KPop Demon Hunters is one of Netflix’s latest animated movies, and it is one that has already leaped atop the charts as Netflix’s most streamed movie. As self-explanatory by its тιтle, it’s about a trio of demon hunters who moonlight as a k-pop band, with their singing voices serving as a literal beacon blocking the demon world from the human world.

The positive reviews for this musical prove that this is more than just a fun actioner: Kpop Demon Hunters is a love letter to the k-pop genre at large. K-pop is beloved worldwide, particularly adopted and popularized in western culture. K-pop has swept multiple nations, and weaves its way into the plot of Kpop Demon Hunters. K-pop fans appreciate the accuracy in portraying the genre, while the songs are catchy enough to garner new k-pop fans. For new and old fans, these albums are worth checking out.

13

UKISS – Neverland

Release Date: September 1, 2011

For much of Kpop Demon Hunters, the lead trio of HUNTR/X are in opposition to rival demonic boy band, the Saja Boys. One of the vocal talents who provided the singing voices to the Saja Boys is Kevin Woo, a former member of UKISS. Woo’s post-UKISS career has seen him take part in the production of ᴅᴇᴀᴅ by Daylight’s “All-Kill” chapter.

UKISS helped launch Woo’s career for the better. The band boasts 11 studio albums, but the best of all while Kevin Woo was still with the group is Neverland. It’s a grand mix of upbeat electronica with ballads that resonate emotionally with listeners. Woo’s biggest contribution to the album is arguably on the тιтle track, as “Neverland” prominently features Woo on the chrous and bridge. As such, Woo’s voice anchors the album in many ways.

12

Dreamcatcher – [Apocalypse: Save Us]

Release Date: May 24, 2023

Depending on the tone of the scene at certain points in the story, the Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack can sound brooding and intimidating at times. There are few better infusions of dark rock that k-pop fans can come across than songs by Dreamcatcher. In fact, truthfully, there may not be a better example of rock within k-pop than with Dreamcatcher.

When Rolling Stone themselves refer to the South Korean girl band as “The Face of Rock in K-pop,” they must be doing something right. Their best work is reflected in [Apocalypse: Save Us], where they fully live up to those high expectations and then some. There’s something utterly cinematic about this album, using each song to tell a narrative. Even if readers don’t speak the language, they can feel the crescendo escalate with each track, just like with a movie.

11

PURPLE KISS – HIDE & SEEK

Release Date: September 8, 2021

HIDE & SEEK is a perfect reflection of who PURPLE KISS are as a band: utterly versatile and bursting with energy. Listeners will be hard-pressed to find two songs on this project that sound alike. Looking at the first few tracks alone, “Zombie” is fast-paced and energetic, while “2am” is a much slower track in the vein of R&B.

Then, the third track on the album is quintessential hyperpop for “Cast pearls before swine.” This album features a similar level of versatility as the music found in Kpop Demon Hunters. The movie knows how to provide a good balance of different sounds and tones that fit the vibe of the story as it progresses. Similarly, HIDE & SEEK is capable of providing a balance of different sounds without any songs on the album ever feeling out of place or losing some semblance of consistency.

10

BLACKPINK – The Album

Release Date: October 2, 2020

Many will call BLACKPINK the holy grail of the k-pop genre. While their position as the best in k-pop is debatable, it’s hard to deny that they may very well be the most successful k-pop girl group today, and sit among the most successful k-pop acts in music. Their success was further established through a set at Coachella recently.

BLACKPINK has transcended the genre of k-pop to become one of the most noteworthy music groups on the planet. They helped popularize the k-pop genre on a western level in a way that allows for a movie like Kpop Demon Hunters to evoke interest from American audiences, let alone find success in the States. The Album is truly that – BLACKPINK’s definitive magnum opus. It’s BLACKPINK’s masterpiece that represents their skill level and success to the fullet.

9

Stray Kids – ODDINARY

Release Date: March 18, 2022

As a тιтle like ODDINARY may suggest, the album is chaos incarnate. As is often the case with k-pop, this album blends multiple genres into one, but more often than not, a typical pop sound can still be deciphered from the melodies. The melodies just use elements from other genres to cater to each song.

This Stray Kids project, though, blends all these genres in a way that compiles them on top of each other rather than simply lend one to another. It feels like a genuine fusion of genres in a way that the final product is hard to give a proper name to, given how utterly unique each track manages to be. One can argue that the album dramatically recontextualizes what k-pop is capable of as a genre, and does so in a way that yields itself as a pleasant surprise to listeners new and old.

8

Key – Gasoline

Release Date: August 30, 2022

Gasoline is the second part of Key’s retro trilogy that started with his BAD LOVE mini-album and ends with Killer, a reissue of Gasoline. The cinematic approach to crafting this trilogy is perfect for fans of Kpop Demon Hunters. Each entry in that trilogy is worth giving a listen to, but the best of the lot by far is Gasoline.

Conceptually, the album has as many dark underlying themes as Kpop Demon Hunters, reflected in dark disco synthpop sound that can be pulled from the album. Songs like “Another Life,” “Villan” and “Ain’t Gonna Dance” stand out among the rest as incredibly hypnotic tracks that know how to suck the listener into the album, making it hard not to give them repeat listens whenever possible. Kpop vibes like this are why Kpop Demon Hunters became a global hit, so audiences would be remiss not to give this a listen.

7

ATEEZ – ZERO: FEVER Part.2

Release Date: March 1, 2021

Rather than an LP, Zero: Fever Part.2 marks Ateez’s sixth EP. It’s much shorter than most of the projects mentioned thus far at under 25 minutes, but that makes it all the more of a worthwhile listen for new k-pop fans. Before committing to something longer, consider a case for listening to an extended play instead.

For those curious to dip their toes into the genre, but feel overwhelmed at the thought of committing to such a lengthy album for a genre they’re learning to comprehend, then let Zero: Fever Part.2 serve as a starter pack of sorts. Even better, Part.2 has a unique sound and idenтιтy compared to its predecessor, meaning listeners need not worry about needing to hear Part.1 before understanding what’s going on (although it’s still highly recommended).

6

TWICE – Formula of Love: O+T=<3

Release Date: November 12, 2021

Kpop Demon Hunters features cameos from TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung, who in the movie perform their hit singles “Takedown” and “Strategy.” U.S. audiences especially may recognize “Strategy,” a single they worked on with Megan Thee Stallion, providing one of many notable collaborations between k-pop and western superstars. For many Americans, “Strategy” was their gateway introduction to TWICE.

Many of those same Americans are hoping to dive further into the South Korean girl group’s discography, but when their catalog spouts a whopping 10 albums, trying to get into them may sound like an overwhelming feat. For new fans hoping for more TWICE, there’s no better place to start than their Formula of Love album. It’s their Korean studio album, and was their first major hit, giving the group their first triple platinum certification, debuting at number three on the Billboard charts.

5

Taemin – Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1 & 2

Release Date: September 7, 2020

This is technically cheating considering that this makes for two albums for the price of one entry. The reason why they must be discussed simultaneously is that listeners cannot experience the whole of this project without listening to them both back to back. Act 1 and Act 2 tell a cohesive story that must be listened to all at once.

For both albums, there is a narrative that can be deciphered from the meticulously sequenced songs. Even for listeners who can’t speak the language of Korean, they can feel the vibe of every song escalate with each pᴀssing song. Like much of k-pop, multiple genres can be heard blended together, including R&B, synthpop, and there’s even elements of jazz. All of these genres are masterfully compiled together into one consistently captivating effort. It’s a one-of-a-kind double album that is a must-listen for music lovers in general.

4

Audrey Nuna – TRENCH

Release Date: October 18, 2024

Audrey Nuna prides herself on being both a rapper and R&B songstress. Her rap skills are evident on tracks like “Jitterbug,” “Me & My Baby,” and “Pajamas,” while her singing skills are especially prominent on “2High,” “Starving” (featuring fellow rapper Teezo Touchdown), and “Mine” (which sounds like an electronic spin on Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy is Mine.”

While May Hong is Mira’s primary voice actor on Kpop Demon Hunters, Audrey Nuna provides the singing voice. Mira is introduced as the rapper of the group, and the production team could not have found a better choice to bring Mira’s rap skills to life. Nuna’s intense rap flow co-signs incredibly well in unison with her utilization of trap beats. The combination allows her to do her native New Jersey proud, as NJ is notable for its rap scene featuring notable names like