Verbal Jint Heize Replay 2025: First Collaboration Since Unpretty Rapstar 2

Korean hip-hop pioneer Verbal Jint teams up with R&B vocalist Heize for new single "Replay," marking their first collaboration in a decade.

Rapper Verbal Jint released "Replay" featuring Heize on August 21, 2025, reuniting the artists for the first time since Mnet's "Unpretty Rapstar 2" in 2015.

About "Replay"

The single explores recurring memories of a painful breakup through minimalist hip-hop production. Verbal Jint delivers his signature smooth flow over understated beats, while Heize provides ethereal vocals that complement the track's melancholic theme.

The album artwork reflects the song's concept, featuring blurred, overlapping text of "Replay" that visualizes fading memories and emotional repetition.

The Unpretty Rapstar 2 Connection

During "Unpretty Rapstar 2," Verbal Jint served as a producer while Heize competed as a contestant. Their professional relationship from the show laid the groundwork for this current collaboration, with both artists having evolved significantly in their respective careers since then.

Current Context

This release follows Verbal Jint's January 2025 album "Happy End," which he described as his ninth and final full-length album. The 44-year-old rapper, known for revolutionizing Korean hip-hop rhyme schemes with his 2001 debut "Modern Rhymes," continues to work under Brand New Music and his independent label Otherside.

Heize has established herself as a prominent R&B and hip-hop artist since her "Unpretty Rapstar 2" appearance, known for her distinctive vocal style and emotional depth.

Industry Impact

"Replay" demonstrates how veteran Korean hip-hop artists continue creating relevant music while honoring their shared history. The collaboration has generated positive responses from fans who have followed both artists' careers over the past decade.

The track showcases the maturity both artists have gained, blending Verbal Jint's refined rap technique with Heize's evolved vocal artistry in a cohesive exploration of heartbreak and memory.