QUICK THOUGHTS: J-HOPE, STAYC, WOO!AH!, JUSTHIS, AESPA & MORE
There’s been a lot of interesting projects I’ve listened to over the last couple of months! Haven’t quite had time to write out some reviews but just wanted to get some quick thoughts out there on some projects in a much shorter format than usual, everything has still been scored but the written portion will be less in depth more akin to my year-end posts.
[ALBUM] J-Hope - Jack in The Box
7.0 out of 10
J-Hope’s debut solo project is quite striking; Inspired production that is vividly textured, J-Hope is faithful to his influences while pushing himself as a musician and rapper. Though held back by some lackluster hooks and the surprisingly short format, ‘Jack in The Box’ is still one of the most interesting idol solo projects in years in terms of its sonic direction.
[ALBUM] Dok2 - Filipino South Korean Rapstar
7.5 out of 10
After the dissolution of the legendary Illionaire and Dok2′s subsequent distancing from the Korean Hip-Hop industry, he returns in top form with a new mixtape that is a reaffirmation of his position in the rap scene. An electric run of tracks in the middle of the tape is pure rap excellence that is a perfect example of why so many rappers hold him in such high regard.
[ALBUM] Woo!Ah! - Joy
7.0 out of 10
Despite a rather weak title track, rookie group Woo!Ah!’s first body of work is an excellent display of vibrant, personality-rich pop that covers a lot of ground while still sounding unified in vision. The girls of Woo!Ah! eminate charisma and charm through the plethora of sticky melodies throughout. Pre-release single ‘Catch The Stars’ may just well be 2022′s most contagiously uplifting song of the year.
[ALBUM] Justhis - Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night II
6.0 out of 10
Justhis does Justhis things on his new EP, it’s less of a cohesive project and more of a show of athleticism over an array of beats that vary perhaps a bit too much in quality. Justhis himself sounds as excellent as ever however, and the feature spots all bring something to their respective tracks with standouts going to newcomer GongGongGoo009 on the opener. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable EP, but ‘Do Not Go’ is a far cry from the artistic statements that ‘4 The Youth’ and ‘2 Many Homes 4 1 Kid’ were.
[ALBUM] Aespa - Girls
4.5 out of 10
The stage was set for Aespa to continue innovating and breaking boundaries, but they oddly play it perhaps a bit too safe on their second EP, ‘Girls’. The production is highly polished and there are some great moments, but the edge that separated them from their contemporaries feels like its been sanded down. What’s presented is serviceable, but there are noticeably more lulls and much less of an artistic imprint on this EP.
[SINGLE] STAYC - Beautiful Monster
7.0 out of 10
STAYC and Black Eyed Pilseung switch things up on ‘Beautiful Monster’, but what remains constant is the immaculate finishing and textures on their title tracks. The mix has so much depth, but it doesn’t feel empty thanks to great use of the girls’ varied tones and the song’s numerous minor embellishments. The hook is a showstopping moment, especially towards the closer.
[ALBUM] Ahn Byeong Woong - Hook Up
5.0 out of 10
Ahn Byeong Woong admirably steps out of his comfort zone, but the execution and his approach to some of these detours leave much to be desired. Boom bap takes a backseat on ‘Hook Up’ in favor of more melodic moments some of which come out pretty catchy like the buoyant ‘Ride’. ‘No Roof’ is something a bit more familiar, but easily stands as the album’s best, the energy between ABW, Khakii and Colde is thrilling. ABW occasionally has some rather clumsy moments like on the cloud-rap cut ‘Navigation’, a very underwhelming take on the genre. ‘Hook Up’ feels like more of a stepping stone than a properly fleshed out project.
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HIPHOPPLAYA - HIPHOP ANTHEM 2023 (Official Lyric Video)
Prod. Smugglers
Rappers: Dok2, Leo Kekoa, JUSTHIS, Royal 44, PENOMECO, Khakii, Ahn Byeong Woong, Roh Yun Ha, Paloalto, Owen, Nucksal, SINCE, BLASÉ, Skinny Brown, Los, Deepflow, Huh, CK, Louie, Chin, SUPERBEE, Verbal Jint, EK, REDDY, Dbo, Lil Cherry, Loopy, YLN Foreign, Chaboom, Keem Hyo Eun, Mckdaddy, KHAN, CHOILB, Don Mills, LIL GIMCHI, ODEE, ChaMane, KOR KASH, Street Baby, unofficialboyy, Fana, P-TYPE, Juvie Train, IGNITO, Kebee, GOLDBUUDA, MINOS, Skull, YANKIE
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my stanlist
(it’s a lot, just so you know before you click ‘expand’)
ults
✨👑 Huening Bahiyyih 👑✨
💙 Jay Chang 💙
[[ ONE PACT [OT5] & B.D.U [OT4] ]]
Xdinary Heroes [Jooyeon / OT6], TXT [Hueningkai / OT5], ATEEZ [Mingi / OT8], Son Dongyo [MIRAE]
active groups
BTS [RM / OT7], Monsta X [Kihyun / OT7], Stray Kids [Felix / OT8], Seventeen [Woozi / OT13], BOY STORY [Shuyang / OT6], NCT [Jisung & Lucas / OT29], RIIZE [Shotaro / OT7], MCND [Win & Minjae / OT5], Cravity [Seongmin / OT9], SB19 [Pablo / OT5], VIXX [Hyuk / OT6], 9bic [Satsuki / OT6], FlowBack [OT5], UNVS [Jun H. & Jen / OT5], AB6IX [Daehwi & Youngmin / OT5], SHINee [Taemin & Jonghyun / OT5], Bz-Boys [Bon / OT5], ENHYPEN [Ni-ki / OT7], TREASURE [Yoshi / OT12], BLITZERS [Chris / OT7], A.C.E [Jun & Donghun / OT5], Floria [OT4], P1Harmony [Keeho / OT6], TFN (T1419) [Kio / OT9], WEi [OT6], DKB [OT9], SF9 [Inseong / OT9], E’LAST [OT8], CIX [OT5], DRIPPIN [OT7], MIRAE [Dongpyo / OT7], RoaD-B [Eddy / OT4], TO1 (TOO) [OT9], OnlyOneOf [Junji / OT7], JO1 [OT11], xikers [Yechan / OT10], SUPER FANTASY [Tsubasa / OT4], ITZY [Chaeryeong / OT5], BAE173 [J-Min / OT9], &TEAM [Jo / OT9], KINGDOM [OT7], VICTON [Hanse / OT7], Ciipher [Keita / OT7], NewKidd [Yunmin / OT7], BDC [OT3], NTX [Hyeongjin & Seongwon / OT10], ASTRO [Cha Eunwoo / OT6], EPEX [OT8], OMEGA X [Xen / OT11], B.I.G [OT4], IRRIS [OT5], 7m!n [OT7], GHOST9 [Prince / OT9], UNIQ [OT5], LUMINOUS [OT4], withus [OT5], DKZ [OT7], PLAY:MOON [OT2], 24K [OT5], JUST B [Geonu / OT6], M.O.N.T [OT3], KARD [BM / OT4], TNX [Hyunsoo / OT6], F.able [OT5], MEGAMAX [OT6], EVERGLOW [OT6], TWICE [OT9], TRENDZ [OT7], NATURE [OT9], TEMPEST [Hanbin / OT7], JWiiver [OT7], ATBO [Yeonkyu / OT7], VERIVERY [OT7], SUPERKIND [Saejin / OT7], AIMERS [OT6], XODIAC [Lex / OT9], CSR [OT7], LE SSERAFIM [Hong Eunchae / OT5], Rocking Doll [OT4], NMIXX [Lily / OT7], LOONA [Chuu / OT12], cignature [OT7], Billlie [Tsuki / OT7], THE SUPER FRUIT [Teru / OT7], Girl’s World [OT4], CLASS:y [OT7], IVE [Rei / OT6], NINE.i [Jiho & Minjun / OT10], ONF [U / OT7], tripleS [OT20], INI [Masaya & Fengfan / OT11], SATURDAY [OT5], aespa [OT4], woo!ah! [Nana / OT5], 2PM [OT6], XEED [OT4], VAV [OT7], ZEROBASEONE [Park Gunwook / OT9], BXB [June / OT5], ILY:1 [OT6], WeNU [Heechan / OT5], THE7 [Opp & Peanut / OT7], DXTEEN [OT6], BOYNEXTDOOR [Woonhak / OT6], The Wind [An Chanwon / OT7], Forestella [OT4], Bunny.T [OT4], PLAVE [Bamby / OT5], TOZ [OT4], 82MAJOR [OT6], NewJeans [OT5], WHIB [OT8], BABYMONSTER [OT6], YOUNG POSSE [OT5]. NEKIRU [OT3], TWS [OT6], POW [OT5]
active duets
Poetic Narrator [DOKO], Davichi [Minkyung], MIND U, 415, AKMU [Chanhyuk], High Tension, Kenta • Sanggyun, lilli lilli, MANITO, TMC
soloists
DAWN, Yesung, Jackson Wang, Jeong Sewoon, Jo Kwon, HOLLAND, YooA, Yamada Kento, RAIN, SUNMI, BOYHOOD, Jang Dong Woo, Lee Seung Hyub (J.DON), Ahn Byeong Woong, Kim Yongjin, Lim Young Woong, Beomhan, TAKUWA, Lisa Manoban, Gaho, Lee Chaeyeon, Jo Yuri, Ji Jinseok, Lee Jun Young, Maddox, KUN (Cai Xukun), Guan Yue, XIN Liu, Kim Jion, HELLO GLOOM
active bands
PURPLE RAIN [OT5], Gift [OT3], IZ [OT4], W24 [OT4], ONEWE [OT5]
pre-debut
DIOS [OT4], JYPE LOUD [Amaru / OT5], Choi Suhwan, Park Jaehoon & Yang Donghwa (THE ORIGIN), Murakami Ouju (B3o1z), OCJ Newbies [OT10], 24kumi [OT5], Ezrela, Taeseon, ME:I [OT11], Candy Shop [OT4], NXD [OT5]
special cases
I-LAND 2020, CIRCLE ‘BLITZ’ [OT5], Super Kids [OT6], Former TO1 [Woonggi / OT4], JN Ent. 2021 BG [OT7], Ten-X [OT4], W.A.O [Donghwa / OT8], Trainee A (2022) [Leo / OT7], INTER GIRLS [OT4]
SBS LOUD [my top 8]
Tanaka Koki
Woo Kyung Jun, Mitsuyuki Amaru, Choi Tae Hun, Lee Gye Hun, Ellery Hyeon Bae, Lee Ye Dam, Lim Kyeong Mun
disbanded
Triple H [E’Dawn / OT3], Girls2000 [Dowon / OT4], ENOi [Laon / OT7], ARGON [Jaeun / OT6], Fallanc [OT4], D-CRUNCH [OT9], HISTORY [OT5], Wanna One [Daniel / OT11], BUZZ-ER [Yuya / OT7], WIN=W1N [OT4], MY.st [OT5], We1ne [Donghwa / OT5], NU’EST [Minhyun / OT5], D1CE [Jinyoung / OT5], GWSN [Miya / OT7], GIRLKIND [Medic Jin / OT4], X1 [Dongpyo / OT11]
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