The 5th Gen of K-pop has been beckoned, but we’re still not quite over the magic casted by certain underrated 4th Gen Kpop groups that Korean music enthusiasts should be aware of. Due to the unceasing debuts in the K-pop biz day in and out, it’s but natural for some names to get lost in the maze full of talents.
While it’s evident that some rookie (not so anymore) groups earned quite the fame and name in the last few years, like HYBE Labels’ TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), ENHYPEN, Le Sserafim and NewJeans, JYP Entertainment’s ITZY and Stray Kids, SM Entertainment’s aespa, High Up Entertainment’s STAYC, Starship Entertainment’s IVE, Cube Entertainment’s (G)I-DLE, KQ Entertainment’s ATEEZ and more, it’s almost criminal to forget others who equally slayed and served us with unprecedented bops that shook our conscience. To make do for all the times we missed out on praising these groups, today, we’ve put them all together and raised a toast to their artistry.
Underrated 4th Gen Kpop Groups
THE NEW SIX or TNX
Believe it or not, the P Nation boy group, consisting of 6 members – Kyungjun, Taehun, Hyunsoo, Junhyeok, Hwi, and Sungjun – formed through the survival audition series Loud, is a well-rounded group. When the sextet comes together, things seem to fit seamlessly and their impeccably diverse discography establishes this lesser known fact well. With songs like Kick It 4 Now, I Need U, Love or Die (are merely title tracks, and therefore, more popular than their b-sides), one finds the perfect take-off point to discover their assorted music tones.
The boys have been nominated under many ‘Rookie of the Year’, or ‘Rising Star’ categories at several music award events, and though they’ve even won some of them, their name continues to be buried under the huge heap of Kpop music releases that don’t seem to slowing down at any rate.
PURPLE KISS
Now a sextet group under RBW, its members, Na Go-eun, Dosie, Ireh, Yuki, Chaein and Swan debuted in 2020. Releasing their consistent cinematic dark mysterious music videos since the beginning, PURPLE KISS is bound to intrigue you as a listener if you’re a fan of the South Korean girl group Dreamcatcher, and the American songwriter Billie Eilish. However, their music is rather peppy and bombastic as compared to the mystical soundscape of both the aforementioned artists.
Some of their fans have even likened their musical aesthetics to the grungy American fashion doll franchise by labelling them as the “Monster High of Kpop”, and the accurate parallel comes close to describing their overall style, both musically as well as fashionably. Their unique sound sets them apart from many other K-pop girl groups that rather stick to either the dark or the colourful concepts as their signature. By not fitting into that predesigned mould, the PURPLE KISS members have actually breathed a new air of music in K-pop, but they still remain to be estimated as their counterparts’ equals.
Billlie
Formed by Mystic Story in 2021 with originally 6 members, Moon Sua, Suhyeon, Haram, Tsuki, Siyoon and Haruna, who were later joined by Sheon, Billlie has been serving the music industry with timeless experimental bops since their debut. Not settling with one tune or a quintessential classic sound, they’ve delivered cutesy pop-funk hits, unprecedented pop-rock bangers, R&B tracks and more. The group has a lot to offer and their multifaceted discography has something for everyone.
Although the K-pop biz hits new highs of saturation every day, especially now that we’ve entered the 5th Gen era, Billlie is one such name that you should definitely know about if you look forward to discovering something new everyday with the same set of people. Keeping their unpredictable hats on, the girls’ individual talents shine through each music video production that leaves you in awe of how they keep improving their art every comeback.
Xdinary Heroes
It’s quite unbelievable how this group is still actually deemed a rookie hit, considering how distinctive their sound is. In a world full of manufactured songs, the old school rock band sound has just gone amiss. However, the best bit about Xdinary Heroes is that they don’t pick either of the two sides, rather bridge the gap between a new funky sound and the band music concept many of us have loved since time unknown. Having debuted under JYP Entertainment’s sub-label, Studio J, in 2021, the group has 6 members – Gunil, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han, and Jooyeon.
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PIXY
VIVIZ
CRAVITY
Yes, they now get better views than before, and have been climbing up the ladder of success, but unfortunately they’re often overshadowed by their fellow senior group at Starship Entertainment. The very first conversations with their name in it started by calling them as the “next MONSTA X”, and that too not just by K-pop dilettantes, but even official media and entertainment coverage outlets. All those unfortunate claims aside, the group is too talented to be sidelined or overshadowed by anyone else, and should only be deemed as the “first CRAVITY” and nothing else. (no offence to the trailblazing artistry of MONSTA X)
Despite the tide changing on the group, they’re still one of the most underestimated and underrated 4th Gen boy groups of the lot who have a lot to offer, if only given better opportunities and promotions.
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woo!ah! (wooah)
OnlyOneOf
TAN
TAN deserves a trophy just for bringing back the goodness of the 2nd Gen era music style, but also breathing a fresh vibe into it. Keeping the outlook of a rookie group, their ability to interweave modernity with the old K-pop sound is an especially laudable present for many fans who’ve been in this for the long run.
Which of these 4th Generation Kpop groups has caught your eye recently? Is there any other group that you’d like us to check out? Let us know the names in the comments section below.