KAI

With his prowess at singing, rapping, and dancing, KAI was bound to stand out from the pack even in his first years with EXO, the boy band that launched him in the early 2010s. Born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1994, the performer first known as Kim Jong-in began studying dance as a child and started his professional career after winning an SM Entertainment talent contest at 13. With the launch of EXO in 2011 and later spin-offs such as Younique Unit and SuperM, KAI carved out a space for himself as a singularly charismatic K-pop heartthrob. But it wasn't until his solo launch with 2020's steamy "Mmmh"—the single from his debut EP, KAI - The 1st Mini Album—that he fully demonstrated his deep connection to trap and USHER-style R&B. With KAI embracing the chance to dive deeper into hip-hop and dancehall, follow-up EPs such as 2023's Rover - The 3rd Mini Album feature equally exhilarating showcases of his sultry vocals.