Dynamic Duo's hip-hop song "AEAO (Aeao)" has continued a long-running phenomenon in the global music market for three years. Released in 2014, it only began to reverse-chart in 2023, about nine years later, and since then has continued an upward trend through multiple platforms and content, attracting attention as a case clearly differentiated from the conventional reverse-chart formula.
AEAO, which first reverse-charted on domestic and international music charts thanks to a challenge that spread organically on TikTok in the summer of 2023, has written symbolic records for three consecutive years. This year it was included as an original soundtrack in the U.S. NBA basketball game NBA 2K26, showing the strength of being reinserted into the NBA 2K series as the first Korean-language song by a Korean artist since its tie-in with NBA 2K16. Recently, it reignited buzz by re-emerging on various charts through a second challenge boom that brought together K-pop artists and fans worldwide.
A challenge featuring ENHYPEN, Haatz, Cortis, NCT DREAM, ZEROBASEONE, BOYNEXTDOOR, LE SSERAFIM, TREASURE, RIIZE, EXO, NCT WISH, &TEAM, TWS, IZ*ONE, NMIXX, KiiiKiii, and QWER surpassed a combined 130 million views across Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts as of the 1st.
This can be seen not as a one-time rebound but as a "long-term reverse-chart" that has secured lasting vitality beyond generations and platforms. In fact, "AEAO" recently reentered Shazam's top song charts in nine countries and Apple Music's hip-hop/rap top song charts in 11 countries, and on Spotify it surpassed 110 million cumulative streams, showing both a steady inflow of new listeners and a global listening trend.
Given the fast pace of trend changes in the K-hip-hop genre, it is extremely rare for a hip-hop song older than 10 years to maintain long-term competitiveness on global charts like this. Moreover, the "staircase-like long-term reverse-chart" achieved through natural re-spread via games, challenges, and creator content can be interpreted as a meaningful indicator that "AEAO" is expanding K-hip-hop's influence within the global music ecosystem beyond mere popularity.
Another notable Dynamic Duo song, "Singsung-saengsung (SsSs)," is also gaining word-of-mouth again as the year-end approaches. Released the same year as "AEAO" in 2014, the song is a winter-themed track that combines Dynamic Duo's and diva Park Jung-hyun's emotional chemistry with an addictive melody, and it reached number one on major music charts at the time of its release. Since then it has been a perennial recommendation for winter playlists and an annual dance challenge song each winter, and the "Singsung-saengsung (SsSs)" challenge is now unfolding mainly on short-form platforms such as Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok.
Through classics that continue to be rediscovered and reevaluated over time, Dynamic Duo has shown the staying power to lead trends even in their 21st anniversary year as active performers. While "AEAO" continues its reverse-chart march for a third year, breaking unprecedented longevity records in the K-hip-hop genre, the possibility of a "dual reverse-chart" including "Singsung-saengsung (SsSs)" is also increasing.
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