Simon Dominic has turned the speculation into a rollout.
After mysterious Seoul billboards bearing the words “SIMON DOMINIC,” “ONYX,” and “2026.05.14” appeared in areas including Hongdae, Gangnam, and Itaewon, fans began questioning whether the campaign pointed to a new single, album, or broader project from the Korean hip-hop veteran. At the time, no official source had confirmed what the teasers were for.
That mystery has now been answered. Simon Dominic has surprise-released a new single and music video titled “Simon Says,” confirming that his upcoming LP [ONYX] is scheduled to arrive on May 14 at 6 PM KST.
“Simon Says” puts his name back in circulation
“Simon Says” arrives with the force of an artist reasserting control over his own name. The track is built around command, repetition, and reputation, with Simon Dominic using the title phrase as both a hook and a declaration of authority.
Rather than easing back into the scene, Simon D returns with a performance that leans into presence. The lyrics frame him as both familiar and current, with lines like “not old, just classic” and “I represent Korean hip-hop at its finest” positioning his comeback against the passage of time rather than beneath it.
The track also carries the tension of an artist who has been absent enough to become a subject of speculation, but established enough that his name still moves through the scene without constant output. In one of the song’s clearest statements, he raps, “Been busy, outta sight, a mystery,” directly folding his low profile into the mythology of the release.
The weight behind [ONYX]
For longtime Korean hip-hop listeners, [ONYX] carries weight because Simon Dominic’s solo catalogue has never been defined by oversaturation. His last major solo projects include DARKROOM, released in 2018, and No Open Flames, released in 2019 through AOMG. Apple Music lists DARKROOM as a 2018 album with nine songs, while No Open Flames followed in 2019 as a seven-track EP.
Since then, Simon Dominic’s musical activity has been more selective. He has remained visible through features, television appearances, and cultural presence, but a full-length return has been a different matter. That makes [ONYX] feel less like another release on the calendar and more like a new chapter in a career that has often moved between visibility and withdrawal.
The timing also comes after a major professional shift. In 2024, reports confirmed that Simon Dominic was leaving AOMG after a decade with the label. He joined AOMG in 2014 and served as co-CEO alongside Jay Park until 2018 before continuing as an artist under the company.
Simon Dominic’s place in Korean hip-hop
Simon Dominic, born Jung Ki-suck, first rose to prominence as one half of Supreme Team alongside E Sens. The duo became one of the defining Korean hip-hop acts of their era after debuting in 2009, before Simon D moved further into his solo career. Apple’s artist profile notes his Supreme Team debut, solo releases including Simon Dominic Presents ‘SNL LEAGUE BEGINS’, No Open Flames, and ₩ & ONLY, as well as his role as co-CEO of AOMG from 2014 to 2018.
His appeal has always rested on more than technical ability. Simon Dominic’s voice is instantly recognizable: heavy, nasal, sharp-edged, and conversational without losing impact. At his best, he can sound both dismissive and wounded, arrogant and self-aware, mainstream-facing and deeply tied to Korean rap’s underground memory.
That mix is part of what makes “Simon Says” effective as a comeback signal. The song does not attempt to explain every year of absence. Instead, it weaponizes the silence around him. The repeated spelling of S.I.M.O.N.D.O.M.I.N.I.C turns his name into a chant, while the lyrics repeatedly return to status, legacy, money, taste, and survival.
From Seoul billboards to a confirmed rollout
The ONYX billboards now read less like a vague teaser and more like a deliberate prelude. HiphopKR previously reported that the campaign had sparked speculation because there was no confirmed information on whether ONYX was a song title, project name, campaign, or something else entirely.
With “Simon Says,” that uncertainty has been replaced by a clear date and direction. Simon Dominic is not simply appearing in a teaser campaign. He is opening the door to a new LP.
What we know about [ONYX] so far
Simon Dominic’s upcoming LP [ONYX] is scheduled for release on May 14 at 6 PM KST.
With “Simon Says” now out, the rollout has officially begun. For an artist whose name has remained embedded in Korean hip-hop even during stretches of limited solo output, [ONYX] arrives with a rare kind of anticipation: not just curiosity about what Simon Dominic will sound like in 2026, but what kind of space he intends to occupy now.
Official English Lyrics
[Intro]
(Tommy baby)
I’m calling to let you know that the beat is about to drop
[Hook]
Simon says put your middle fingers high ay
Simon says roll out the red carpet in front of me ay
Simon says fill the glasses to the brim ay
Simon says everybody sells my name ay
S. I. M. O. N. D. O. M. I. N. I. C
[Verse 1]
Can’t say I’ve made it yet, I’m still successin’
Even your girl be taggin’ me like “wow, Jung Ki-seok sexy”
Cuttin’ off these rootless rappers, I’m assassin
Not the latest but current, not old, just classic, that’s it
Gold case, Onyx Day-Date, 90’s vintage
Try to bite me, you’ll just spit it, I’m relentless
L O N G L I V E S M D C
Been busy, outta sight, a mystery
I shift the game, split the coins
Top Dog, shake the Chandon
I’mma shine on them motherfuckers like diamonds
SIMON, your greatest nightmare and your deepest thrill
Paradise Art Night, Pusha sittin’ next to me
Everything I throw goes in, good shot
My presence is blinding when I’m with my pressure
Life’s so dynamic, no need for compressor
[Hook]
Simon says put your middle fingers high ay
Simon says roll out the red carpet in front of me ay
Simon says fill the glasses to the brim ay
Simon says everybody sells my name ay
S. I. M. O. N. D. O. M. I. N. I. C
[Verse 2]
I’m a major man, love letters from my Asian fans
Say what you want about me, it doesn’t matter
When I drop an album, everything goes savage
They say hip-hop’s dead, all that talk
While these washed-up dudes fade out, I would never fall
Megaton steps, feel the weight in my motion
My flow stays new, I play with the globe
Out of all my selves, this me’s the highest, checkpoint
My primal weapon is an irrational sense of rhythm
I represent Korean hip-hop at its finest
Don’t sit at my table if money ain’t the main dish
Lost my manners long ago, unintentionally after coming to Seoul
The universe aligned for me. I’m a martian, sorry humans
My machete kills fuck fake, Rodriguez
Had ’em turned on since I was a snot-nosed kid
Made you think of me whenever you were alone
I’m an overrated and underrated man
I live how I’m made, even laziness ain’t a problem
They hate me, but still want me
God-given skill got me summer all year
I’m not a GOAT, just one of the best here
Ain’t many like me, you know that I know
[Hook/Outro]
Simon says put your middle fingers high ay
Simon says roll out the red carpet in front of me ay
Simon says fill the glasses to the brim ay
Simon says everybody sells my name ay
S. I. M. O. N. D. O. M. I. N. I. C