Mix one part smooth vocal, one part rhyming artistry, one part haunting melody and you have one of the greatest Korean rappers of all time. Throw in devilishly good looks, and you have Verbal Jint.

Verbal Jint debuted in 2001 with his “Modern Rhymes” mini-album but has been on the scene as an underground rapper since 1999. He was one of the first hip-hop artists that would rhyme his words, no small feat in the Korean language.

Korean hip-hop is gaining more attention and fans are scouring Youtube, looking for their next favorite artist. With all of that happening, Verbal Jint is finally getting the recognition he deserves. His collaborations with k-pop stars have solidified his presence in mainstream Korean music.

Now the big question. Why do I consider him the best? Short answer, Verbal Jint does everything. From his R&B style music to his hard-hitting lyrics, to Inception-like music videos, Verbal Jint is behind it all. If you are looking for a song to set the mood with your significant other, play Verbal Jint’s “깨알같아”. Do you need something hard hitting for your workout? Give Verbal Jint’s song with Zico and Cho PD, “Map Music” a try. If you want to watch a music video that will make you think, then definitely watch his “You Deserve Better” m/v.

His live concerts make you feel like he’s singing and performing just for you. I saw him perform in 2014, and when he spoke, every person in the venue fell silent. The man’s presence commands that type of attention.

Verbal Jint is not just a one trick pony. He writes and produces music for other artists under his real name, Kim Jin-tae. He attended Law School at Hanyang University which means if he ever gets tired of making music, he can try his hand at being a lawyer. I don’t think he has anything to worry about for a while, though.