Korean hip hop labels big and small [June 3, 2022]

Last updated 2022-06-04 / By / Unfamiliar Korea / Leave a Comment

Hip hop has come a long way in Korea.

Rather than being censored and underpaid, hip hop artists are now topping music charts, appearing in popular shows, and even representing the country.

‘K-hiphop’ has risen to the point that in 2021, the Korea Tourism Organization chose to collaborate with hip hop artists in the second season of their tourism campaign ‘Feel the Rhythm of Korea’ that has gathered tens of millions of views on YouTube.

To celebrate how varied and numerous the Korean hip hop scene has become, here are some of the Korean hip hop record labels and information about each of them:

Amoeba Culture

Founder: Gaeko, Choiza

Founding year: 2006

Parent company: CJ E&M

Artists:

  • Dynamic Duo (Gaeko, Choiza)
  • HA:TFELT
  • Snzae
  • THAMA
  • SOLE
  • Huh!

Official channels:

Amoeba Culture was founded in 2006, spear-headed by artists Gaeko and Choiza of Dynamic Duo. The pair were part of the Movement Crew which helped to popularize traditional hip hop in Korea.

Amoeba Culture was once home to a number of top hip hop and R&B artists like Simon Dominic, Zion T., and Crush, who left one after another in 2014, 2016, and 2019 respectively.

In 2017, Amoeba Culture was acquired by CJ ENM (link in Korean) which had also acquired hip hop labels Hi-Lite Records and AOMG in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Just Music

Founder: Swings

Founding year: 2009

Artists:

  • Swings
  • Giriboy
  • Black Nut
  • Nochang
  • Han Yohan
  • Jimmy Paige
  • Jinbo

Official channels

Just Music (also known as Linchpin Music) was founded in 2009 by rapper Swings.

Swings also founded 2 other labels – Indigo Music and wedaplugg Records – and the 3 labels combined are also known as IMJMWDP.

In January of 2020, Swings announced that he would be stepping down as CEO of IMJMWDP. In April 2021, artist Psy’s label ‘P Nation’ announced that Swings would be joining the company as its 8th artist.

Hi-Lite Records (2010-2022)

Founder: Paloalto

Founding year: 2010

Artists:

  • Paloalto
  • Huckleberry P
  • Reddy
  • Yosi
  • Swervy
  • Owell Mood
  • Soovi
  • jerd
  • Ash-B

Official channels

Hi-Lite Records was founded in 2010 by hip hop artist Paloalto, who was one of the members of the Movement Crew that helped to popularize traditional hip hop in Korea.

Conglomerate CJ E&M acquired Hi-Lite Records in 2015 but sold their stake in the label in 2019 to managing director Lee Young-uk.

In 2020, Paloalto stepped down as CEO and Lee Young-uk was appointed CEO.

After 12 long years as a hiphop label, Hi-Lite Records shut down April 20, 2022, on their 12th anniversary.

Brand New Music

Founder: Rhymer

Founding year: 2011

Artists:

  • Rhymer
  • Verbal Jint
  • Bumkey
  • Hanhae
  • Kanto
  • Yang Da Il
  • Eluphant
  • Kang Min Hee
  • As One
  • DJ IT
  • DJ Juice
  • Tae Wan
  • Gree
  • AB6IX
  • MXM
  • Rudals
  • Yenjamin
  • Vincent Blue
  • Yodayoung
  • Lee Eun Sang
  • BDC
  • Han Dong Geun
  • YOUNITE

Official channels

Brand New Music was founded in 2011 by artist Rhymer who debuted in 1996 as part of the duo ‘Joe and Rhymer’ (조 앤 라이머).

Feel Ghood Music

Founder: Tiger JK

Founding year: 2013

Artists:

  • Tiger JK
  • Yoon Mi-rae
  • Bizzy
  • Bibi

Official channels

Feel Ghood Music (필굿뮤직) was founded in 2013 by rapper Tiger JK who debuted in Korea in 1995 and is credited for spreading traditional hip hop music in the country. Numerous Korean hip hop artists were once part of Movement Crew which was led by Tiger JK.

Tiger JK is joined by an equally early hip hop artist Yoon Mi-rae (also his wife) as well as rapper Bizzy. The three of them also go by as a group called MFBTY or ‘My Fans are Better Than Yours.’

Feel Ghood Music also includes artist Bibi who was a finalist in the 2018 competition The Fan.

AOMG

Founder: Jay Park

Founding year: 2013

Parent company: CJ E&M

Artists:

  • Jay Park
  • Simon Dominic
  • Gray
  • Loco
  • Elo
  • Ugly Duck
  • Woo Won-jae
  • Sogumm
  • punchnello
  • Hoody
  • DeVita
  • GooseBumps
  • Yugyeom
  • Code Kunst
  • LeeHi
  • Coogie

Official channels

AOMG was founded in 2013 by Jay Park (Park Jae-bum), a former member of Kpop idol group 2PM.

AOMG was acquired in 2016 by CJ E&M, the Korean media giant known for its network of tvN channels, the music channel Mnet, and movie production (for e.g. Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’) among other things.

In 2019, AOMG held its first public audition through the show ‘SignHere’ which guaranteed a contract with the label to the audition winner.

On 31st December 2021, founder Jay Park announced that he was stepping down as CEO of AOMG and H1GHR MUSIC.

VMC (Vismajor Company)

Founder: Deepflow

Founding year: 2014

Artists:

  • Deepflow
  • Nucksal
  • Don Mills
  • Rohann
  • Los
  • Hwaji
  • Wutan
  • QM
  • Odee

Official channels

VMC (Vismajor Company) is a Korean hip hop label that started out initially as a crew in 2011 founded by Deepflow, Babynine, Wutan, and Ven.

It launched as a label in 2014.

DPR (Dream Perfect Regime)

Founders: DPR Ian, (TBC – possibly other members)

Founding year: 2015

Artists:

  • DPR Ian
  • DPR Live
  • DPR REM
  • DPR Creme

Official channels

The Black Label

Founder: Teddy, Kush

Founding year: 2015

Artists:

  • Zion T
  • Somi
  • R.Tee
  • Vince

Official channels

Ambition Musik

Founder: Dok2, The Quiett

Founding year: 2016

Artists:

  • Keem Hyo Eun
  • Changmo
  • Hash Swan
  • Ash Island
  • Way Ched
  • Leellamarz
  • Zene The Zilla
  • Don Malik

Official channels

Dejavu Group

Founder: BewhY

Founding year: 2017

Artists:

  • BewhY
  • Son Simba
  • Khundi Panda
  • Viann

Official channels

Dejavu Group was founded in 2017 by rapper BewhY, who was the winner of the 5th season of the hip hop competition ‘Show Me the Money’ in 2016.

H1GHR MUSIC RECORDS

Founder: Jay Park, Chase Malone

Founding year: 2017

Parent company: CJ E&M

Artists:

  • Sik-K
  • pH-1
  • Woodie Gochild
  • WOOGIE
  • GROOVYROOM (HWIMIN, GYUJEONG)
  • Golden (G.Soul)
  • HAON
  • DJ SMMT
  • BIG Naughty
  • TRADE L

Official channels

On 31st December 2021, founder Jay Park announced that he was stepping down as CEO of AOMG and H1GHR MUSIC.

you.will.knovv

Founder: DEAN

Founding year: 2017

Artists:

  • DEAN
  • Miso
  • Rad Museum
  • Tabber

Official channels

Beautiful Noise

Founder: Mommy Son

Founding year: (Not enough information; possibly 2018)

Artists:

  • Mommy Son
  • Zior Park
  • Wonstein
  • Chanju
  • Sion Jung
  • Kim Seung Min

Official channels

Indigo Music

Founder: Swings

Founding year: 2018

Artists:

  • Swings
  • Kid Milli
  • Yang Hong-won
  • JUSTHIS
  • ron
  • Ksmartboi

Official channels

P Nation

Founder: Psy

Founding year: 2018

Artists

  • Psy
  • Jessie
  • Hyuna
  • Crush
  • Dawn
  • Heize
  • Penomeco
  • Swings
  • TNX

Official channels

P Nation (피네이션) was founded in 2018 by artist Psy (싸이) of ‘Gangnam Style’ (2012) fame.

Psy was an artist under the mega label YG Entertainment from 2010 until his contract ended in 2018.

As of December 2021, P Nation lists just 8 artists (including Psy himself) under its wings but it includes successful solo acts like rapper Jessie, R&B hit-maker Crush, and one of the traditional hip hop artists Swings.

P Nation is expanding its reach in 2022.

In September 2021, P Nation finalized the seven members of its first idol group through an audition programme called ‘Loud.’

wavy

Founder: Colde

Founding year: 2018

Artists:

  • Colde
  • JIWOO
  • Khakii
  • Ahn Byeong Woong
  • APRO
  • Milena
  • Wave To Earth

Official channels

Groovl1n

Founder: Ravi

Founding year: 2019

Artists:

  • Ravi
  • nafla
  • Cold Bay
  • Xydo

Official channels

Groovl1n was founded in 2019 by Ravi of idol group VIXX.

Yng & Rich Records

Founder: SUPERBEE

Founding year: 2019

Artists:

  • SUPERBEE
  • UNEDUCATED KID
  • Homies
  • Royal 44
  • LIL GIMCHI

Official channels

Daytona Entertainment

Founders: The Quiett, Yumdda

Founding year: 2020

Artists:

  • The Quiett
  • Yumdda
  • Futuristic Swaver
  • MELOH
  • BRADYSTREET
  • Skinny Brown
  • TOIL
  • JAEHA
  • H3hyeon
  • Touch the Sky
  • FANA
  • Gist
  • Paloalto

Official channels

On June 1, 2022, Daytona Entertainment welcomed Paloalto to the label via their official Instagram. The announcement came just a little more than a month after Paloalto had shut down his label Hi-Lite Records after a long reign of 12 years.

AREA

Founder: GROOVYROOM (HWIMIN, GYUJEONG)

Founding year: 2021

Artists:

  • GROOVYROOM (HWIMIN, GYUJEONG)
  • GEMINI
  • Mirani

Official channels

AREA was founded in 2021 by GROOVYROOM, the duo under the label H1GHR MUSIC. H1GHR MUSIC CEO Jay Park said in a HIPHOPLE interview that the two labels will collaborate, with H1GHR MUSIC taking care of management of AREA and AREA focussing on the creative aspects such as music production and visuals.

Editor’s Note: While we’ve done extensive research to create a comprehensive list, this list is not meant to serve as an exhaustive list of Korean hip hop labels. Also, most labels are not ‘pure’ hip hop labels and they include artists that do hip hop music as well as a range of genres.

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