With member T.O.P. kicking off the difficult period of military service for his group, Big Bang signaled a shift in pace from the consistent trickle of the delayed releases we've seen over the last few years. "FXXK It" was about as somber and melancholy as a total banger could get, and it reminded us of what made the group great. With T.O.P. rapping one of his most inspired verses in years, listeners were left with a strong impression as he kicked off the group's first foray into military service. Although the group as a whole will be missed, there will still be plenty of individual promotions for now.

Between Produce 101, Show Me The Money, High School Rapper, Superstar K and countless other shows, Korean music fans have a lot of sources to pick from when looking for those fresh-faced up-and-comers. Although these shows have all had brushes with controversy, they continue to produce bonafide hits and superstars. Latest in line is the new season of Produce 101, whose top ranking boys made a strong impression on M! Countdown.

Although there is no denying that IU is a spectacular talent capable of out-singing even the most seasoned veteran, some K-pop listeners felt that she relied too heavily on a familiar mix of cheery power-vocals and ballads. As soon as she opened her mouth to rap, those listeners had to eat their words - "Palette" finds IU at her most exciting, giving a convincing performance alongside pop royalty G-Dragon. Between this and her rebellious, challenging "23" (and its controversial but arguably tongue-in-cheek video), IU showed that she's not afraid to challenge herself and her fans.

It's been a while since there was a successful co-ed group in K-pop. Gone are the days of S#arp or even 8Eight. In the late 2000s and 2010s, co-ed groups suffered from the controversies surrounding MBK's Co-Ed School, and it seemed like the format was dead. That was, until K.A.R.D came with their distinct flavor of tropical house hits. The group was an instant hit, catching international attention with their debut in a way that few non-big-3 groups usually manage to.

Arguably one of the best composed K-pop songs this year is "Wee Woo" from previously relatively unknown group PRISTIN. With its slap bass and funk guitar, this song enraptured enough fans to gain over nine million views - not a small feat for a new group. Other acts like Brave Girls, Gugudan and WJSN have also brought really fantastically composed and performed songs to the table, and it's only a matter of time before one of the groups breaks out.

YG Entertainment has a pretty consistent track record of successful acts, so it shouldn't come as a shock that one of their flagship boy groups is doing well. A lot of time and effort is invested into making sure that happens, but sometimes in spite of a label's best efforts, the public simply doesn't get down with a group. WINNER's long hiatus didn't end up being a problem for their ability to connect with listeners - "Really Really" is a certified hit, winning music shows and topping charts even during a time when IU is essentially steamrolling her competition. Notably, it uses the tropical house genre, which shows that the style is enjoying a staying power in K-pop slightly more significant than trap or dubstep before it.

Although they received a major boost upon signing to legendary hip-hopper Tablo's label HIGHGRND (with its close ties to YG Entertainment offering a solid foundation of resources), Hyukoh was on their way to stardom for a while by the time "Comes and Goes" came out. After a string of collaborations and OST tracks, the group came back with their first full album this month, and the MV/song for "Leather Jacket" are emotionally devastating proof of their capabilities as a band.

YG Entertainment has a mysterious habit of keeping their most successful artists behind closed doors, unable to connect with the public in absence of album promotions. Lee Hi knows this, Nam Tae Hyun knows this, and certainly, the collective 2NE1 knew this. Minzy decided that she was unable to wait any longer once her contract negotiations came up, and upon her departure from YG, she managed to produce more content in several months than her contemporaries had in several years. All it takes is one mini album and a few high profile appearances to remind the public of immense talent. With "Ninano" taking Minzy to places that YG doesn't often bring his acts (such as variety shows), Yang Hyun Suk might just be kicking himself before long.

"Night Rather Than Day" is simply classy. It has a house and garage feel reminiscent of electronic music popular in the early 2000s, with lush major chords and happy vocalization building a fun and thumping track. Even though member Solji was unable to participate in the recording and promotion of this song, EXID stood strong and proved that they have what it takes to achieve longevity.