[Bonus] 2015 Kpop Awards: Part II

Best Song: INFINITE - Bad

I considered making this part excluding all the songs in the Best Of 2015, but then again this wouldn't be the "best" song, would it. So here's "Bad" again. Sparing any repetition from when I first talked about it, I'll keep it to a short and simple version: excellent vocals, standard Infinite choreography, and a killer instrumental are the trifecta able to carry this song to the top. It's a very impressive track with plenty of appeal. If Infinite can keep producing content like this, they are going to go very, very far.

Best Music Video: Psy - Daddy

Psy came back this year, and while nothing seems capable of capturing the magic that was "Gangnam Style," he is still able to drop hilarious music videos. "Daddy" is all sorts of weird and funny and leagues ahead of the competition. Superimposing Psy's face on a variety of characters was definitely too good to pass up, and the cameo game is still strong, with CL and Ha Jiwon making appearances (and maybe others that I missed). Won't comment on the song, but "you be my curry, I'll be your rice" is one of the simultaneously best and worst English line to ever be used in a Korean song. Oh, and the buildup in this was what Big Bang's "Bang Bang Bang" should have been.

Best Live Performance: Mamamoo - Mr. Ambiguous (Medley)

Mamamoo certainly know how to rock the stage(s), and this performance is more than enough to show why. The dresses are sparkly, though I question the silly "Mamamoo" text and GIANT LETTER emblazoned across each member's top. Wheein is at her best, and fangirl reactions to Hwasa are all you really need for the visual game. Of course the real treat starts at 1:37 where they string about a dozen songs together for a fun little medley. You've got rival girl group songs from Sistar and AOA, a few Big Bang songs, and even nods to "Gangnam Style" and..."Um Oh Ah Yeah?" They also incorporated brief moments of the respective dances, too, which was pretty awesome. All in all, this was a fantastic performance that reached as far as it could go, despite being just a regular stage.

Best Vocalist: Taeyeon / Best Rapper: Yezi / Best Visual: Nana

These are pretty self-explanatory. Taeyeon is as established as any girl group vocalist and did more work than Hyorin this year (though if Hyorin had a super strong showing in "Shake It" I may have reconsidered). Yezi is the iconic breakout idol of 2015, with Unpretty Rapstar being a good place for her this year and a few new tracks to go along with. Lastly, there's Nana. Need I say more? And you're right, I don't really care about boy groups that much. But for what it's worth, male vocal would probably be Kyuhyun, male rapper would probably be Rap Monster, and male visual would probably be Siwon.

That's it for the first ever edition of the Kpop Awards on my blog, as well as 2015. Here's to bigger, better, and brighter things in 2016. Happy New Year everyone!

[Bonus] 2015 Kpop Awards: Part I

Welcome to part 1 of the 2015 Kpop Awards. Another year, another new piece of writing that should be a refreshing and revitalizing take on my Kpop exploration. Part of me is rather devastated after the football game I watched earlier this afternoon but I will soldier on. In part 1 we'll look at overall groups and singers, while part 2 will be more about the music and music videos themselves. So these awards are more accomplishment oriented, but again, I don't really pay attention to (or care) about how well they sell. That's basically the only factor I "ignore," so to speak. Anyway here we go.

Best Girl Group: Girls' Generation

This was an important year for SNSD. Their status as the pinnacle girl group was under threat when Jessica was ousted from the group last fall. Girls' Generation was quiet early in 2015's first half, with "Catch Me If You Can" as the only release. But "Party" signaled the group's return with the 5th studio album "Lion Heart." The album was impressive in how it boasted versatility with varying types of songs. S.M had a very good year in terms of studio albums and SNSD was no exception. After that, Taeyeon finally had her solo debut which was also pretty excellent. "I" was a masterpiece and the other ballads on the mini were exquisite. They wrapped up the year with Christmas songs with the TTS subunit and while not my cup of tea, was still work put in.

Among the other girl groups at the very top, Girls' Generation was both the most active throughout the year and the most successful with their music. Girl's Day (reigning #1 on the Power Rankings) only promoted a mediocre song in "Ring My Bell," likewise with Sistar and "Shake It." AOA's "Heart Attack" album was good, but definitely outmatched by the styles of "Lion Heart." Plus Choa's "Flame" was only a rendition (though a beautiful one). Finally, A-Pink is kinda just A-Pink. They're still good and definitely showed that this year, just not as much as SNSD, who also needed to make a statement with Jessica gone.

Best Boy Group: BTS

Consistency is key. And as far as aspiring groups go, perhaps none have been as consistent as BTS in the title track scheme of things. Rarely did a BTS title track disappoint, and this trend would continue in 2015. "I Need U," "Dope," and "Run" are an excellent trio of songs for the group this year, even though I consider "Run" the weakest of the group by far (sounds too much like a 2nd version of "I Need U"), the aggressively powerful choreography of the former songs make up for that. Outside of groupwork, Rap Monster also dropped the "RM" mixtape and joined in with MFBTY for "Buckubucku," not just one of the year's strongest rap showings, but any rap songs period. Simply put, another busy yet productive year for the boys.

The rise of BTS is not only credit to the group for releasing strong song after song, but also the faltering of rival groups. EXO was really the only group in their debut class that was active enough to challenge them, and while I do think "Call Me Baby" and "Love Me Right" trump the BTS trio in 2015, they cannot make that claim for previous years. Plus you can always make fun of them for losing members. Veteran groups like 2PM and Super Junior did below average and average, respectively, keeping releases scarce. Big Bang is still the king of boy groups, don't get me wrong. "Made" only pushed that sentiment higher and higher, but this isn't a best of all time, just best of this year. And BTS have the work ethic to take that title.

Best Soloist: BoA

Admittedly, I didn't discover too much on the soloist front this year, but it's difficult to imagine that any of them would have as impressive and balanced an album as BoA did. Seriosuly, the tracklist for "Kiss My Lips" is basically perfection. Not a single song is out of place, and the features in Gaeko and Eddy Kim were used very well. Like Girls' Generation's album, the roster on "Kiss My Lips" is equally diverse. "Who Are You" and "Kiss My Lips" made for a good 1-2 promotional punch, but she has the excellent "Blah" and "Green Light" to fall back on, as well as my favourite track on the album "Shattered." I wish Younha could have contested, but with just 3 tracks to her name this year, she couldn't put much of a fight. 15 years into her career, and BoA is going as strong as ever.

Best Rookie Group: GFriend

Alright. A-Pink isn't really my favourite group. Cute music can only go so far with me, so at first glance GFriend taking this award is a little odd. Most seem to point to GFriend's professionalism and all that, but honestly everyone is expected to be professional. Otherwise they'd be called out. GFriend is the best new debut because they are more "complete" than other new groups. "Glass Bead" and "Me Gustas Tu" have a distinct vocal and dance advantage. We've seen very few groups try and show off their vocals (like high notes) and Yuju makes the highlight reel for both songs. It's easy to sound bad while doing cute concepts and GFriend doesn't, so props. The choreography is energetic and definitely on the more difficult and taxing side of the spectrum.

Most of the other girl group debuts just can't match GFriend's level of product. All the other cute concepts made me cringe too much. I know full well I am neglecting plenty of boy groups, but to be honest none of their debut tracks ever gave me a thought to coming back to them. Monsta X's "Trespass" was decent but that's about it. Seveteen and iKON also fell flat with their debuts. GFriend had good title tracks, a strong effort, and Yerin is a variety master. It's a bright future for this group.

[Bonus] Best Of 2015 (#5-#1)

Merry Christmas! As you can see, I didn't manage to get the final set out before today but that's alright. Let's wrap up the Best Of 2015 with a list that may leave you surprised, because I sure was. Also, ignore the inconsistent image-to-ranking relation, t'was a mistake but all is well. Without further ado, here are my picks for the very best songs in 2015.

5. 4minute - Crazy

Praise everything holy because 4minute finally ended their slump of mediocre and terrible title tracks when they released "Crazy." Keeping with the namesake, the pace and energy of the song are indeed pretty crazy. The dancing is fierce and has character, while Hyuna and Jiyoon command control with their explosive rapping verses. The other members do struggle a little whether due to lackluster ability (Sohyun), awkward sections (Gayoon), or both (Jihyun), but when all is said and done, 4minute have a track that can compete with "I My Me Mine," Considering that was 5 years ago, and everything they've released since then was disappointing, it's awesome seeing them with such a powerful and addicting dance number.

4. f(x) - 4 Walls

In a similar vein, f(x) had been on a downfall. With Sulli leaving, many fans wondered if this group would spiral into obscurity. The group then proceeded to drop the "4 Walls" album which is one of the better studio album of the year. With "4 Walls" leading the pack, f(x) showed that they certainly didn't need Sulli around to drop a very smooth dance track. "4 Walls" has an instrumental that worms into your head, a simple and effective rap, and a breakout vocal performance from Krystal. You don't really need much else. The bridge did cause the song to take a little stumble, but it's nothing major, and this does appear to be an unfortunate trend among some of this year's best songs (Chanhyuk's rap in "Thinking About You," Jihyun's bridge in "Crazy," the bridge in "Twenty Three" to name a few). Still, "4 Walls" has the pleasure of being in the final 4.

3. FIESTAR - You're Pitiful

To be honest, not many girl groups went down the sexy route this year. Basically all the new debuts were channeled down the cute aisle, and even veterans like Sistar and the rising AOA kept it pretty simple. FIESTAR therefore handily take the sexiest girl group title this year with "You're Pitiful." You want fanservice? That's the whole video. The choreography was sensual and used both male backup dancers and chairs (interesting combo). This song jumpstarted Yezi's rise to prominence(?), with a heartful rap that eventually led to more Yezi rapping goodness (still waiting for that new album!). "You're Pitiful" also had one of the more decorated videos, with food thrown everywhere, a man putting on lipstick, and plenty of Jei eye candy.

2. EXO - Call Me Baby

We've said this before, and we'll say this again. EXO may lose a member every year, but their music seems to take everything in stride. In fact, "Call Me Baby" is enough to surpass the sensational "Growl" in my eyes (ears). The track is 100% dance power personified. The choreography is slick and super impressive when you see how synchronized they are, yet still has all the crotch-grabbing hype for fangirls to...well, fangirl over. A couple of questionable moves here and there but that goes for pretty much every dance nowadays. EXO's vocal line is still alive and very strong, and it's practically unfair to have Chen on your team. Still, Baekhyun and D.O more than hold their own, and everyone else isn't dead weight. After having previously mentioned that many songs in 2015 have bad bridges, "Call Me Baby" is a fundamentally perfect song.

1. INFINITE - Bad

For years girls and girl groups had monopolized the very best songs. Big Bang grabbed top 3 status in 2012, and Epik High (though they aren't exactly "idols") in 2014. Elsewhere there wasn't much male representation (and c'mon, one year there was Psy on the list). But in 2015 we have a top 2 that's exclusively boy groups. Tides of change? Perhaps, but the straightforward answer is that "Bad" is really really really good. Everything I just said EXO in "Call Me Baby" goes for Infinite, too, and maybe even double. They've been running this signature theme for many years, and they've still got it. While arguably not as sound as "Call Me Baby," "Bad" has some other strengths that go underappreciated. Obviously the first would be the 360 version of the MV which would be neat to see used further for mainstream groups. The strings of the track are so disgustingly good I'd blindly call "Bad's" instrumental the best of the year. There may be no Chen equivalent in the group, but Woohyun and Sunggyu are a better combo than Chen and anyone else in EXO. All in all, this is a superstar track that did not go unnoticed.

[Bonus] Best Of 2015 (#10-#6)

Here's some awkward placeholder text because I felt too claustrophobic putting the spread images and Youtube videos so close together. Here's the next set of 2015's best releases. Depending on how productive (or not) today ends up being, I may finish the whole series before Christmas Day so I can then work on the awards piece.

10. Big Bang - Loser

Let's kick off the top 10 with a slow yet enjoyable song. The title and lyrics of "Loser" sounds depressing but that's part of the song's beauty. You can feel the defeated emotion in each member's parts, most notably in the rapping from G-Dragon and T.O.P. Taeyang's bridge is also just as moving, even Seungri's faded choruses, too. The video expanded on the sad nature of "Loser" with various scenes of every member in the sad_zone. Pinpointing where this song could've done better is tough, but the simple reality of being a slower song puts "Loser" at a disadvantage with some of the other upbeat tunes. A well-rounded song no doubt but not the best on the album. But don't worry, we'll soon get to that.

9. Taeyeon - I

Did someone say Taeyeon solo? Of course this would find a spot here. Slightly unorthodox (at least compared to what is normally expected of Taeyeon) but unquestionably serene, the pop track has familiarity to her past OST work, while incorporating rock elements to make "I" something special. The repetition in the chorus isn't too bothersome when you take in Taeyeon's vocals. From Taeyeon's hair porn, Verbal Jint's surprise appearance, and the wonderful New Zealand visuals, the music video is also a treat. "You Think" was very close to making the list but was just barely edged out in the end. Taeyeon will gladly put the SNSD name on board either way. "My life is a beauty," indeed. The world could use more Taeyeon solo goodness. Let's hope this comes sooner than later.

8. EXID - Ah Yeah

Capitalizing on the "Up & Down" momentum, EXID moved onto "Ah Yeah" early in the year. With perhaps the smartest decision to follow in the footsteps "Up & Down" as opposed to straight up making another version, "Ah Yeah" is damn good from start to finish. Armed with the best verses in 2015, Hani and LE set each other up for success and delightful contrasts between the sultry vocals and aggressive rapping. Junghwa's awkward transitions still leave much to be desired, but her parts here are better than anything else in EXID's title tracks. Solji continues to provide extremely powerful vocals that make me want a Dasoni comeback more and more each passing day. This song seemed untouchable for a good 6 months, and surprisingly this placement seems low despite all the praise.

7. Big Bang - Sober

With the desire to avoid repetition, let's just say what has to be said about "Sober." It's an incredible track to rock out to all day every day. It's perhaps the most complete track on the "Made" album and definitely has the fewest faults compared to the others. The drums and other noise drive the instrumental and that only furthers an already confident Big Bang song. Consistent performances out of G-Dragon and friends plus a vivid (and trippy!) MV culminate in a pleasant product. "Sober" certainly lives up to the Big Bang standard and the hype of being the album's #1. Given that this veteran group may all be enlisting soon, the statement from "Made" was profound and impressive.

6. Mamamoo & eSNa - Ahh Oop!

Rising stars Mamamoo teased their album by releasing the "Ahh Oop!" single in April. This song quickly rose through the ranks back then and quickly rose through the ranks now. "Ahh Oop!" is 3 and a half minutes of addicting ear candy. Mamamoo and eSNa is a pleasant combination and strangers to the group might have mistaken eSNa as the 5th member on the team. By now everyone knows the singing titans they are, with a capable lineup of Solar, Wheein, and Hwasa. These ladies deliver with talent, sass, and energy (especially evident in the final chorus). As we trend into the very best, a shared attribute is that these songs are all accompanied by superb raps, and Moonbyul is no exception. The rap in "Ahh Oop!" provides buildup into the final stretch and honestly is my favourite overall rap inclusion of the year. You can't go wrong with "Ahh Oop!"

[Bonus] Best Of 2015 (#15-#11)

Best Of 2015 is officially underway, and I've selected my top 15 picks for this year of Kpop. While we'll get a headstart on this set, I'll also be working on a "2015 Kpop Awards" excerpt that will cover a broad variety of topics. Any extra content recapping the year will be good, considering I've slowed down the last month and a half. But so has Kpop, and it's honestly a nice reprieve until 2016 starts up. Without wasting more time, let's get into the bottom section of the Best Of 2015.

15. SHINee - Married To The Music

This was SHINee's breakout year. The group's 4th studio album was perhaps their best yet, with tracks like "View" and "Love Sick" on the spotlight. But when the typical S.M repackaged version came along, "Married To The Music" became a premier dance anthem of 2015. With a Halloween-inspired MV, excellent choreography native to SHINee's name, and addicting vocals from everyone (except poor Minho), the title track of the repackage finally gave SHINee a spot among the greats. "Good but not great" was always what I had previously described this group with, but that was before this year. Catchy lyrics and powerful dancing appear to have achieved a final form with SHINee and "Married To The Music."

14. Sistar - Don't Be Such A Baby

Maybe it's because I consider "Alone" to be their best title track and the group's best era, that I find a song in a similar vein just as good. "Don't Be Such A Baby" is the standout B-side of "Shake It," as previously mentioned during the summer reviews. Breathy vocals from Hyorin and Soyu were joined surprisingly by Dasom who did not sound out of place in any way. The rap combo between Bora and Giriboy provided lighthearted and charismatic rapping that put both rappers in a positive light. Live performances didn't demonstrate too much choreography. The girls mostly stood around looking fantastic but what little dancing was smooth and sensual, just like the song. "Don't Be Such A Baby" recovered the "Shake It" mini along with Sistar's top 3 placement as a girl group contender.

13. Younha - Thinking About You

A beautiful ballad that was the essence of autumn, Younha graces the top songs of the year for the 4th straight time. While she wasn't too active in 2015, the appropriateness and serenity that "Thinking About You" had more than makes up for lost time. Soft and pretty vocals control the flow of the song, and had potential to be a quietly perfect song. It's a shame this chance was ruined by Chanhyuk's rapping segment. Maybe said rap could've done better in a different song, but here the rap sounds awkward and very out of place. I wasn't even aware he rapped in any of Akdong Musician's music. Oh well.

12. 9MUSES - Hurt Locker

"Hurt Locker" was what 9MUSES needed to get back on the radar after the ineffectiveness of "Drama." Instead of a subpar beat with uncomfortable transitions, "Hurt Locker" delivers active singing and dancing from start to finish. The instrumental is pretty killer and Erin's rap doesn't have any unnecessary guest Sungah appearances. Everything about the song is in place and while it's certainly no "Wild," (or even "Glue" for that matter) "Hurt Locker" became a premier summer jam and was in general one of the best songs over the summer. Considering how inactive they were the year before, getting (back) into the top 12 is worth applauding. Here's hoping they gain some more momentum and recognition for next year.

11. IU - Twenty Three

Another artist that wasn't too active in 2014, IU's much-anticipated return with "Chat-Shire" exceeded all expectations (which is already a tall order). Silly shenanigans that can't even be called "controversies" aside, every track on the mini was delightful and "Twenty Three" was the spearhead for such a successful EP. With one of the most artistic (flamboyant?) music videos of the year, IU displayed character, charisma, and most importantly, consistency in the short 3 minute span. Admittedly the bridge could've been better but with such high marks everywhere you can hardly complain. "Twenty Three" provides stiff competition to "Good Day" as one of IU's absolute bests.

[Recap] 2015 September-December: Quality Picks

December has descended upon us with tranquility. Not many groups have been too active, and the few that are are just releasing some holiday music in time before Christmas. I hesitate to review any of those songs (EXO's "Sing For You," Girls' Generation-TTS' "Dear Santa," etc.) because it's all Christmas music. They accomplish the same thing no matter what the formula. Anyway, since I "slacked off" this fall, there was no need to conjoin ranks when looking at the songs I reviewed over the past 3-ish months.

September - December Rankings
14. Twice - Like Ooh-Ahh (70)
13. EXID - Hot Pink (77)
12. iKON - My Type (80)
11. Red Velvet - Dumb Dumb (80)
10. 9MUSES - Sleepless Night (83)
9. Lovelyz - Ah-Choo (84)
8. GOT7 - If You Do (85)
7. DAY6 - Congratulations (86)
6. Super Junior - Magic (87)
5. Kisum - Love Talk (90)
4. IU - Twenty Three (90)
3. Ailee - Mind Your Own Business (90)
2. Taeyeon - I (90)
1. f(x) - 4 Walls (90)

Actually, I reviewed the same number of songs from January to April. At least that's reaching status quo in a way. Consider me impressed, because literally 1/3rd of the reviewed tracks scored 90 points. Looking back I wasn't overzealous with them, either. These songs are simply that good. The only exception may be "Love Talk," given that the song as a whole was a little too late for the summer block. Still, really impressive top 5. The bottom songs were definitely the source for disappointment, as Twice failed to capitalize on their debut and EXID didn't gain momentum off the stupendous work that was "Ah Yeah." Oh yeah, for the instances where I reviewed albums (Taeyeon, IU, 9MUSES), I gave a rough estimation as to where the score would be for each song independent of the other songs on the album. So naturally, IU and Taeyeon leap forward due to the strength of the title tracks while 9MUSES has a slightly above average placement in terms of score.

Girl Group Power Rankings Update (Winter 2015)
I was originally going to write up another Girl Group Power Rankings piece but considering that half the groups haven't been active since the last time, it's best to wait about half a year before getting around to updating those rankings again (around March probably). Instead we'll just briefly look over the groups that have been somewhat active lately and talk about them moving forward. I will have another Girl Group Radar before the new year which may repeat some of the things said here.

Girls' Generation: I thought Tiffany was supposed to have a solo debut sometime before 2016. While the subunit's Christmas music isn't too much to write home about, Taeyeon's solo effort was everything we wanted from her for a while now. "I" did extremely well in all aspects and is even better a catalyst for the group than their "Lion Heart" studio album was. Like I said last time, Tiffany's solo debut will have to be just as good or in a completely different realm to not have to hold up to those expectations that Taeyeon has set.

EXID: Weeks after the release of "Hot Pink" and I still can't quite dig it. The song is simply inferior to the other great hits they have, even those predating the viral explosion of "Up & Down." The group is still in a good spot, so no cause for concern. I desperately crave a Dasoni comeback, and while we're on this topic, the remaining members should also have a subunit of their own (credit to slipz). That theory does seem to struggle in terms of stage presence, because LE would have to carry super hard. Junghwa would also need to step up and not get the crappy awkward transitions that she has been plagued with.

f(x): Despite losing Sulli, f(x) literally turned everything around because the "4 Walls" album was nothing short of spectacular. They proved they don't need Sulli for either mass appeal or musicality, and my goodness is "4 Walls" a good song or what. The severe f(x) drought was quenched, but they still need to return to releasing regular content to become relevant again in the girl group battle. At least they are no longer locked in the S.M dungeons anymore.

Fall 2015 Highlights
Since the "Best Of 2015" series is coming up, I won't pick my favourites from this trimester necessarily, but I will point out a few releases that were noteworthy either way.

Mamamoo - Girl Crush

Leave it to Mamamoo to deliver something exciting and addicting no matter what time of year it is. This OST is fresh, cute, and fun. The vocals are naturally exquisite and maintain Mamamoo standard. Moonbyul's one-liners are more entertaining than the ones in "Piano Man," and her actual rap is very good, too. I don't typically dive into too many of the OST stuff, even those from idols but this is certainly an exception that earns that.

Joo - Cry & Blow

S.M isn't the only company with people trapped within. Joo used to be under JYP, before moving to the house of Infinite and Lovelyz. This ballad is everything great about her and her voice. From graceful quiet to emotional yearning, Joo covers the whole spectrum and the piano and strings add another soothing element to the track. Considering how absent she was in the industry before signing with woollim, she is a welcome face and her vocal talent should show you why.

Dynamic Duo - Jam

KHip-Hop hardly ever disappoints, and that statement rings even more true for Dynamic Duo. "Jam" is quite the jam. The rapping is delicious and the MV is creative and funny. From Gaeko's portrayal of a young curious kid, to the hilarious costumes and cameos, and of course the Big Bang parody, everything about "Jam" is awesome. It's a relaxing hip-hop tune that will keep everything chill on a lazy afternoon or evening.

San E & Mad Clown - Sour Grapes

Speaking of hip-hop, here's a collaboration between Mad Clown & San E. Lyrical content aside (that video thumbnail should give some indication), this is a very entertaining track. Even though this is more in line with what San E has done in the past, it's new ground for Mad Clown and he played his part admirably well. The chorus is more addicting than you'd give it credit for, and their singing voices are not only surprisingly adequate, but match together well, too. How does this MV not have a 19+ rating though.

Closing Thoughts
That's it for this recap. A few more goodies remain before 2015 closes out, like AOA Choa's solo debut. But until then, there will be the Best Of 2015 set and a few more girl group-related posts. Let's hope 2016 will be good start not just for Kpop, but for myself as well, as I've been slacking a little lately on the blogging. Until then, have a good one, and thanks for reading.

[Bonus] Best Of Girl Group Soloists

With December and 2016 on the way, it's that time of the year where we'll be looking at the best songs of 2015. But before getting into that list, let's have some fun with some other miscellaneous / non-review pieces. Today is day for soloists. Or rather, girl group soloists. While girl group soloists (and general soloists for that matter) earlier in the year seemed to lack the punch that girl groups had, a few notable names certainly stepped up their game. That being said, I wanted to look at some of the best group soloists. Whether it's ability, quality, or impact, all that factors into a successful debut as a soloist. Last comment is that only releases with MV are considered (though we won't be discussing the MV's much), since it's not fair to include B-sides. Oh and each member can only be listed a single time. Not all girls have had equal chances or releases so we'll try to be as fair as possible.

10. Hyuna - Change (feat. Junhyung)

Ahh, good ol' Hyuna. Not the "Because I'm The Best" or "Red" Hyuna. Not the Trouble Maker or "Bubble Pop" Hyuna. We're talking the original Hyuna. Was I sold by this pelvic-thrusting performance? Not necessarily. But while her rapping has always been on the weak side (not to mention that "Change" is heavy on the repetition), this was one of her best showings to present day. Also worth noting is that this was back in 2010 and her voice sounded the best during this time. Yeah, as weak as it was, it's still better than how nasally it has become.

9. CL - MTBD

I realize that this is slightly cheating because there was only a performance / stage video of "MTBD" but still. It's quite difficult to overlook one of the most energetic performers period, so CL simply had to make the list in some form, and "MTBD" was the most logical conclusion. Everything from the tempo, lyrics, and foreign nature of the song make the song an exciting listen everytime. It's a rap track you can dance to, as CL herself has demonstrated. This song was an appreciated return to form that she unfortunately has yet to go back to.

8. Gain - Fxxk U (feat. Bumkey)

Gain has a brightly decorated solo career. From the tango-infused "Irreversible" to the bubblegum pop sounds of "Bloom" and "Apple," she has tackled plenty of different styles. But the song that stands out the most is the R&B duet "Fxxk U" with Bumkey. This song simply sounds perfect with Gain's voice. Bumkey's rich baritone sound compliments well and they sound great together. Brown Eyed Girls was never slacking in the vocal department but "Fxxk U" really is Gain at her best. Her boyfriend playing the part of...well, her boyfriend in the MV is another nice touch in the grand scheme of things.

7. Seungyeon - Guilty

Here's another throwback. While Seungyeon has yet to make an official solo debut, the "Solo Collection" showed that everyone in the group has the capability to shine not only as a soloist but in something outside KARA's comfort zone. "Guilty" is certainly rock and beyond what we normally hear from KARA. Seungyeon may not have a voice necessarily suited for rock but she definitely makes it work with a commendable effort. The drums and guitar are as powerful as Seungyeon's voice is yearning and longing. Of the few idols that have trekked down the genre of rock or pop rock, Seungyeon and "Guilty" is a welcome addition to the list.

6. Sunmi - 24 Hours

Sunmi surprised everyone after years of inactivity not by rejoining Wonder Girls (that would come few years later) but debuting as a soloist. Given that there was no word on the Wonder Girls reform back in 2013, Sunmi's debut was a point of interest since she had mostly been dominant in WG's pop music. But there was a gift hidden in her that came to light with "24 Hours." It just so happens that "24 Hours" is a ridiculously catchy song. Her breathy vocals shine here and the dance is no joke either. Sunmi's visuals, a catchy hook, and a smooth choreography (that drew many imitations) put Sunmi's solo career on the right path.

5. Miryo - I Love You, I Love You (feat. Sunny)

The legendary Brown Eyed Girls rapper was one of the later members to have a solo effort, but the patience paid off with "I Love You, I Love You." Miryo controls this ballad, keeping the rapping reserved but also has her signature speed as well. The R&B track is soothing in both the rapping and singing departments. Speaking of,  this song is also significant for the fact that it's got one of the best features in Sunny. Her voice has yet to find stability in her group's music but in "I Love You, I Love You" she sounds elegant and years would pass before she'd come out as strong and effective as she did here.

4. Jiyeon - Never Ever

If Gain's "Fxxk U" was the epitome of her ability as a singer, then "Never Ever" is the undiscovered gem that was presented to the world in 2014. Jiyeon was the pioneer to her group dropping solo content and "Never Ever" is exactly what she (and T-ARA) needed. Surprisingly, there's very little wrong with this track. Sultry vocals? Check. Sexy choreography? Check. Artistic music video? Check. Jiyeon scores high in all the right categories and stunned the public with this release. If only her fellow T-ARA members could've done the same with their solo debuts...

3. Jieun - Don't Look At Me Like That

Jieun's superstar ballad landed at #6 in the Best Of 2014, so it's nothing new to see her at the top. Her crystal clear voice rings with emotion from start to finish and this song is serene. When I listen to this song I often just have to absorb the audio in silence because this ballad is simply that good. "Don't Look At Me Like That" easily contests the other ballad queens like Taeyeon, and in fact is the highest ranked ballad (or ballad-esque) song here. "Pretty Age 25" showed Jieun could excel on her own without Secret, but "Don't Look At Me Like That" is gracefully perfect.

2. Taeyeon - I (feat. Verbal Jint)

The newest (and perhaps most anticipated) solo debut slightly shocked myself with the #2 placing. Yeah, "I" is a really pretty song, but I figured that with years of other girl group soloist content it'd be more towards the middle of the pack. But make no mistake, this song is excellent, the MV is beautiful, and the bar has been set for other Girls' Generation members in the event they go solo (what happened to the Tiffany debut?). Verbal Jint joins Bumkey and Sunny in being key features to accompany an already stellar song. The uplifting nature of "I" and Taeyeon's pretty vocal work are enough to beat most songs on their own right.

1. Hyorin - One Way Love

Let's cut to the chase. Everyone knew Hyorin would be superb solo material before "One Way Love" happened. As far as Sistar was concerned there was always a feeling of "Hyorin +3" for a long time, in terms of musicianship and practically everything else. So what did "One Way Love" bring to the table? Beautiful vocals: as per usual Hyorin standard, she sounds good and so does the song. Between the smooth verses and light and airy chorus, Hyorin does work the whole way through. Elegant choreography: while the public may not have been enamored by it, there's no denying that it was a visually-pleasing and physically-taxing choreography. It's weird but "One Way Love" is a dance track to begin with. Punctual rapping: the official jumpstart to Hyorin's rapping career proved that she could replace Bora for Sistar's rapping and it'd be an improvement in almost every aspect. The surprise here was that the rap could've weakened the song but definitely did the opposite. "One Way Love" quelled any doubts about Hyorin's ability as a solo artist, and proudly occupying #1 is but giving her what she deserves.

[Review] 9MUSES - Lost EP

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! As I prepare to stuff myself silly with classic Vietnamese food, I'm definitely lacking in the review category this month but let's try and get back into shape. Speaking of getting back into shape, 9MUSES is also attempting to return to form. While 2015 may not have been as crazy of a year in terms of releases as 2013, the group of muses are trying their best to become a staple girl group. Having dropped "Drama" and "Hurt Locker" earlier in the year, 9MUSES comes back with a brief mini album in "Lost."

1. a.m. 3:00

The awkwardly titled "a.m. 3:00" is merely an intro track, a prelude to the rest of the EP. With that said there isn't much to talk about. This minute of audio has little-to-no vocals but does set the mood for the type of music the remaining songs would bring, so there's that I guess.

2. Sleepless Night

"Sleepless Night" is the title track and the Korean title embodies the everyday struggle of "can't sleep and am hungry," something I know all too well. Anyway, let's get the mediocre aspects out of the way first. The instrumental isn't very helpful to this song. It's not necessarily loud by itself, but compared to the soft feminine voices of 9MUSES it has a tendency to drown our their vocals which is a shame. I wish they had used more piano like during the bridge and ending, that would have made the instrumental more quiet and given the girls a chance to be heard better. As for the MV, they showed so little of both the dancing and lipsyncing that I feel they should've just done without either and focused on the plot. Some of the lipsyncing was suspect (like from Sungah and Hyemi), not to mention that there's only like maybe 6 total seconds worth of seen choreography (and what little dance we did see only reminded me of AOA's "Miniskirt" anyway).

Alright now here's what I love about this song. The line distribution in "Sleepless Nights" is stellar, which is an impressive by any standards. Balancing this many members so effortlessly is praiseworthy and needs to be followed by other larger groups. 9MUSES have airy voices which were utilized very well here. Hyuna and Hyemi in particular really impressed. The former did a good job blending in with Keumjo and the latter had beautifully clean high notes during the choruses. Erin also doesn't disappoint with a rap performance I wish we got to see in "Hurt Locker." Unlike the last major release, Erin's rap is at the same pace with the rest of the song, not to mention that I think this is the only time I've ever heard her rap-sing? All I know is, the whole song sounds good and contrary to the title, could definitely lull me to sleep if not for the overly loud instrumental.]

Lastly, a few quips on the MV. I'm sure we were all flattered with the eye candy because 9MUSES are still gorgeous, but did they really have to show Sungah throwing up into the toilet? Obviously that was just acting but c'mon, nobody wants to see that. Erin using a rotary phone also gave me a few chuckles. And Keumjo finally seems to be blending in, she's never looked better in "Sleepless Nights." Sojin also went (back to) black and the long hair gives her the extra wow factor. It's worth mentioning that Erin and Sungah as blondes definitely work better than Keumjo and Sojin, though that's primarily due to the fact that their hairstyling in "Hurt Locker" wasn't optimal.

3. Secret

"Secret" is my favorite track by far. It's a dance track that is subtle with the energy, matching the track before it. Also like "Sleepless Night," 9MUSES do a good job balanced line distribution which works even more effectively with the quick transitions throughout the song. Every member uses their breathy voice exquisitely, projecting sultriness and vulnerability. There's a heavy amount of repetition but not too excessive. The bridge between Kyungri and Hyuna was odd upon first listen, but is really just setup for Erin's quick rapping burst. Erin delivers a punctual rap (though questionable on the "uh oh" noise levels) that like the bridge, does a good job establishing itself standalone and Hyemi's inclusion helps bring everything together for the final chorus. The extra runs at the end aren't anything special but they get the job done. This is a very pretty track that should have also competed heavily for title track material.

4. Koong Chit Dak Chit

I couldn't find any English translations, so "Koong Chit Dak Chit" will have to do, as much of a mouthful as it is. It does make me wanna brush back up on my Korean to understand the lyrical content ha. This dance pop track is much more brazen than the others on the mini so in that regard it's a little like the awkward child of "Lost," but it's a commendable effort nonetheless. I randomly have casino thoughts when I listen to this song for whatever reason. "Koong Chit Dak Chit" relies heavily on Erin's various one-liners which sound a little weird. It's not the numerous English words (because to her credit Erin has good English, at least here), or her voice. Perhaps it's simply that the transitions are erratic between the singing and rapping.

5. To. Mine

The title and content of "To. Mine" has Christmas all over it haha. It's a slow soothing ballad that once again spreads the love around to all the members. I love how much they've used Hyuna lately. Back when they had released "Drama" I feared that with Keumjo labeled as a main vocalist Hyuna would fade from the spotlight (also that Hyuna's voice was really good for a song like "Drama" and criminally underutilized). Thankfully Hyuna is all over this mini album and her velvety voice is music to my ears. Erin is also not left out, getting a soft rap that shows her ability to hold back when it's appropriate. Those high notes are gorgeous and overall is something you can fall asleep to. "To. Mine" is absolutely going to be a song that you listen to on a cold winter day as the snow falls. After all, winter and Christmas are knocking on the door.

As November draws to a close, 9MUSES yet again make their mark with another release. "Lost" is effortlessly good in execution and the double threat of "Sleepless Night" and "Secret" are yet more additions to their best works. With fewer groups being active around this time I'm hoping for some breakout success because this group truly deserves it with their work ethic, music, and charm. "Lost" is easily a highlight in the 2nd half of 2015.

[ Overall: 88 / 100 ]

[Review] EXID - Hot Pink

We have no time to be thinking about Brown Eyed Girls when EXID and "Hot Pink" are upon us. Teasers of the song showed very different audio clips so we were unsure of how the actual product would sound. Perhaps a slight variant of "Up & Down?" Or a new powerhouse song to really establish themselves in the upper echelons of girl groups. One thing is for sure, it'd probably be catchy, and have some powerful rap and vocal showings.

For starters, "Hot Pink" has deviated itself far from the "Up & Down" formula that gave EXID their chance at glory. The only instance of similarity was at 1:12 right before Solji's part. You could probably insert the latter half of the "Up & Down" chorus from there and that'd be a seamless transition but outside of that the comparisons are lacking. This is good, since we want EXID to find success on their own without the need to piggyback of their "ultimate" song. Overall "Hot Pink" sounds like a much shorter song, due to having around 30 seconds of filler at the beginning and end of the song. I'm assuming this is allocated dance time to show off more choreography during lives, as we don't get to see too much of the dance (outside of the hilariously jittery bit at 1:20 right before the chorus) in this video. The standard EXID formula is still there: Hyerin and Solji teaming up for a strong singing performance, LE delivers a series of raps, and Junghwa gets the awkwardest of all awkward parts (more on that later).

Hani takes care of business leading the song like she did in "Ah Yeah," Her sweet yet sultry gaze carries over to her vocals and she's rocking green hair like Jiyoon did in "Crazy." Sadly the opening is pretty much all we see from her, with the prechorus and chorus taking up much of the song along with the aforementioned filler wrapping both ends. Hyerin still needs some more work on her acting and general presence, her boring demeanor doesn't compliment her emphatic voice. Solji, meanwhile, is stunning in both aspects, and she definitely needed to belt "everybody dance now" right before the chorus. That would have been perfect in every way.

Just recently, LE was crowned as the #1 girl group rapper but the rapping in "Hot Pink" wasn't very exciting. Part of the reason is because of the background male "vocals" literally eating up half of each rap segment. I know the chorus is also just chanting like the male voices but c'mon LE could've done so much better. The rapping here is just too brief and cluttered to be any good. Moving on, Junghwa still is relegated to the most awkward parts of all the main EXID titles. Granted this is much better than her previous endeavours in "Up & Down" and "Ah Yeah," but her section is still very much out of place compared to the rest of the song. At least looks amazing in that pink hair, my gosh.

I don't even wanna talk about this music video haha. It's so bizarre, I'm not ready to try and theorycraft anything. EXID runs a gas station out in the middle of nowhere (literally) and only men (hmm) show up to get...pink gas? We even see Junghwa literally locked in a room of the stuff. You'd think she is being slaved away by the other members or something, but when the police show up (how come we're seeing more cops in Kpop videos lately?) she's with the rest of the girls ready to surrender. Except they're all holding wrenches behind their backs. Uh oh, the last thing EXID wants is any legal troubles. At the end of the day, all I know is that 9MUSES also had a gas station theme for a song once and they did much better with the execution. 90% fanservice and 10% plot works better than a split with a questionable storyline.

It's difficult to determine whether or not "Hot Pink" has provided us with another signature EXID track. The song structure is quite jumbled and less catchy, with stereotypical clutter starting and ending the song plus Junghwa's awkward bridge in the middle. LE has some punctual moments but are overshadowed by the unnecessary chanting, and while Hyerin and Solji remain spectacular, their parts are (as usual) too short to really be something special. It's still a good song, no doubt, but unfortunately at time of writing "Hot Pink" fails to live up to the expectations set by "Ah Yeah."

[ Overall: 77 / 100 ]

[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.

[Bonus] Girl Group Rapper Power Rankings Revisited (#19-#11)

#19. Nada (--)

Absolute honesty: this was the most painful writeup by far. I dreaded researching Nada because while she is a pretty moderate rapper, Wa$$up's music is some of the worst I've heard. Skipping through their songs to find Nada's parts was a nightmare thanks to the cringe-inducing songs. Terrible music and mediocre fanservice is something you have to try to be bad at and Wa$$up manages to do so. With that said, it's no surprise that as a rapper with no singing parts in bad songs, Nada's consistency and utility scores are poor. Where she makes up for that is voice. Outside of Nada and Yubin, not many girl group rappers that come close to their level of low and powerful voice.

Nada is a rapper with potential to be top 10 or even top 5, but is held back severely by her group. The whole "twerk" concept idea just seemed so desperate and Wa$$up have yet to successfully place themselves on the girl group radar. The only decent Wa$$up song I stumbled upon was "Stupid Liar" and that's questionable at best. Ultimately, Nada has one of the best rapping voices in the industry, but one of the worst supporting casts and music to go with.

#18. Lime (--)

Lime is unique for sporting some of the more interesting hair colours over the years, as her picture in the scorecard can tell. The rapper of Hello Venus has a rich voice that never really came into play when the group was doing cute concepts. However, once the Brave Sound era began, Hello Venus shifted to a more mature direction. Since then there have been 3 major tracks from the group: "Sticky Sticky," "Wiggle Wiggle," and "I'm Ill." Even in this new age, Lime is limited in her appearances. "Sticky Sticky" failed to include a rap, leaving her as just support vocals.

That would change in early 2015, as the rap break in "Wiggle Wiggle" is one of the strongest raps this year, and is the highlight of an otherwise plain song. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to provide a follow-up in the EDM track "I'm Ill" which definitely could've used one. A strong rap showing would help break up the song and make "I'm Ill" sound less repetitive. Lime may not have the best stage presence, but she draws attention when she raps. Her gaze is electric and she has the most captivating eyes of all the rappers here (with the exception of Chanmi). Usually, most people think of her and Alice as the carries of Hello Venus, so adding her slight vocal utility gives her a good advantage over someone like Hyoyeon.

#17. Yuna (--)

The Ark left a profound impact with their debut "The Light," which featured a MV that tugged at your heartstrings, solid vocal performance, and excellent rapping out of Yuna. The ex-YG trainee certainly has followed in the footsteps of G-Dragon and CL. Despite dropping from YG's new girl group that will never actually exist, Yuna has found herself in a better place. Yuna has proven in a short time she's not to be underestimated. Her voice is rather distinct (combination of high and slightly nasally) and she always sounds comfortable in her raps. She's got good mannerisms on stage, but all this culminates in just a mid-table finish. How come?

Yuna is held back for the opposite reasons that hold Lime and Nada back. She currently has a microscopic library but with results ranging from good to fantastic, while Lime and Nada have been struggling to find a rhythm since their debuts. Once she and The Ark start releasing more content on a regular basis, Yuna will be the staple average girl group rapper because I find her more all-around gifted than the next couple of rappers on the list.

#16. Jiyoon (--)

Many became fans of Jiyoon after her spectacular rap in "Crazy," but the truth is Jiyoon has been fierce on the mic early on, just that 4minute's lackluster releases haven't been able to put her talent on the table. As with Hyuna, inconsistency in songs and mediocre raps can only get you so far, but Jiyoon has the technical ability to make those raps tolerable. Her rapping voice has quite the range, as seen from the high pitches in "Crazy" to the low aggressive sounds in "Cut It Out." Since she fluctuates often between those ends, her voice gets an average score.

Jiyoon's strength is in her charisma and versatility. Fearless and flawless on the mic, she has taken on different styles of raps over the years with success. Within the group, she's constantly taking various roles to fill whatever gaps are needed. For rapping, Jiyoon surpasses both Hyuna and Sohyun in the rap department on any given day. For vocals, she is the only member that can really support and compete with Gayoon. She is top 2 in the group in either rapping or singing and without a doubt 4minute's most valuable player.

#15. Hana (-5)

Let me tell you a secret! Some of the following rappers may not be as technically gifted, but they have a rich history and therefore earn legacy points. Hana is most definitely one of those types of rappers. Most fans don't doubt her ability. Hana has proven that she can be extremely solid like in the soulful performance in "Madonna" to the aggressive fast lyrics of "Poison." She also gets some opportunity to showcase her vocals, but it's tough trying to steal lines away from Jieun and even Hyosung. Of course, the true weakness of Secret is that they're versatile, or rather, too versatile. They constantly switch between cute and sexy concepts, and if nasal raps sound bad, then aegyo raps are worse. Hana can turn on the aegyo dials to 11 as seen in "Shy Boy." This results in frequent concept changes which hurt her consistency, as Hana sounds best when she's serious and mature.

Further compounding Hana's inconsistency problems is that Secret (as a group) have been quiet ever since the release of "I'm In Love" last summer. The "SPICA effect," if you will. For now everyone is doig individual activities like miss A but they don't even have a 2015 release outside of Hyosung. Perhaps they're really hiding secrets, but whether it's about a comeback in the works or hiatus / disbandment, this paves the way for another TS rapper to surpass Hana..

#14. D.ana (--)

This is as high of a rank I can give to D.ana without feeling uncomfortable. After all, she's just a rookie. But what an impressive rookie we have. Fans and non-fans alike have rightfully noticed her as the "female Bang Yongguk" because she might have the deepest voice on a girl group rapper yet. Not only that but she knows how to use it, throwing out aggressive raps in "Deja Vu" and "Cushion" even though the English is shamefully terrible. She can still be the classic feminine rapper seen from "Round N Round," but her charisma shines when needed for those powerful raps. Limited to rapping and further restricted by here rookie status, D.ana hasn't had a chance to expand her resume or enter the variety world yet but that time will come.

Sonamoo has rappers on opposite ends of the spectrum. Newsun is light and can grow into a new Jucy with time, while D.ana already has the fundamentals along with a killer voice. D.ana is a rapper that debuted with force in "Deja Vu." If Sonamoo can keep with the powerful image and music in 2016, D.ana will only keep going up the list.

#13. Woori (-4)

Woori is one of the gatekeepers to our top 10, and a surprising placement in my eyes. She has never really had a standout performance, her group theme is unstable, and yet here she is at unlucky #13. Woori is best compared to Hana. Both have groups which aren't too popular, constantly flip between concepts, and have average rapping abilities. Their voices are quite similar, with Hana having a slight edge due to her lower range. They're both strong when the songs are not aegyo or cute, either. The consistency advantage is in Woori's favor as Rainbow have at least released something this year, albeit with a weak rap showing. Still, she's getting all the points she deserves.

Rainbow are still looking for their identity many years into the making. They still switch between concepts like Secret, and have yet to find mainstream success. "Black Swan" is a glimpse of Rainbow potential, but unlike lablemate KARA they have yet to fully reach said potential. With her prime work being many years ago in "A" and "Mach," Woori will likely continue to hang in the middle of the pack, where average qualities and legacy reasons will keep her afloat close to the top 10.

#12. Hyomin (--)

Hyomin somehow didn't change positions from last year. Considering the raw number of new additions to the power ranking and amount of members dropped this result is quite surprising. On second thought though, Hyomin was always one of the more average rappers so 12th out of 20 going to 12th out of 27 is pretty fair. In fact, while that's not a ranking change she does go from below average to above average which is an accurate portrayal of her progress. Hyomin is the go-to rapper for T-ARA's fast-paced dance tracks and does a good job with most if not all of them.

She may not have a rap that sets her apart from anyone else in this range, but she has been pleasantly consistent ever since she took over as the main rapper following Hwayoung's departure. From the simplistic beats of "So Crazy," to the suspect English in "Number Nine," and the carefree vibes of "Jeon Won Diary,"  Hyomin doesn't ever really disappoint. If only her solo showed more rap skills than...whatever you want to call "Nice Body." She is part of the T-ARA trifecta along with Eunjung and Jiyeon, and always has a part in the song no matter if it's rapping or singing, or both. Hyomin continues to play gatekeeper to the top 10.

#11. Jimin (--)

AOA makes a more rightful appearance just outside the top 10 with talented leader Jimin. You're going to hear me talk about how talented Jimin is, because I have much respect for her rapping ability. Her mechanics are very good and she constantly injects personality into her raps. She is also one of the fastest rappers on the rankings, it's rare to see lines with a pace as furious as that in "Moya" and "Get Out." In terms of raw skill many respect Jimin, as seen in the audiences of Unpretty Rapstar.

What I don't respect, however, is her voice. She is the top madame of nasal voices, and that's something that bothers me...a lot. "Chipmunk Jimin" is very real and can be quite grating to listen to. The inflections she uses tends to ramp up her voice so her charisma takes a hit as a result. Jimin has been able to control or keep her voice in check though. More relaxed songs like "Time" and "Yahae" show that she's not always as nasally as she sounds, while more rap-singing lines in "Short Hair" also tone down her chipmunk funk. Jimin has the potential to climb into the top 10 because few have the ability to rival her, it's just her polarizing voice holds her back. More tame appearances will have her joining the best in no time, like her group's rise to the top of the girl group ladder.