Duet (Zico and Lilas Ikuta song)
| "Duet" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Zico and Lilas Ikuta | ||||
| Language |
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| Released | December 19, 2025 | |||
| Studio | Ingrid (Seoul) | |||
| Genre | Hip-hop[1] | |||
| Length | 2:26 | |||
| Label | KOZ | |||
| Composers |
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| Lyricists |
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| Producer | Zico | |||
| Zico singles chronology | ||||
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| Lilas Ikuta singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Duet" on YouTube | ||||
"Duet" is a song by South Korean rapper Zico and Japanese singer-songwriter Lilas Ikuta. It was released as a single through KOZ Entertainment on December 19, 2025, alongside its accompanying music video.
Background and release
While writing "Duet", South Korean rapper Zico needed a vocalist who "could hit high notes while also handling fast-paced parts that were difficult to distinguish between rap and singing." He thought Lilas Ikuta, whom the rapper enjoys in her solo music, including her duo Yoasobi, could handle this perfectly. The song was written for a year before its release,[2] and features Korean, Japanese, and English lyrics.[3]
On December 9, 2025, Zico uploaded a 25-second video captioned "Duet, Anyone?", teasing a snippet of an upcoming song. The footage shows Zico sitting and dancing while playing an upbeat track in the studio, lamenting, "It's so good, but I haven't found anyone to do it with."[4] The next three days, it was confirmed that Japanese singer-songwriter Lilas Ikuta would collaborate on the rapper's song, titled "Duet", alongside its release date December 19.[5] On December 13, the rapper posted another video depicting a meeting and discussing between him and Ikuta.[6] The single's concept photos express Zico's free-spirited attire, which contrasts sharply with Lilas's more formal attire.[7][8]
Music video
An accompanying music video for "Duet" premiered on December 19, 2025, in conjunction with the release of the single.[9] A 20-second teaser video was uploaded two days before.[10] Directed by Bang Jae-yeob[11] and filmed in Japan, the visuals depict Zico and Ikuta beginning dancing with arm swing movement before spreading to other people, from children to adults, seemingly in sync across the streets, classrooms, and offices.[12]
Live performances
Zico performed "Duet" for the first time, alongside "Tough Cookie" and "No You Can't" under the theme "Count It!", on December 20, 2025, at the 2025 Melon Music Awards, held at Gocheok Sky Dome. Ikuta made a surprise appearance on the stage.[13] They performed the song at Music Station Super Live 2025 on December 26,[14] The First Take on January 7, 2026,[15] and Zico's Tokyo Drive concert at Keio Arena Tokyo on February 7, 2026.[16]
Credits and personnel
Personnel
- Zico – lead vocals, background vocals, lyrics, composition, arrangement, producer
- Lilas Ikuta – lead vocals, background vocals, lyrics
- Eun Hee-young – background vocals, composition, arrangement, bass, brass, electric piano, guitar
- No Identity – composition, arrangement, brass, drums, MIDI, programming, synthesizer, mixing
- Jung Eun-kyung – recording, vocal editing
- Yang Ga – Dolby Atmos mixing
- Kwon Nam-woo – mastering
Locations
- Ingrid Studio – recording, vocal editing
- Hybe Studio – Dolby Atmos mixing
- 821 Sound – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
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Monthly charts
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Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | December 19, 2025 | KOZ | [20] |
References
- ^ Lee, Da-won (December 19, 2025). "[이다원의 원픽] 지코랑 '듀엣', 나도 끼워주라". Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (December 19, 2025). "지코X요아소비 이쿠라 신곡 'DUET' 발매 "완벽한 티키타카"[일문일답]". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "幾田りら、韓国の国民的ヒップホップアーティスト"ZICO"とのコラボ・シングル「DUET」配信開始&MV公開". CDJournal (in Japanese). December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Park, Ji-hye (December 10, 2025). "지코 "듀엣 할 사람?"" (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Sang-sun (December 12, 2025). "지코, 日 요아소비 이쿠라와 협업...19일 신곡 'DUET' 발표". Raon News (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Park, Se-yeon (December 14, 2025). "지코, 日 리라스와 '듀엣' 협업...미팅 현장 공개". Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Geum, Bit-na (December 16, 2025). "지코&요아소비 이쿠라 'DUET'...따라하고 싶은 팔동작 '눈길'". MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Park, Seung-hyun (December 17, 2025). "지코&요아소비 이쿠라 조합 실화? 'DUET' 벌써부터 기대". AtStar1 (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Park, Seo-hyun (December 19, 2025). ""철저히 설계해 촬영" 지코 신곡 'DUET' MV, 독특해서 더 중독적이다". Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Yoo, Byung-chul (December 18, 2025). "지코&요아소비 이쿠라, 'DUET' 뮤비 티저 공개…영상과 사진에 반복적으로 나오는 독특한 팔동작에 궁금증 고조". Global Epic (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Hybe Labels; Zico (December 19, 2025). ZICO (지코), Lilas (YOASOBI's ikura) 'DUET' Official MV (video). Retrieved December 22, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Kim, Jong-eun (December 19, 2025). "챌린지 열풍 시작한 지코, 이번엔 일본에 독 풀었다". MBC Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Ji, Min-kyung (December 21, 2025). "지코, 'MMA' 베스트 프로듀서상 수상..신곡 'DUET' 무대 최초 공개". Osen (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "『MステSUPER LIVE 2025』全出演者65組&歌唱楽曲発表 キンプリ×50TA「希望の丘」も". TV Life (in Japanese). December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "幾田りら、韓国のプロデューサー兼国民的ヒップホップ・アーティスト ZICOとのコラボ・シングル「DUET」にて"THE FIRST TAKE"登場". Skream! (in Japanese). January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ Park, Ah-young (February 8, 2026). "지코, 日 도쿄 공연 성료 "공연할 때마다 정체성 깨달아"". MBC Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved February 8, 2026.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of January 14, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ "Circle Digital Chart – Week 1 of 2026". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ "Digital Chart – January 2026". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "[NOTICE] ZICO, Lilas (YOASOBI's ikura) Single 'DUET' (Merch Ver.) 발매 안내 (+URL)". Weverse. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.