With tunes that evoke smoky clubs and laidback vibes, South Korean rapper Hwaji spits verses with a calm, collected cool, riding a swell of rippling keyboards and thick bass lines. An early focus on vintage sequencer sounds and live percussion evolved to include echoes of classic soul rhythms and a G-funk approach to sampling. The result is an even mix of old-school and new, subwoofers rattling from dense, sticky melodies and trap flavours invoking a dark, hazy mood. Hits like "Gypsy Girl", from his 2016 LP Zissou, deliver a sweeter sound—Hwaji's smouldering tones are easy to get lost in.