VINXEN (or Lee Byeong-jae) is a South Korean rapper who placed third in High School Rapper 2; known for his heavy lyrics and autotune-styled rap. He's a member of rap crew Kiff Clan, with other popular artists and HSR contestants such as HAON and Webster B.
He recently released his first full length album, Boy To Man, which features a plethora of fantastic collaborations (Sik-K, Haon, etc) and a variety of tracks. I'd highly suggest giving him a listen if you want lyrics that make you think, or you just want something to vibe to (whether sad, happy, hype or chill). Find my favourite tracks below - Have fun streaming!
i
Whilst 'i' may sound like an angsty teenage love song on the surface, it is anything but - VINXEN explained in a video with ODG that after not being able to say 'I love you' to his parents for 7 years, the track is a confession of his feelings. I adore how this song builds up; the beat perfectly suits a summer road trip and the lyrics are so beautifully conveyed.
[MV] VINXEN(빈첸) _ i
BLIND
'BLIND' also progresses incredibly well - the track feels like the calm before the storm, with chill verses and a dramatic, bold chorus. It's reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots' 'blurryface' era, specifically the track 'Fairly Local', where certain lines use vocal effects to alter the tone, to personify mental illness/insecurities/worries. VINXEN's chorus works similarly to this, with lyrics 'blind blind' taking on a deeper tone.
[MV] VINXEN(빈첸) _ BLIND - © Romantic Factory
전혀 (Not At All) Ft. Woo
If Seventeen's Woozi is BTS Suga's son, it's exactly the same dynamic for these two - Woo Won Jae placed third in Show Me The Money 6, and discusses similar topics to VINXEN in his own tracks, so this was the perfect collaboration. 'Not At All' is not a track I listen to often, as it's quite heavy, but when I do I pay full attention to the lyrics - Do yourself a favour and turn the captions on!
schoolrapper2 [8회/단독] 이병재 - 전혀(Feat.우원재)(Prod.GroovyRoom) @파이널 180413 EP.8 - © Mnet Official
36 Pills
It's quite difficult to find raw, heart-wrenching lyrics in K-Pop, so I normally turn to HipHop artists like VINXEN and BewhY, if I want some contrast from the jolly summer songs that most groups are releasing right now. VINXEN's lyrics are always so real and personal, such as "I don't want to be relatable." in '36 Pills', which is mostly why I started liking his music in the first place. The discordantly placed piano running throughout the track, coinciding with the simple beat, is what makes this track so appealing.
VINXEN (빈첸) - 36 pills / with english lyrics - © Romantic Factory
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