DEAN & Tabber have been collaborators since 2019 and labelmates since 2020, but their journeys prior to forming a touring partnership differ. Neither entered the industry with polish. What they present on the KPOPWORLD Festival stage is the result of years of hard work behind-the-scenes.

Born Kwon Hyuk and raised in Seoul, DEAN is an artist who developed musical ambitions at a young age. He took an interest in American hip hop and rap in middle school, looking overseas for inspiration as he began writing songs in secret. By 18 he was writing K-pop songs under the name ‘Deanfluenza,’ and by 20 he was being credited at the top of the industry on EXO’s “Black Pearl” and VIXX’s “Voodoo Doll” following tutelage from influential Joombas Music Group CEO and producer Hyuk Shin. In July 2015, he debuted as an R&B artist in his own right, but he did so in a way that set him apart; his single “I’m Not Sorry” debuted in the U.S. rather than in Korea. Since then, he has become a household name in the genre. He established his own independent label you.will.knovv, and has racked up collaborations with Anderson Paak, ZICO, Crush, Dynamic Duo, Taeyeon, Heize, IU and more, many of which self-produced.

Tabber, born Kim Hyunjoon, had a later start – but one that immediately established a public connection between him and DEAN. The pair featured on producer-songwriter ROMderful’s “1 Missed Call” in 2019 before Tabber shared the solo, self-produced music that resulted in him being signed to DEAN’s you.will.knovv in 2020. That music became the debut EP Deep End Mixtape. In 2021, he rose to the top of the rankings and gained popularity in rap competition show Show Me The Money 10. Five years later, Tabber has thrived in the K-R&B and hip-hop scene with numerous singles and a second album, collaborated with artists such as Baek Yerin and Paul Blanco, and toured Europe, Asia and the United States.

DEAN and Tabber became close friends and collaborators throughout their individual journeys. Tabber’s “Chi-Ka,” featuring DEAN, marked their musical reunion in 2024 ahead of a shared multi-city tour of Asia that year. They debuted in the U.S. as a duo at the Head in the Clouds Festival in California in 2025, and made joint appearances across Japan for the Summer Sonic 2026 music festival this August. KPOPWORLD Festival will be their first performance in the United States in over a year, and one of few globally.

At each performance, DEAN & Tabber deliver a unique, alternative R&B sound that combines hip-hop influences with low, soulful melodies. Tabber captivates audiences with husky, melodic vocals and sleek rap, while DEAN merges jazz, indie and electric styles to transition seamlessly into energetic beats and drive momentum. With seven years of collaboration behind them, the duo display undeniable onstage chemistry and effectively complement each other's voices, keeping audiences hooked.

For those new to DEAN & Tabber, either as individuals or as a partnership, three tracks highlight their differences and where they unite.

DEAN’s “Die 4 You” showcases his alternative approach to R&B. Penned, co-produced and co-composed by DEAN himself, the song uses a refined melody, acoustic guitar and the elevation of a layered instrumental to express the pain of a lost love.

Tabber’s “New Moon” holds an emotional gravity, with a dark, late-night R&B that expresses a moment of absence and consideration. Cinematic yet mellow, the song does not reach a dramatic peak but draws the listener into his quieter internal world.

Tabber’s “Chi-Ka” featuring DEAN is the most recent collaboration from the duo, and representative of their joint sound and intention. Smooth vocal harmonies and atmospheric production lead the signature laid-back, alternative style that both are known for.

Individually, DEAN & Tabber have established sonic identities that stand out in the Korean R&B and hip-hop spaces. Together, their awareness of each other’s styles and strengths has built a close, complementary partnership. Those experiences – from the early Korean hip-hop scene to songwriting credits to touring stints – will come together onstage at the KPOPWORLD Festival in October.

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