HIPHOPPLAYA FESTIVAL 2025 wrapped up in style on May 3rd at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, pulling in around 22,000 hyped-up fans. From top-tier names like Dean, Zico, and Crush to surprise guest moments and emotional reunions, this year’s fest was loaded with energy and surprises.
One of the most talked-about moments was Dean’s long-awaited comeback. After staying mostly out of the spotlight for six years — apart from some singles and features — Dean returned as a headliner, and the crowd went wild. He performed hits like ’21’, ‘Instagram’, ‘Put My Hands On You’, and ‘I’m Not Sorry’ with the same raw emotion and cool vibe he’s known for.
“It was a tough day with the rain, but thank you for waiting for so long,” Dean told the cheering fans. Then came the cherry on top — “Now, Dean & Tabber will begin their proper performance.” Together, they brought down the house with tracks like ‘Chi-Ka’, trading verses and even performing back-to-back. The whole thing felt like a mini solo concert — 60 minutes of pure vibes.
The crowd was also treated to a killer set from Zico, Crush, and Dean — all born in 1992 — who reunited for a powerful performance of ‘BERMUDA TRIANGLE’. That surprise moment sparked memories from nine years ago when the track dropped, and it was clear the chemistry between them hadn’t gone anywhere. Fanxy Child fans were living their best lives.
The lineup on STAGE 9 was stacked: YULEUM, Miso, CAMO, B.I, Lee Young-ji, pH-1, Crush, Zion.T, Dean, Tabber, Zico, and Beenzino all delivered explosive sets. Fans were especially hyped to see Dean back on that stage after so long.
One major highlight that had fans counting down with anticipation was the reveal of the secret guest. As numbers flashed on the giant electronic display, excitement peaked — and when the countdown hit zero, Hong Da-bin (aka DPR LIVE)’s iconic “Coming to you LIVE” echoed through the venue. He came out swinging with a live premiere of his new song .KR, which officially dropped at 6 PM on the 5th. The crowd couldn’t get enough.
STAGE 10 had its own share of unforgettable moments too. Yang Hong-won brought out NO:EL as a surprise guest during his set — yep, the same NO:EL who’s the son of former lawmaker Jang Je-won. While performing ‘It’s you’, he pointed to the sky during the lyric “I loved you”, which many took as a tribute to his father.
And let’s not forget the ‘KC & Friends’ set — a special performance by KC (Sik-K, HAON, Jay Park, pH-1). Sik-K made headlines for returning to the stage not long after receiving a ten-month prison sentence (suspended for two years) for violating the drug control act. Despite the controversy, his reunion with E SENS was powerful. They performed ‘LOV3’ together and even hugged it out on stage, putting old rumors of beef to rest while the crowd cheered them on.
This year’s Hip Hop Playa Fest reminded everyone why it’s still the go-to urban-style hip-hop festival in Korea. With emotional comebacks, surprise guests, and show-stopping collabs, 2025’s edition definitely lived up to the hype.
