Kicking this list off is the third longest tenured rapper (officially speaking). Junhyung debuted in 2009 and has been a staple rapper since. His nasal delivery is tough to swallow at first, but like other nasal rappers and singers it takes time to get used to them and once you do, it's hardly anything bad. He does tend to have high highs and low lows, though that's mostly due to his raps being a byproduct of his group's music rather than the main attraction. Junhyung has experimented with different styles over the years and the constant mixture between pure rapping and rap-singing has added another element of variety. Personal favorite moments include his performances in "12:30," "Ribbon," and "Fiction." His solo collection, while small, has gems like "After This Moment," too.
#9. Mino (Winner)
Mino of Winner might not have the biggest collection compared to other rappers on this list, but the quality of his appearances stands out. From Winner's debut with "Empty," to the most recent songs of "Island" and "Love Me Love Me," he does really well rap-singing due to his decent singing voice. Thankfully, he has more orthodox rapping in other work. Between collaborating with YG labelmates, such as featuring in some Epik High and Lee Hi songs and his own solo material like "Body," Mino is a strong rapper and does well living up to the YG rapper standard.
#8. Suga (BTS)
Most people here are either the obvious main rapper or share equal opportunity with another (you'll see a few pairs later, though I can imagine you already know who they might be). Suga is distinct in that he's clearly the #2 on his team (behind Rap Monster), but don't let that fool you into thinking he's inferior by a significant amount. His deeper voice (compared to J-Hope and RM) combined with his aggressive style helps light a fire underneath everyone everytime he raps. You could even make the argument that some of his verses have had more impact than the other two rappers. Between solo work in "Agust D" and the extensive BTS library, he's made a name for himself and has come a long way since his debut.
#7. Zelo (B.A.P)
The minute you heard B.A.P's "Warrior" and you heard this kid rap, you were like "he said what?" That lightning-fast delivery caught everyone's attention and his youthful flighty rapping was a sharp (but appreciated) contrast to Yongguk's husky deep bars. That's what makes the B.A.P rap duo enjoyable: the yin and yang allows them to create dynamic moments in their music. "Wake Me Up," "That's My Jam" and "Honeymoon" are but some recent selections that show you what's he capable of. Technique-wise I think Zelo has a lot more to offer, but the scary part about him is that he's so young. He won't turn 22 internationally until October of this year. So long as B.A.P has an extensive career, Zelo is going to keep getting better and better.
#6. Bobby (iKON)
Originally, I had Zelo occupying the 6th spot but Bobby is too lethal to ignore. My first exposure to him was Epik High's "Born Hater" where he might have had the 2nd best verse out of that esteemed lineup. Every time he picks up the mic you can hear his experience, despite his young age and younger debut year. O course, winning Show Me The Money certainly helps add to his legend. He tends to go hard ("Hollup!") and that's easily his best attribute but Bobby has shown he's capable of toning it down, too. Songs like "Love Scenario" and his feature in "I'm Different" highlight the more casual side of his rapping. Though he may rank #6, he's without a doubt the most exciting rapper to pay attention to in the years to come.
#5. Yongguk (B.A.P)
The rap duo of B.A.P help each other in many ways. Zelo's higher register makes Yongguk's already deep ad rich voice sound even more intense when they rap together (as seen in "Feel So Good"). As y'all know, the deep voices are the most exciting to listen to simply because of the rarity. Kpop tends to have people on the lighter end of the spectrum so Yongguk is definitely a treasure. "Honeymoon" and "AM 4:44" have some of my favorite moments. I will never tire of his voice, nor will I run out of quality rap verses from Yongguk. Hopefully TS Entertainment doesn't do anything stupid to cut his group career short.
#4. T.O.P (Big Bang)
When it comes to deep voices, T.O.P reigns over all as king. In the 2000's he has been the iconic deep-voiced rapper and Big Bang's incredible success over the years only adds more to his legacy. He ain't a one trick pony, either. His rapping speed and sharp lyrics have been something many have raved over and with good reason. T.O.P is really good at what he does. As expected of someone who debuted in 2006, there's plenty of material to go around. From Big Bang, to GD&TOP, to solo work, he's been killing it for the last decade. His library is immense and his ability to rap has never been questioned. T.O.P sits comfortably as the gatekeeper to the top three.
#3. Rap Monster (BTS)
Underground history aside, there isn't a rapper that could hold a candle to Rap Monster when he debuted. I mean when your stage name is fucking "Rap Monster" you had better live up to such a moniker. Thankfully, he did and continues to do so despite wanting to be known as RM which is merely the acronym of Rap Monster haha. From BTS' debut to now, Rap Monster has been the best rapper and anchor of that team because - and let's be honest now - rapping is their bread and butter. He's rarely had a bad showing and outside of his group, he's done plenty as a solo artist and feature ("Do You" and "Buckubucku" are a few examples). As one of the youngest rappers on one of Kpop's hottest boy groups, Rap Monster will keep lighting it up.
#2. G-Dragon (Big Bang)
Here we arrive at the two most prolific rappers in all of Kpop boy group history. It goes without saying that G-Dragon would be high up on the list but why he isn't #1 is a story for another time (like the next paragraph). G-Dragon has an incredible library thanks to his long history. Songs with Big Bang, solo artist albums, a plethora of collaborations and features, this man has many an accolade and is arguably the most storied rapper out of them all. He's done a little bit of everything - this man has a diverse resume which spans the early days of Big Bang in "Haru Haru" to iconic solo debut "Heartbreaker," from GD&TOP's "Zutter" to their most recent "Fxxk It." With military service on the horizon, G-Dragon can rest easy knowing he's always going to be one of the very best
#1. Zico (Block B)
Probably the easiest decision I had to make on this ranking. G-Dragon might have more legacy points and much better consistency, but Zico is as incredible as it gets. Despite debuting years later, his portfolio is just as good (if not better) when compared to G-Dragon across all spectrums. The only area I'd give GD the advantage is in group music, and even then that's a close call. Zico's activity outside of his group is staggering. His name is scattered all over the Kpop map and with good reason. Peeking into his works you are treated to collaborations left and right with masterpieces like "Anti" and "Bermuda Triangle," and fun bangers along Block B's timeline from "Nillili Mambo" to "Shall We Dance." Personally, he sounds better and clearer than his contemporaries and is my pick for the best fastest rapper on the list. So even if barely, he'll edge out G-Dragon for the overall #1 spot in this iteration of Boy Group Power Rankings.
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