Rap gets a bad rep for being about materialistic things, violence, and demeaning women. But like everything else when you round them up to absolutes, there are exceptions to every rule. This concept also applies to K-rap, even if the songs about violence, materialistic things, and misogyny are rare in the genre. And while those […]
If you ask me what makes a good K-drama, rather than a star-studded cast or a fresh storyline, my answer would be a good soundtrack. OSTs (original soundtracks) are instrumental to dramas because they create the appropriate mood for the various scenes which play out, thus adding a lot of vibrance and emotion to the […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/OST-feature.jpg7681024Anna Cheanghttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2015-09-19 10:20:212015-11-16 14:02:565 Tear-Inducing K-Drama OSTs Pt. 2
Rap gets a bad rep for being about materialistic things, violence, and demeaning women. But like everything else when you round them up to absolutes, there are exceptions to every rule. This concept also applies to K-rap, even if the songs about violence, materialistic things, and misogyny are rare in the genre. And while those […]
If you ask me what makes a good K-drama, rather than a star-studded cast or a fresh storyline, my answer would be a good soundtrack. OSTs (original soundtracks) are instrumental to dramas because they create the appropriate mood for the various scenes which play out, thus adding a lot of vibrance and emotion to the […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/OST-feature.jpg7681024Anna Cheanghttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2015-09-19 10:20:212015-11-16 14:02:565 Tear-Inducing K-Drama OSTs Pt. 2
Rap gets a bad rep for being about materialistic things, violence, and demeaning women. But like everything else when you round them up to absolutes, there are exceptions to every rule. This concept also applies to K-rap, even if the songs about violence, materialistic things, and misogyny are rare in the genre. And while those songs might be fun to sing and dance to, let’s focus on those with meaningful lyrics that speak to us.
Korean fans are legendary with their enthusiasm towards celebrities, and Epik High’s “Fan” is one of the earliest Korean songs to address the madness of fans; the song’s official title is “Fan (Fanatics).” Tablo and Mithra Jin spit their lines clearly and frankly, expressing the insanity of fans, emphasized more so by a haunting, melancholic beat. “Even though everyone says I am crazy and the entire world disappears, Babe you belong to me, but why are the worthless multitudes talking you away?” Epik High’s newer songs have been extremely popular, but it’s the poetry of early songs like “Fan” that I really think shows their prowess as spoken word artists. The song, and it’s frightening music video, became one of Epik High’s earliest hits way back in 2007, and is still relevant as Korean musicans struggle with the love and obsession of fans.
During the latest season of the hit show “Show Me the Money,” the contestant who received most of the flack by the rest of the rappers was Song Mino. Everyone bashed him left and right and the like “Song Mino will always win” even became a thing after Black Nut said it repeatedly in all his raps. But the moment people had to take him seriously materialized with his semi-final son “Fear” featuring Taeyang. Mino decided to put his all into the song, spitting about his hardships leading up to his debut and enduring it all for the sake of your dreams and not letting your loved ones down. Moreover, he epitomized the fear of growing up a lot of people can relate to, saying “I’m much too young and fragile to be an adult/ I still don’t know the way.” Mino and allowed everyone to see his vulnerability and forced people to recognize him for something more than a plastic idol: a mere human, just like everyone else.
— Alexis
If you were to consider Simon D’s years in the underground hip-hop world and the years he spent in the mainstream music industry, he has almost two decades worth of experiences under his belt. To some, that may not seem like a long time, but to many others, he’s undoubtedly considered an “OG” in the hip-hop game. “Simon Dominic” is a prime example of his artistry as an artist, as he raps about the raw side of things, “real life” relatable situations, the trial and error of life. When you’re young, you’re not going to want to listen to what the older folks have to say. We try doing things on our own terms, it’s our way of rebelling. Sometimes, it goes our way, but they’ll be more failed plans than successful ones. It’s like a natural cycle of life; sometimes it’s almost as if we want to make things more difficult for ourselves, even when others who have gone through these difficult situations before, tells us to do avoid them, we still do it anyway just so we can say we did. But that’s okay. Why? Because you live and you learn.
— Tam
I’ve always been of the opinion that rap is the best way of personal expression in music. Its simplistic nature and almost talking style mean the words take centre stage. Super producer Primary seems to have a similar opinion which can be clearly seen on his song with E-Sens, “Poison.” Even though Primary’s gets top billing, this is an E-Sens song. It’s a song about all his insecurities, his fears of not living up to his dreams. The past spreads through his body like a poison, not letting him move on. It’s a poignant song given the trouble he would go on to have with Supreme Team splitting. Poison works because of Primary’s decision to step back with the production, stripping his form into something that guided E-Sens’ words rather than overpowering them.
When I think about meaningful raps, no other group does it better than BTS. Despite essentially being an “idol” group, the rapper line (J-Hope, Rap Monster, and Suga) does not let their status set them back from doing what they do best – expressing their emotions through their music. Like their previous songs, “Move” is one example of what happens when the three put their lyrical genius minds to work. The result is a memoir of how the members have come so far since settling into their shared dormitory three years ago, of how they are on the move again, and of how a new start awaits them. The song also depicts their attachment to their board, and how it is a reminder of their humble beginnings. As Rap Monster ends his verse with “This place smells like us/Let’s not forget this scent… Nonhyungdon, third floor, thank you,” it’s clear how much the group cherished their home. More than just a roof over their heads, it’s been there for them when they needed protection from their uncertain future during their trainee days or when they needed a container for their laughter. This is what makes a house a home, and I think this is exactly what the three are trying to get at.
— Shelley
What’s your favorite K-rap song with meaningful lyrics? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
If you ask me what makes a good K-drama, rather than a star-studded cast or a fresh storyline, my answer would be a good soundtrack. OSTs (original soundtracks) are instrumental to dramas because they create the appropriate mood for the various scenes which play out, thus adding a lot of vibrance and emotion to the drama. When used correctly, OSTs also have the ability to grip the hearts of viewers and carry them throughout the drama. A few years ago, that is what a special OST did to me. For the first time, I cried along with the main characters because of the anguish that I felt as I listened to the song, and since then, the tears have never stopped flowing. I started to have a great appreciation for emotional OSTs and would listen to them over and over again.
Over the years, I’ve gathered quite a collection of my favourite OSTs, but the following five that are listed have a special place in my heart and still linger fondly in my memories today. (Warning: Some drama spoilers ahead!)
5. Gavy N.J – “Rewind” (“My Lovely Girl”)
“My Lovely Girl” (2014) is one of the more recent dramas that I’ve watched and what it lacks in plot it certainly makes up for in its soundtrack. As a drama centred around an entertainment company run by Lee Hyun-wook (Rain), I expected that there would be many amazing soundtracks being used in the show. Indeed there were great songs, such as Krystal’s (f(x)) “All of a Sudden” which I enjoyed. But the first song to really touch my heart was Gavy N.J’s “Rewind.” In the drama, this song is used as a recurring reference to Sena’s (Krystal) deceased sister, which on its own is a tragic enough plot point, but the gorgeous voices and harmonies of Gavy N.J brought tears to my eyes, and caused me to care a lot more about the show than I would have originally. The song is not flashy in any way, but sometimes it’s the softest and simplest melodies which are the most poignant.
