LNGSHOT Looks Back at Their ‘Training Day’ Memories and Growth
- Sarah Tan
- 1 minute ago
- 9 min read
We all have that one folder on our phones or a dusty journal filled with a version of ourselves from years ago, back when we were still figuring it all out. For LNGSHOT, they put that archive out for the world to hear rather than keeping it hidden away. Formed by Jay Park as the first self-produced boy group under MORE VISION, the four-member group—consisting of leader OHYUL and members RYUL, WOOJIN, and LOUIS—released their special EP, Training Day.
The five-track project arrived March 23, 2026, just two months after the MORE VISION rookies debuted with SHOT CALLERS. They quickly became the fastest 5th-generation K-pop boy group to hit one million Spotify streams in a debut week, following up with the 4SHOBOIZ MIXTAPE album comprising 10 tracks.
Before this release, LNGSHOT had already gained widespread attention by sharing trainee-era clips on social media, showcasing the stable live vocals, effortless charisma, and standout presence that shaped their pre-debut days.
Combining a hybrid of solo colors and collaborative harmony, the EP opens with LOUIS’ “Good Girls,” WOOJIN’s “Boo Thang,” OHYUL’s “Summer Eyes,” RYUL’s “For Us,” before closing with the group single “Vanilla Days.” These compilations are actual monthly evaluation songs recorded during the group’s trainee days, telling the stories of the many trials and memories the boys lived through while competing for their spot in the debut lineup.
After their meteoric rise and early success, it would be easy to assume LNGSHOT would be boxed into a single sound, but this album goes back to their origins. It focuses on where their approach started and works as a reflection of the creative process behind the group.
Listening to these tracks feels like being a fly on the wall in a MORE VISION practice room, taking in their raw, younger vocals before they were polished.
“Good Girls” is a mix of R&B and pop with a bright, synth-heavy production. LOUIS recommends this as the go-to track for anyone currently falling in love, mostly because the upbeat music matches the fluttery excitement of having butterflies in your stomach. What’s wholesome is that this recording captures LOUIS before his voice changed. Hearing his younger, pre-debut vocals often draws comparisons to a young Justin Bieber, giving the track a huge dose of nostalgia.
via @LNGSHOT4sho on X
“Call me, baby, 905, but you don't
You're the reason for sleepless nights, damn sure
Put a gun on my brain, I know
Don't you kill my love tonight”
These opening lines describe how a new crush can keep you up all night overthinking. Even with the dramatic metaphors, LOUIS’ youthful delivery makes the lyrics feel like a breezy, stuck-on-repeat frustration rather than something heavy, mirroring the classic R&B storytelling where the drama is part of the fun.
“Like a C4, I keep exploding
Every time you keep on just ghosting
Don't you think about me more than once or twice?”
Ghosting is a universal experience, and LOUIS captures the “C4” explosion of annoyance when someone doesn't text back. Using modern dating terms like this keeps the track authentic in his teenage perspective at the time. His higher register vocals during these lines highlight the “kiddie voice” charm, turning the restless outburst into a hook that sticks in your head.
“Baby, good girls come to heaven
But you're not one of them, you're not one of them tonight
I can't deny that you are precious”
The chorus plays with the idea of a “good girl” versus someone who is a bit more rebellious or unpredictable. Even while singing that she isn't one of them, calling her precious shows that he’s still completely under her spell. Choosing this playful, cheekier angle offers a bold way to show his versatility as a performer, even back in his trainee days.
Arranged and written by WOOJIN alongside established producers Cha Cha Malone and Jay Park, “Boo Thang” is a more current and vocally driven sound with Jay Park’s style coming through it. But it’s the lyrical honesty where WOOJIN really opens up.
“Not a sip, not a puff, but I'm lost in your love”
With very grounded and transparent feelings, he’s explicitly stating he’s sober in his affection, no substances needed because the “high” comes from the person.
“Have you ever tried your fantasy? Yeah
Stayed home on a Saturday, yeah”
On the other hand, these lyrics are open in a different way. He’s revealing his personal idea of a fantasy, which isn't a wild club night, but a quiet night in. It’s an intimate, honest look at his personality.
via @LNGSHOT4sho on X
WOOJIN also describes the song as having a pure and young vibe that’s so him, which you can hear in the playfulness of the way he handles the hooks and the confidence you only have when you're young and dreaming big.
“Don't need no new thang, just my boo thang
All I need is you in my crew, yeah”
Using slang words like “boo thang” and “crew” makes him sound like a young artist in the hip hop scene, making it catchy, lighthearted, and avoiding being overly heavy or dramatic.
“Do you know you're a masterpiece? Yeah
You don't even have to answer me, we both know”
With pure puppy-love energy, this lands as a sweet, confident compliment that captures the specific feeling of being a young trainee in love with the idea of someone.
One listen to this chill track is enough to get anyone hooked on the catchy melody. All in all, the blend of current hip hop slang and genuine, open-hearted lyrics makes the song scream authentically WOOJIN.
On “Summer Eyes,” OHYUL strips everything back, and right away, you can tell he sounds like a boy deeply in love. There’s so much emotion in his delivery, giving us a chance to experience his more controlled, melodic side. When he does the “ooh” parts with his falsetto, we’re sure you’ll get goosebumps.
OHYUL has lots of memories tied to this song, especially the effort he put into learning the guitar for his monthly evaluation. While he initially thought about rerecording it, he ended up keeping his original vocals from his trainee days, even if they’re a little rough, because he wanted to showcase his voice that he could only pull off back then.
via @LNGSHOT4sho on X
“I heard you calling just like the leaves up in autumn
My heart was hopelessly falling for you
Every time”
These lines capture a hopeless romanticism that defines the track. Its pure pop songwriting uses simple but effective nature metaphors to show how deep those early feelings went.
“Through the wind, through the rain, yeah, we stay the same love
Can't pretend, can't explain, but you live in my blood”
During the bridge, there’s a bit more grit in his raw voice as he sings about a love that stays the same through the wind and rain, which feels parallel to his own journey. Additionally, the lyrics about a love that “lives in my blood” is a sincere and vulnerable confession of how intense and permanent those memories are to him.
“Build our castle in the sand, watch the sunset holding hands
And as the years go by, love you more with every sunrise”
This has a pure pop sentiment that OHYUL said fans would love. It pictures an idyllic, timeless image of young love that feels cinematic, especially when paired with the acoustic guitar he worked so hard to master.
Hearing OHYUL perform this on the guitar plays out like a time capsule. For fans curious about what he sounded like before in his pre-debut days, "Summer Eyes" provides an intimate, unplugged look at his growth and artistry. If you’re a fan of classic acoustic-driven pop melodies, this is the track that will probably stay on repeat.
“For Us”
Hip hop runs through every inch of RYUL’s life. “For Us” leans heavily into drill influences and is easily the grittiest track of the bunch. RYUL took the lead as the composer and lyricist, working alongside producers Lean$moke and Rock. He credits Central Cee as a major inspiration for the track, and the influence comes through in the heavy, punchy delivery of his verses.
“Yo, everything's for us, huh
I deserve a bonus (Bonus)
Even if trials come, I don't care
It's time for us (For us)”
The chorus hits with a lot of confidence, but it’s rooted in the trials he faced as a trainee. By claiming he deserves a bonus, RYUL is being direct about the hard work he put in. Choosing this direction creates a rallying cry for his team, showing that his drive is pushed by the people around him.
“Even though they know, they keep criticizing me
I don't want to hear it anymore
I'm enduring every day for the team, nah
Go listen to my mixtape”
This is a blunt look at the pressure of the idol industry. RYUL addresses the “chatterboxes” and critics head-on, basically telling them that his work—like his mixtape—speaks for itself. Calling them out is a bold way to voice that he’s moved past the noise to focus on his own growth.
“Yo, but if I turn around, it's all knives and traps
Go check yourself in the mirror
Yo, whether I look down or up, don't judge me
RYUL style, I'ma put in that work”
These lyrics capture the heavy and tough era he raps in his song. He uses the metaphor of knives and traps to describe the competitive trainee environment. Instead of playing it safe, he bets and relies on his own “RYUL style,” proving he has the mental toughness to handle the glaring eyes of the industry.
Closing the EP is “Vanilla Days,” a track that serves as a core piece of LNGSHOT’s history. Since this was the very first time LOUIS joined the other members in the studio, the song carries the spark of a new beginning. Similar to “Good Girls,” LOUIS’ younger voice makes another appearance here, freezing a moment in time from when they were still finding their footing.
via @LNGSHOT4sho on X
“My day was just black and white before you came to me
It was just the same old colorless game every day
But the moment I saw you, everything just changed”
Opening with these lines sets a nostalgic mood, reflecting how the members felt when they first started their journey. The shift from “black and white” to “everything just changed” echoes their transition from individual trainees to a unified team. Even though OHYUL mentioned they spent three grueling weeks practicing just to pull this song off, the final result sounds effortless and bright.
“Cherry on top, rainbow colored sugar on my sundae
You sweeten my vanilla like days
Yeah, that's what I like, make it sweeter drizzle on my sundae”
The chorus goes for sweet, dessert-themed metaphors to describe the excitement of a first love—or perhaps the excitement of finally finding your path. These lyrics highlight the young vibe LOUIS noted, making it a solid pick-me-up for anyone feeling down. Using such whimsical imagery shows how the group has always prioritized sharing a positive and uplifting message with their fans.
“Look at me, I'm on a different level, anyone who sees me will recognize me
Day by day, I bring out a new vibe, just look at me
It's hard doing it alone, I really miss you”
Ryul’s verse adds more edge, touching on the competitive nature of being on a different level while also being honest about the struggles of doing it alone. These bars bottle up the “rough around the edges” feeling Woojin described. Being this open about the difficulty of their trainee process brings a layer of sincerity to the song, confirming that even their most sugary tracks are built on plenty of heart and sweat.
Hard work does pay off, as the group is teaming back up with their mentor, Jay Park, on May 18 at 6 PM KST for a high-profile collaboration mixtape, 4SHOBOIZ Vol. 2: 4SHOVILLE. The 8-track project is packed with new energy, featuring “4SHO 4SHO,” “YEAH! YEAH!,” “NO HI, NO HEY,” “RUN IT UP,” “GUKBBONG,” and “MOYA,” along with remixes like “THE PURGE 4SHOMIX” and “PUBLIC ENEMY 4SHOMIX feat. DJ WEGUN.”
To get a taste of this new era, check out the official music video for “4SHO 4SHO” here:
SHOTTIES, LNGSHOT’s fandom, can also catch them headlining the Head In The Clouds Music & Arts Festival this August 8 at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. They’ll be sharing the stage with global stars like KATSEYE, XG, KiiiKiii, Rich Brian, Dabin.kr, and other global acts. Seeing them on a stage like that shows how far they’ve come from the practice room.
Training Day stands as a special look back at LNGSHOT's musical roots, making it clear that their current success is built on years of behind-the-scenes grind. While this project is a nostalgic look back, the group is already onto the next chapter!
Which track from the Training Day EP is currently your favorite? Are you ready for the 4SHOVILLE era with Jay Park? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us on Instagram or X.
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Edited by: Martina Yee