blues (R&B) combine with the blues' emotive storytelling to create a genre that has had a significant influence on many different types of music. Consider "R" as the pulse and "B" as the soul, which combine to create the feel of R&B music. Although the music industry in South Korea is dominated by K-pop, its R&B genre shouldn’t be underestimated. Therefore, here is a list of the top 10 Korean R&B artists that need to be on your playlist right now.
1. Crush
Crush made a name for himself by fusing hip-hop, acoustic ballads, and soul from the 1970s. Following the success of his 2014 debut album "Crush on You," he worked with well-known musicians including Zion T and Taeyeon. In 2022, following the completion of his military service, he had a memorable comeback with the song "Rush Hour," which included BTS's J-Hope. Ibiza, Fall, 2411 and SOFA are some songs to vibe to in the nights.
2. Lee Hi
Since her 2012 debut, Lee Hi has been praised for her unrivalled voice. She has demonstrated a broad range of musical abilities across many different genres in her career, which includes albums like First Love and SEOULITE. She recently began a new phase of her musical career in 2020 after signing with one of the best Hip-hop and R&B labels, AOMG, in Korea. HOLO, Breathe, Only and No One are some of the songs that have touched everyone’s hearts.
3. Dean
Dean made his solo debut in 2015 with "I'm Not Sorry," featuring Eric Bellinger. His debut EP, "130 Mood: TRBL," released in 2016, debuted at number three on Billboard's World Album chart. Dean gained further recognition as one of Spotify's most influential artists in 2016, and his single "Instagram" from the album '130 Mood: RVNG' topped the Korean charts at the end of 2017. Bonnie and Clyde, What 2 Do and D (Half Moon) can easily become anyone’s favorites.
4. Heize
Heize’s best talent is blending R&B, soul, and hip-hop with calming vocals and even sprinkling some rapping in her songs. She recorded a number of EPs after appearing in the reality series Unpretty Rapstar, with the third EP, "III," that included some chart-topping Korean singles. The year 2019 saw Heize release her first full-length album, "She's Fine," which featured the Top Ten title hit, and her fifth EP, "Late Autumn." Currently, she is signed to P Nation and is known for lending her vocals in songs like Traffic Control, And July and Happen.
5. Yerin Baek
This woman has almost the whole of Korea in her chokehold, thanks to the numerous OSTs she is a part of. The gifted vocalist began her career in the K-pop duet 15& in 2012. With successes like "FRANK" and "Our love is great," she gained recognition as a solo singer-songwriter. In 2019, she established Blue Vinyl as she continued to broaden her creative horizons. 'Love, Yerin' was released in 2021, marking Baek's 10-year musical journey. Lean On Me, Dear My Blue, See You Again and Zero should be in your playlist immediately.
6. DPR Ian
DPR IAN, a native of Sydney, Australia, discovered his love of music and performance at a young age as he was inspired by artists like Daft Punk. He created DPR in partnership with his friends Scott Kim and Hong Da-Bin with the intention of establishing a profession grounded in artistic freedom and authenticity. The Korean R&B scene is incomplete without the DPR Team, and Ian is such a big part of it. Songs like Winterfall, 1 Shot and Scaredy Cat are songs to which you can easily groove.
7. DeVita
Charisma is another name for this female artist. The name 'DeVita' is drawn from the main character 'Salvatore Di Vita' from the film Cinema Paradiso and Argentina's former first lady 'Evita Peron', reflecting her aim to inspire and impact listeners' lives through her vibrantly colored music. Following the SoundCloud release of several distinctive and soulful songs, DeVita began to attract attention. She has collaborated with numerous musicians, including Jay Park, Changmo and Ugly Duck. Movies and 1974 Live are songs that showcase her artistic potential.
8. Suran
It is her vocal color that makes Suran’s releases so special and so unique from each other. Suran made her solo debut in 2014 and gained recognition for her 2017 single "Wine," which was produced by Suga, and her OST hit "Heartbeat" from the K-Drama Strong Girl Bong Soon. She has also collaborated with notable R&B artists such as Dean and Crush. Calling In Love, I Feel and Mannequin are the go-to songs.
9. Junny
This Canadian has been in the R&B scene since 2017 and has amassed a good following within a short period. He is currently under Maeuve Company and recently released his song Invitation after three years. Junny has collaborated with Chungha and pH-1. It is remarkable to mention that he was also involved in the songwriting process of EXO Kai’s ‘MMH’. Aura, By My Side and Movie are some great recommendations.
10. G. Soul
Kim Ji Hyun might have had a change of heart when it came to his name; but when it is about his music, his unwavering passion flourishes. He first debuted under JYP Entertainment in 2015, but then left and joined hands with H1ghr Music. He had even won ‘Voice Korea 2020’, thus making his talent known worldwide. Circles, Natural and Tequila are the jams that I would recommend to you.
