I've listened to tons of music this year. Over 300 albums and through the good and bad, there are albums that will always be slept on due to influx and fatigue. Well here are 9 Korean albums I slept on for months until now. These albums never made my "Top 10" list due to me being an idiot, not paying attention to them when they dropped. Regardless of how I felt, this albums deserve multiple listens from everyone.
Deepshower - How I Met You
In the summer the producer released his first EP “How I Met You” with features from XQ, G.Soul, Rick Bridges and Ovcoco. Deepshower works well with the artists keeping his signature sound while still giving an area of space for the singers and rappers to create their own canvas next to his. My only complaint is that the album is very short, coming at 13 minutes with only 4 songs. If it were longer I probably would have remembered it more when the album first released. Regardless, I enjoy the album.
MBA - Young Forever
Most Badass Asian’s second EP is a great introduction to the group. I still haven’t listened to their first EP but this one is dope. There are group tracks as well as solo tracks and it's honestly hard trying to pick a favorite. EK blasts us with some dope flows and lyrics and BOLA keeps the high energy going. The beats are dope, not giving you a chance to calm down. The album feels like one long song with beat switches as it never gets old even with the clear transitions. I found myself loving this album more after not having to review or talk about it until now. MBA is on a role to taking over the scene if they haven’t done so already.
Primary - Pop
Legendary Producer Primary dropped two EP’s this year, One, “Shinninryu” focuses on new R&B with up and coming singers and rappers while “Pop” houses idol singers and rappers. Upon release, I found “Pop” entertaining but I never took it seriously. I was a fool. The album is filled with great collaborations with some of Kpop’s best singers. Soyu and Solji blessing our ears on “Right?” and “Diet” is a much needed void filler. My long dream of Primary collaborating with the 2 has finally come true. The album has a nice flow of cool production and singing. I found my disconnect though, the album really is a Pop album compared to Primary’s HipHop, Jazz and R&B projects. There is a splash of Jazz thrown in like on “Diet” that gets you up and dancing. “Pop” is a must listen because who knows when Primary will collaborate with this many idols again.
Baek Ah Yeon - Bittersweet
Though I complained that Ah Yeon hasn’t had an album in almost 4 years, we finally got one and I neglected it. To be fair, I was going through music withdraw when the album dropped. Since then, I have been able to enjoy the album. Ah Yeon’s cute, lovable voice pierces are eardrum with such a soft motion that leaves us wondering if she’s an angel or a human. She’s joined with nice production that help me fall asleep at night. The album can easily be summed up with “cotton candy pleasure”.
Nuz - Room
Nuz dropped his second EP “Room” at the end of summer. “Room” is filled with sexy late night vibes. Upon release I was never able to get into it but by the end of the year, I’m really feeling it. This no Pop or upbeat R&B album. This album is for those late nights of sex or chilling. Everything is slow and sensual so you really want to pay attention to every detail of the album. Soma features on two tracks “Beautiful” and “Wonderful”. These two together are a powerful combo as they have similar styles. Hearing the two on a track is a blessing. Nuz is a great singer. He knows his lane and is trying to perfect it. I will be here for his evolution as I slide this album into my playlists.
Yaeji - EP2
Yaeji drops her second EP this year which is better than her first. This album shows off more charisma and talent from the singer and producer that was lacking from her first venture. "Yaeji" was a good start but "EP2" is an evolved form of that. Yaeji feels more relaxed but also here which is evident in songs like “Raingurl” were Yaji isn’t afraid in her rapping over a vibrant ensemble of synths. Now she’s not the best rapper but she’s not slouching that much. I found myself enjoying the album a ton compared to her last. I highly recommend the album for any occasion as it could be played in late night sessions as well as turning up in the car. Yaeji delivered a solid project that makes me hopeful for her career.
Jeebanoff - Karma
I was shocked when listening to this. My first introduction to Jeebanoff is his third EP "Karma". The album features Changmo, Sumin and Rick Bridges. The album is filled with smooth R&B that left me memorized. It has a pop flavor to it, not taking anything away from the present R&B but it has a certain charm to it that I can not only groove to it, but also lay down indulging in all of the synths and lyrics. The features are a nice touch with Sumin being the best. the two singing together creates a perfect harmony that never gets old. The other features are placed as both rappers showed off a lot of charisma without making the song their own. Jeebanoff is creating magic that should be shared by all.
The addition of prominent producer Peejay is a bit weird as his first album "Walkin Vol 1" was in my top 10 HipHop albums in 2015. Vol2 is amazing but during my slump of not listening to music, I didn't get to indulge in the album like I should have, Nonetheless, the album is splendid with star studded featured from Crush to B-Free to even an appearance from Beenzino who was on Vol 1 and enlisted in the military this year. The album is beautiful blending Pop, R&B and HipHop into one solid album. When Listening to it I feel the love and passion Peejyay and the features put into it. Some of the highlights are "Na B Ya" with Zion T and "Thinking About You" with B-Free.
Ovcoco - Forest
After a name change from Do Yeon to Ovcoco, the singer released her first EP "Forest" in the middle of the year. The album is short with only 4, but incredible songs. Her voice is like like a feather but enticing like a freshly baked cake. I enjoy her singing over the melancholy but lush R&B/Pop joints that have a mild tropical flavor to them. Although I enjoy Ovcoco's former deep R&B/Soul cuts from last year, I have to say this project was very enjoyable. Her features with Nuz and Lil Cats are a reminder of her old style. Regardless this is a solid EP. I will find myself from now on to bumping this in the whip.
Garser Dismuke is a writer for Blerdsonline.com as well as Garserspoetry.com
He releases his vast knowledge of Anime, Wrestling, K-pop and Poetry on the daily
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