Mommy Son, the enigmatic Korean rapper in a pink mask, celebrated his birthday last March 25 with the release of "Mommyson: F The World," featuring fellow rapper Wonstein.
Released on Feb. 3 by Korean hip-hop artists Reddy and Jay Park, "Think" is a brooding and atmospheric love song driven by chilly synths, plodding drum machines and half-sung, half-rapped vocals.
The bulk of the material on "Zissou," released Feb. 2 by Hwaji, could be considered experimental, but when he strips down his sound on the track "Gypsy Girl" that the Korean rapper is at his best.
Donutman doen't rely on contrived concepts or empty bombast on the mic for his single "Good," released on Tuesday, instead creating a highly musical backdrop for his skilled rapping with a somber classical piano loop.
On "GO," from Epik High's 2003 debut album "Map of the Human Soul," the rap trio shows how certain styles of music hold sway across the globe, highlighting the similarities we all share over our differences.
"Me," the new single released Thursday by South Korean singer-rapper Loptimist and featuring Ji Jong Hwan and Kim could almost pass for a conversation between two robots if it weren't for the raw rapping on the track.
On her latest single "Star Wars," released Dec. 18, South Korean rapper and "Unpretty Rapstar" champion Cheetah captures the spirit of the moment with a current-sounding single.
The celestial void may be the theme of "Outer Planet" featuring Chatterbox, the new single released Wednesday by Olltii, but the earthy R&B sound keeps the MCs deeply rooted on soulfully solid ground.
Bump "Beer In My Backpack," the standout cut from the 11-song album "Made In '98" released on Nov. 25 by South Korean rapper illinit and you may find yourself waving your hand in the air like you just don't care.
"iiF" the latest single released Wednesday by Innovator, a semi-finalist on the fourth season of the rap competition "Show Me The Money," and Scary P of the group High Flies is a powerful and creative beat.
A good example of the great results of a classic rap sound through a different cultural lens is "Want Me Girl," released Nov. 27 by Wekeyz and featuring vocalists Kirin and Hoody.
On the single "Studio," released on Tuesday, Green Club embody both the playful experimentation and laidback attitude of 1940s beboppers. The result is one of the year's best tracks.
On her latest single "Empyrean" released on Nov. 9. as part of her first full-length album, "La Lecture," hip-hop producer Shirosky showcases her knowledge of the rap game's past and present.
In the video for their new single "Jam," from the album "Grand Carnival" released on Tuesday, Choiza and Gaeko of the South Korean hip-hop act Dynamic Duo look like they're having serious fun playing the fool.
"6," released Monday by Ven may be getting marketed as an R&B song, as it is his single, with the only rapping coming from Paloalto. Yet in both rhythmic feel and prominence in the mix, it's clearly a rap track.
Released on Aug. 27 of last year, the Ja Mezz single "Wanna Get (Oasis Pt.2)" is a pastiche of some of hip-hop's greatest moments from the East Coast.
Released on Thursday, Jay Park's new single "Don't Try Me" featuring Ugly Duck And Gray is indicative of the hard-edged hip-hop indicative of the same subterranean scene that he rose out of.