Korean jazz x hip hop unit O'KOYE releases new EP "Shine Bright"

Korean unit O’KOYE has released their new EP, “Shine Bright” today, Tuesday, July 15th.

O’KOYE is a unit consisting of rapper IKYO and producer The o2. Based on an experimental approach and a wide range of musicality, the company pursues “newness filled with nostalgia.” Last year, he released his first album, “Whether The Weather Changes Or Not,” and was nominated for “Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album” at the Korean Popular Music Awards.

In addition, he was nominated for “New Artist of the Year” in “KOREAN HIPHOP AWARDS 2025”, and was featured in media both in Korea and abroad as “An album of the year.” In June of this year, he appeared at the “Seoul Jazz Festival,” and attracted international attention, besides world-renowned artists such as Jacob Collier and Tower Of Power.

This work was produced to commemorate the first anniversary of the release of his first album and his first appearance at the “Seoul Jazz Festival.” What I put into the title was a frank feeling, “When I look back, every moment was shining.”

The lyrics depict the will to move forward without losing one’s own personality and pride even in a ever-changing environment. The song also featured talented session musicians such as Yoon Seok-chul, Kang Hwan-soo, Lee Sam-soo and Han Hye-jin, who co-starred in “Seoul Jazz Festival.” The unique musicality of O’KOYE, which blends jazz and hip-hop naturally, is expressed in a deeper and richer way.

Jazz is not the mainstream of Korean popular music, but it has been spreading quietly for a long time, and new expressions have emerged from its interaction with hip-hop. This EP is also part of this trend, with the participating artists not only active in the jazz scene, but also in the Korean pop scene called “songs.” What O’KOYE wants to convey in this work is that “something glows is not because it is bright in itself, but because it shines back on someone else’s light.” The time they have accumulated through sound and words of “quiet symbiosis” has brought about small but solid evolution to the current Korean music scene.

[Release Information]

O’KOYE “Shine Bright”
Release Date: 2025.07.15 (Tue.)
Label: O’KOYE
Tracklist:
01. Shine
02. Bright
03. Bright (Live)
04. Bright (Inst.)