8 Reasons Why SOLID Was A Major K-Pop Force In The 90's

1. The 8-Ball Magic

The 8-ball is an iconic part of SOLID's imagery and history. The group's biggest album was named "the Magic of 8 Ball," and it catapulted the group to stardom. Years and years later, the group's name is still mentioned among the classics because of what their 8-ball inspiration helped them accomplish.

2. R&B Innovations

New jack swing tracks like this one give the group some serious R&B credibility. They fit right in with the best of the 1990s in America and brought some of that flavor to their take on K-Pop music. In their wake, they changed how the genre worked a little bit and expanded the musical horizons of many.

3. Love Ballad Belting

SOLID is a group that knew how to belt! It's no wonder that young female fans fell in love with them, with their love ballads often winning the hearts and topping the charts.

4. Banging Beats

K-Pop and breakbeat go together startlingly well. There's something about the little punches of acid house-style keyboards that also send this to another level. It's enjoyable, urgent and funky fun.

5. Mature Appearance

In a genre where particularly youthful imagery often rises to the top, SOLID was able to capture the hearts of even older fans, thanks to their distinguished and grown-up looks. Of course, the look matched their soulful and experienced R&B crooning, which carried the group to legend status.

6. Fun Energy On Stage

Even with upbeat songs, SOLID could succeed! The group added diversity to their catalog as it expanded, and took on the ever-popular technopop genre at its peak.

7. Crossover Appeal

SOLID was actually a Korean-American group, and that quality gave them a certain exoticness that caught K-Pop fans' eyes. They were early trailblazers in that regard, and their success probably helped set a good example for other foreign artists looking to debut in the K-Pop market.

8. They Could Get Funky!

Tell me this wouldn't sound right at home next to "365 Fresh" and Bruno Mars' recent hits on a playlist. It's pure P-Funk goodness, and it's surprisingly fun. Even in K-Pop's early years, SOLID was mixing it up with English language music on their albums.

Share this article