Eat by Zion.T - Zion.T has always delivered great songs. The beauty in his work is it's simplicity. He manages to stir up emotions and even get the party going without a whole lot of extra sounds and equipment. This song is a perfect example of that. It's a bit stripped down but it's the perfect song to express longing and love.
Pray by Babylon - It was inevitable. After being a part of many successful songs as a feature artist he was bound to fly solo. I like Babylon most for his strong vocals. Dude can hold a note and that was definitely proven through this song.
Mannequin by Primary - I am so happy that Primary is back! This song is of course in Primary's typical retro R&B/Funk sound but Beenzino and Su Ran manage to make it feel new. Also, the lyrics are a bit more trendy than what I usually expect from Primary songs.
Playback by Playback - A really cute debut track. It has a retro R&B sound to it but it's accompanied by sweet vocals so it still has a pop feel.
Sold Out by Yankie - "Sold Out but we never Sold Out!" Great hip hop song with several amazing features and one awesome message to haters.
Ah-Ah by Teen Top - I really enjoy listening to Teen Top because their harmonies are so beautiful so I was pretty excited about this song. They didn't disappoint. they delivered a fun track that is just as well sung as any of their slower songs.
Bang Bang Bang by Big Bang - How could you not like this song? It's the perfect summer jam in so many ways. It gets you so hype and just when you're about to reach the max they slow it down in the chorus. It's electronic heavy so it runs the risks of sounding like a lot of other songs but luckily Big Bang is fly enough to keep it fresh.
If You by Big Bang - Such a beautiful song. Makes you wanna cry just listening to it, let alone when you actually raed the lyrics. I must say that my favorite part of this song was T.O.P. opening it up. At this point I still don't think T.O.P. is that great of a singer but he sounded really nice in this song.
Variegated by Jannibi - I wouldn't usually include OSTs, but this is one of the best k-drama theme songs I've ever heard. It's folksy, and bouncy, and perfect for a light summer drama.
View by SHINee - *cue the fan girl scream* I love this song. It's pretty trendy so I am familiar with the EDM based sound but thankfully SHINee gives us better vocals than most EDM works so the sound is taken to another level.
Kiss My Lips by BoA - One of the Queens of Kpop is back and she is AH MAY ZING! The song has a great R&B undertone while still being trendy enough for the pop side. Love it!
Awesome by N.Flying - I really enjoy the rock/hip hop crossover. It's not a completely unfamiliar concept but I think it was the perfect way to finally introduce N.Flying. I like the fact that nothing about them is gimmicky. They can really play their instruments and rock out, and they have decent rapping skills. So, I am excited to see a lot more from them.
Get by Urban Zapaka - A great song! I like that Urban Zakapa can take their sound and add Beenzino to make it even more accessible. I've only listened to a few of their songs but it seems that they usually go more for ballads. I like that this song is a bit more trendy and upbeat.
Trauma by Eun Ji Won - This song reminds me of so many R&B songs from my childhood, so I kind of fell in love with it for that reason. Also, I think Eun Ji Won sounds really good singing songs like this.
Over & Over by Pippi Band - The video is going to weird you out a bit, but once you get pass that you get a really awesome song. Zion.T featuring is just the cherry on top. If you like with synth-rock and are excited for the return of 80s music then this is the song for you.
Mirror by MBLAQ - As sad as I am to see a 3-member MBLAQ instead of a 5-member MBLAQ, I have to say that G.O, Mir, and Seungho held it down and released a good song.
My House by 2pm - The video is really good, the mix of fairy tales and 2PM's undeniable manliness is enough to make any girl fall. I think Jun.K did a great job with the song also.
Blue Horizon by Cokejazz & Hoody - You can blame my following Jay Park on Instagram for introducing this gem to you. Synth-pop with a touch of jazz, the perfect song for a chill summer drive. Also, if you're wanting to hear more Hoody, who is being dubbed the new queen of underground R&B, I suggest listening to her song Baby Oh Baby.
Um Oh Ah Yeh by Mamamoo - Mamamoo returns with their signature retro sound and a completely crazy and fun video.
OMG by JJY Band - I probably shouldn't endorse this song, but what can I do? I just love Jung Joon Young's voice, I like that he chose a more fast pace rock song this time around too.
Listen by Khalil Fong - So Chinese R&B may not exactly count as "kpop" but I had to tell somebody how much I like this song. If not for Crush including Khalil Fong's "Love Love Love" in his Melon Playlist I wouldn't have ever found out about this great artist. I like that he has yet to count out real instruments even if he does include electronic sounds here and there, plus he has a really sweet voice that works with slow ballad, upbeat tracks, and multiple genre fusions.
7E77 ME B43Y by Seulong - I really like the sound of this song. I can't quite explain it (synth-R&B?) but it's just perfect, not only for Seulong's voice but also for the lyrics of the song.
My Everything by Bumkey - Funny how impending jail time can make you want to release an amazing love song. I love this song, it's what R&B should sound like and of course it doesn't hurt that Bumkey has one of the best voices in music today.
Bassline by Nuol ft King Kong & Huckleberry P - This song is dope for a whole host of reasons but my number one reason is that the rapping surpasses even the most talented and prominent Korean rappers. This is a must listen--straight fiyah from beginning to end.
Dope by BTS - If we're being completely honest with ourselves, then we would say that this song is like most of BTS's songs so as awesome as it is it's a bit too familiar. However, BTS never fails at their crossover songs so it has to be said that as familiar as the song is, it is still quite good. Especially if we consider the number of rookie groups putting out similar songs with less fire.
It's Okay by BtoB - I've been a fan of BtoB for some time now, so I am happy that they are getting more and more attention for their talents. This song is so well sung, it's just about ridiculous. Listen to them runs, that harmony, you'll fall for them in no time. I even think that the rap part is stellar.
My Last by Jay Park - This song stole my summer. It was the first song I wanted to play whether I was escaping the heat at work, taking a drive, or playing outside. It is not only well produced but I also enjoyed Jay Park's singing and rapping, Loco's rapping, and Gray's sing-rapping. The perfect summer jam especially for Korean R&B/Hip Hop lovers like myself.
Just Right by GOT7 - I love this song for so many reasons. The video is fabulous and the message is sweet. But I think the thing I like most about it is how fresh the sound is for GOT7. Also, I noticed that they are constantly maturing their sound, so I am proud of them.
Love Me by Melody Day - I like the retro sound and even though the lyrics are a bit typical, the girls sound really good.
Party by Girls Generation (SNSD) - At first I found this song to be a bit of a let down, just because it sounds like so many other songs. However, I can't deny that it is a perfect summer jam.
Comes and Goes by Hyukoh - I am pretty proud of myself for being into this band before they truly came into prominence. They're great for the fact that they really just put out the music they like and somehow it works. From Ohhyuk's one of a kind voice to their unique mix of genres, they're really a great gem especially for people who are moving out of the pop world. I like this song because even though it's basically indie rock, it does not feel as exclusive as most indie rock songs. It's a type of sound that fans of several genres outside of rock can enjoy.
Champagne by Yunho (TVXQ) - As sad as it is to welcome a life without Yunho being active in entertainment I like that his last track was a fun party track and not some sort of sad goodbye song.
Married to the Music by SHINee - SHINee's ode to 80s pop, particularly the music and video of Michael Jackson, is enough to get any party started, so it was a great track to close out the summer to.
Devil by Super Junior - First off, I must say that the video is awesome. I love summer action movies and this was the perfect time to release a video like that. It's the perfect accompaniment to the song. The song is really great. I can't pinpoint what genre or sound they are pulling from at the moment but it is a welcome change for the group.
Gotta Go to Work by BEAST - A sweet song that perfectly fits BEAST's maturity level.
Don't be Shy by Primary - I love the reggae sound but my main reason for liking this song is ChoA's
pretty stellar vocals. To me it's easy for talent to get lost in kpop groups, I like that she was able to
show off on her own with this song.
Won & Only by Simon Dominic - Simon D is back and bringing good old school hip hop back. And if you just can't get enough of Tablo's daughter, Haru, then I suggest watching her in this video.
Hooka by Hyukoh - This song is quite different from Comes and Goes and yet I'm still a fan. Hyukoh's voice is a bit difficult to come by in this genre but it fits perfectly with not just the more metal based instrumental but also the thoughtful lyrics.
Kontrol by Kim Sung Kyu - I just found it hard not to like this song. Sung Kyu has a great voice and this song showed that off very well.
New Rasta Virus by Rude Paper - Reggae is starting to gain a lot of traction in Korea these days. As someone who grew up listening to reggae it's really fun to hear Korean artists take on the genre and add a smooth hip hop flair to it. I really should listen to modern reggae artist from the west.
Lion Heart by SNSD - Still loving the retro sound that a lot of girl groups are taking on these days. Sometimes it's hard for me to get into SNSD because they don't have anyone in a lower range to round out their sound in the chorus, but I think that it worked out with this song. Video was so cute!
You Think by SNSD - They went for a bad girl image and killed it. The song is quite trendy but it doesn't work against them. It is very reminiscent of late 90s/early 2000s R&B songs.
Sweet Girl by B1A4 - I like this sweet song that shows off B1A4's vocal talent as well as how effortlessly they can switch genres.
Bad by Infinite - It's in Infinite's go-to 80s electronic pop-rock sound, but they always manage to have an edge that other groups just don't have when trying to use this sound.
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