You can find all of our “Bias Duality” articles in one place by clicking here! This week’s “Bias Duality” article is dedicated to an idol who has been loved generation after generation in K-Pop, the treasure trove of of talent, visuals, charms and more: BTOB’s Lee MinHyuk, also known by his stage name HUTA. With 69% of the total votes cast by Kpopmap readers on the poll in our previous “Bias Duality” article, MinHyuk was chosen by an overwhelming majority of fans to appear on this series! To participate in choosing the artist who will be featured in our next “Bias Duality” article, you can vote for your favourite idol/actor below! If you would like to see a different idol/actor (one who is not mentioned in the poll) featured in the series, please leave their name in the comments section, and we will add them to the vote lineup next time! Now onto our bias!
A Calm Lake & A Mighty Mountain: BTOB’s HUTA
Travel the world and the seven seas, and you’ll still not find a man like Lee MinHyuk. A singer, actor, songwriter, producer, composer, thespian, philanthropist, athlete, radio show host, and fashion icon, all in one, BTOB’s HUTA is easily one of the most accomplished, versatile, and talented K-Pop idols in the industry today. Besides being a rapper, dancer, and vocalist in BTOB, he also participates in the intricate processes of album-making, such as writing lyrics, production, and so on. More importantly, when he is making music for BTOB, he imbues his work with such meaning and sentiment that listeners cannot help but fall in love with it. As a BTOB member, he has a strong sense of musicality that reflects the group’s identity, and expresses its worldview and collective experience. At the same time, as a soloist, HUTA gives free rein to his personal sonic aesthetic, exploring the deepest recesses of his creativity to conceive something truly and uniquely his own. In fact, this distinction is so well-constructed and carefully built upon that these artistic entities become mutually inclusive rather than being poles apart, allowing for an even more authentic connection with fans. Speaking of “HUTA”, which has been MinHyuk’s stage name ever since he was an underground musician, he revealed that he chose the name because it has the meaning of “swinging into an empty space”, implying that he will give his all for his art to fill up the emptiness with happiness. Needless to say, HUTA lives up to his name more than anything else. Now, whether it is HUTA or BTOB’s MinHyuk, the man is an epitome of perseverance, persistence, and power. He is a detail-oriented perfectionist who knows exactly what he wants and works tirelessly towards realizing that vision. He guides his members with expertise and patience, pushing them to be the best version of themselves, just like he does with himself, and that alone speaks volumes of how dearly he regards his members. He is humble, generous, responsible, and fiercely protective of BTOB, to the point that he would go to the ends of the world to make his members happy. Without exception, he always puts his members before himself. After all, he is BTOB’s “eomma” for a reason! He coddles them when it is needed and doesn’t step back from a little bit of discipline either! However, admittedly, most of the time, MinHyuk is the fake maknae who wants all the love and attention in the world. The fact that the buff bunny of BTOB is also the resident aegyo king is something that never fails to surprise a baby MELODY joining the fandom for the first time or even locals who cannot escape the web of MinHyuk’s charm. The best place to witness this duality is “HUTA_log” and trust us when we say, it’s the most iconic content on the internet. MinHyuk is innocent, playful, fond of kids and animals, has matching outfits with his dog, is the sweetest sunbae to his juniors, enjoys domestic chores and spending time with his family, is constantly aware of his members’ condition, pays attention to their unsaid needs, is unconditionally caring and affectionate to fans and doesn’t hesitate to give us a little fan service every now and then. MinHyuk is the type of person who likes to stop and smell the roses, to find joy in the little things. He is a huge advocate for self-love who practices what he preaches. He constantly talks about the importance of being kind, appreciating oneself, and living with gratitude. Despite numerous injuries and surgeries, MinHyuk is dedicated to fitness, not just for his physical appearance but also because of how it makes him feel. His honest conversations with fans are so transparent, unfiltered, and open that it truly makes him a safe space, a shoulder to lean on, for MELODY. If that’s not a solid role model, we don’t know what is! As an actor, MinHyuk evokes a whole new level of talent that is not only worth high praise but also incredibly impressive. No wonder he is so loved by industry professionals, fans, and critics alike! He has 15 dramas and 2 films under his belt, besides, of course, the countless variety shows where he has proven his penchant for entertainment. From romance to horror, period dramas, and more, MinHyuk’s filmography is as versatile as his discography. He knows exactly how to get an audience going - both with his captivating moves on stage and witty sense of humour on screen. If that wasn’t impressive enough, wait till you hear about all the medals he has won and the records he has broken at ISAC (“Idol Star Athletics Championship”). The triple threat MinHyuk - with his talent, visuals, and physique, was nicknamed the “Medal Vacuum Cleaner” for his outstanding performance, winning him multiple gold medals and 3 unbroken records to date. There’s nothing MinHyuk doesn’t absolutely excel at, and MELODY couldn’t be prouder. After all, this is the man, the myth, the legend, MinHyuk, we’re talking about.
The Rarest Of Gems: Lee MinHyuk’s Vocal Duality
One of MinHyuk’s greatest strengths as an artist is his voice. From singing to rap and everything in between, MinHyuk’s vocal quality is top-notch, and the way he controls it is even more incredible. His tone can change drastically as he goes from singing to rap, and at the same time, his rap voice has a duality of its own too! MinHyuk can go from a growl to a whisper in no time, and that is only the tip of the iceberg that is his talent. If you put HUTA’s music on shuffle, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to encounter the sheer versatility he boasts, be it in genre, style, technique, lyrics, or otherwise. One minute, he could be rapping about world domination, and in the next, he’s serenading MELODY in the sweetest way possible. They are his world, after all! Let’s take a look at some songs that perfectly illustrate HUTA’s vocal duality!
BTOB’s “I’ll Be Your Man” & “The Song”
The angsty pop ballad “I’ll Be Your Man” is built on the tension between the vocals and the rap verses, which culminates in a truly unforgettable chorus. MinHyuk’s rap, in particular, is not only unbelievably fast but also serves as the climactic turning point in the song. The lyrics are desperate, but even if you don’t know Korean, you’d still feel it in his voice. On the other hand, “The Song” is a ballad through and through where even the rap flows smoothly into a harmonious melody. MinHyuk’s voice is deeper than the ocean, and you cannot help but lose yourself in it. It weaves the song together and, once again, brings it to a climax when his verse comes along. The singing-rap highlights MinHyuk’s lower register in all its glory, and even when the song is over, his angelic voice resonates in our hearts.
HUTA’s ‘YA’ & ‘Tonight (With MELODY)’
The double title tracks from HUTA’s first ever studio album, co-composed entirely by the artist himself, are the best representations of his duality. Not only are the songs completely opposed in terms of concept, but they’re also nowhere close in the genre. MinHyuk’s vocal modulation, pitch play, and rap make ‘YA’ sound like it was recorded by a whole group and not just a soloist, which is a feat in and of itself. Besides, the range MinHyuk displays in just this one song is enough to make our point. In contrast to the dark mood of ‘YA’, ‘Tonight (With MELODY)’ is peppy, bubbly, and full of lovely energy. It is classic K-Pop, and we love to see it. Clearly, MinHyuk is fully aware of the effect his duality has on his fans, which is probably why he chose these two songs as his double title tracks, expressing the full musical spectrum of his album at once. For more songs that incorporate the best of MinHyuk’s duality, we recommend listening to HUTA’s ‘BOOM’ (that falsetto switch has us weak in the knees), BTOB’s ‘Can’t Breathe’ and ‘Beautiful Pain’, HUTA’s live performance of “I’m Rare + Real Game (Like Messi)” and most importantly, Lee MinHyuk’s cover of ‘Sofa’ by Crush, which is arguably one of his most sublime vocal performances of all time.
When HutaSquirrel Turns Into A Lion: MinHyuk’s Stage Duality
No conversation about stage presence in the global entertainment industry would ever be complete without Lee MinHyuk (and a special mention: his eyes). Besides being an immensely skilled dancer across numerous dance styles, booming with confidence the moment he steps on a stage and commanding his audience like a puppet-master, MinHyuk has a very special way of communicating through his performance that makes him such a force to be reckoned with. The biggest contributor to MinHyuk’s stage duality is his eyes. His gaze is intoxicating, to say the least, and also has a duality of its own. One moment, you’re intimidated, and the next, you’re swooning like there’s no tomorrow. Dominant and smug to puppy-like and bashful the next, our HutaRamji (MinHyuk’s nickname, combining “HUTA” and “daramji”, the Korean word for squirrel) can transform into a lion at any given second. It is virtually impossible for the same pair of eyes to look hauntingly beautiful, darkly alluring, and adorably cute at the same time, and yet, here we are, surrendering to the elusive look in his eyes, barely holding ourselves back away from writing poetry about them. Can this man get any more perfect? Three performances that exemplify HUTA’s stage duality at its finest are BTOB’s performance of ‘Outsider’ at “MCOUNTDOWN”, their stage of ‘Only One For Me’ at “MCOUNTDOWN” and of course, BTOB’s “Missing You” stage (Theatre Version) from “Kingdom: Legendary War”. In ‘Outsider’, MinHyuk embodies a spirit of rebellion, resistance, and recklessness. His movements are crisp and sharp, his facial expressions - the perfect mix of carefree defiance and irresistible conviction. That, combined with his subtle smirks, is just the recipe for butterflies in our bellies. If you thought that was swoon-worthy, wait till you watch ‘Only One For Me’. This is quite possibly one of MinHyuk’s most endearing fancams of all time, and the fact that he can be seen enjoying it just as much as we are is the cherry on the cake. The bright smile on his face, laced with aegyo, is just the cutest thing ever, and yet, when it’s time for him to rap, he spits fire like nobody’s business. Finally, the stage that turned a whole new generation of fans into BTOB stans - ‘Missing You’ (Theatre Ver.). The group performed this song in episode 2 of “Kingdom: Legendary War”, proving once again, why they are the OG legends of K-Pop. MinHyuk added such an ethereal dimension to the performance with his dance break that, for a moment, we were transported to an ancient world, with a historical drama unfolding right in front of our eyes. The precision of each move, and the attention he paid to every single gesture, captured the true essence of the story that was being told. No one except MinHyuk could have pulled this off to such perfection. Moreover, it bears repetition that MinHyuk’s eyes cut just as deep, if not deeper, than the sword he wields, and we just can’t get enough. What can we say? We’re addicted to the “taste of Korea”.
When Your Comfort Idol Is A Greek God: MinHyuk’s Aesthetic Duality
The curious case of MinHyuk’s duality manifests itself strongly in his aesthetic. Even though he is famous for his machismo and otherworldly handsomeness, he is also a master at aegyo. However, even when he’s doing aegyo, he still looks hot nonetheless! On the contrary, MinHyuk could be giving us the most charismatic look ever, and we would still be focused on his cuteness. As a matter of fact, his duality is so apparent that it exists even when he’s not really trying to bring it to light. Stealing hearts since 1990, this is a man in his element, a natural at persuasion! Another domain where this duality becomes clear as day is in MinHyuk’s fashion. Ever since his debut, MinHyuk has made a name for himself as a style icon, whether that be with his stage outfits or his own personal fashion. His Instagram account (@hutazone) might as well be an art gallery, with each post drawing our attention to MinHyuk’s myriad charms. From photoshoots to gym selfies, cozy boyfriend material shots to behind-the-scenes pictures, every day is a new journey with HUTA’s Instagram. His travel fashion diary is just as enjoyable as his ab snaps, and the OOTDs are to die for! We’re definitely taking notes every time MinHyuk steps out in a fit so fine, that it should be a crime! From stage to screen, theatre to film, HUTA has aced it all with the utmost grace, transcending limits and forever evolving as an artist. It is no surprise therefore, that he is deeply respected in the industry and immensely loved by his fans, all over the world. The melody of his art has flown far and wide, soothing millions. The man is an inspiration, a beacon of hope, and a constant reminder that hard work, sincerity, and passion pay off. If that’s not the absolute definition of an idol, we don’t know what is! As HUTA steps into a brand new chapter of his career, the brilliance of his craft is shining brighter than ever. Needless to say, we canot even begin to imagine the grandeur of what’s to come. All we know is that we’re honoured to be along for the ride. If you’re looking for more content about BTOB on Kpopmap, here are some articles you might enjoy!
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