The Top 7 K-Hip Hop Artists To Watch in 2022
Meet the rappers and singer-songwriters carving out their own space in Korean music.
While K-pop has taken over the world in recent years with supergroups like BTS and BLACKPINK, K-hip hop is another genre that’s growing rapidly within the music industry. Here, Hypebae highlights some of the most exciting South Korea-based hip hop artists you should know and listen to right now.
At the top of our list is Lil Cherry & GOLDBUUDA, a popular sibling duo known for mumble rapping and their unique music videos, as seen on their latest album SPACE TALK. Rather than sticking to only hip hop, artists such as BIBI, YUNHWAY and Sumin have been creating their own style of music, fusing various genres like electronic and R&B together.
From music collective Balming Tiger, artist Sogumm has made her breakthrough thanks to her standout collaborations with musicians like dress and YUMDDA. Rounding out our lineup is Swervy, the first woman to sign with the label Hi-Lite Records, as well as Lee YoungJi and CAMO.
Get to know these K-hip hop artists by checking out their music below.
BIBI
Signed under Feel Ghood Music, a label led by South Korea’s hip hop legend Tiger JK, BIBI became a name to watch after starring in music variety show THE FAN in 2019. The artist, known for the two red birthmarks under her right eye (which she revealed to be fake), began rolling out a powerful lineup of music including “KAZINO” and “BINU” in 2020. Her catchy songs led to live sessions on established platforms such as Dingo, in addition to more global stages like Coachella under 88rising.
CAMO
First making her debut in 2020, CAMO hails from Hong Kong and has collaborated with big names like Simon Dominic. Some of her biggest hits include “Wifey,” a track about commitment that she revealed is based on her very own personal experience. The emerging name is now gearing up for overseas tours, with her WIFEY TOUR set to land in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and New York.
Lee YoungJi
Lee YoungJi debuted in 2019 with the track “Dark Room” after winning the reality show High School Rapper 3. The Seoul native is loved for her deep voice and has teamed up with rappers such as Nafla, Loopy and Jay Park. In addition to her music, Lee is also known for her bubbly personality as seen on her YouTube channel and on television.
Lil Cherry & GOLDBUUDA
Sibling duo Lil Cherry & GOLDBUUDA is loved for their unique style of mumble rap and lyrics that are sometimes incomprehensible. Releasing music under their label Sauce Cartel, the Miami-raised act has gained attention in the K-hip hop scene over the last few years for their tracks “ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT,” “MUKKBANG!” and “get a whiff of dis.” Their latest record SPACE TALK serves as a follow-up on their previous albums, celebrating their Korean roots as well as their development as artists.
Sogumm of Balming Tiger
Before releasing her first solo album in October 2019, Sogumm kickstarted her career with the hip hop crew Balming Tiger. Now signed with AOMG, the singer has gained popularity through collaborations with artists like dress and YUMDDA — her joint album Not My Fault with dress features big names in the industry such as Punchnello, Penomeco and Woo Won-jae. Her latest collab is “Salt Rain,” a dreamy track with rising artist Keumbee.
Sumin
Having written songs for K-pop groups like Red Velvet and BTS, Sumin is a multi-faceted artist who creates a mix of hip hop, electronic and bass music to create what she calls “Neo K-pop.” The singer-songwriter, who has steadily become a name to watch not only in the world of Korean hip hop, but also in K-pop, has worked with the likes of George and Zion.T. She made her breakthrough with “U & Me,” a collaborative track with Jinbo, and recently dropped “THE GONLAN SONG” with Slom.
Swervy
The first female musician that signed with Paloalto‘s Hi-Lite Records, Swervy made an appearance on Show Me The Money 8, gaining presence for her unique style. The 20-year-old artist joined the record label after moving from Russia back to Korea to pursue a career in hip hop. A creative known for her music and art direction that is both distinctive and diverse, Swervy is expected to deliver more new music following her first studio album Undercover Angel.
