Artist

South Korean singer/rapper Big Naughty fuses hip-hop, R&B, and pop into a unique style that is both fresh and familiar. Born Seo Dong-hyun in Seoul in 2003, he started out as an independent artist and first gained attention in 2019 when he appeared on the TV rap talent contest Show Me the Money. He finished in fourth place, gaining a deal with the label H1gher Music. A string of singles scarcely troubled the lower reaches of the chart until he returned to make a guest appearance on the following year's show, featuring on Lil Boi's "Tomorrow." It went to number two, setting the stage for his own success. Big Naughty released a series of EPs, beginning with 2021's Bucket List; the highest charting of these was 2022's Nangman, which went to number 15, buoyed by its lead single, "Beyond Love" (featuring 10cm), which gave Big Naughty his highest singles chart position at number five. 2024 saw the release of his fourth mini-album, ICN > YVR (Incheon to Vancouver). While considering himself more of an R&B singer than a rapper, he switched between the two styles with ease, producing smooth, accessible, laid-back, melodic music with a strong pop flavor. ~ John D. Buchanan