Showing posts with label Cheetah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cheetah. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Top Ssenunnis in K-pop

'Ssenunni', meaning 'tough sister' or 'strong sister' is a big contrast to the cutesy concepts in K-pop. Here are some girls who don't wait for oppa and become their own heroine.

1. Ailee
Ailee is a powerhouse vocalist known for her girl-power anthems. She exudes independence in "I'll Show You", "Don't Touch Me" and "Mind Your Own Business".

10. Jiyoon (4minute)
Jiyoon has been overshadowed by her unni Hyuna but gained more attention during 4minute's 'Crazy' era. She furthered her image on Unpretty Rapstar Season 2 with her pen name Jenyer.
Hate

9. LE (Exid)
Most popular from being with EXID, LE was part of an underground group called the 'Jiggy Fellaz' before her debut.

8. Hyuna (4minute)
Hyuna is a pillar in her group and has established herself as a soloist.

7. Yezi (Fiestar)
Fiestar has been around for a few years, with little popularity until Yezi brought them out of the shadows. Her "Crazy Dog" appearance on Unpretty Rapstar 2 showcased her insane skills a rapper and had people wondering "Where as she been all this time?" She didn't win first on the show, but her rising popularity seemed to snatch the trophy anyway.

6.Cheetah
The winner of Unpretty Rapstar, Cheetah's bold charisma and lyrical fluidity captivated viewers.

5. Jessi (Lucky J)
Jessica Ho is a vocalist and rapper with a tough exterior. Her husky voice contrasts with other Korean female artists and she shows her versatility while still maintaining her signature style.

4. Lee Hyori
Rather than a tough image, Hyori has music that seems to bite at stereotypes of women. Often referred to as the "Nation's Fairy", she has her share of girl-empowerment hits, notably "U-Go-Girl" and "Miss Korea". As the oldest unni on this list, her career has been ongoing for over a decade and she proved her fierceness all along the way.

3. Miryo (Brown Eyed Girls)
Miryo showed her rapping skills in her works with Honey Family and in her solo projects. However, her strongest point is her songwriting ability, which she utilizes with Brown Eyed Girls and for other artists.

2. CL (2NE1)
Lee Chae-Rin, The Baddest Female, is the rapper and leader in 2NE1. The "female G-Dragon" in terms of swag, CL is definitely a style icon. Her charisma is explosive on stage and Gizibes are anticipating her upcoming American debut.

1. Yoon Mi-rae
Mi-Rae or Tasha Reid is the top ssenunni with veteran status and perhaps is the best Korean female rapper! Tasha is not really K-pop, but she does contribute to mainstream hallyu music. She sings ballads, r&b and is part of the hip-hop trio MFBTY. Also, Tasha always has the fiercest hairstyles!

Honorable Mentions
Hyoyeon (Girls' Generation)
Yubin (Wonder Girls)

Sources
Images: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11
Info: 9.Wikipedia


Friday, April 8, 2016

Playlist 8. Pretty Rapstars

Theme: Unpretty Rapstar
Songs with a [♥] are my preference/a personal favorite.

Songs by contestants from the rap survivor show Unpretty Rapstar, seasons 1 and 2. I included a link to the English translation of the lyrics if the video has none. (The song's lyrics are clean.) Enjoy!



1. Gilme - Success (Don't Kill My Vibe)
Korean ♥
Gilme gives us a hip-hop heavy track that's better called K-rap than K-pop. In her lyrics, she expresses herself as misunderstood and tells how people try to control her. "Don't kill my vibe!" Lyrics

2. Kitti B - Doin' Good (Feat. Verbal Jint)
Korean ♥
'Doin' Good' is about how a girl is successful after breaking up with an abusive boyfriend. This quality track deserves more attention as it empowers girls' self-reliance. The MV shows some domestic violence, so here's the audio if you prefer not to watch. Lyrics

3. Cheetah - My Number
Korean
Groovy and hip-hop-y at the same time. Cheetah gives us a more commercial rap song rather than her signature flow. The lyrics are somewhat lazy, which reflect Cheetah's annoyance at boys asking for her number.

4. Yezi - Sse Sse Sse 
Korean ♥
Yezi collaborated with Kittib, Ahn Soomin and Gilme - and the result is fire! Somehow their verses contrast nicely instead of clashing. The "clap clap clap" matches the heavy-hitting lyrics!

5. Jessi - Sssenunni
Korean ♥
"You think you flowsik, but my flow more sicker!" Like I mentioned here, this isn't a lyrical masterpiece, but good nonetheless!

6. Yezi - Cider
Korean ♥
By 'Cider', I think Yezi means tough and gritty-which could definitely describe her. She delivered the song well and the MV seems to be a reference to her time on Unpretty Rapstar.

7. Tymee - Super Flower
Korean
The rap starts off chill, intensifies then breaks into a nice chorus. Supposedly, Tymee wrote "Super Flower" after forgetting her lyrics on Show Me The Money 3. This is empowerment after facing an obstacle. Lyrics

8. Adoonga - Feedback 
Korean
A lot of rappers were squeezed into this song; Jace, Kisum, Lil Cham and Bora. I don't know who Adoonga is, or how this collab came about, but it gives each rapper a time to shine.

9. Kisum - You And Me (Feat Jooyoung)
Korean ♥
Kisum is the queen of cutesy swag. The song is about a girl hopelessly stuck on a boy. The video has a high-school-girl-innocence that isn't forced. The MV is dreamy and charming, I like it.

10. Jace - Not Enough (Feat. Kisum)
Korean
Jace is on this list for the second time and Kisum for a third. The lyrics criticize gold-diggers who are never satisfied. Lyrics