10 Top Korean Rappers In 2023 | Awesome Male and Female K-Pop Rap Artists
Check out the top Korean rappers both male and female. This list includes underground Korean rappers too. Now let’s see who’s the queen and king of rap in Kpop!
The Korean hip hop scene has seen a lot of activity in the past few years, thanks to their talented rappers. They have been in the frontline of Kpop ever since its popularity soared
Although Korean girls have dominated the music scene, these rappers are not far behind.
Their popularity has also moved to the west and they have successfully managed to establish a good presence even in the US.
Hip hop started rising in South Korea after the fall of their authoritative regime in the1980ss. The internet has been a catalyst in helping these homegrown Korean rappers grow and attain global popularity.
Here, we have listed some of the most talented Korean rappers that you should know if you love rap music or Korean pop music.
Find out more about CL and other Korean rappers in the article below.
"Meet CL, the Korean Rapper – and first breakout beauty star of New York Fashion Week" https://t.co/84eTQLNzKq pic.twitter.com/QBTrPCFlg5
— ติ่งน้อยจะตายก่อนน้องมิออกกรมไม่ได้🦒🌻 (@TNGJ1) February 14, 2016
Top Korean Rappers 2023
Keith Ape
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2011- present
Instagram: @chrt_keithape
Notable Songs: “It G Ma,” “It G Ma (Remix),” “Let Us Prey”
Keith Ape is one of the most popular non-idol rappers in Korea. He started his career with a mixtape in 2014 but his rise in popularity came with the single he released in the following year. His song “It G Ma” featured guttural yells and dibs that would go on to be one of the biggest Korean rap hits.
He is also known as “Korean OG MACO” and has delivered some amazing performances at the 2015 “South by Southwest rap showcase”, where a lot of other celebrities like Desiigner, Young Thug and XXXTentacion.
Keith Ape was also a member of a crew called “The Cohort”.
Zico
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2011- present
Instagram: @woozico0914
Notable Songs: “Boys and Girls,” “Eureka“
Zico is a famous rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer.
Although Zico’s career started early in 2009, he rose to the mainstream music scene only much later. In 2011, he joined a South Korean boy band called “Block B”.
He became the leader of the band and it became a turning point in his otherwise dull career.
Zico is popular for his excellent songwriting and crossover skills. He has also formed the hip hop crew “Fanxcy child” in 2016.
He was also a radio host for the show “Thinkin Bout” for Naver NOW network in 2019.
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Epik High
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2001- present
Instagram: @blobyblo
Notable Songs: “Born Hater”, “Happen Ending”
Epik High is a three-member Korean alternative hip hop group. The members of the group are Tablo, Mithra Gin and DJ Tukutz.
The group was formed in 2001 and started in the Seoul underground hip hop scene. They are known for their unique sound that is very different from other rappers in Korea or America.
They often combine different genres and styles of hip hop with diverse lyrical themes to create unique pieces of music.
They are extremely popular with the international audience and is the second Korean artist to ever perform in the music festival “Coachella”.
Epik High has won a lot of awards and accolades for their impressive music including the “Best Hip Hop album” and “Hip hop musician of the year” at the “Korean Music awards” in 2008.
Okasian
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2011- present
Instagram: @chrt_okasian
Notable Songs: “Get That Money”, “Walkin (remix)”
Okasian debuted independently with an album “Boarding procedures” in 2016. His birth name is Kim Ji-Yong and he was born in the United States.
Keith Ape joined the rap group “The Cohort” after being picked by Okasian several years ago. Okashian is very skilled in tep beats and gold grills.
His music is less pop-oriented and has an icy monotone delivery. Although his lyrics are very powerful and energetic, he has an unusually calm persona that helps in defining his image.
The song “It G ma” helped in raising his popularity internationallly in 2015. His crew “The Cohort” is one of the most popular hip hop groups in the Seoul rap scene.
Rap Monster (RM)
Hometown: Ilsan, South Korea
Years Active: 2010- present
Instagram: @bts.bighitofficial
Notable Songs: “Do you”,” Joke”
Rap Monster is a part of the most famous boy band from South Kores “BTS”. He is a talented songwriter and record producer who is also the leader of “BTS”.
He is one of the most talented South Korean rappers whose excellent techniques have won accolades from fans worldwide.
He can switch up flows effortlessly and combines diverse instruments to create beautiful pieces. When “BTS” became popular back in 2013, Rap monsters’ career took off and bought him to the limelight.
Ever since then, there was no turning back for this talented rapper. His first solo mixtape was called RM and was released on March 20, 2015.
His second mixtape “Mono” was the highest-charting album by a Korean soloist on the Billboard 200 chart.
Rap Monster has collaborated with a lot of artists like Lil Nas X, Wale, Younha, Warren G, Gaeko, Krizz Kaliko, Fallout Boy, Primary and MFBTY.
JayAllDay
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2010- present
Instagram: @CHRT_JAYALLDAY
Notable Songs: “Godzillas”,” Sirens”
JAYALLDAY is another member of the famous hip hop crew “The Cohort”, along with other members like Keith Ape and Okashin.
Although he is not as popular as the other two members of the group, his talent is unbound and he is surely going to become one of the top rappers in Korea.
He is an aspiring trap rapper and has released some amazing songs like “Godzillas” and “Sirens”.
G-Dragon
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 1994- present
Instagram: @IBGDRGN
Notable Songs: “Good Boy”, “Crayon”
G-Dragon is one of the most popular names in the Korean rap scene. He became a member of one of the most popular Boy bands in South Korea called “Big Bang”.
He has amassed a huge number of views on youtube since he released his debut album in 2013. The album “Coup d’Etat” was is rise to the limelight. Ever since that, there was no turning back for him.
His energetic beats and fast-paced dance moves have won him numerous fans from around the globe.
Apart from being a celebrated performer, he is also a fashion Icon in Korea. He has won numerous awards and accolades for his talent and performance.
These include the Most Influential Men of the Year sponsored by Arena magazine and the Daesang award for Artist of the Year, becoming the first, and only Korean soloist as of now, to win the award.
He is more of a K-pop singer than a rapper but now that the lines between rapping and singing are being blurred, he can definitely be a part of this list.
CL
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2008- present
Instagram: @chaelincl
Notable Songs: “Lifted”, “Drsongwriter Pepper“, “Hello Bitches”
Cl is one of the few female rappers from South Korea who has managed to make a mark for herself in the industry.
Her real name is Lee Chae-rin and she is a singer and song writer who started young, in her teens, around the age of fifteen.
She started her career after joining the girl group “2NE1” in 2009. Her debut work as a solo artist is “The Baddest Female” which was released in 2013.
After the group’s hiatus in 2015, she went on to release a lot of solo hits like “Hello Bitches” and “Lifted”.
CL went on to become the first female Korean solo artist to be featured in the Billboard Hot 100 after releasing “Lifted”. She is all set to release her debut solo album “Alpha” in October 2021.
Beenzino
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2009- present
Instagram: @realisshoman
Notable Songs: “If I die tomorrow”, “Time travel”
Beenzino is hard to ignore if you are into the Korean rap scene. His stage name is derived from a play on Boston rapper Benzino combined with his birth name.
He started gaining a reputation after posting recordings to the DC Tribe website and was soon picked up by established rapper Simon Dominic. He has released three solo albums after his first public appearance at Dok2’s Hustle Real Hard concert.
Beenzino has also collaborated with producers like Primary and Shimmy twice. He has received accolades not just from the Korean audience but also internationally for singles like “Dali, Van, Picasso”.
The song won “Single of the year” at the 2013 HiphopPlaya Awards. He conducted his first solo tour in the US in 2015.
Dok2
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Years active: 2005- present
Instagram: @dok2gonzo
Notable Songs: “Am I”, “We Here”
Dok2 is a South Korean rapper and record producer. He started really young and his first music appearance happened at the age of 12.
At the 2002 Mnet Music Video Festival, he performed “FEVER” alongside Jo-PD and Hype. His popularity shot up after he released the album “Multimillionaire” and the single “1llusion” which became a hit in South Korean music charts.
Although he is just 26 years old, he has already co-founded a record label, Illionnaire records, which is defunct now.
He is one of the most talented rappers on the list and has been writing and producing songs for established Korean Hip hop groups like Drunken tiger, Dynamic duo and Epik High.
FAQs about Best Korean Rappers
Still want to know more about your favorite Korean rappers? Worry not. I’ve tried answering a few of your most frequently asked questions down below. Check it out!
Who is the best Korean rapper male?
The best male Korean rapper in the Korean music industry has to be either Keith Ape or Zico. These two have been active in the rap scene since more than a decade and formulated most of the new sounds that form a blue print for modern Korean rappers. Even Keith Ape’s mentor Okasian belongs to this category. So I’d say, Okasian, Keith Ape and Zico are the top male Korean rappers in the world today. When it comes to rapping in Kpop music however, I’d definitely pick either RM from BTS or Chanyeol from EXO.
Who raps fastest in BTS
The lead rapper of BTS is Kim Nam Joon or RM. He’s also chosen RM or Rap Monster as his stage name because he is so good at rapping. So
And these some of the best Korean rappers in the industry right now. As K-pop is becoming famous in the US and Europe, similarly, western hip hop music is a big deal in South Korea.
A lot of thee rappers are sponsored by big entertainment labels and enjoy immense popularity!
Also Read:
Youngest Kpop Idols In The Industry Right Now
Richest Kpop Idols With Highest Net Worth
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