In 2010, Gen Hoshino made his solo debut with Baka no Uta, a carefully composed album that gave an intimate, soft portrayal of his life. Surprising his fans that knew him more for his acting career, Hoshino has provided listeners with complex medley of tracks that draw on everything from jazz to soul, demonstrating his wide range of musicality. In 2016, "Koi" was used as the theme song of the TV drama he was starring in, a cheerful, lilting number with a fun dance routine that quickly garnered millions of views on streaming services, rocketing his fame into the realm of household names.