[Nate] Idol Rappers Evaluated by K-Hip-Hop Communities

[elisaorange.livejournal.com]

This was kind of interesting so I'm posting it.

Ever felt a bit curious about what Korean hip hop fans were saying about your fave idol rappers?

This article is translated from Nate. The OP states that they gathered opinions from hip hop communities since it would be more objective than collecting opinions from Nate (fangirl opinions<). They compiled a list of some common sentiments that pop up when discussing different rappers.


Shade or praise, which does your fave receive?


Zico [BuckWild’s crew]
- There is nobody more skilled that him
- He uses beats very well (good flow)
- Out of idols, he has the most number of positive artists in hip hop communities
- They think of him as any other rapper (aka "above being an idol rapper")
- When he was chosen as a producer for Show Me The Money, people didn’t really question “why is he a producer?”
- There is no one that denies that Zico and Jay Park broke the prejudices in hip hop (toward idols)

GD
- His rap skills are pretty good
- However, it is hard to hear the lyrics in live performances
- But his producing skills are considered the best
- His One of a Kind album is very well evaluated

Rap Monster
- Most debated
- There is debate about whether BTS is hip hop. Rap Mon previously remarked that BTS was hip hop and it was criticized
- They claim he used his mixtape as a means to put out numerous articles to prove that he is hip hop (media play) unlike Zico who never media-played about his numerous mixtapes and demos.

Bobby
- He won SMTM3 but his skills are not really up to par for that win
- He chews the lyrics when performing live (which is apparently a YG characteristic)
- The general opinion is that Vasco should’ve won based purely on rap skills and not stage performance/stage manner

AOA Jimin
- "I’m sorry to AOA fans, but… how awful is it that she said that the Dr.Dre Detox lyrics inspired her when the album was never released
- She raps Puss "to the bone"(they feel that all she knows how to do is rap Puss and nothing else since that's the only song she uses during live performances, commercials, etc.)

Ilhoon
- Although he doesn’t have underground activities or a mixtape, he has good skills but it’s hard to evaluate his skills in BtoB. But good overall

Jooheon
- His attitude causes him to get criticized rather than his skills
- His song with Mad Clown was talked about quite a bit and it was rated that he chewed up and overshadowed Mad Clown in that song

Yezi
- There are really no posts about Unpretty Rapstar 2 in Hiphopplaya (the K-Hip Hop community site, but if there are posts, they are usually cursing out the show and the rappers)
- The only exception is Yezi and there is a very strong positive assessment about Yezi overall

Song Mino
- Most talked about and debated
- Mentions how Mino fans thought that people hate on him because of Blacknut but that isn't the case
- His performance of “Fear” was really good, however the hip hop community focuses on evaluating rap more than popularity (they are debating if his skills match his hype/popularity)
- However, his articles also seem like some people are just hating for no reason

LE
- Until 2010 she was in Jiggy Fellaz with Vasco, Basic, Simon D
- But she doesn’t have recent work so she isn’t mentioned in the hip hop communities

Bang Yong Guk
- Was a part of Soul Connection
- Not really mentioned in hip hop communities at this time as he is going through a hard time (the lawsuit etc)

B.I
- His producing ability is being acknowledged but not really mentioned other than that



*If no rappers on are on this list, they are not talked about at all on hip hop communities.
*Hip hop communities generally don't really mention idol rappers except for Zico, GD, Mino, Bobby
*Zico and LE and BYG will be recognized through their original crew names



[The OP said they are not speaking as a fan of anyone]


-----------



Opinionsss?

Translation by Kevin Bacon & Me
Source: Nate

Comments

[citrine047.livejournal.com]

I only care about RM so. The things said about him, isee ppl are still hung up on whether BTS is hiphop, which is so 2014 for fucks sake. If they actually listened to his mixtape he mentions in almost every song that he no longer cares about genres and labels, he just wants to put out music. And honestly i have no problems with a mixtape being media played as long as it's a good mixtape. I want to see an assessment of his actual rapping skills not this passe debate

[elisaorange.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this isn't the list for evaluation about skill (unfortunately). It's more like how various rappers are viewed on online communities, I guess similar to how we could make a list about what Kpop fans say about Korean rappers?

What I'm hearing is that Rap Monster isn't mentioned much on those sites and if so, he gets bashed quite a bit so I guess that's what the post indicates.

I once came across a site that had a more professional assessment of his rap based on actual categories like rhyme, lyrics etc but I can't find it right now.

[kary1591.livejournal.com]

I feel like they said practically nothing about Mino's skills. Just that they're debated/talked about. Which still tells me nothing.

[ruddens.livejournal.com]

i think ilhoon and suga are the best, or at least i like their flows the most
ALSO yano from topp dogg!! the song "to me" from his mixtape really gets to me

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

Thats literally all (successful) Khiphop is so I mean to even legitimize it as a genre you have to ignore that LOL

Its really silly bc they have a chance to create their own subgenre of hiphop and all theyre doing is gassing up cosplays. Thats how someone like Truedy can win UPRS and Jay Park can judge people based on "how swag they look".

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

zico is arguably the best idol rapper despite the fact he's an asshole who doesn't learn from his mistakes but lbr... sadly half of the people on this list have said or done stupid things

doesn't everyone know by now that gd is mediocre when he performs live

i wish le would release a solo album

everyone knows that in terms of skills vasco > bobby

[elisaorange.livejournal.com]

Tbh, half of Kpop has been in the problematic and offensive zone this year. Zico and some of the others have been having a clean streak so I guess the rest of Kpop felt the need to make up for the lack of screw ups.

[izumichan31.livejournal.com]

Some of these say nothing about actual skills. I came in here for actual evaluations. All this is telling me is that people are being talked/debated about :\

[cookiedealer.livejournal.com]

it's true bobby shouldn't have won smtm3 but vasco shouldn't have either
i enjoyed olltii the most tbh

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

I actually think this is really fair. Especially the part about Jimin, Mino, Zico, and Rapmon. I hope LE goes back to rapping soon, and we see some more female rappers with as much presence as Yezi.

My only thing is that GDragon cant rap... like ever. Talking weird isnt rapping.

Jooheon also really has his moments when he isnt a fucking Iggy-esque tryhard. He does the same thing GD does and it quite easily ruins the song. That and his entire persona is fake and annoying /rant.

I just wish that "breaking prejudices" wasnt mostly based on how much you appropriated black culture lol. Khiphop gets really exhausting really quickly because of all this.

[nekokonneko.livejournal.com]

I just wish that "breaking prejudices" wasnt mostly based on how much you appropriated black culture lol. Khiphop gets really exhausting really quickly because of all this.

/message

[staaan.livejournal.com]

jooheon could be the greatest damn rapper in the world and i still couldn't stand his corny racist ass. same goes for some other ppl on this list lol but i'm watching no mercy rn and he's annoying me so much

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

mte
everything about him is annoying

[lily-of-west.livejournal.com]

I fail to see where evaluation part is here. It's basically who they talk the most about since I'm pretty sure 90% of people on that site don't know jack shit about hip hop or skills. Zico is the best for them cause he releases same regurgitated bs krappers who are celebrated in that community also release.

Love how they discuss how Bobby shouldn't have won cause they kiss Vasco's ass and pretend SMTM is a show about skill. Vasco has the skill but nothing else. Bobby won cause he made bops with his mentors and showed up to perform and entertain.

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

I fail to see where evaluation part is here.

From OP's reply to citrine047:

Yeah, this isn't the list for evaluation about skill (unfortunately). It's more like how various rappers are viewed on online communities, I guess similar to how we could make a list about what Kpop fans say about Korean rappers?

[bulliekim.livejournal.com]

Hiphopplaya is a community in the way Omona is a community so the lack of assessment on skill is to be expected. Online communities & forums are really just about sharing your opinion & debating things that are important to you. Replace *fangirls with *fanboys & It's not even that different from Nate so the fact that the original OP felt the need to make that distinction makes me LOL.

Anyway, Zico as a rapper? Incredible. His flow is insane. He's not just a great idol rapper, he's a great rapper, period. If he wasn't so *problematic*, I'd stan. I will say though that his production sometimes leaves A LOT to be desired. Someone wrote above that some of his songs are just like western artists' songs & I agree. Both Boys & Girls and Eureka sound like Fifth Harmony tracks tbh. But once you get past that to some of his better songs (like Predator), it's easy to recognize his skill even without knowing Korean.

Bobby deserved to win SMTM even if he is just a glorified hype man & everyone will deal. The reality is this, in hip hop, being able to win the crowd is a skill in and of itself. I remember going to a radio concert when I was younger & Busta Rhymes was on the bill. I'm not downplaying his ability because he can actually rap but he is past his prime & no one was really checking for him...until he hit the stage. It was so lit I literally forgot who I was there to see in the first place. Like...people were shouting "Encore!" for him when his set was up when like 15 minutes earlier they were like, "Who?" That's how hype he was. I think Bobby has that same kind of feel. I don't think he'll ever be as lyrical as Zico (or Busta!) but he can damn sure perform.

Jimin is trash.

GD & BI are better producers/leaders than they are rappers tbh. Although I am curious to see what would happen if BI was given free reign to just make straight up rap music. His flow is miles better than GD & his flow is better than Bobby's too if we're being all the way 100.

That's just my $0.02.

[juhli.livejournal.com]

interesting read!

[adenar.livejournal.com]

I agree with it all tbh
I remember hearing bobby perform for the first time and being like...is this seriously what all the hype is about, give the boy a cough sweet or something
I used to like jimin in aoa but her raps got more inane as they went to the sexy concept, and she doesn't have the skill to make up for her weird tone

[bomsnose.livejournal.com]

yeah uhm i kind of cracked up seeing eg ilhoon on this list... but i mean, there are many worse idol rappers than him, so idk.

glad there is no mention of anything sm lol

zico is problematic, but can rhyme and all, so it seems fair they talk about him a lot.
i still crack up at that market scene...

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

Nice to see Ilhoon mentioned.

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

He chews the lyrics when performing live (which is apparently a YG characteristic)

what does this mean?

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

i think it means he minces/slurs his words a bit? like he doesn't enunciate properly so you can't understand the lyrics

[hitthoselightz.livejournal.com]

queen yezi deserves justice

[kaninasan.livejournal.com]

khh fans fapping over Zico and Vasco, what else is new.

It's honestly a bit funny how they're hung up on SMTM when it's clearly a show that evaluates performances and not skill (i mean it's decided on audience votes, not expert opinions). I recently watched season 3, and while Bobby may be less skilled than Vasco or CJamm, he definitely delivered better performances imo. He also grew sooo much over the course of the show, and tbh the YGGR/Hiphop performance is probably the best in the history of this dumb show.

I'm not gonna pretend to be some expert on rapping, because I honestly know very little about it. This wank between underground/mainstream/idol rappers is getting tiring though. Someone is not inherently better because he's underground and there absolutely are some good idol rappers (even tho most suck tbh).

And since he's my bias, I think it's a bit sad how these khh fans seem to focus only on whether BTS are hip hop or not (they aren't, and haven't claimed to be in almost 3 years lbr), instead of looking at RM's mixtape and BTS's more hip hop heavy songs (cyphers etc) and actually talking about his skills and lyrics.

I can't believe they're praising GD and Jay Park though....

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

I think the praise is understandable to the extent that Jay Park was one of the ones who broke ground for "idol rappers" in that he came from being an idol to forming his own rap company, that lbr consistently churns out some really good music (Jay's "rapping" is terrible though and I wish he would stop)

GD's rap skills can be debated until the end of the world but he definitely carved out a distinct sound for himself and a lot of idol rappers have tried to emulate and look up to him, Zico included.

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

zico is definitely the best idol rapper, i don't like him one bit but nobody should deny it (except yg stans i guess). bobby is not bad but i've been turned off him lately, i even prefer hanbin's rapping now. everybody knows gd's strength lies in producing.

[jaelissi.livejournal.com]

I only care about BTS too, so: if RM's mixtape wasn't hiphop, then what was it? Classical? Pop? A figment of our imaginations? Wanking on about dumb-ass debates and some wank about media play to downplay the fact that the mixtape was actually good and RM is actually an incredibly skilled rapper. I think BTS will always be more appreciated abroad than in Korea. The k-hiphop community can kiss my ass.

I don't know why I take the bait with these articles every time. /rant

[arysthaeniru.livejournal.com]

I really agree with your Yongguk assessment! Since after the lawsuit, his style's sort of regressed, which is sad. I loved 4:44AM, I really thought that meant a new era of really good flow and touching emotional rap, but we didn't really get any of that, and Feel So Good's rap was sort of.... 'what just happened?' feeling.

Yezi's raps in Fiestar albums are really good, but I agree, she really needs more solo stuff, especially with her current popularity.

But yeah, I really agree with a lot of your assessment, especially about Zico and Jooheon, because they have good flows, hearing their music is great! Then I read the lyrics and am a bit disappointed.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

I don't care for Zico but yeah he's top notch, I would like him to write for others. Be charitable.
Bobby, I agree he's not the best..is he improving baby steps. I'll hold my torch for him until he pisses me off.
RM and BYG I like their hustle and they try to bring their own to whatever they do and that's what I like most. It's hard for idol rappers they have a tight box to fit into and don't have room to move out of it to show their skills.
I'm ready for the females, it's time but kpop will sleep on them til it's time for them to marry.
for me JP is on his own.
GD is a blue print for idol rappers but his prime has past and he's stale and crossed over to tryhard.
I know there are more gems in there but I sometimes can't listen to a song long enough to hear them, sorry not sorry.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

Bless his heart he tries

[elisaorange.livejournal.com]

Haha, this post got some people feeling different types of ways.

I found an article where Zico, Rap Monster, Ravi and Bang Yong Guk were rated by real live, actual professionals. It shows their scores in different categories.

It's from 2014 so I don't know if it makes sense to make a new post and I only found a translation for Zico's part so far.

I could post it up if anyone cares..............? I'll probably try to get the whole thing translated just for my own information anyway.

[arysthaeniru.livejournal.com]

I would love to see that translated if you do decide to put in the time! I want to see how they're really ranked on stuff, because I only really go on flow and how smooth their voice sounds, so actual professionals talking about it would be great!

[arysthaeniru.livejournal.com]

Although that GD is often considered the better rapper of Big Bang, I really just prefer TOP's flow? GD tends to have a better production and a better idea of what's popular at the time, but his actual rapping? Maybe it's just my cup of tea, but I don't like it as much as TOP's. He definitely swallows syllables and his squeaky voice is sometimes grating on the ears?

It's the same problem with Jimin. Plus, despite the EXCELLENT beats she has for Puss and G.O.D, she never quite utilizes them to their full extent. Her rapping is always sort of slow like she's just speaking with a twangy voice, and I can never really understand what she's saying. And of course, we all know her nasally high-pitched tone. She's really cute, and her voice is actually pretty tolerable when she isn't trying so hard....but she does try too hard and it hurts.

Yongguk's voice is really pleasant on the ears. He writes a lot of his own rap and Zelo's rap for the previous albums and those were always banging, both musically and meaning-wise, even if I'm not super into the songs they've released after the lawsuit. I also think that 4:44AM was one of his peaks, it was just so good and emotional and well done. I also really like his old stuff with Soul Connection, those always sounded nice. He's never really done fast rap like Zelo, though, I'd be interested in seeing if he ever attempts that.

Rapmon, Suga and Jhope do really good jobs. Nice flows, interesting lyrics, and their style is changing with every song, there's never really a corner they niche themselves into, which is nice to see. I like how they use their voices as instruments? That's neat. Didn't like all of Rapmon's mixtape, but I really appreciated Joke, it was a damn good song and Suga and Jhope's rap never fails to impress.

I really like Monsta X's rappers actually, though I can't really tell them apart on their tracks as a casual fan. I like their sound, they never disappoint musically, even if they're not really good at public scandals and shit. Their flow is good and I really liked Interstellar's lyrics.

I can't say as much about Zico, since I've not really listened to his whole album collection like I have for all the other people on this list, but I definitely concur with a lot of already existing opinions. His flow's on point and he hustles like an ABSOLUTE pro, but I sometimes feel like his lyrics are a rehash or not particularly original. I tend to end up liking his featuring with other people best.

[pero, like (from livejournal.com)]

I can't believe people talk about GD's rapping in BB and not TOPs