One of the beautiful things about music is that it transcends language. K-pop might be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about South Korean artists, but there are many who have set themselves apart from that community. If you are a fan of RNB and are looking for new music, these artists won’t let you down. They are not only influenced by traditional RnB but also experiment with other genres while still giving you the high-quality concepts and visuals K-pop is widely known for.
DPR Live
South Korean rapper and singer Hong Dabin, better known by his stage name DPR Live, released his debut EP, Coming to You Live, on March 2017. Live is co-founder of the label Dream Perfect Regime (DPR) along with Ian, Cream, and REM who also add the “DPR” acronym to their names. Some of his memorable tracks are Jasmine, Kiss Me, Jam and Butterfly, and Text Me. He has collaborated with many talented artists including Hwa Sa, DEAN, Crush, and more. His music is not limited to one genre or style, instead, he mixes and combines genres like hip-hop, RnB, trap, and reggae. Live has released several EPs as well as a collaborative EP called, DPR ARCHIVES, which features tracks from the DPR crew. His most recent EP, IITE COOL, was released in July 2021 and his latest single, Set It Off (with DPR IAN and DPR CLINE), was for the 2022 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational.
DPR IAN
Christian Yu, better known as DPR IAN, is a singer, rapper, and visual director for DPR. He began his music career in 2012 as the leader of the K-pop group C-Clown which disbanded in 2015. He released his first solo EP, Moodswings in This Order in 2021. IAN is not just a storyteller through his lyrics but also creates artistic visuals that go along with his work. His music is versatile, ranging from alternative RNB, rock, pop, and electronic genres. In Memories in Disorder, a 13-minute documentary for the character, ‘MITO,’ he takes us on a visual journey that showcases his artistic vision. His latest album, Moodswings in To Order, the last of the MITO trilogy, was released on July 2022.
Dean
Kwon Hyuk, known by his stage name DEAN, is an alternative RNB singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer. Dean has had multiple collaborations with not only South Korean artists, but with American artists as well. At sixteen he performed with hip-hop artist Keith Ape and at eighteen he was already writing songs for K-pop artists. In 2015 he made his debut in America with the single, I’m Not Sorry, which features Eric Bellinger. His only album, 130 Mood: TRBL, has traces of lo-fi hip-hop infused with trap beats. Though his style isn’t traditional RNB, his experimenting of different styles and genres always seems to work. His music has the familiar jazzy piano and guitar which he mixes with hip-hop beats and his melodies. His latest work, SUGAR DIVE, is a feature with Wesley Joseph.
Colde
Singer and songwriter, Kim Heeso, goes by the stage name Colde. Before he began his solo career, he was part of the duo OFFONOFF, who broke away from the K-pop sound and were known for their RNB approach. He made his solo debut with his EP, Wave, in September 2018. His style is more of a chilled-out RNB with a mix of hip-hop and rap. Colde has a soulful RNB sound, but he experiments with different genres as well as instruments. In his recent album, Love Part 2, he ranges from dreamy tracks like Don’t ever say you love me (feat. RM of BTS) to chill and more indie-sounding tracks like I’m Still Here.
dosii
Choi Jonghyuk and Jeon Jihye are an RnB duo who go by dosii. They have an urban-vintage sound, but also have songs that have a more indie-acoustic style. Their self-titled album was released in 2019. Both members have vocals that perfectly intertwine in tracks like starstarstar and Moon. Their music is perfect for late-night drives and is sometimes described as having a “city pop” feel. The instruments and smooth vocals put you in a dreamlike state that is soothing and comforting. Some of their most memorable tracks include fairy of shampoo, lovememore., the one that exists in my memories and in dreams. Their latest release was two singles, Underwater and Face in 2022.
Dvwn
Jung Da Woon, known as Dvwn, is a singer and songwriter. He started off his music career as an indie soloist on SoundCloud. His debut EP, panorama, was self-produced and released in November 2018. He has a powerful and soulful voice that go well with his jazzy and indie RNB style. He has released songs for South Korean Original Television Soundtracks like YUMI’s Cells, Rookie Cops, and The Law Café. His most recent album, it’s not your fault, was released in May 2021. He shares memories of love and pain, as well as loneliness and sadness, ranging from tracks like dot. that have a groovy-like sound to a more city-pop track like Humming (feat CHE).
jeebanof
Singer and songwriter Lee Jaemin, better known as jeebanoff, began his music career in 2016. His music has a focus on RNB and Soul, but he also takes the creative vision parts of his work seriously. His first album, GOOD THING., was released in 2019 with tracks that are lively and upbeat like Luh you and Paper mache. He writes lyrics that are about the difficulties of love and relationships, but also allows himself to be vulnerable about his own behavior. Some of his memorable works include, NOT ME!, Good Place, Overflow, and Timid (feat. CHANGMO). His most recent album, VOID, was released in 2021.
South Korean RNB Artists You Should Listen To
