[Bonus] Girl Group Rapper Power Rankings Revisited (#10-#1)

#10. Jia (-3)

Jia hasn't been the busiest of the rappers, but her drop in the standings has more to do with others being elevated than personal downfall. Jia can be an explosive rapper that can easily switch to a support vocalist. When we discussed Yura, I mentioned how she receives the best treatment out of most rappers in terms of voice and line distribution, and Jia is right behind her. In fact, miss A's title tracks / music has split between having and not having raps so Jia's utility is well-exercised. If she isn't dropping prompt raps in "Goodbye Baby" or "I Don't Need A Man," she's singing smooth transitions in songs like "Hush" and "Only You."

Jia's most prized ability is her technique and speed. She isn't the only non-Korean on the list, but the speed and clarity in which she raps is impressive. Hell, she can even outpace some if not most of the others in the #20-#11 range. On a wider scale, excluding a few outliers (like Super Junior-M's Zhou Mi for example), Jia probably sounds the best in Korean out of the many foreigners in Kpop. If Sihyun represented the baseline and Hyomin represented the average, then Jia represents the requirements needed to be in the top 10. JYP proudly houses her and Yubin who both rank at the very top, and that shouldn't be overlooked.

#9. Bora (-1)

Bora may not be the best in blonde, but she's certainly one of the best girl group rappers out there, evidenced by her #9 placing. She's got a good base, an emphatic voice, and has remained consistent through the years despite the decreasing power of Sistar's title tracks. Last year I discussed how Bora's contrast between performing and on variety is a clear indicator of her charisma, and that remains true. But something people also forget is that while Bora is often sexy and sultry for Sistar songs, she's also been cute and energetic in the more fun songs like "Touch My Body" and "Loving U."

The Achilles' Heel of Bora is how often she's used outside of rapping. Which is to say, never. Flashback to 2011-2012 and Sistar19, which was really just a Hyorin solo featuring Bora. Bora may actually be the only member in the entire list who has not had any significant singing parts (ignoring some of the newbies). The only reason Bora is marginally better than Hana in the utility category is that while Hana does get some singing, Bora contributes pretty heavily to Sistar's rise over the years. If Bora could get any exposure in singing, she'd likely overtake the next few ranks.

#8. Amber (-2)

Let's get this out of the way: Amber continues to be wasted potential. Ever since her debut, she has rarely had the opportunity to show raps that prove her top 8 placement. Amber has never had a breakout performance among f(x) songs, which is sad given her long career. Raps from "Chu" to "Rum Pum Pum Pum" have been all kinds of mediocre across the board. But enough disappointing talk, onto brighter topics. Amber has a beautiful voice, which has become more prominent in f(x)'s music. This is especially evident after Sulli's departure from the group, as we see Amber being given more singing lines in "4 Walls." In contrast to her husky rapping voice, Amber's singing voice is clear and light. She adds a 3rd feminine voice to f(x)'s roster and manages to make ends meet with the mediocre raps she has.

Amber is highly valued in the marketing of f(x). She speaks English and Mandarin which helps reach international audiences, and is probably the 2nd most popular member of the group (even including Sulli). Her tomboyish charm has not wavered since their debut in 2009 and was the pioneer of the "boyish" girl rappers. Overall Amber has every tool needed to be a super successful rapper, but her company has yet to find her the right place (or song) in the competition.

#7. Moonbyul (--)

Once upon a time, most assumed that a rapper in a group with extremely talented vocalists was nothing more than audio filler and a pretty face. But in 2014 Moonbyul of Mamamoo helped burn that theory to the ground. You wanna talk about a rapper that can impress you just as much as Solar's singing? Moonbyul has you covered. Her voice contains all the right elements between low range, tough and sassy, and good volume. Moonbyul's trademark growl is amazing and her raps in "Piano Man" and "Ahh Oop!" show that her basics are damn good. She really does need to stop saying her name to introduce all her raps, though. Regardless, this speaks volumes about Moonbyul and her ability to make a name for herself despite the vocal juggernaut that is Mamamoo. Not to mention that unlike Sihyun and SPICA, she gets no singing chances whatsoever.

What's truly surprising about Moonbyul is that even though she's a rookie, she never sounds like one on stage. Her charisma and expressions are that of veterans and having solid performances since debut with "Mr. Ambiguous" further increases her value. Moonbyul actually has a fairly decent singing voice. She, like Bora, don't get any singing options at all, so if she could just get the tiniest amount of the singing lines, that could very well be the icing on the cake capable of pushing her into the top 5.

#6. CL (-2)

Ah, Lee Chaerin. The self-proclaimed "baddest female," CL manages (continues?) to hold her ground despite 2NE1's uncertain future. 2NE1 has been inactive since the "Crush" album, so all of her work is outdated at this point. CL has a powerful distinct voice that is matched by capable technique. "MTBD," as noted when I discussed the song in the Best Of 2014, was a strong rapping track which showcased her ability better than anything else from 2011 on. The live performance of said track demonstrates exactly what makes CL so great. Her stage presence and charisma are generally incredible and really bring life to the music. Not only that, but she can contain herself when needed, too, like in the unplugged "Come Back Home." Outside of rapping, she has a good voice constantly utilized in songs like "Lonely" and "Missing You" and clearly was the driving force of 2NE1 when they were still active.

The consistency of CL will continue to decline as Bom's controversy keeps the group on hiatus. Combined with how her most impressive works come from the "To Anyone" era, and we're watching a previously talented rapper fall slowly from grace. Still, her parts in "The Leaders" and most tracks from "To Anyone" made her one of the best (if not the best) girl group rappers during the Golden Age of Kpop.

#5. Yezi (--)

This ranking may be overzealous but I truly believe Yezi is among the absolute best of Kpop girl group rappers. She's like a younger version of LE. They have similar voices (Yezi is a touch less nasally than LE) and similar rapping styles (powerful and aggressive). While her career may not be as decorated due to her young career, she has more than held her own. In early 2015, "You're Pitiful" illustrates the high point for both Yezi and FIESTAR, a beautiful song equipped with a fierce rap sequence. Looking into older material, even through the gimmick songs like "I Don't Know," and the simple repitition in "One More," Yezi has demonstrated ability and tenacity on a regular basis.

Yezi's berth on Unpretty Rapstar isn't enough exposure for this girl. Yezi will be making an anticipated solo debut later this month. Outside of a few obvious names like CL and Miryo, she's a rare instance of a group rapper getting a solo project. Here's hoping she surpasses all the expectations. As FIESTAR climbs the girl group ladder, Yezi will keep showing everybody why she's a force to be reckoned with.

#4. Miryo (-3)

 The battle between the next ranks was the trickiest. Miryo vs. Yubin. Last year Miryo reigned at #1 while Yubin sat at #3, but since then neither had been too active. Yubin and Wonder Girls were on hiatus while all Miryo had was the M&N subunit and a brief solo effort. Thankfully Brown Eyed Girls made a return just earlier this month (which we'll get to reviewing later) and while neither "Brand New World" or "Warm Hole" are bad songs, the rap shown from Miryo was very regrettable. The trio of Miryo, Erin, and Yubin had substandard raps this year but Miryo had the most disappointing by far. Compounding this was the lackluster "Queen" which seemed to highlight Gain more than Miryo.

Despite all that, she is one of the most fundamentally advanced rappers, with speed, voice, and technique to boot. Not only is she the fastest rapper among everybody on the list, but she also has the most experience, which spans over a decade. Sometimes I think it's generally unfair to compare Miryo to the rest of these idol rappers. Brown Eyed Girls is certainly a unique and established girl group, and Miryo's experience predates even that. A weaker showing in 2015 does little to take away from her extended resume.

#3. Yubin (--)

If voice was everything, Yubin would be the undisputed queen. Her voice is really low and she makes everything sound damn good. Thankfully, voice isn't everything, but Yubin has all her bases covered either way. Her voice may be the carry but her rapping ability is absolutely on par with the rest of the members in the final 4. Yubin's feature in Ivy's "I Dance" may be the very best non-group release from any idol rapper to date. She has flattered in pop track raps ever since her debut with "Tell Me" all the way up to the deliciously charming "Be My Baby." Yubin's consistency may have suffered a brief drop thanks to group hiatus but my goodness she's back. Many were hyped to see her join Unpretty Rapstar, myself included. While her final placement there may have been uninspiring, she delivered potent raps from the start of the show, an accurate portrayal of her library from joining Wonder Girls to present day.

Even with having a longer hiatus compared to Miryo, Yubin's comeback work was more impressive. Just judging title tracks, "I Feel You" easily has the advantage against "Brand New World" in pretty much every aspect. This doesn't include bonus utility for learning / being in charge of drums in the comeback. Yubin is an outstanding competitor for the very top, and once she and Wonder Girls start releasing regular content, it'll be just like the good ol' days again.

#2. Erin (--)

Erin boasts one of the most consistent performances and personalities over the past 3 years. Admittedly, the rapping in "Drama" and "Hurt Locker" was a bit disappointing but her track record remains very strong. 9MUSES' furious 2013 promotions helped catapult her to the top and keep her there. Her rap break in "Wild" remains the best (girl group) rap I've ever heard, and honestly speaking, nothing else from anybody else has come close, before or after. Erin possesses a husky voice riddled with charisma and attitude that's seen in her lives. While she manages to have zero singing lines, and have Sungah encroach on her rapping rights, Erin is a pivotal member of 9MUSES and a main reason I was drawn to the group in the first place.

This writeup comes ahead of the November comeback, but here's hoping that she continues with the excellent ability no matter what type of song they return with. The "S/S Special Edition" was full of short rapping bursts which while good, don't really do Erin the same amount of justice, and the same could be said for the "Drama" EP from earlier in the year. Erin quietly retains her #2 spot, but makes way for the new queen.

#1. LE (--)

It's no secret that LE is one of the most established female rappers in Kpop. Between an underground start, songwriting ability, and the focal point of EXID, LE's name is everywhere, and synonymous with success. But flashback to spring 2013 and my first experience of LE was not as pleasant. "You Got Some Nerve" was a joint effort between FeelDog, B2ST's Junhyung, and LE. The extreme nasal quality of her voice along with the high pitch did not mix well and I dismissed her as an inferior rapper. Even to this day I don't think her part in the song sounds good at all. That being said, LE's voice has naturally grown on me, mostly due to EXID's music not reaching that same level of pitch. Her rapping is a perfect match for songs like "Every Night" and "Ah Yeah." LE has a flexible voice, gifted ability, a sophisticated charisma, and scary consistency. LE has only had good (or better) raps since debut (outside the aforementioned "You Got Some Nerve") which not many other members in the ranking can claim. Along with Yubin and arguably Jimin, this trio is in a category of their own for consistency.

LE may not have a solo in the works but she's enjoying the success of  EXID's meteoric rise to the top, something which she contributed massively to. Someone once said "EXID will succeed because of LE," turns out they were right on the money. The rapping in "Up & Down" and "Ah Yeah" serve as the backbone to each song, Every release that has had a healthy dose of excellent rapping from LE has impressed, even if the songs never reach the level of success they deserve. She and Solji are the pillars of EXID and they will continue to excel as the group releases "Hot Pink" sometime next week.