Deux (band)
| Company type | Music duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993-04-23 |
| Founder | Lee Hyun-do, Kim Sung-jae |
| Defunct | 1995-06-07 |
| Headquarters | South Korea |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Deux () was a pioneering South Korean K-pop duo from the early 1990s, recognized for introducing hip-hop elements into Korean popular music.
History
Lee Hyun-do and Kim Sung-jae first connected during their high school years and initially performed as part of Wawa, the dance ensemble supporting singer Hyun Jin-young. When original members Kang Won-rae and Koo Jun-yup enlisted for military duty, Kim Sung-jae joined Wawa and subsequently invited Lee Hyun-do to join. Eventually, the pair branched off from Hyun Jin-young’s group to establish Deux, officially debuting on 23 April 1993 with an album entirely produced by Lee Hyun-do.
In early 1994, Deux released their sophomore album, Deuxism, which featured the lead single "We Are". This album achieved sales of 300,000 copies in just six weeks, while "We Are" dominated SBS's TV Gayo 20 chart for five weeks straight. Their subsequent release, Rhythm Light Beat Black, blended remixed tracks with new material. By the close of 1994, Deux was honored with the SCK Popularity Award at the Golden Disc Awards.
The third studio album, Force Deux, launched in April 1995, garnered over one million pre-orders and sold 900,000 copies within six weeks. Its lead single "Break Off the Yoke" secured top positions on major Korean broadcast music shows and nearly surpassed Roo'ra’s track on SBS's TV Gayo 20.
On 7 June 1995, citing health concerns caused by intense schedules, Deux announced their disbandment. They held a complimentary farewell concert in July and concluded their career with a final performance on TV Gayo 20. In November of that year, Kim Sung-jae debuted as a solo artist but tragically passed away a day after his initial performance. Lee Hyun-do briefly retired before returning with a solo album in 1996. The following year saw the release of a greatest hits compilation titled Deux Forever, which included an unreleased song "Love, Fear" transformed into a duet through Lee’s posthumous vocal additions.
On November 19, 2025, it was revealed that Deux would issue a new single called "Rise" on November 27th. This release features Kim Sung-jae’s voice recreated via AI technology and will precede the group’s upcoming fourth full-length album planned for early 2026.
Musical style and legacy
Deux’s sound was deeply influenced by various genres within black music, such as hip hop, R&B, and new jack swing. Lee Hyun-do took charge of producing most songs, while Kim Sung-jae focused on choreography and styling. Alongside acts like Seo Taiji and Boys, they were central to the early 1990s “rap-dance” movement. According to Kim Seong-hwan from the Korean Popular Music Institute, their choreography leaned more toward B-boying and their musical style aligned more closely with global black music trends compared to peers like Seo Taiji and Boys. The lyrics—predominantly penned by Lee Hyun-do—often addressed themes of love and introspection.
Deux is widely credited with introducing black music genres to South Korea’s mainstream and played a crucial role in shaping the foundation of Korean hip-hop. Music critic Han Dong-yoon observed that following Deux’s emergence, “Korean hip-hop and dance music began to experience rapid advancement.” They hold the distinction of being the first Korean artists to release an exclusively rap-focused track titled "Untitled." Their fashion choices—including sunglasses and distinctive bags—influenced youth culture; in fact, a 1994 survey conducted by Kia Group identified Deux as among the most emulated fashion icons among high school students.
In 2013, Mnet recognized Deux as one of the Legend 100 Artists. Their albums Deuxism and Force Deux were ranked 81st and 35th respectively on Kyunghyang Shinmun’’s list of Top 100 Korean Popular Music Albums. Additionally, their debut single "Turn Around and Look at Me" was selected as one of the top 100 Korean pop songs by Rolling Stone. To commemorate their 20th anniversary in 2013, a tribute album was released featuring prominent producers such as Brave Brothers, Shinsadong Tiger, and Muzie.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| Deux |
| |
| Deuxism |
| |
| Force Deux |
|
Other albums
| Title | Album details | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythm Light Beat Black |
| |
| Live 199507121617 |
|
| Year | Award-Giving Organization | Award Category | Entry | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Mnet Km Music Video Festival | Mnet PD's Choice Award | Deux | Template:Won |
Top Positions on Music Chart Programs
| Year | Track | Date Awarded | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 우리는 We are | 22 May | Ranked No.1 |
| 1994 | 우리는 We are | 29 May | Held No.1 spot for two consecutive weeks |
| 1995 | 굴레를 벗어나 Break off the yoke | 11 June | Achieved No.1 ranking |
| 1995 | 굴레를 벗어나 Break off the yoke | 18 June | |
| 1995 | 굴레를 벗어나 Break off the yoke | 25 June | |
| 1995 | 굴레를 벗어나 Break off the yoke | 16 July | Maintained No.1 for four weeks |