Gen Hoshino Drops New MV Featuring Lee Youngji
Japanese singer-songwriter Gen Hoshino just unveiled the official music video for his track “2 (feat. Lee Youngji)”, a standout on his latest album Gen. And yes—the collab with Korea’s rap queen Lee Youngji is everything we hoped for.
Shot in Tokyo with a Street Cinema Vibe
Filmed across Tokyo, the music video takes us from sun-drenched piers to rooftops with city skylines and cozy home studios packed with synths. Hoshino and Youngji bring a laid-back chemistry to the screen, performing together with an indie-meets-street documentary style that hits the nostalgia button hard.
Animated Layers and Playful Cool
Adding to the visual story, there’s subtle animation woven throughout the MV—think sketchbook scribbles and surreal flashes—that echo the song’s chill yet expressive tone. Behind the camera is director Hideyuki Ishii, known for blending emotion with style. The end result? A music video that’s both soulful and fun without trying too hard.
The Surprise Seoul Stage Moment
If you were lucky enough to catch Hoshino’s Asia Tour finale in Seoul’s Olympic Park this past September, you know what came next. Lee Youngji made a surprise appearance, joining him onstage to perform not just “2” but also a duet of Hoshino’s classic love song Koi—which she’s called her “memory song.” Que screaming fans and a TikTok-worthy moment in the making.
A Tour That’s Still Going Strong
Hoshino’s MAD HOPE Tour continues with encore shows in Japan: Osaka’s Kyocera Dome on September 21 and Yokohama’s K-Arena on October 18–19. It’s a grand finale worthy of the cultural crossovers this album has embraced—with Gen marrying J-pop melodies and international flavors, from LA’s jazz-funk crowd to Korea’s hottest hip-hop.
Why You Should Watch
If you’re a fan of cross-genre collabs or exploring how Hallyu and J-pop collide, the “2 (feat. Lee Youngji)” MV offers a beautifully crafted peek into that evolving space. As Youngji said in a behind-the-scenes interview, “He’s basically the strongest artist on the planet.” Big praise, but after watching this? Hard to argue.
