Want to know more about the best rappers in K-Pop boy groups? Check this out!
TVXQ’s Yunho
You guys are probably already familiar with the name Yunho, right? Yunho is a member of the very popular group TVXQ. TVXQ was formed by SM Entertainment which debuted in 2003. Yunho also has excellent and outstanding rapping abilities. Yunho has released chart-topping albums throughout Asia as a member of TVXQ. He has made occasional acting appearances in television dramas. Throughout his years as a trainee, Yunho was put in four temporary groups, all of which later disbanded. In late 2001, at the age of fifteen, Yunho was featured as a rapper and backup dancer in Dana’s debut single “Diamond,” and briefly toured with her. In 2019, Yunho released his debut solo album True Colors. The mini-album, titled True Colors, features six songs in total and was released in June 2019. The title was chosen because it is the first time since his debut that he was able to show his own musical charms and tastes as a solo artist. While this is Yunho’s official solo debut, he has a number of solo songs that proved popular among his fans, including SM Station’s “Drop” and a number of solo tracks on TVXQ albums, including “Honey Funny Bunny,” “Champagne,” “Komplikated,” “Puzzle,” and “City Lights.”
SHINee’s Minho
Minho is a member of a boy group formed by SM Entertainment, SHINee, in 2008. Minho debuted as a member of the South Korean boy group Shinee in May 2008 and later went on to become one of the best-selling artists in Korea. In September 2012, JQ, who works under SM Entertainment to improve and direct the rapping abilities of their artists and used to be Shinee’s rap instructor, praised Minho’s writing ability and pointed out that he has many good ideas and a few genius moments here and there. He was especially pleased with Minho’s rap lyrics for Shinee’s lead single “Juliette” in 2009. After a long hiatus, in 2019, Minho released his first solo song, “I’m Home.” “I’m Home” was shared through SM Entertainment’s digital singles platform at SM Station. The music video for the song featured the SHINee member as he lounges around, travels and works, and interacts with a variety of phones and clocks. Minho has developed as a talented singer over the years and the smooth, whistle-driven alt-R&B ballad features the star both relaying mellow vocals and smooth raps. The lyrics of the song, which addresses the feelings of loneliness of being home alone after the end of a romance, were co-written by him.
EXO’s Chanyeol and Sehun
Chanyeol and Sehun are members of the very famous group EXO. EXO is a boy group formed by SM Entertainment in 2012 and is active until now. EXO is known by many people and has fans almost all over the world. Because of the number of members, which were 12 at the time of debut, EXO had two of the best rappers, Chanyeol and Sehun. In July 2019, Chanyeol and Sehun formed a subunit under the name EXO SC and released the mini-album What a Life. The album What a Life contains 6 song tracks, and three of them, including the main song titled “What a Life,” are produced by Dynamic Duo’s Gaeko and the Devine Channel producer team.
BTS’ Rap Line (RM, Suga, J-Hope)
Who does not know BTS? BTS is a very popular boy group now. BTS debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. Initially, BTS was not very popular, but because they had unique songs and movement concepts, the name BTS quickly became very famous and obtained fans all over the world. In addition, BTS has three members who have excellent rapping skills, known as the BTS Rapp Line: RM, Suga, and J-Hope. All three of them have excellent rapping abilities and can even memorize lyrics quickly. In addition, they are also talented in songwriting and have released several songs from RM, SUgam, and J-Hope. Their work features references to literature and psychological concepts and includes an alternative universe storyline. In 2018, BTS’ Rap Line released two songs: “DDaeng” and “Outro: Tear.” In addition, BTS’ Rap Line has also made songs for several other singers. Reporting from Koreaboo, Suga is credited with co-writing the music for “Wine,” the 3rd track of Suran’s debut mini-album Walkin. J-Hope is credited with being involved with the writing/production process of “Animal” (Radio Edit), the 2nd track on Jo Kwon’s 2012 album I’m Da One. RM is credited with co-writing and co-producing the most songs for artists outside of BTS, he has production credits for another 2012 GLAM, “I Like That.” “I Like That” was one of GLAM’s most popular tracks, prior to the group’s disbandment.
BIGBANG’s GD and T.O.P
BIGBANG is also a boy group that has very high popularity and has a very unique concept in each of their songs. BIGBANG debuted in 2006 under YG Entertainment. BIGBANG does have its own characteristics to the songs they release, G-Dragon and T.O.P represent the rap line of BIGBANG and they both have excellent rapping skills. The release of their first album, GD & TOP (2010) was a commercial success becoming one of the best selling albums of the year in South Korea, and spawned the top-five hits “High High,” “Oh Yeah,” and “Knock Out” on the Gaon Digital Chart. After a five year hiatus, they released the single “Zutter,” which peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart. The song was a commercial success, selling 280,817 downloads in its first week on the Gaon Chart, peaked at number two on the Digital and Download charts. The single charted second on the US Billboard World Digital Songs and on the Chinese QQ Music Video Chart.
B.A.P’s Yong-guk and Zelo
B.A.P was a boy group formed in 2012 under TS Entertainment. B.A.P was a boy group that was quite popular at the time, but in 2019 Yongguk and Zelo left TS Entertainment and B.A.P and there is no further news about how they would be going forward. B.A.P has a rap line that has fast and perfect rapping capabilities, namely Yongguk and Zelo are the Rap Line of B.A.P. Yongguk was the first member to be introduced in 2011 and Zelo was introduced as the third member of the group through a collaboration with Yongguk as the group Bang & Zelo. Yongguk and Zelo released the song “Never Give Up” in 2011. In 2016, Yongguk and Zelo also released another song titled “Pray.”
BTOB’s Ilhoon
Ilhoon is a rapper from the boy group BTOB. BTOB is a boy group formed in 2012 by CUBE Entertainment. Besides having excellent rapping skills, Ilhoon is also a songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is well known for his collaborations with artists such as Hyuna and G.NA. In addition, Ilhoon also participated in Hyuna’s solo comeback with the song “Roll Deep.” Ilhoon is known to have a very good and fast rapping ability. In addition, Ilhoon has also participated in making songs for several other idols and every BTOB comeback; Ilhoon has always participated in writing lyrics.
MONSTA X’s I.M. and Joohoney
MONSTA X is a boy group that debuted in 2015 formed through the survival show, Now Mercy by STARSHIP Entertainment. The group is composed of seven members, Shownu, Wonho, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M. I.M and Jooheon, or now Joohoney, are the rap line of MONSTA X. Their rapping abilities are unquestionable, Joohoney is considered as one of the scariest rapper idols, especially during his appearance in the survival program Show Me The Money. Joohoney and I.M have their own expressions when raping, I.M said, “Although I have always liked rap, I started rapping because I liked the possibility of being able to express my hidden thoughts through it. I think that in rap, I can honestly express things like my stories, emotions, feelings, and messages that aren’t usually shown in music.” “Ever since I was a kid, I liked moving my body to music. Sometimes I would listen to rap, and it isn’t the type of music where the song overlaps with the soft melodies. It has dynamic sounds superimposed on the soft melodies and I think that the part where its lyrics can also send the message that I want to assert is cool,” Joohoney said.
NCT’s Rap Line (Mark, Taeyong, Lucas, Jeno)
NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, is a boy group formed by SM Entertainment in 2016. NCT is divided into three groups, NCT U made their debut on April 9th, 2016, with the digital singles “The 7th Sense” and “Without You.” The second unit NCT 127, based in Seoul, debuted on July 7th, 2016, with the EP NCT #127. The third unit NCT Dream made their debut on August 24th, 2016, with the digital single “Chewing Gum.” Each subgroup has a rapper who has the best rapping ability. NCT’s Rap Line is represented by Mark, Taeyeong, Lucas, and Jeno. Mark is a member of NCT U, NCT 127, and NCT Dream. Taeyeong joined NCT U and NCT 127, Lucas joined NCT U, and Jeno joined NCT Dream. They all have the ability to rap with their respective characteristics.
BLOCK B’s Zico
Zico, or Woo Ji-ho, is a rapper from the boy group Block B. He is a rapper, record producer, singer-songwriter. Zico has released two solo albums, Gallery (2015) and Television (2017). Zico is notable for his successful crossover skills in the Korean hip-hop scene, maintaining an underground reputation along with the mainstream appeal as a Korean idol. He is also a producer of both K-Pop and Korean hip-hop music. In 2015 he appeared as a producer with Paloalto of Hi-Lite Records in the rap competition television show Show Me the Money 4 while in the show’s sixth season, he was in the producer team with his longtime colleague and friend Dean. In late May 2014, Zico attended the funeral of a fan who had died in an incident and he dedicated a rap to her at Block B’s 2014 Blockbuster Concert. In 2016, Zico, Crush, and Dean collaborated on a single called “Bermuda Triangle” and the song also hit number one on various Korean real-time digital charts upon its release. In January 2019, it was announced that Zico had established his own label, KOZ (King of the Zungle) Entertainment. Zico is planning to use his label to develop other artists as well as his own career.
