Feature
Written By Sharifa Charles
When it comes to Korean music and artists, you may instantly think of K-pop, which we are becoming more familiar with due to its ever-growing popularity. However, a whole wave of Korean music exists outside of K-pop, with unique and talented artists bringing their music to life. Korean R&B is a notable example, with many underrated artists curating the perfect songs to enjoy and add to your playlist!
Exploring The Genre Of R&B
Since its introduction in the 1940s, the music genre of R&B (Rhythm and Blues) has topped charts and become a favored genre for artists and fans alike. Devised by Black Americans in the twentieth century, R&B has evolved and become more refined to form the alternative and contemporary R&B we have become accustomed to hearing now. The main characteristics of contemporary R&B are heavy bass lines, synthesizers, and keyboards, and it has notably become a successful genre in the music industry.
Whether you are an avid R&B fan or a new listener looking for more songs for your playlist, keep reading for 15 Korean R&B artists to add to your playlist!
Artist 1: Jimmy Brown
Jimmy Brown is the stage name for the Korean indie R&B artist Lee Ji-Won. Debuting in 2017, Brown proved to be a notable artist with captivating vocals and an affinity for writing and singing love songs. The artist's growth in popularity inclined steadily, with more people recognizing his talents. Naming Chris Brown and Kanye West as his inspirations for becoming an artist, it is clear Jimmy Brown knows how to encompass the soul and emotion of the R&B genre.
Song recommendations: Let me know, Irene, It’s gotta be you, 2 Things, I got you, and Your Love
Artist 2: Lee Hi
LeeHi is an artist that you may have come across before. Her song "Only" blew up and amassed over 75 million views on YouTube. LeeHi’s voice can be described as dreamy, soulful, and flowing with emotion. If you have ever heard "Only," you can sense the portrayal of emotions in every line she sings, whether in English or Korean.
Song recommendations: Only, Breathe, For You, My Love, HOLO
Artist 3: Offonoff
OffonOff is a duo consisting of Colde (vocalist) and 0channel (producer), and their melodies are the epitome of chill K-R&B. Since their debut in 2016, the duo has maintained their impeccable vibes. If you ever want to listen to some calming and soothing K-R&B, then Offonoff should certainly be one of your first choices.
Song Recommendations: Cigarette, Dance, Photograph, Bath and Gold (ft. Dean)
Artist 4: HEIZE
Korean R&B singer-songwriter Heize has been in the music industry for a considerable amount of time. Debuting in 2014, the artist features a blend of chill R&B, soul, and occasionally hip-hop. Heize also has an array of collaborations, most notably with artists Suga from BTS, DEAN, and Colde. With smooth vocals, Heize makes catchy and memorable tracks that you should certainly indulge in.
Song Recommendations: We don’t talk together (Prod. By SUGA), Don’t Come Back, Didn’t know me, And July, love is alone
Artist 5: Suran
Suran is a South Korean artist under her independent label, S-TASY. She began her journey into music as a duo named LODIA under the stage name Elena. Suran debuted as a solo artist in 2014 and rose to popularity for her OST single "Heartbeat" from the K-Drama Strong Girl Bong Soon and her 2017 single "Wine," produced by Suga. The single has over 54 million accumulative streams on Spotify and is certainly one to add to your playlist. Suran’s unique and smooth vocals are notable when listening to her tracks.
Song recommendations: Wine, Sunny, Hibye, Don’t hang up, Love Story (ft. CRUSH)
Artist 6: DEAN
Dean is a prevalent R&B artist and producer who made his debut in 2015. Since then, he has dropped EPs that garnered positive reception from many listeners and collaborated with various artists, including Zico, Suran, Heize, and IU. Dean's soothing voice, meaningful lyricism, and melodic beats evoke a timeless feeling within his tracks.
Song Recommendations: What 2 Do, Bonnie & Clyde, D (Half Moon), Instagram, and 하루사리 (Harusari)
Artist 7: Bumkey
Kwon Ki Bum, known as Bumkey, is a solo artist signed with Brand New Music who debuted in 2013 with the single "Bad Girl." Bumkey was born in Seoul and lived in Los Angeles for a few years before moving back to South Korea. With alluring vocals and catchy R&B-based tracks, Bumkey has been known as a successful artist with captivating music since his debut.
Spotify recommendations: Incurable Disease, Rain & You, October Sky, All of my life, and When I Saw You
Artist 8: Jiwoo
Toronto-based producer and artist Jiwoo is known for his captivating and impactful vocals within his indie/R&B-based tracks. Jiwoo is under the label WAVY, founded by artist Colde. The talented artist is praised for his poetic lyrics and catchy tracks.
Song Recommendations: Comme des Garçons, Lustre, Evergray, In the blur of the rain, and Greed
Artist 9: Moon Sujin
South Korean R&B artist Moon Sujin, previously known as Moon, is under the company SM Entertainment and made her solo debut in 2018. Her debut track, "Million," showcased her vast talents, given that she wrote the lyrics and composed the song. Vocal-wise, Moon Sujin has a notably rich and soulful voice which perfectly complements her R&B style tracks.
Song recommendations: Never Let Me Go, Walk in the night (feat. Zion.T), The Moon, Only U, and Right Back
Artist 10: DVWN
Currently, under KOZ entertainment, South Korean artist DVWN (Jung Da-Woon) released his debut album Panorama in 2018. Tracks such as "Fairy" and "Phobia" (featured in DVWN’s debut album) are some of his most popular, with "Fairy" accumulating over 16 million streams on Spotify. With impressive vocals and songwriting skills, DVWN is quickly gaining popularity and recognition, with many of his music videos on YouTube having over 1 million views.
Song Recommendations: Last, fairy, insomnia (feat. YAYYOUNG), phobia, and HOME
Artist 11: BIBI
Kim Hyung Seo, known under the stage name BIBI, is a South Korean-based artist and actor and one of the more well-known artists mentioned in this list. Her popularity and public recognition stem from her vocals and recognizable talent. Debuting in 2019 with her single “Binu,” BIBI continued to release popular singles and EPs in the following years. BIBI’s musical style consists of a mixture of genres, including R&B, Pop, and Hip-Hop, with a diverse sound suitable for many.
Song Recommendations: Restless, Step?, Fedexx Girl (feat. CHANGMO), and I’m good at Goodbyes
Artist 12: Jooyoung
Jooyoung has a mesmerizing voice! His vocals and lyrics are both charming and sensual. The talented South Korean artist is currently signed to Starship Entertainment and debuted in 2010 with the single “Same As You.” For his immense talent and artistry, Jooyoung is indeed on the underrated side!
Song Recommendations: Planet Girl, Erase (feat. Iron), Dive, Wet, and PRADA (ft. pH-1)
Artist 13: Sole
Lee Sori is a South Korean indie R&B artist and producer who goes by the stage name Sole. Currently signed with Ameoba Culture, the artist first began her venture into music in 2011 as a member of the girl group LiveHigh and was active until 2013. Her solo career began in 2017 with her debut single "Ride" (ft. Thama), which showcased her talented vocals and has over 6 million streams on Spotify. Sole’s unfiltered lyricism and unique voice draw you in and evoke an array of emotions. Her most popular single, “Slow” released in 2018, has over 11 million streams on Spotify and features meaningful and relatable lyrics.
Song Recommendations: Slow, Think, Nothing, Lovin’ U, Don’t Ever Leave Me, and Ride
Artist 14: oceanfromtheblue
First making his debut in 2018, the South Korean artist Oceanfromtheblue (Kang Juwon) encompasses the genres of R&B and indie within his music. Oceanfromtheblue has a compelling voice with the ability to portray certain emotions through his singing and songwriting.
Song Recommendations: Sherlock, Come back Home (feat. Yeeun), Treasure, Stability, and Talk (ft. MRSHLL)
Artist 15: Jung Jin Woo
Last on the list is a vastly underrated artist, Jung Jin Woo, the South Korean artist, producer, and composer (who composed songs for TXT). Jung Jin Woo’s vocals are captivating, and with his high-quality song production, it is a surprise that he is not more popular!
Song recommendations: ARIA, Dream, Color, Nowhere, Drowning, I’ll find you (ft. June), and Movie
Who is your favorite K-R&B artist? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending us a tweet @halsugofficial.
Korean MusicFeature ArticleKorean Artists
Sharifa Charles
