Nada experiences a massive jump up the standings thanks to her berth and success on Unpretty Rapstar. The exposure was a much-needed jolt of life considering how inactive Wa$$up have been. Throw in her mixtape and she has plenty to add to her otherwise boring resume. Nada's definitely got a swagger and ferociousness that is uncommon in other rappers, and her rare lower voice makes her stand out even more. If Wa$$up could start gaining traction, she'll be the centerpiece of it, much like Yezi was with FIESTAR.
#9. Hyeran (--)
I'm not entirely confident placing Hyeran here as a newcomer to the rankings. At the same time, who else is truly deserving of being in the top 10 besides her? After Nada, she has the next fewest amount of great material, but conversely has impressed me in older variants of Brave Girls (like "Nowadays You"). With her group's revival came "Deepened" and 2016's best girl group rap break. Since then however, her parts in "High Heels" and "Yoohoo" haven't been as good, plus her and her group's future is once again in question.
#8. Jimin (+4)
It's the motherfucking top madam, y'all. With so many departures like CL and Jia, Jimin naturally finds herself moving up the list. Like before, Jimin's talent is undeniable but her voice is very much hit or miss. This year was rather unkind to her (and everyone else) with AOA being swept up in controversy, and on top of that Jimin's solo debut "Call You Bae" and AOA's "Good Luck" had underwhelming rap sequences. Still, you can't ignore the super strong 2014 and as previously mentioned, the rookies will have their chance to upset later.
#7. Amber (+1)
Since the fantastic "4 Walls," we've seen some more of Amber's rapping talent being utilized. All of her rapping this year was through Station, as "All Mine" featured a cheerful rap alongside her groupmates while "Borders" was something special. "Borders" headlined the first of a few new solo tracks that were all about Amber's emotional softer side. Subsequent tracks were more about her development as a singer (and I loved them all), but regardless she will remain comfortably in the top 10.
#6. Bora (+3)
Bora and Sistar were pretty quiet this year, with most of the attention being turned towards Hyorin and her solo comeback. However, let's not forget that Sistar needed to bounce back from a mediocre "Touch My Body" and "Shake It." And they did in spades with "I Like That." The thing is, Bora had decent raps in the last two years and while the rap in "I Like That" was good, it was criminally short. The same could be said for her late appearance in "One More Day." By the next comeback, I think it'll be easier for me to pick between Bora and Amber.
Boasting the 2nd highest rapping profile in 2016, Moonbyul makes her way into the top 5 after the departures of CL and Erin. Not only did she have plenty of material this year, but most of Mamamoo's new songs featured double raps from Moonbyul, further gracing us all with her gifts. From the hilarious roasts of "Taller Than You" to the emphatic lines in "Decalcomanie," Moonbyul put in work this year and it shows. It's amazing to see her excel in a group so focused on vocals (not to mention not getting any singing chances herself).
#4. Miryo (--)
Even without releasing anything in 2016, it would be so disrespectful of me to not keep Miryo in the top 5. Brown Eyed Girls quietly celebrated their 10th year together, which is a level of longevity that other girl groups would die to have (in fact many of them are dying because they don't have it). With a slew of Unpretty Rapstar releases and the "Rock-Scissors-Paper" collab with Giant Pink, Miryo has once again added consistent performances to her resume.
#3. Yezi (+2)
After breaking out last year on Unpretty Rapstar, no other girl group rapper had a better year than Yezi. FIESTAR comebacks? Check. Solo mini album? Check. Excellent rapping across all of these efforts? Check. Her (group's) songs thrive on her rapping and vice versa, and I don't think she's close to her max potential yet. If rapping could kill, Yezi would be a dangerous girl. I almost put her one spot higher, but the consistency and history of the #2 member deserved it more.
#2. Yubin (+1)
Many girl group rappers have walked through the doors of Unpretty Rapstar, but I'd wager that two names didn't need the show to reaffirm their skills. Miryo is one name, Yubin is the other. Yubin had a succinct year, delivering a lengthy rap break in "Why So Lonely," which is my #2 pick for girl group rap of the year behind Hyeran in "Deepened." Yubin is a model of consistency, and with Wonder Girls enjoying a new breath of life late in their careers, I can only see Yubin continue to make strides in her rapping abilities.
#1. LE (--)
To nobody's surprise, LE defends her #1 spot thanks to a successful rebound in 2016. After the disappointing showing in "Hot Pink," she returned to form with a killer rap in "L.I.E" Her combination of voice, consistency, and history / resume make her a difficult rapper to get overtaken by, especially with EXID continuing to gain momentum. After Yezi's solo promotions this year I'm hoping LE will have a chance to do the same eventually. LE is the gold standard and should continue to prove it as EXID prepare to advance into the Chinese market.
Final Glance
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