Love the 3rd category! Gaho's 'Running' from 'Start Up' falls into that for me. I play it when I need a bit of motivation or when psyching myself up for a challenging task.

Gaho's Start for Itaewon Class was great and very motivating.

More dramas should utilize rap OSTs. Rapping makes the scene more exciting, and the beat gets your head bobbing and arm pumping.

"Brass Knuckle" by Boi B from Weak Hero Class 1 got my heart racing, NaShow's rap in "Auditory Hallucination" from Kill Me, Heal Me is iconic, and Loco's rap in "Say Yes" from Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is so sweet.

Despite its one unnecessary death, Unlock the Boss is still one of my favorite dramas of the year. The lyrics of "Nobody is Perfect" are inspiring.

As I am not very into raps, my favorite song from Unlock my boss' OST is "Lie to me". It's beautiful. It fascinated me since the first time I listened to it (in the drama).

https://youtu.be/L4JLxHyG-cQ

Giriboy’s Hyena (하이에나) for, you guessed it, Hyena, is iconic here, IMO. The way it plays out in that early courtroom scene where our leads’ relationship totally changes course (for the more cooperative). It’s rousing and satisfying in equal parts when it starts up.

Oh this song was a catchy one. Even when I saw the picture & the title, I could already hear the beat or remember scenes (like I think the song played at the end of the lead's fantasy like a closing credits song)

I LOVED Unlock My Boss (I already watched it a second time), and I also loved the OST. I really enjoyed reading the comparison of OSTs that stay intrinsically tied to the experience, emotions, and memories of the drama, and OSTs that transcend those. "Nobody is Perfect" is definitely one of them! I remember the feeling in the drama whenever it would play when they did something cool or had a fight scene. But it's also become one of my "get pumped up" songs, joining the ranks of BTS's "Mic Drop" and ATEEZ's "HALAZIA"😁

Nobody is Perfect brings back good memories, such a iconic song of the show . I really enjoyed Unlock the Boss.
Chae Jong-hyeop’s smile brightens up my day, he has a fantastic smile that transforms his whole face and makes you feel happy.
Why, oh why, did they have to kill off Mapi, it broke my heart. He had one of the best character arcs / redemptions that I have seen on a show in a long while.
It’s very heartwarming when you hear certain songs from osts that can take you back to reminisce about a show.

Sadly I don’t think Unlock my Boss or the ost got the recognition that it deserves.

Thanks for these trips down memory lane. My song which has lived on is In time by O3ohn from Seasons of Blossom.
Hopefully the link will work.

https://youtu.be/yAPXUuEP2B8

Music is not my strong suit and this is probably O/T but for an instrumental opening I don’t think you can beat the OST for FOREST OF SECRETS/STRANGER (2017) (Netflix). Slow build up. Just great:
https://youtu.be/447bxBzl9Vo

I love many and Say Yes by Punch Scarlet Heart Ryeo is one of my favorites. Recently I came across the opening OST Never Let Go from Agency by Kim Pureum and I simply love it. In fact I like most of Agency's OST but Never Let Go is what I cannot forget.

https://youtu.be/gSgAIYBvLKg

Fight songs are my favorite music style as of lately, the angrier/more desperate the better - tough times, you know. And if it's featured in a show I like that's a double win. In fact, I've developed quite a bit of allergy for light and happy tracks - to the point of disliking the hell out of my faves newest album for that very reason. Ouch. Sorry, boys, I'll give it another chance someday, I promise)))
This one is not exactly that for me, but lyrics are inspiring for sure. Should I make a list too? It's gonna be rather long, I've collected a lot)))