If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers.

JYP (PARK JINYOUNG)

Years active: 1992-present

Associated Acts: JYP, Rain, G.O.D, Wonder Girls, 2PM, Miss A, GOT7

His sound: Groove-based, with a blend of funk and r&b heavily influenced by U.S. artists within the same genre. Uncluttered arrangements with repeated riffs and very little use of vocal layering. Famous “half-air, half voice” performance style.

Why you should love him: Well, you probably already do. JYP is one of the architects of modern k-pop, first as a boundary-breaking artist himself and then as the head of JYP Entertainment. His sound is easily recognizable, and brings a sense of organic, personality-fueled funk to what can sometimes be an overly processed genre. He’s been in the game for twenty five years now, but still churns out massive hits without abandoning the core principles that made his music so exciting in the first place. In short, he is one of the undisputed greats.

Examples of his best work: