MINO

In addition to acting, producing, flirtations with the fashion industry, and his role in the K-pop boy band Winner, rapper/singer Mino has established himself as a successful solo artist. His seductive and energetic rap/pop hybrid style first appeared in the form of several singles before his debut album, XX, arrived in 2018. Two more LPs, Take and To Infinity, arrived in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Born Song Min-ho in 1993, Mino became active in music and performance in his teens. He was involved in underground rap circles before he stepped into the world of South Korea's Idol competitions, participating in shows like The Strongest K-POP Survival and WIN: Who Is Next as early as 2012. From those shows, the boy band Winner emerged in 2014, with Mino serving as a rapper/singer for the group. While still finding new success with Winner, Mino struck out solo with the single "I'm Him." The next year, he participated in the rap competition Show Me the Money 4 and produced several solo singles that were released in conjunction with the show. Still working with Winner, Mino also branched out to collaborate with Bobby as Mobb. His solo track "Body" from Mobb's self-titled 2016 debut EP was a huge hit for Mino, peaking at number 13 on the Gaon chart. Along with more television work and Winner appearances, Mino released his debut album, XX, in late 2018. The record included the lead single "Fiancé," which shot to number one on the Gaon chart, while the album itself peaked at number two. Combining elements of hip-hop, soul, folk, and moombahton, 2020 saw Mino issue his second studio LP, Take, which included the hit single "Run Away." The vibrant and genre-fluid To Infinity arrived the following year. ~ Fred Thomas