Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones – always focused on sound, stage, and substance.
At HallyuTones we are passionate about supporting and promoting artists as they take the next steps in their careers, whether it’s re-debuting, or releasing their own solo music.
For artist D.I. (Dong In/Lee Young Jun), both of these dreams have become a reality. Originally debuting as the main rapper and lead dancer of K-Pop group ‘GreatGuys’ in 2017, he performed with the group until his contract expiration in 2024. After all of the members’ contracts expired, they all decided to rebrand as an independent group under the name of ‘RE:GUYS’, continuing their journey together.
As an independent group, they work together to host their own events and promotions. This included their recent 2026 fanmeeting titled ‘Where We Return to Bloom’ and their performing concert series in Japan.
Alongside his work with RE:GUYS, D.I. has also been building up his portfolio of solo work. His first official solo project was the independent single album ‘Flowering‘ which was released shortly after he left his original agency.
Between this release and the present day, he has been very active publishing his own tracks and projects on his official SoundCloud account, where he posts with the handle ‘DI(greatguys)’.
D.I. has build a reputation for his image and artistic ability. During his time with GreatGuys, he was known as the ‘tough guy’ with a ‘sexy glare’. However over time, he has taken on a more personal and creative role within both his group and his solo work. Alongside his music, he is also well known for his height – at 6’0”, he was offered many professional modelling activities before fully focusing his career on music.
With such a storied musical journey behind him, the next steps for D.I. have many fans waiting in anticipation. His most recent EP, ‘Unlocking’ was released on June 25th, 2026. Read on below for a breakdown of each of the tracks on this new release!
Opening with ‘INTRO: LOCKED INSIDE‘, the tone is immediately set for the remainder of the EP. The minimalist piano intro eases the listener into the album, setting the mood before building in layers of synths to create a more grandiose sound. After a perfectly apt droplet sound, the bass drops, with the whole beat taking on a hip-hop style. The track ultimately transitions back to the piano for the final moments, perhaps symbolising how D.I.’s musical style is layered, varied, and is filled with hidden thrills.
The next track is the first title track, ‘OPEN THE SKY (With KIPPLE)’. Working alongside Kipple (producer, singer-songwriter and artist), the track opens with a reverberating guitar riff before launching straight into a powerful sing-rap style. With a frenetic pace, the track never lets up and has a hopeful air, with both artists bouncing off of each other’s styles to create a song that is both infinitely listenable and inspiring in equal measure.
The third track, ‘MOONLIGHT DANCE’ takes a slightly different approach. Groovy and funky, this track has a perfect night-time drive vibe. The vocals are smooth but are propelled by the expertly layered instrumental which captures the perfect feeling. Much like its title suggests, the song captures both a night-time atmosphere and the rhythm of an energetic dance at the same time.
The next track is the other title track for the album. Titled ‘SHOOTING STAR (FEAT. JJ)‘ the song tonally fits well with the first title track. With an electric guitar instrumental and a strong percussion line, the track is uplifting and optimistic, with fast-paced rap sections and spoken riffs to create a song that would not feel out of place on either a stadium anthem playlist or a chilled relaxation mix.
Finally, the album ends with ‘OUTRO: UNLOCKING’. This track closes out the album well by circling back to the instrumental vibes established in the intro. With the distinct sound of someone pressing ‘play’ on a cassette embedded in the track, it feels like D.I. is finally ready to start this next stage of his journey and showcase his artistry to the world.
This EP is fresh, exciting, and relaxing all in one. Whether you’re already a K-Hip-Hop fan, are someone looking for an uplifting listen, or simply want a fun album to drive to, there’s a lot to enjoy within the ‘Unlocking’ EP.
I truly enjoyed this release, and am excited to see where D.I.‘s creative musical mind takes him next. Stay tuned for future coverage of his releases here at HallyuTones!
To support D.I. and RE:GUYS, make sure to follow them at the links below:
D.I. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/di_zerojjun/
D.I. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2bbdk4WPaESmJRJKwUR8ol
D.I. Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/d-i/1735263948
D.I. SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/zqvhe1yw9mdx
RE:GUYS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reguys__official?igsh=MXY4dHhwZ2l4dTRqcA%3D%3D
RE:GUYS TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reguys7?lang=ko-kr&is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=mobile&sender_web_id=7584394441377596935
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