Why You Should Be Listening to K-Pop Sensations Stray Kids

Since their debut in 2018, Stray Kids has captivated fans of the popular genre, K-Pop. The boy group has become one of the most popular “4th Gen” groups alongside TOMORROW x TOGETHER, ATEEZ, and ENHYPEN. Over the past six years, the boys have only become more proficient and more talented at what they do. Garnering many awards and breaking records, the group has been building a fanbase from all around the world.

The eight-member group was formed through a reality show to compete for a place within the group. Since the creation of Stray Kids, the boys have been on a mission to revolutionize the K-pop genre and create something everyone can love. Their first EP was released in early 2018. Since then, they have released 3 full albums, 13 more EPs, and many more singles.

A Massively Growing Fanbase

Stray Kids has been gaining popularity with every album release. This year, they broke the record for consecutive Billboard #1 releases with their fifth top release in a row. This achievement beats the original record holder, One Direction, who had only four consecutive #1 releases.

The group currently sits at around 11.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. They have accumulated over 5.7 billion views on their YouTube channel. Furthermore, the artists have at least 13 music videos with over 100 million views. The most popular video of this group is “God’s Menu” with upwards of 476 million views.

Stray Kids’ popularity does not end with views. Their upcoming world tour is selling out fast. With four Seoul shows sold out, things are looking good for the rest of the tour which has yet to be announced. However, this is no new feat to the ever-popular group. In 2023, Stray Kids sold out shows within 5 minutes of ticket sales going live. Over 2.5 million fans were waiting to snag their tickets as soon as possible.

Worldwide Presence

Recently, Stray Kids had a featured song in Deadpool & Wolverine, the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. The group has performed Deadpool-themed stages in the past and interacted with the star, Ryan Reynolds. The actor, alongside costar Hugh Jackman, is also featured in Stray Kid’s newest music video, “Chk Chk Boom.”

This was not Stray Kids’ first appearance on a soundtrack. The group created the opening song, TOP, for the popular Webtoon-turned-anime, Tower of God. They also created the ending track, Slump.

The group has also attended multiple Lollapalooza concerts. They previously attended the Paris Lollapalooza back in 2023. This year, they made their reappearance at Chicago Lollapalooza. Stray Kids and SZA performed on day 2 of Lollapalooza, the only sold-out day for the festival.

The group, aside from many Asian music award shows, has won awards in many countries. Notably, Stray Kids took home the Group/Duo of the Year award from the People’s Choice Awards. Stray Kids marked the third K-pop group to receive this award alongside BTS, who has taken home the award four times, and Blackpink. This is one of 83 awards the group has won worldwide.

All With A Good Heart

Many loyal fans are aware that Stray Kids uses their success to highlight groups in need and encourage others to help when they can. One way that the band highlights those in need is by donating to them. Together, the members have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to various donations. UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision and many other organizations have received aid from Stray Kids.

The group has frequently highlighted children in need. However, they have also donated toward the global food crisis and earthquake relief forces. Youngest member, I.N, became the youngest member of Green Umbrella’s “Green Noble Club” after he donated ₩100M to the child welfare organization. However, their outreach does not end with their donations.

It is well known within the fandom that Stray Kids member Han Jisung, or HAN, deals with an anxiety disorder. Due to this and the lack of mental health awareness in South Korea, the group has always highlighted the importance of mental health and included it in their songs.

These advocates for mental health are open about their struggles. Whether they speak about it directly to fans or allude to it within their music, Stray Kids are not afraid of the topic. Their debut song, Hellevator, talks about depression, feeling pressured, and insecurity. These real topics can be refreshing to hear from an idol that fans look up to.

Start Listening

Stray Kids, named as a “Next Generation Leader” in music by TIME Magazine, has a little bit of something for everyone. Specializing in hip-hop electronica-type music, the group has been known to experiment and create unique pieces. From EDM to heavy metal, the group takes inspiration from all across the board. The group has nearly 300 songs across all platforms, features, and members.

Three members of the group, Bang Chan, HAN, and Changbin, call themselves 3RACHA. These three create the majority of their songs from scratch. The group has an impressive amount of self-production. Aside from music, they are also very involved in the creation of their choreography and music videos.

Not long ago, all eight members of Stray Kids renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment. This ensures that the group will stay together for many more years and continue creating new music for fans to enjoy. Their success is far from over.

Whether you start from the beginning with “Hellevator” or listen to the most recent works of “ATE,” you are likely to find a new addition to your playlist. The group has songs sung in Korean, English, and Japanese. The vocals, raps, dance, fashion, and videography are all just a few reasons why you should be listening to Stray Kids.