No, really, get up. The show starts bright and early. In partnership with Netflix, BTS is live-streaming their first concert back from hiatus on March 21 at 7 a.m. ET in a special called BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG.The concert will be filmed at Gwanghwamun in Seoul, with ticket information coming soon for those who might plan to travel to South Korea to see the boys in action. The special offers several firsts for those who want to watch it live on the couch. It’s the first Netflix livestream from South Korea and will likely be among the first shows where the group premieres songs from ARIRANG before they embark on a world tour. It might also be one of the earliest Netflix livestreams, as the show starts at 7 a.m. in the States for East Coasters and even earlier at 4 a.m. for those in the Pacific. But if you’re a longtime BTS fan, you might be used to the early call times already.
The livestream will celebrate the release of their new album, ARIRANG, and serve as an appetizer to the upcoming documentary, BTS: THE RETURN, out the following week on March 27. Directed by Bao Nguyen, the documentary follows RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook as they return from military service to Los Angeles, where they reunite to make music together. Per the press release, the film promises to answer “quieter questions” like “how to begin again, how to honor the past without being bound by it, and how to move forward together.”
Eric Nam caused quite a stir on social media once The Traitors fans discovered how old he actually is. The Korean musician has been a more low-key presence this season when compared with some other competitors. But, viewers rushed to the Internet to discover that Nam is actually 37 years old! Completely shocking for folks unfamiliar with the star’s work before sitting around that table. But, it’s absolutely true. Nam takes really good care of himself, and it shows judging by all these reactions to this news from folks.
One person on Reddit had to make a thread and the jokes are flying. AuraStardust said, “What…? He looks 25 at MOST. You could’ve told me he was 22 and I would have believed it. Later in the thread /kristennicole94 likened him to a Disney prince. She said, “I saw this on TikTok the couple days after the season premiered and was blown away. So many folks were shocked and that includes /Fluid-Beyond8466. They typed, “I had to go look him up as I didn’t know who he was & was SHOCKED at his age. But, if you look closely, you can see the laugh lines around his eyes that do indicate he’s older than he looks at first glance.”
For a more complete primer on Nam, we turn to /tiddiesnext who laid it all out for us. “He’s most famous in Korea – he was on an x-factor-esque show back in 2012 and debuted in 2013. He’s released a lot of music and is known by a lot of kpop stans. He used to host an english speaking program for kpop idols that was pretty popular in its heyday.”
Who Is Eric Nam?
(Euan Cherry/Peacock)
Eric Nam is a musician from Atlanta, Georgia. He would do music a bit in his early life, but then attend Boston University. After that stint in school, his music career really picked up steam.
In Korea, his YouTube followers skyrocketed. Nam is known for the run he had as a K-Pop idol in 2012. He signed with B2M Entertainment as a solo artist after placing in the final five on the Star Audition: Birth of a Great Star 2 TV program.
Nam is also slated to star opposite Ji-young Yoo in a new K-Pop movie. Paramount Pictures and HYBE are working together on the untitled project.
The next episode of The Traitors US debuts on Thursday at 9pm ET. There’s currently only one new episode a week until the finale graces your TV screens on February 26.
This week, both Caroline Stanbury from the Real Housewives of Dubai and Monet X Change from RuPaul’s Drag Race were murdered by the traitors. It seems the group has only managed to banish one traitor in Donna Kelce. She was selected as the “Secret Traitor” of this season. That poor woman was just a bit too nice to be swimming with sharks around that round table.
Teresia Gray (She/Her) is a writer here at the Mary Sue. She’s been writing professionally since 2016, but felt the allure of a TV screen for her entire upbringing. As a sponge for Cable Television debate shows and a survivor of “Peak Thinkpiece,” she has interests across the entire geek spectrum. Want to know why that politician you saw on TV said that thing, and why it matters? She’s got it for you. Yes, mainlining that much news probably isn’t healthy. Her work at the Mary Sue often includes political news, breaking stories, and general analysis of current events.
Here at The Honey Pop, we take ancient texts very seriously, and when it comes to Stray Kids, our beloved ancient text is 3RACHA’s discography. Before making music that would take over the world and define a new generation in K-Pop, before Stray Kids‘ debut, before even the survival show, 3RACHA was already an established unit making music and uploading it to SoundCloud—under the stage names of CB97 for Bang Chan, SPEARB for Changbin, and J.One for Han. And while we now have an extensive and varied catalog of Stray Kids music written, composed, and produced by 3RACHA, their early discography is something no Stray Kids fan should miss. The tracks might be direct homages to some of their favorite rappers, but there was also a spark of something new and refreshing—what would come to be Stray Kids.
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to getting familiar with their music, then you’ve come to the right place! We’re here to guide you through their discography from January 2017 to now!
J:/2017/mixtape
On January 18th, 2017, 3RACHA released their first mixtape on SoundCloud, featuring two songs: ‘Intro’ and ‘The Dreamz.’ It marked the beginning of 3RACHA for the public, and it’s the day now remembered as their anniversary. After this initial release, they released two songs together every two weeks: one self-produced song and one song that followed the mixtape formula of relying on samples. All the original tracks were combined into one single mixtape, J:/2017/mixtape, released on April 26th, 2017. Unfortunately, the secondary tracks were deleted, but fortunately for us, the internet is forever, and you can absolutely still find them.
This first mixtape already featured some of their most iconic songs, including ‘Runner’s High‘—which they performed several times in their rookie years, including during the survival show—as well as the infamous ‘WOW,’ the only track in the mixtape to be produced by Changbin, as opposed to the other tracks, produced by Bang Chan. The first line in the mixtape—“1, 2, 3RACHA spotlight“—is also what serves as the unofficial 3RACHA greeting. The mixtape already had energetic tracks, but it didn’t shy away from heavier topics such as mental health and school bullying. One mixtape was all it took to lay the foundation for what Stray Kids would become.
Tracklist:
‘Intro’
‘Tik Tok’
‘Runner’s High’
‘Don Quixote’
‘은석이 (Eunseoki)’
‘WOW’
‘NXT 2 U’
Deleted Tracks & Their Samples:
‘The Dreamz’ (‘Wet Dreamz’ by J.Cole)
‘Complain’ (‘Who I Am’ by Pusha T, 2 Chainz, and Big Sean)
‘₩1,000,000’ (‘Senile’ by Young Money, Tyga, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne)
’42’ (‘Too Young’ by Post Malone)
‘Cloud 9’ (‘Killas’ by Ca$hfromtheb and Lilyoungstunnal)
‘건들지마 (Don’t Touch Me)’ (‘Hip Hop Is Dead’ by Nas and will.i.am)
‘Bucket List’ (‘King Kunta’ by Kendrick Lamar)
3Days
3RACHA didn’t waste any time and continued to release music shortly after their first mixtape. 3Days followed the same release pattern: two tracks every two weeks, one self-composed and one sampled. And just like J:/2017/mixtape, the sampled tracks were deleted when 3Days was released on August 16th, 2017. However, two additional unreleased tracks were added to the tracklist: ‘IF,’ a Changbin solo song, and ‘I SEE,’ a Han solo song. Bang Chan was once again the one to produce the most tracks, with Changbin and Han also taking part in the production of their respective solo songs. Additionally, ‘힘이 돼 (Become My Strength)’ was the first song entirely produced by Han.
While this is probably the least remembered mixtape, it showed significant growth both lyrically and stylistically for 3RACHA. The iconic ‘Small Things’ is in this mixtape after all. They continued to delve into heavier topics like in ‘Peer Pressure,’ and showed more vulnerability and rawness, especially in Han’s solo track. They also experimented way more with their sound, as showcased in a song like ‘-.+.’ 3Days also features a song that would later become a Stray Kids mixtape. ‘If There’s a Shadow, There Must Be Light’ was a deleted track from 3Days, but it was rewritten as a Stray Kids song as a CD-only bonus track for I am WHO—first named ‘Mixtape#2’ and released on streaming platforms with Clé 2: YELLOW WOOD, and later re-recorded and re-named ‘Behind The Light’ in SKZ2021.
Tracklist:
‘쉿’ (Shh)
‘작은 Dragon Three 마리 (Three Little Dragons)’
‘Peer Pressure’
‘Small Things’
‘-.+’
‘국산 바나나 (Domestic Banana)’
‘힘이 돼 (Become My Strength)’
‘IF’
‘I SEE’
Deleted Tracks & Their Samples:
‘그림자도 빛이 있어야 존재 (If There’s a Shadow, There Must Be Light)’ (‘Too Far’ by Primary and Beenzino)
‘깨 (Sesame)’ (‘Caroline’ by Aminé)
‘ID:a’ (‘Fade Away’ by Logic)
‘Subway Pt. II’ (‘After Surgery Thoughts (Cole Summer Remix)’ by JeterCT)
‘Cypher I’ (‘Yonkers’ by Tyler, the Creator, ‘Butterfly Effect’ by Travis Scott, and ‘Soliloquy’ by Isaiah Rashad)
‘지갑방 (Wallet Room)’ (’44 Bars’ by Logic)
‘Alchemistry’ (‘Tokyo Drift’ by Kaseem The Skywalker)
Horizon
The final mixtape by 3RACHA, at least for now, followed the same bi-weekly release schedule, but they left behind the sampled songs. And so, Horizon was completed on December 20th, the day after Stray Kids‘ debut was confirmed, with all its members. Horizon is by far the most iconic and most well-known 3RACHA mixtape. Not only does it have truly iconic songs such as ‘Matryoshka’ and ‘P.A.C.E.,’ but it also has that sound that can only be described as Stray Kids‘ own genre.
Horizon is the mixtape from which they also took the most songs to turn into Stray Kids songs: ‘Placebo‘ was released as ‘Mixtape#1’ as a CD only exclusive in their debut mini-album, I am NOT, ‘For You’ was released as ‘Mixtape#3’ for I am YOU, ‘Broken Compass‘ was ‘Mixtape#4’ in Clé 1: MIROH, and they all were released on platforms with the special album, Clé: YELLOW WOOD. ‘Hoodie Season’ was the last of the series, ‘Mixtape#5,’ a CD exclusive to Clé: LEVANTER. All songs regained their original titles with the release on SKZ2021.
In many ways, Horizon marked the ending of an era for 3RACHA and the beginning of a world changing career.
Tracklist
‘Matryoshka’
‘Hoodie Season’
‘P.A.C.E.’
‘고장난 나침반 (Broken Compass)’
‘Placebo’
‘SCENE STEALERS’
‘Double Knot’
‘For You’
3RACHA Songs Since HORIZON
Thankfully for us, 3RACHA didn’t stop making music as a trio just there. Of course, Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han have had their hands in Stray Kids‘ discography from A to Z, to the point where all three of them are in the top 10 of idols most credited on KOMCA, with Bang Chan coming at second overall. But aside from performing their songs, released and unreleased, on huge stages such as KCON and the MAMAs, there have also been a couple of additions to their 3RACHA discography.
Official Songs
‘Start Line’ – The song was released on the anniversary of 3RACHA‘s first upload, a few months before their official debut in Stray Kids. It is a raw, emotional song that traces their journeys and explores their love for music.
‘ZONE’ – With the kickoff of Stray Kids‘ series, SKZ-Player, each sub-unit released a special video. In 3RACHA’s case, they released a brand-new song, ‘ZONE.’ They also performed it on MCountdown, and it was eventually released on streaming platforms as part of SKZ-REPLAY in 2022.
‘Carpe Diem’ – In 2019, Stray Kids gave one of their most meaningful performances of the year at VLive’s VHeartbeat Awards, by performing ‘3rd Eye,’ ‘Side Effects’ and ‘Double Knot.’ And in the middle of that, Changbin and Han performed a brand new song: ‘Carpe Diem.’ The song was later officially released on SoundCloud on the third anniversary of 3RACHA.
‘We Go’ – For Stray Kids‘ first world tour, each unit had a stage with an unreleased song (at the time). And so, 3RACHA gave us ‘We Go.’ It was later released as part of the repackaged version of Stray Kids‘ first full-length album, IN LIFE.
‘JUST BREATHE’ – In early 2022, 3RACHA collaborated with the Japanese artist SKY-HI on his song ‘JUST BREATHE.’ It was their first commercial release as a trio, outside of the songs included in Stray Kids‘ albums.
‘HEYDAY’ – 3RACHA teamed up with Street Man Fighter to release ‘HEYDAY,’ this time produced by Czaer, and it gave us one of their most iconic, addictive songs yet.
‘3RACHA’ – Just like with IN LIFE, Stray Kids included unit songs by the three different “rachas” for MAXIDENT, giving way for the self-titled ‘3RACHA‘ – which Changbin kicks off with the same opening line as ‘Intro’ from J:/2017/mixtape. The outro of the song also re-purposed a part of their song ‘PASSION,’ performed at KCON 2020.
Special Stages
‘PASSION’ – Opening performance at the 2020 Summer KCON:TACT
‘Colours’ – Unit performance for Mnet’s Kingdom: Legendary War, alongside BTOB’s Minhyuk and ATEEZ’s Hongjoong
‘Hey Monster’ – Special performance during Stray Kids‘ stage at the 2021 MAMA
‘YEAH’ – Special stage at the 2022 KCON in Los Angeles
‘Music Makes One’ – Special stage for the opening of the 2022 MAMAs, alongside Jung Jaeil and Tiger JK
It doesn’t stop there because 3RACHA have taken every single opportunity to make new music and show off their skills as writers and composers, as well as their chemistry as a trio. The thing is, these songs don’t always have titles. 3RACHA performed an untitled song alongside N.Flying at KCON LA in 2019, and revamped and performed ‘Back Door’ with the participants of the survival show LOUD in 2021. They also performed at the ON: Hallyu Festival, where Changbin rapped part of his ‘Cypher,’ Bang Chan sang part of ‘Drive,’ and Han premiered ‘Scissor.’ Their AAA 2021 performance is another example of how 3RACHA flawlessly incorporates new music and raps into their performances—yet this one was never given a name. The title doesn’t matter when the music hits, and 3RACHA never fail.
What’s your favorite 3RACHA song of all time? What’s your favorite mixtape? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
Fantasy, the time has come! Inseong has released his 1st Mini album, titled Crossfade:.
With Crossfade:, Inseong introduces his first mini album as a solo artist, offering a project that feels really personal. Following SF9’s world tour, this release arrives at a moment where he appears ready to explore his own sound and perspective in a more focused way.
Rather than aiming for a bold statement, Crossfade: leans into sincerity. Across five tracks, Inseong reflects on self-expression, connection, and memory, creating an album that feels cohesive and intentional.
The Tracklist
‘Mute is Off’
‘Feast of the Night’
‘Trying To Love’
‘Stained Memory’
‘Still You, Now Me’
‘Mute Is Off’
From the very first moments, ‘Mute is Off’ feels like a declaration.
The music video keeps Inseong front and center, surrounded by color yet grounded in intimacy. It’s a fitting choice for Inseong’s first mini-album, putting all attention where it should be: on him, his voice, and the message he’s trying to deliver. Visually, it’s simple but effective, and symbolically, the scenes with the typewriter feel especially telling. They read as moments of him pouring his thoughts out, unedited, before finally stepping forward with more confidence in who he is.
The song speaks about shedding fear and standing unhidden as one’s true self. It’s about choosing to be heard after staying silent for too long. Consequently, the track feels quietly brave. The melody stays upbeat, but the words cut deep — a contrast that works incredibly well here.
Knowing that Inseong took part in writing and composing the song makes it hit even harder. His vocal tone carries a warmth that turns the lyrics into something almost healing. It doesn’t just tell you to be brave—it makes you feel braver too.
Before I know it, I’m standing
As myself, unhidden
‘Feast Of The Night’
‘Feast of the Night’ leans into the idea of quiet comfort rather than emotional intensity.
The song speaks to exhaustion, to days filled with restraint and unspoken feelings, and to the need for rest after enduring more than expected. Instead of offering solutions, the lyrics focus on presence: sitting together, sharing both sadness and joy, and allowing the night to hold those feelings for a while.
This musical approach is reflected in Inseong’s delivery. His voice remains warm and slightly husky in the verses, creating a sense of closeness and some comfort. As the chorus opens up, the vocals rise with more strength, but never overwhelm the message. Consequently, the song feels steady and reassuring, framing comfort as something simple and shared rather than dramatic.
Even if tears fall, I will shine more light on those overwhelming days coming to you
‘Trying To Love’
‘Trying To Love’ shifts the mood again, this time into something tender and sweet.
Centered around the early stages of romantic feelings, the track captures uncertainty and hesitation rather than grand emotion. The lyrics focus on wanting connection while struggling with self-doubt, which gives the song a relatable quality.
The song stays light and gentle, with Inseong’s vocals sounding warm and steady throughout. As a result, ‘Trying To Love’ feels like one of the album’s easiest listens, adding a sweeter contrast to the more reflective tracks around it.
Hate being alone on this night I want to be with you
I hate hate hate myself for having no courage
‘Stained Memory’
In ‘Stained Memory’, Inseong focuses on lingering feelings that refuse to fade, even after some time has passed.
The lyrics describe memories resurfacing unexpectedly—warmth, a flood of emotions once pushed aside, and moments that remain vivid despite repeated attempts to forget. It centers on persistence: memories filling every part of the narrator, stained with someone’s presence and color.
Most importantly, the longing here is unresolved. The repeated wish to meet “just once” suggests not closure, but the hope that even a brief encounter might finally allow those memories to be released. As a result, the song feels like a healing heartbreak, capturing what it means to live alongside memories that no longer belong to the present.
The laughter and the tears, the memories and the recollection
Hoping to meet you again at least once
I live like this today too, in the memories stained with you
‘Still You, Now Me’
‘Still You, Now Me’ focuses on how memory becomes part of everyday routine.
The lyrics follow repeated actions—waking up, revisiting familiar places, replaying the same song—showing how habits tied to someone else can persist over time. The contrast between “you were there then” and “I am here now” frames the song’s emotional core. Rather than searching for answers or closure, the narrator simply observes the distance that now exists, continuing to trace it through memory.
By the end, the song remains suspended between past and present. ‘Still You, Now Me’ captures the feeling of moving on in life while emotionally circling around the same moment, where memory continues to guide the way back.
Your touch that used to embrace me so warmly
Like yesterday and like today, I cannot remember you saying goodbye
Believing that it is just a dream and that it is not true
Inseong’s Solo Era Starts Strong
What we like most about Inseong’s first mini-album Crossfade: is that it feels clear and consistent. It’s a focused debut that highlights mood, message, and Inseong’s voice as the main thread throughout the tracklist. As a result, Crossfade: works best as a full listen. It’s a solid introduction to his solo direction, and it leaves a clear impression of what Inseong wants to explore moving forward.
Now we want to hear from you: which song connected with you the most, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments or tag us on X at @thehoneypop. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more coverage of your faves.
For more comeback reviews, new releases, and fresh K-Pop obsessions, check out The Honey(K)Pop!
Two of the greatest vocal powerhouses of K-Pop are indisputably DK and Seungkwan of SEVENTEEN, and the duo decided to remind us of that once again with the release of their first project as DxS. The mini-album Serenade takes us through the emotional arc of a relationship, from the first meeting to the heartbreaking end.
The angelic voices of DK and Seungkwan bring the absolute best of this love story to life and comfort us through it as well. From the thrill of DK’s solo, ‘Rockstar,’ which narrates the “butterflies in your stomach” feeling of first meeting someone to the gut-wrenching feeling of seeing that person slip away in ‘Silence,’ Serenade is a perfect showcase of DxS’s vocal and storytelling abilites. Honestly, there’s a little something for everyone waiting to be discovered in this album.
‘Blue’
‘Blue’ is the lead single of Serenade and one of the tracks that got us crying the most while we listened… and then again when we watched the music video. A 7-minute music video, by the way. Starring actors Yoo-mi Lee and Steve Sanghyun Noh, the MV feels like a short film that, much like the lyrics, depict “love moving at different paces,” causing the couple to drift apart.
We could spend hours talking about the masterpiece that is this MV. After showing us Sanghyun as a man whose wounds seem too deep to overcome and Yoo-mi as the devoted lover who grows weary of this relationship, we are left wondering what will happen to these two. Will they overcome the difficulties or drift apart forever? Well, seems like we’ll find out on January 19, when an epilogue version of the music video is set to be released.
You can check out the 7-minute cinematic music video for ‘Blue’ below and join us as we sob our way through this beautiful track (again).
The Kings of Musical Versatility
It’s not like we didn’t know that already, but seeing DxS deliver a whole mini album actively showing us how much range they have is honestly very nice. The six songs present in Serenade range from pop-rock to ballad to R&B and we love it!
Like we’ve mentioned, Serenade opens with DK’s solo track, ‘Rockstar,’ and towards the end we also have Seungkwan’s solo, ‘Dream Serenade,’ a direct contrast to the upbeat vibes of DK’s solo. This one explores the concept of finding mutual closure through understanding. Also, DxS were involved in writing and composing these tracks, which is probably why we enjoy them so much.
Beyond the solos, we’re also obsessed with ‘Guilty Pleasure,’ with its R&B sound and irresistible lyrics about being curious enough to face the possible dangers. ‘Silence’ captured our hearts as well with its depiction of the emptiness that follows a breakup we all saw coming but still hurts anyway. And what can we say about the album closer ‘Prelude of love?’ Insipiring to say the least, and a reminder that there’s always a new beginning at the end of every journey.
We already knew DK and Seungkwan are incredibly talented artists from group releases, previous solo tracks and covers, that’s not news. However, Serenade feels like a step further into that talent. And we cannot wait to see what comes next!
What was your favorite track off of Serenade? Let us know by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP. Or you can also find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Attention, Stay! The trailer for The dominATE Experience just dropped, and it got us ten times more hyped to see the movie next month! And since we’re sure you’re just as excited as we are, we thought we could sit down and have a chat about how to make the most of this cinematic experience when it finally comes around worldwide on February 6th.
Dress Up For The Experience
You know that other outfit option you had been thinking about for the concert? Or maybe you bought a cute new top and haven’t had the chance to go out in it yet? Wear it! Dressing up is always a good way to make an already special occasion even more special, and we definitely think The dominATE Experience fits that description to a tee.
Go With Your Stay Friends
In fact, make a whole day out of it together! Sharing our passions with people we love is probably one of our favorite parts of fandom culture, so of course we’d never pass up the opportunity to watch Stray Kids in theaters with the friends who share our love for the boys.
Image Source: Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
Take Your SKZoos With You
Stays are known for taking their SKZoos everywhere (all around the world :P), so why not bring them to watch their dads on the big screen too? We don’t know about you, but we’ll definitely be sitting in the theater with our plushies on our laps and/or hanging from our bags.
Recreate SKZ’s Iconic Poses
Listen, Stray Kids are known for giving us many, many iconic photos in the most varied poses one can imagine, so we might as well take inspiration from that. If you look up “Stray Kids poses” on social media, you’re more than likely to find some great inspiration to recreate in front of the movie poster with your friends. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Vlog It!
There’s nothing better than capturing special moments with important people. It’s like a memory box in video form, and we definitely think The dominATE Experience is one of those moments that are worth documenting to look back on. You don’t even have to post it if you don’t want to, just record it to have it saved. (But if you do post it, then we want to see it!)
And that’s only a few ideas from us. You can always come up with more ways to make this moment special in your own way. The important part is to make sure watching The dominATE Experience in theaters is an unforgettable moment.
Will you be watching The dominATE Experience in theaters? What moment are you looking forward to reliving the most? Tell us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or find us on Facebook and/or Instagram.
It’s about to be a new year, but we’ll be listening to BTS on repeat every year. Ahead of the clock hitting 00:00 (spoiler alert), we’ve compiled seven BTS songs you need to be adding to any motivation playlists you’re prepping for the new year!
‘RUN BTS’
Could we have started this list, or our playlists, any other way? No BTS track gets us as instantly high-energy as ‘RUN BTS.’ A celebratory-almost-diss-track, this song from 2022’s Proof almost single-handedly got us through BTS’s hiatus.
‘Paradise’
Yes, we want to be super hyped for the new year, but it’s also important to remember to take it slow sometimes! ‘Paradise’ is a BTS song close to every ARMY’s heart, with one of their most inspiring messages. Yes, ‘RUN BTS,’ but also, “We don’t run without knowing the destination, it’s alright to not have a dream.”
‘Permission to Dance’
Guess what our number one hope for next year is? Seeing BTS on a world tour. There’s absolutely nothing more motivating than a BTS boogie, or convinces us to save up our spending money more than the prospect of trying to get our hands on tickets.
’00:00′
If you press play on ’00:00′ at 11:58:37pm on December 31, you’ll end the year with V saying, “when the minute and second hand align, the world pauses for a moment,” and begin the new year with Jimin singing “And you’re gonna be happy.” We did it last year, and truly cannot recommend it enough!
‘D-Day’
If, somehow, your BTS motivation playlist isn’t getting you feeling hopeful enough for the new year yet, we’ve got more. In ‘D-DAY,’ AGUST D valiantly declares, “Future’s gonna be okay,” over and over again. What could give you more hype energy than that?
‘Yet To Come’
Where ‘RUN BTS’ is, you’ll find ‘Yet To Come,’ too! Sweetly declaring that, no matter how good or bad the past may have been, “the best moment is yet to come.”
‘Still Life (with Anderson .Paak)’
The seventh and final BTS track on our new year motivation playlist is another solo track! ‘Still Life,’ by RM and Anderson .Paak, is a great reminder that we all contain multitudes and can’t be reduced to any one thing. Celebrate those different sides of yourself as we go into the new year!
Which BTS songs will be on your 2026 playlists? Do you have a favorite BTS track for motivation? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
2025, aka our seventh year with TXT, has come to an end! Yet again, it’s been another busy year for our five, full of success. There are plenty of moments for us to relive in this year’s edition of Music Rewind, so we honestly struggled to narrow it down! So, before we get stuck into it, here’s an honorable mention for new OSTs, TXT’s UNICEF partnership, and probably 304 other things. Ok, here we go!
Hiatus & Return
TXT’s 2025 started on a true high (a high-atus?), when they took some well-deserved time off! After a hectic 2024 and Soobin’s hiatus beginning a bit earlier than expected, MOAs couldn’t have been happier to see TXT get some rest. On their return, they kicked off with an ot5 episode of BEOMIDIO, including an in-person audience of MOAs! Doesn’t the time apart just make reuniting that much sweeter?
ACT: PROMISE PT.2
As soon as TXT were back to work, they started 2025 in a big way! They announced an extension of their third world tour, ACT: PROMISE, including a European leg for the first time ever. European MOAs were over the moon (seriously, see their genuine reactions here), and so was the THP hive. We attended the Barcelona and London shows, and we’re still not over it.
‘Panic’
Feeling overwhelmed by how great TXT’s 2025 is already? Well, don’t ‘Panic.’ Or do. Because next up was the members’ first solo release of the year! Beomgyu wrote, produced, and of course, released his first mixtape track, ‘Panic,’ which was allegedly heavily influenced by the group’s brief hiatus. Months later, we’re still completely enamored by the indie track, and we can’t wait for more solo Beomgyu in the future!
‘Love Language’
In May, we celebrated TXT’s first comeback of the year! The digital single, ‘Love Language,’ quickly gained recognition, not just for how great the afro-house anthem is, but thanks to that dance move, too. And in case TXT hadn’t been busy enough on their first European tour, they filmed the music video whilst they were in Barcelona. Watching it, you wouldn’t think it had been freezing cold and pouring with rain the whole time, would you?
The Star Chapter: TOGETHER
From a digital single to their fourth full-length album, next up in TXT’s 2025 was The Star Chapter: TOGETHER! This album was special for many reasons, not least because it wrapped up all of TXT’s lore and fairytale-like storyline so far. An album essentially seven years in the making, TSC:T also gave us solo bsides from each member, and music videos for each of them. Plus, Yeonjun’s ‘Ghost Girl’ was filmed while on tour in London, in case you needed further proof that TXT love to multitask.
ACT: TOMORROW
TXT really leaned into the name references this year, didn’t they? Did no one tell them that The Name Chapter is so 2023? Anyway, in late Summer, TXT embarked on their fourth world tour, which basically carried them through to the end of the year. Spoiler alert, the next section is about a very special moment from the first ACT: TOMORROW shows…
MOA’s Birthday & Contract Renewal
In 2025, TXT turned seven! Once upon a time, this was thought of as the “cursed” year for idol groups, as it tends to be around this point that their initial contracts expire. This, if not the euphoria of seeing your faves renew their contracts, can lead to line-up changes or complete disbandment, aka a stan’s greatest fear.
Not for TXT, though! 7 years, 5 months, and 18 days after their debut, the group announced that all members had renewed their contracts and would continue to promote as TOMORROW X TOGETHER. To make the moment even sweeter, TXT announced this themselves, on stage, during the opening show of ACT: TOMORROW, on MOA’s birthday! This wasn’t just a highlight for 2025, but all of TXT’s career!
Starkissed
It wouldn’t be a year with TXT, without a Japanese comeback, right? In October, we were gifted Starkissed, which is probably our fave Japanese album from tubatu ever. The lead single, ‘Can’t Stop,’ is agonisingly underrated, so we’ll carry the duty of making sure everyone falls in love with it! Plus, with plenty of original songs and Japanese versions of MOA favorites, what more could you ask for?
NO LABELS: PART 01
As if MOAs hadn’t had enough new music from TXT in 2025, we also got the first solo debut album from Yeonjun! NO LABELS: PART 01 is, no exaggeration, an utter masterpiece, as we have said many, many times. 2025 was an epic year for MOAs, but with NO LABELS: PART 02 potentially in our near future, maybe 2026 will be even more of a treat.
Variety Shows
Unsurprisingly, when it comes to this group, TXT weren’t content with just giving us bop after bop. Alongside guesting on plenty of variety shows, the members’ continued to star in their own shows! We got to devour plenty more TO DO and a second season of Soobin’s My Fave’s Faves, but that’s not all! Tubatu introduced NOT TO DO, which sees them check out things like personal color analysis.
Most excitingly, though, Huening Kai and Taehyun launched brand new shows! Tefficient Terry, Taehyun’s show, in a similar vein to his previous series, Academy Reincarnation, saw him take on new jobs and concepts that are supposedly odd fits for those of us with T-type MBTIs. Most recently, Kai released the first couple of episodes of Countless Friends, where he tries to, well, make friends, whilst the other members (helpfully and unhelpfully) secretly guide him.
Awards
TXT won yet more awards in 2025 (though, obviously, we think they deserved even more), but one award show stands out more than the rest. Back in February, TXT attended the 32nd Hanteo Music Awards. Alongside their always-epic performances, they scooped some pretty important prizes. TXT won Global Artist – North America, and Yeonjun won Global Artist – Oceania, marking the first time any of them had won a solo award of this caliber. Most excitingly of all, our tubatu took home the Best Performance award, their very first daesang! That moment was a long time coming (and hideously overdue, TBH), so we couldn’t have been more thrilled for them. Here’s to more in 2026?!
What’s Next?
Speaking of 2026, what is up next for TXT? Well, as we said, we’ve got our fingers crossed that NO LABELS: PART 02 is in our near future. Are we spoilt? We’re also super excited to see which direction TXT take next for their album concepts, now that their storyline is all wrapped up! Regardless, we’re pretty confident we’ll eat it up.
What are your predictions for 2026? What was your favorite moment from TXT in 2025? Let us know what you think over @TheHoneyPOP! Or if that’s not your thing, you can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!
We’ll say it… 2025 was one of the best years for K-Pop yet! The continued global explosion of K-Pop was pushed to new levels thanks to K-Pop Demon Hunters, more idols expanding their world tours, and highly anticipated returns from the likes of G-DRAGON, MONSTA X, BLACKPINK, and GOT7. We could talk all day about our favorite K-Pop comebacks, but here (in alphabetical order) are 25 of the best from 2025.
aespa – Rich Man
We really didn’t think it was possible for aespa to have a better year than they did in 2024, but in 2025 they levelled up (… ‘Next Level?’). We loved ‘Dirty Work,’ but the Rich Man mini-album is our fave comeback from aespa this year. Each of the six tracks is a masterpiece that showcases aespa’s ever-evolving skillset, but if we had to pick a favorite other than the title track ‘Rich Man,’ then it would have to be the album closer, ‘To The Girls.’
ALL(H)OURS – Smoke Point
If hype energy K-Pop comebacks are your thing, then we hope Smoke Point was on your 2025 playlists! The title track, ‘GIMME GIMME,’ is another level of fiery and intense. It’s giving old school MONSTA X! 2025 was ALL (H)OURS’ second year since debut, and the growth they’ve shown in that time is so impressive. We can’t wait to see what happens for ALL (H)OURS next.
ATEEZ – GOLDEN HOUR: Part 3
As if the ‘Lemon Drop’ era hadn’t been enough, ATEEZ did not come to play with ‘In Your Fantasy’ and GOLDEN HOUR: Part 3. The album is a true ‘Masterpiece’ (pun somewhat intended), and we couldn’t have been more thrilled to get solo b-sides from each ATEEZ member! Our faves have got to be ‘Slide to me,’ ‘NO1,’ and ‘Sagittarius.’
BLACKPINK – ‘JUMP’
The world is always tuned in every time there’s a BLACKPINK comeback! In 2025, the quartet reunited for a world tour and the single, ‘JUMP.’ Naturally, the track is as vivacious and high-energy as anyone would expect from a BLACKPINK release. This time, though, as well as YG’s in-house team, ‘JUMP’ was co-written and co-produced by music juggernaut Diplo. Here’s to more BLACKPINK music in 2026…?
BOYNEXTDOOR – The Action
Between No Genre and The Action, it’s been a career-best year for BOYNEXTDOOR. Again and again, the group proves that they’re at the forefront of K-Pop and will continue to pioneer the 5th Generation. The members continue to get more and more hands-on, too, with Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak all contributing to the songwriting of the tracks, which focus on BOYNEXTDOOR’s group aspirations, with a sprinkle of their usual tongue-in-cheek spirit.
ENHYPEN – DESIRE: UNLEASH
As ever, in 2025, ENHYPEN took the time out of their hectic world tour schedules to release one of our favorite K-Pop comebacks. DESIRE: UNLEASH was first announced during ENHYPEN’s Coachella set, and that performance was probably a 2025 highlight, too. DESIRE: UNLEASH was stacked with hits, but our favorites have to be ‘Outside’ and ‘Helium!’
EVNNE – LOVE ANECDOTE(S)
The Honey POP stans EVNNE big time, and the release of their 5th mini-album, LOVE ANECDOTE(S), was no different! The title track, ‘How Can I Do,’ feels like several songs in one, but in the best way possible. From the R&B moments to the intense chorus, there’s an edge of 3rd Gen sensibilities in this song. The highlight, though, is the bass and drums breakdown underneath the fierce rap verses.
GOT7 – WINTER HEPTAGON
We’ll be real, we almost forgot that WINTER HEPTAGON was a 2025 release because it came out so early in the year! Nonetheless, we are always thrilled to have more GOT7 music in our lives. This album, which we had truly been dreaming of, brought all of our wishes to life. As always, GOT7 were hands-on in the creative process, with every member contributing to the writing and production. The lead single, ‘PYTHON,’ was exactly the statement GOT7 needed to make. “I know I’m an icon.” Yes, yes, you are.
G-DRAGON – Übermensch
The king of K-Pop finally returned in 2025! With an absolutely top-tier album, Übermensch,G-DRAGON firmly restated that he is not going anywhere, even if he keeps us waiting in between releases! From ‘POWER’ dropping at the end of 2024 to ‘TOO BAD’ to all the bsides, Übermensch is a masterpiece. And if you don’t wanna take our word for it, check out the cameos in the ‘TOO BAD’ MV to see who else is a fan of G-DRAGON, too.
Hearts2Hearts – FOCUS
Hearts2Hearts made the list of our favorite K-Pop debuts in 2025, but their first mini-album, FOCUS, was easily one of our fave comebacks, too! There’s something about the title track that makes it one of the most intriguing of the year, and it’s the perfect choice for Hearts2Hearts’ end-of-year stages as they entice more fans. “I cannot focus on anything but you,” is how Hearts2Hearts are making S2U feel!
ILLIT – ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’
‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ might be one of the most recent K-Pop comebacks from 2025, but it’s still one of the best! ILLIT is a group that knows their brand perfectly, and they know how to both embrace and expand it, too. ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ is (sorry) super cute, whilst still showing a new side to the girls. We cannot wait to see how ILLIT continue to grow as we go into their third year as a group!
IVE – IVE EMPATHY
Doesn’t it feel like IVE has a career-best year, every year? Well, 2025 was no exception! Way back in February, the girls released IVE EMPATHY, which was immediately one of our fave IVE comebacks yet. Thanks to mega-hits ‘ATTITUDE’ and ‘REBEL HEART,’ this album quickly set the stage for IVE to exceed expectations once again.
JENNIE – Ruby
“Who wanna rock with JENNIE?” Umm… us please! Ruby was technically JENNIE’s debut solo studio album, but we’re including it as a comeback as she’d had official solo releases before. Having said that, Ruby definitely felt like a brand new start for JENNIE. Having worked with the likes of Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Diplo, and so many more, JENNIE gifted us with a cohesive, theatrical body of work. We waited for this album for so long, and it was so worth the wait!
j-hope – ‘MONA LISA’
Not satisfied with wrapping up his solo world tour, j-hope gifted us with a trio of iconic singles. It was so hard to pick just one of them for our top K-Pop comebacks list, but we’ve gone with ‘MONA LISA.‘ This track has been on repeat for us all year, and we reckon it’ll still be that way throughout 2026, too. From the slick choreography to the fun message, we love every part of this song.
KATSEYE – BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
KATSEYE spent 2025 “making beats,” and we couldn’t be more grateful to them for it. The girlies had their first comeback this year, the BEAUTIFUL CHAOS EP, led by ‘Gnarly’ and ‘Gabriela.’ Sometimes divisive but always talked about, everything these girls touch seems to turn to gold. Here’s to hoping that KATSEYE never go ‘M.I.A!’
LE SSERAFIM – ‘SPAGHETTI (feat. j-hope of BTS)’
Not only was ‘SPAGHETTI‘ one of our favorite K-Pop comebacks of 2025, but it’s maybe our favorite collaboration of the year, too! Every aspect of this release was iconic, from the styling to the TikTok trends to the packaging of the physical albums! The title track from this single album is fiery, mischievous, and tongue-in-cheek, which is basically all we could have wished for from the fimmies.
MEOVV – ‘BURNING UP’
MEOVV’s digital single ‘BURNING UP’ saw the girls take a different sonic direction than their previous releases, but this sounds works just as well for them! Still equally fierce, but with a brighter pop edge, ‘BURNING UP,’ as well as just being super fun, showcases how much MEOVV has grown in such a short amount of time.
MONSTA X – THE X
Was this the most highly anticipated comeback on this list? Maybe! MONBEBE had to suffer for literally years waiting for a group comeback, thanks to military enlistments, but we finally got it! The members didn’t come to mess around when they finally reunited either; 2025 has been stacked for them. As well as THE X, they celebrated their 10th anniversary, announced a 2026 world tour, and dropped the single ‘Baby Blue.’ We wanna see MONSTA X ‘N the Front’ row next year!
P1HARMONY – DUH!
Not only was DUH! one of our fave K-Pop comebacks in 2025, it also gave us one of the very best b-sides we’ve heard in a long time: ‘Pretty Boy.’ We’re not the only ones who think that, either! ‘Pretty Boy’ has actually overtaken the title track’s streams on Spotify! ‘DUH!,’ though, is totally worth celebrating too. Our favorite thing about the title track is its music video. Filled with references to their discography, lore details, and some classic P1H looks, it’s the perfect MV for fans both old and new.
Stray Kids – KARMA
There’s no way we couldn’t include Stray Kids on this list when both of the albums they released this year topped the Billboard 200, is there? Our fave 2025 comeback from the megastars has to be KARMA. Even if the music wasn’t incredible (which it is), the very fact it celebrates Stray Kids’ work ethic and all of their success (so far!) would be enough to earn KARMA a place in our hearts, and on this list.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – The Star Chapter: TOGETHER
We’ll be honest, ‘Love Language,’ nearly made the list as a top K-Pop comeback in 2025, but then we thought: why have one TXT song, when you could have eight? The Star Chapter: TOGETHER was a special era for many reasons, not least because it wrapped up all of TXT’s lore and storyline for the past seven years! It also gifted us solo tracks from each member for the first time, and from the cuteness of ‘Sunday Driver’ to the moodiness of ‘Ghost Girl’ to the sensuality of ‘Dance With You,’ each and every one of these b-sides is a dream come true!
TWICE – THIS IS FOR
Like for TXT, we were torn for this pick. We nearly chose TEN: The Story Goes On as our fave TWICE comeback in 2025 because we’re just so thrilled about their tenth anniversary, but ultimately we couldn’t resist THIS IS FOR. The title track was one of the most underrated bops this year, and we will never, ever, stop watching clips of ‘Right Hand Girl’ from the World Tour. Plus, we got brand new unit songs! What’s not to love?
XLOV – I One
2025 was the year that we, and the world, fell totally in love with XLOV. Imma Be was one of our favorite debuts this year, and UXLXVE was a top album, so it’s only natural that I One would be one of our fave comebacks! Led by ‘1&Only,’ this era was what truly launched XLOV to the forefront of K-Pop. Even more than that, ‘1&Only’ and ‘BIZNESS’ had some of the best choreography of the year, and we cannot recommend the performance videos enough.
ZEROBASEONE – NEVER SAY NEVER
Well, first of all, we have to say that we’re very sorry to ‘BLUE,’ but how could we resist the pull of ‘ICONIK?’ ZB1 told us to “Let the rhythm flow through [y]our body,” after all! In another year filled with hits from this group, we were thrilled about this comeback for many reasons, not least because it was their first full-length album! With the future of ZEROBASEONE still a mystery, we’re glad that we, and ZEROSE, got to enjoy a full body of work from ZB1.
&TEAM – Back To Life
One of our favorite global groups finally had their official Korean debut! &TEAM released Back To Life, including the searing rock-inspired title track that earned &TEAM their first Korean music show win. However, the mini-album’s b-sides are what make this comeback so special. We’ll never stop watching performances of ‘Lunatic’ and ‘Mismatch.’
So there you have it, all of our top 2025 K-Pop comebacks, or at least 25 of them! Which is your favorite comeback? Did your ults make the list? Let us know! You can find us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, or by visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
In Stray Kids‘ extensive discography, there is something for everyone, for every day and every season. Winter can be a difficult cold season, and yet Stray Kids have the perfect songs to accompany you on the days you need comfort, a bit of warmth, and a banger to enjoy in the cold. These are some of our favorite winter-coded Stray Kids songs!
‘Winter Falls’ (Christmas EveL, 2021)
‘Winter Falls‘ is an absolute must in your winter playlist when it comes to Stray Kids‘ songs. The title says it all, but the song goes further than that because no song like ‘Winter Falls‘ captures the season with its melodies, atmosphere, and lyrics quite like this song. Out of Stray Kids‘ special Christmas single album, Christmas EveL, ‘Winter Falls’ has been the soundtrack to all our winters since 2021. The Hanpop song feels like a breeze of cold air as the lyrics explore the falling out of a relationship. It’s full of yearning and pain, yet it’s rhythmic, cozy, and timeless.
‘There’ (THE SOUND, 2023)
While ‘Winter Falls’ explores a sadder, more nostalgic side of winter, ‘There‘ is the song that will comfort you and make you feel like spending the day in bed with some hot chocolate and cookies. From their first Japanese full-length album, THE SOUND, ‘There‘ is a sweet ballad that highlights the softest sides of Stray Kids‘ vocals and their sweetest lyricism. It will bring you peace and comfort in the darkest days of winter.
‘One Day’ (ALL IN, 2020)
One of Stray Kids‘ most underrated songs is ‘One Day’ from their first Japanese mini-album. This is a song that works at any time of the year, but the perfect season to listen to ‘One Day‘ on loop is definitely winter. Despite its joyful melody, ‘One Day’ explores the weight of exhaustion and mental health in everyday life. The constant metaphors between the weather and one’s mood make ‘One Day’ your best friend when the winter weather gets too cold, and the lack of sun makes you lose hope. ‘One Day’ brings happiness with its catchy melody and hopeful lyrics, as they hint for better days.
‘Snain’ (2023)
Something about Changbin‘s writing style is that he loves some good metaphors with the weather and witty puns, and that’s all we get in ‘Snain.’ While his previous song ‘One Day’ is a more gloomy yet hopeful song, ‘Snain‘ sees snow and rain as positive, as a way to wash away everything from the past that hurts you. The sub-unit of Changbin, Felix, and Seungmin is the perfect song to get through winter and know that, after the rain and the snow, there will be sun for sure.
‘FREEZE’ (ODDINARY, 2022)
The winter isn’t just about cozy, soft music; it can also be about one of the biggest EDM hits in Stray Kids‘ discography, and nothing quite like ‘FREEZE‘ to bring you energy in those freezing days of winter. Out of ODDINARY, ‘FREEZE‘ has a sort of harshness to it, with a heavy EDM drop and fast-paced rap verses, making it a perfect fit for the season. It mixes energy and power with darkness and coldness. It’s the perfect energy boost for winter.
What’s your favorite Stray Kids song to loop during the winter? Which songs would you add to our list? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
In 2025, twenty-three different albums reached number one on the Billboard 200. These ranged from industry powerhouses to debuts, from deluxe versions to older albums, and even from animated idols to real ones! From SOS on January 4th to DO IT on December 6th, here’s every Billboard 200 number one from 2025.
SOS – SZA
The first album to top the Billboard 200 in 2025 was a true chart phenomenon – SZA’sSOS. The album, which came out way back in 2022, has hit the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in three (yes, three!) separate years, and has spent over 100 weeks in the top 10. In fact, it peaked at #1 on three different occasions this year alone! What’s more, in 2025, SOS became the longest-running U.S. top 10 album by a Black artist.
WHAM – Lil Baby
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny has had an iconic year, right?! His sixth solo studio album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, is maybe his best work yet, and we’re clearly not the only ones who think so. The album spent four non-consecutive weeks at number one in 2025, and we reckon it’ll probably return to the top spot in 2026, too. See you at the Super Bowl, King!
Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
GNX – Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’sGNX is another album that reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in 2025 despite not being released this year. Surprise-dropped in November 2024, GNX was easily one of the best albums of that year, and clearly it’s not out of rotation yet!
Some Sexy Songs 4 U – PartyNextDoor & Drake
So Close to What – Tate McRae
Tate’s third album, So Close to What, was also her first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200! With singles like ‘Sports Car,’ ‘Revolving Door,’ and ‘It’s ok I’m ok,’ this album was clearly one of the most polished pop records of the year!
MAYHEM – Lady Gaga
We guarantee that, just like us, you haven’t been able to escape ‘Abracadabra’ or ‘Die with a Smile’ all year. But then again, why would you want to?! As well as giving us GRAMMY-winning hits and one of the most exciting tours of 2025, The Mayhem Ball, the album saw Lady Gaga return to her pop roots. No wonder MAYHEM became her seventh album to top the Billboard 200!
MUSIC – Playboi Carti
Eternal Sunshine – Ariana Grande
Thanks to the release of Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, Ariana’s 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine, returned to the top of the Billboard 200 in 2025. Featuring new tracks: ‘twilight zone,’ ‘Hampstead,’ ‘dandelion,’ ‘warm,’ ‘past life,’ and an extended version of ‘intro (end of the world),’ these new releases are maybe some of our favorite Ari b-sides of all-time.
More Chaos – Ken Carson
Skeletá – Ghost
Ghost’s Skeletá is unlike any other album that topped the Billboard 200 in 2025! For a start, Ghost is a Swedish rock band, and this was their first-ever U.S. number one! In fact, this is only the second time, ever, that a Swedish performing artist has nabbed the top spot. The only other act to do it? Ace of Base way back in 1993.
Even In Arcadia – Sleep Token
I’m the Problem – Morgan Wallen
JackBoys 2 – JackBoys & Travis Scott
The JackBoys project is one of the most exciting in music, and we were so glad to see it return for album number two this year! JackBoys consists of Travis Scott and the signees of his record label, Cactus Jack, plus a bunch more collaborators. With the likes of Travis, Don Toliver, GloRilla, Tyla, Future, Playboi Carti, and so many more, all on one album, how could JackBoys 2 not top the charts?
DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, the Creator
KARMA – Stray Kids
Can you believe we made it all the way to September before a K-Pop album topped the chart?! Well, Stray Kids arrived to fix that, and gave us some good KARMA in the process. With all 11 tracks written by 3Racha, mostly during Stray Kids’ most recent world tour, the focus of KARMA is celebrating all of their achievements (so far)! How about adding another Billboard 200 number one to that list, lads?
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
Short and Sweet is still reigning over all our playlists, but Sabrina gifted us with another album full of her quintessential wit and pop perfection. Man’s Best Friend, led by ‘Manchild’ and ‘Tears,’ debuted straight at number one.
K-Pop Demon Hunters – Various Artists
Honestly? This is the 2025 album where we’d be more surprised if it hadn’t reached Billboard 200 number one. Songs like ‘Golden,’ Soda Pop,’ ‘Takedown,’ and more have been inescapable this year! Through K-Pop Demon Hunters, we’ve loved seeing the world of K-Pop reach even bigger audiences this year.
Breach – Twenty One Pilots
Am I the Drama? – Cardi B
The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift
Probably the most talked-about album in 2025 was The Life of a Showgirl. Whether or not you love this iteration of Taylor Swift, there’s no denying her continued success! From ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ to ‘Eldest Daughter,’ she always commits to the bit, and we love that about her.
DO IT – Stray Kids
Two Billboard 200 number one albums in 2025? Stray Kids were the only act to DO IT! Last, but certainly not least, one of K-Pop’s biggest groups returned in early December. DO IT is the second in their SKZ-TAPE series, following on from 2024’s HOP, which, you guessed it, also hit number one.
Phew! That’s all of them! Which Billboard 200 number one from 2025 is your favorite? Or, were you surprised not to see your AOTY on this list? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
As 2025 comes to a close and 2026 is just around the corner, we can’t help but wonder what this new year will bring. Honestly, we just hope for more great K-Pop that we can enjoy, and if 2025 (and every year since 2018) has taught us anything, it’s that we can always count on Stray Kids for that. Just this year, SKZ have delivered two mini-albums, one full-length album, and a world tour, and who knows what else they’ve already got planned for next year.
For now, though, we thought it might be nice to share with you our Stray Kids playlist for when we need to get hyped. You know, so we can all start the year the right way. And because these boys have a huge discography, this list is also really long, so let’s get started!
‘Christmas Love’
Yes, we’re starting off with a Christmas song; sue us. But let us explain: what’s a better way to hype yourself up for the new year than by starting on Christmas? And you cannot tell us that ‘Christmas Love’ doesn’t make you want to get up and dance around the room with a smile on your face.
‘Ceremony’
We don’t know about you, but we’re planning on blasting ‘Ceremony’ all day between December 31st and January 1st to attract some “good karma” to our lives. By far one of the best title tracks of the year, ‘Ceremony’ brings the strong beats and the uplifting lyrics we all need to start the year the right way.
‘Blind Spot’
“Shining, we are the champions / Trying to make a difference…” If this is not how you want to start off 2026, then what are you doing? Take this song as a piece of advice and show people what you’re made of. Also, we can only hope to spend this new year as happy as Han was whenever he danced to ‘Blind Spot’ during the dominATE World Tour.
‘Youth’
Lee Know’s solo song from Hop just had to be on this list! It’s just the epitome of what we think of when we think “feel-good song.” Seriously, can you think of a better way to start off 2026 than “feeling like Superman,” as Lee Know says? Also, look at his smile in the MV! It’s humanly impossible to be sad seeing him smile like that.
‘Social Path’
Listen, there’s a reason why ‘Social Path’ is present in every one of our “get hyped” playlists, okay? There’s just something about the vibes of this song and the lyrics are a constant and heartwarming reminder to keep going after our dreams even when it seems hard, and we all saw how that’s working out for SKZ themselves, so we might as well do the same!
‘Phoenix’
We don’t think we’re being dramatic when we say the lyrics “We’re gonna rise up again / Like the birds flying high” changed our brain chemistry forever. We don’t know about you, but we’re planning on going into 2026 like a ‘Phoenix’ and rise from the ashes of what’s past and keep pushing ourselves to be our best versions into the new year.
‘Do It’
The mantra of 2026 should definitely be “Just do whatever you wanna do / I guarantee that it’s the best for you,” just saying. A new year means a new chance to do what we want and focus on what’s important to us. Plus, if that beat doesn’t make you want to get up and dance your way through life, then what does?
‘Spread My Wings’
In 2026, we promise to enjoy our youth the way Stray Kids describe it in ‘Spread My Wings.’ Sure, becoming an adult is a thing we all have to go through, as scary as it is. So it is pretty comforting to have this song to help remind us to still enjoy life. And of course, having Stray Kids as the soundtrack for these moments definitely helps.
‘0801’
‘0801’ is, in essence, a love letter to Stay and a reminder that we’re never truly alone as long as we have Stray Kids. And we think that’s one of the best messages to receive before facing a new lap around the sun. At the end of the day, there’s nothing better than hearing that “You’re doing great, okay?”
‘MIROH’
‘MIROH’ has the unique power to transport us all right back to being at a Stray Kids concert having the best time of our lives screaming the lyrics with our fellow Stay, so there was no way this song would be out of our list. The energy SKZ brings to the stage whenever they sing this is the energy we hope to bring every day in 2026.
‘Haven’
Stray Kids has always been a ‘Haven’ for their fans. It’s their music we turn to in difficult times, and the fact that they have a song with that exact name just makes things better, so of course, we had to include it here as well. It’s our little reminder that whenever things get difficult, we’ll always have a ‘Haven’ to return to.
‘Half Time’
We “don’t know what’s coming next” in 2026, but we’re pretty sure that having our Stray Kids playlist will make whatever it is a lot easier. And there is no way that playlist would be complete without ‘Half Time’ to remind us that we’re just getting started and the best part is yet to come.
‘Youtiful’
Slowing down the tempo a bit, we have ‘Youtiful,’ our comfort song for hard days, and we just love the sentiment behind it. The lyrics are so adorable as well, encouraging Stay to stop doubting ourselves and staying strong. An absolute need in our playlists for 2026.
‘DOMINO’
We want to make it to the end of 2026 being able to sing “Setting up my ambitions / Completing them one by one, I made it” at the top of our lungs after a whole 12 months of achieving our goals. We simply couldn’t leave this banger out of our playlist.
‘COMFLEX’
Smash hit? Check! Killer beat? Check! Inspiring lyrics? Double check! 樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR) is full of great songs, but ‘COMFLEX’ will always hold a special place in our hearts because of how good it makes us feel whenever we listen to it. At the end of the day, it’s not about being perfect. it’s about being unique and making the best of it.
‘Runners’
Whenever we feel like we need to be reminded that we can get up and keep going, we play ‘Runners’ on the highest volume. We can only hope that 2026 will be the year we go even further on our tightrope and show the world how stunning we can be.
‘Mixtape: OH’
‘Mixtape: OH’ marks such a special moment in Stray Kids’ history that there was no way we’d make this list without including it somewhere. After a troubled start to 2021, this song came out of nowhere to remind us that even the worst moments come to an end, and we can always count on SKZ to be there to help us get through them.
‘Never Alone’
Trust Stray Kids to always have at least one song per album to remind us that we’re ‘Never Alone,’ and this time they really went all out with the message. Present in their Japanese albumHollow, this song once again reinforces the bond shared between the members and how they’ll stick together through any storm that comes their way. In summary, another absolute need for our list.
‘Super Bowl’
‘Super Bowl’ is the type of song that makes us scream at the top of our lungs every time no matter how many times we’ve listened to it. Perfect for getting hyped up throughout the new year, if you ask us. Plus, it’s an absolute banger. No wonder it’s always a hit whenever Stray Kids sing it live.
‘Stray Kids’
We could only finish this list with ‘Stray Kids,’ a song by Stray Kids, about Stray Kids, written and produced by Stray Kids. There’s no better motivator than seeing the love and admiration these boys have for one another, and this song is a direct reflection of their relationship, which is why we chose it to be here as a constant reminder that their rhythm never stops and neither should ours.
So, what did you think of our song choices? Would you add any other Stray Kids songs to our playlist? Tell us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, or stop by on Facebook and/or Instagram.
Winter is here, and with it comes the urge to bundle up with hot cocoa, fluffy blankets, and music that just feels like a cozy hug. But this isn’t your mom’s old holiday playlist. It’s a fresh mix from K-pop’s fourth-generation stars who know how to set a mood. From sentimental ballads that warm you up from the inside out to glittery pop anthems that make you want to dance in the snow, these eight songs will give your winter that perfect K-pop glow. Who says cold nights can’t be fun? Turn up the volume, and let’s unwrap some musical gifts!
1. P1Harmony, ‘Butterfly’
A gentle flutter of warmth in a cold season.
You might know P1Harmony for their high-energy hits, but ‘Butterfly’ shows a softer side that’s tailor-made for winter nights. This R&B-infused ballad unfolds slowly, like a snowflake drifting down. The members swap their fierce rap verses for velvety vocals that tug at your heartstrings. Each note in ‘Butterfly’ feels personal, as if the boys are singing just to you on a chilly evening. It’s the kind of song that makes you stare out the window at midnight, watching the snow fall, and suddenly you’re not thinking about the cold anymore. Add this to your playlist when you need a dose of comfort and calm. It’s a warm blanket in musical form!
True to its name, ‘Snow Angel’ by rising boy group JUST B captures the dual nature of winter: the beauty and the bite. This track layers ethereal melodies over a modern beat, creating an atmosphere that’s both chilly and heartwarming at once. Listening feels like drawing angel wings in fresh snow: on the surface it’s pure and serene, but underneath there’s a hint of loneliness. The song’s soaring chorus and electronic twists give it a hyperpop edge, yet the emotion in the members’ voices keeps things grounded and real. ‘Snow Angel’ explores love and longing in the cold, making it perfect for those reflective nights when you’re caught between smiling at sweet memories and shivering at the thought of missing someone. It’s bold, beautiful, and a little bittersweet, just like winter itself.
CIX offers a tender moment with ‘Everything,’ a song that practically glows with sincerity. It’s a smooth mid-tempo pop ballad where gentle piano and soft beats cradle the group’s lush harmonies. Imagine walking home on a quiet, snowy night. ‘Everything’ is the soundtrack of that scene, turning simple moments into something cinematic. The lyrics (as the title hints) express total devotion, like telling someone “you’re my everything” under flickering winter lights. Vocals swell with feeling at the chorus, giving you that pleasant ache in your chest (you know the one). This track is all about the warmth of having someone to hold onto when the world outside is frozen. If you need a good cry or just a song to make you feel toasty inside, CIX has you covered!
Who says nothing blooms in the cold? VANNER’s ‘Blossom’ brings a burst of hopeful color to your winter playlist. This mid-tempo pop gem starts off gentle: just a simple melody and their soulful voices drawing you in. The song builds like a flower opening up, adding layers of harmonies and subtle beats that feel as soft as a petal on skin. Lyrically, ‘Blossom’ is all about new love taking root. The members sing about roses and daisies, using flower imagery to paint a picture of love growing against the odds (yes, even in snowy weather!). Their falsettos are sweet and sincere, carrying the kind of emotion that makes you want to smile and maybe tear up a little. ‘Blossom’ is the track to play when you’re curled up with a blanket and hot cocoa, daydreaming about brighter days ahead! It reminds you that even in the depths of winter, something beautiful can bloom.
The holidays get a pop-rock upgrade with Tomorrow X Together’s ‘Wishlist.’ This song is basically a festive rom-com in audio form: upbeat guitar riffs, jingling bells, and the five TXT members pouring their youthful charm into every line. ‘Wishlist’ bounces along with a catchy energy that’ll have you bobbing your head (or dancing around the living room, no judgment!). Lyrically, it’s as relatable as it gets: the guys are scrambling to think of the perfect gift for someone special, and the excitement is palpable. You can almost see the twinkling lights and wrapped presents as they sing. When that chorus hits, it feels like running down the stairs on Christmas morning: pure, giddy anticipation! If you need a break from the usual carols and want something fresher for your winter playlist, TXT has the sparkling, feel-good anthem you’re looking for.
Girl group WOO!AH! delivers a much-needed blast of optimism with ‘Catch the Stars.’ Released in the dead of winter, this track is like a burst of starlight cutting through a long, dark night. It’s powered by bright synths and an addictive chorus that lodges in your brain after one listen (in the best way possible). The whole song feels like an adventure: the kind where you bundle up, take a midnight walk under the city lights, and actually believe you might catch a shooting star. The members’ vocals shine with excitement, urging you to dream big even when it’s freezing out. ‘Catch the Stars’ is the kind of song you play when you need an energy boost on a cold morning or a companion for an evening of daydreaming. It’s bubbly, uplifting, and reminds you that winter nights can be just as magical as summer ones!
When the temperature drops and you find yourself gazing out a foggy bus window, ATEEZ’s ‘Take Me Home’ is the song that completes the scene. This ATINY favorite B-side trades the group’s usual bombast for a sleek, 80s-inspired sound (think retro synths, a groovy bassline, and even a surprise saxophone solo that hits like a warm blast of nostalgia)! The mood is both melancholic and hopeful, capturing that feeling of cruising through city streets after dark with snow flurries in the headlights. Lyrically, ‘Take Me Home’ speaks to longing and finding your way, which just fits those reflective winter commutes. As the chorus soars, you can’t help but feel a swell of emotion (cue the goosebumps). It’s dramatic in the way K-pop does best, yet comforting like an old familiar song on a new night. Add this track when your winter playlist needs a touch of cool city pop vibe; it makes solitude feel cinematic, like you’re the main character in your own movie!
Closing out our list with a bang (and some sparkles) is NMIXX’s ‘Funky Glitter Christmas.’ This track does exactly what it promises: it brings the funk, the glitter, and all the Christmas cheer you didn’t know you needed! NMIXX, one of the newer powerhouse girl groups, mixes retro holiday vibes with their signature quirky twists. The result? A song that feels like an instant party. Brass instruments and a bouncy beat give it a throwback flair, while the girls’ powerful vocals and playful ad-libs keep it ultra-modern. Play ‘Funky Glitter Christmas’ while you’re decorating the tree or having a cozy get-together with friends; it’ll turn your living room into a festive K-pop party. It’s catchy (warning: the chorus will live in your head rent-free), joyful, and just a little bit sassy. In other words, the perfect recipe to spice up those cold winter nights with a whole lot of fun.
The news is out: Stray Kids are heading to the big screen! After dominating the world with their biggest tour yet, Stray Kids are bringing this unforgettable experience to the big screen with their concert at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles—Stray Kids: the dominATE Experience. It’s been only a few months since the tour wrapped up, but it remains one of the dearest eras for Stray Kids. And now we get to relive it all over again. From A to Z, the dominATE World Tour had a great setlist that showcased Stray Kids‘ most hardworking side with impressive vocals, killer choreographies, and mind-blowing stage presence, but also their sillier side. All in all, here are some of the things we’re looking forward to seeing on the big screen the most!
‘JJAM’
Stray Kids opened every show with a bang, going from newer songs to older, iconic songs, and in the midst of it, we got one of the songs that never fails to hype up the entire crowd: ‘JJAM.’ This ATE B-side is a great moment for the crowd to shout at the top of their lungs, while highlighting every aspect of the group and introducing the units. Vocalracha opens the second verse with gorgeous harmonies, soon followed by Danceracha’s dance break—and the entire crowd shouting, “you know, we know, Lee Know“—to wrap it up with 3RACHA and a mind-blowing back-and-forth rap between Changbin and Han, as Bang Chan wraps up the entire thing with his unique tone. Everything about ‘JJAM’ was meant to be showstopping, and that’s exactly what they did. Even placed in between such iconic title tracks like ‘Thunderous’ and ‘District 9,’ it was one of the moments we looked forward to the most.
The Sub-Units
After serving with every solo performance, one of the most significant changes in the setlist for the second half of the dominATE World Tour—aka the one we’ll be seeing at the cinema—was the addition of the new sub-units. Every song brought something new and refreshing to Stray Kids‘ discography and the tour’s setlist, and they also offered some of the best moments of the entire show.
‘Burnin’ Tires’ offered a great stage, with killer choreography, killer moments for both Changbin and I.N to shine, and some of the most comedic moments of the stage, with the baton at the end of the performance. We always knew a song like ‘TRUMAN,’ with its infectious energy and overconfident vibe, would set the stage on fire every night—and that’s precisely what Han and Felix did with their overflowing talent and chemistry. ‘ESCAPE’ served every show as the most gorgeous stage of the night, with a mind-blowing choreography that brought you right into the world Bang Chan and Hyunjin created with their song. And of course, ‘CINEMA’ is one of the big highlights of this entire tour: a song meant to be sung in front of millions of people, celebrating the love for music and the bond between Stray Kids and Stays. The rolling credits, after Seungmin and Lee Know served a dream duet, was the moment for tears to roll. We thought that we had seen the last of it, but the Stray Kids: dominATE Experience is going to bring us right back. Nothing will hit at the cinema quite like ‘CINEMA.’
‘Walkin On Water’
Another big change in the setlist was the inclusion of Stray Kids’ 2024 title track, ‘Walkin On Water.’ Because the song was released in the midst of the tour, we weren’t sure when this one would be included into the setlist—and sure enough, ‘Walkin On Water‘ was one of the best songs in the setlist from the Latin American leg, all the way to the European leg, and through the North American leg—hence why we’ll get to experience this on the big screen. Stray Kids weren’t just content with adding ‘Walkin On Water’ after the explosive and grand ‘GIANT,’ they added it with a twist—one of their best dance breaks. ‘Walkin On Water’ served both as a great moment to interact with the crowd and to showcase their best dance moves and group synergy. It’s a title track for the books, and the stage was just as impressive every night, capturing all the best attributes of Stray Kids‘ live performances.
‘Cover Me’
Stray Kids are mostly known for their energetic, impactful, noisy songs, but their discography also features many songs that show a softer, chill side and showcase their vocals in the most beautiful way. ‘Cover Me‘ is one of Stray Kids’ most vocally challenging songs, but it’s also one of the most vulnerable, emotional, and raw songs in their discography. And something about it live hits even harder. The lyrics may hold a lot of loneliness and struggle, but the way Stray Kids connected every night through this song made it a safe home and an even more meaningful song. Stray Kids’ rendition of the song live makes it even more special, and hearing Seungmin‘s high note live is a religious experience on its own—we’re expecting nothing less as we get to experience it at full volume in a movie theater.
‘Social Path’
If there’s one song in their discography that sums up Stray Kids‘ journey, it’s ‘Social Path.’ This song isn’t just an addictive pop-rock song; it also explores their most vulnerable struggles, their sacrifices, and their love for the music they make, the shows they play, and the people around them. Ever since ‘Social Path’ was released, it has become one of the most special stages. Something magical happens every time they get to perform this song—singing their hearts out, playing around with the public, and eventually huddling up, just the eight of them, right before the explosive last chorus. It was a moment everyone looked forward to every night. The most Stray Kids moment of the entire show was right there in ‘Social Path.’
‘MEGAVERSE’
The entire setlist of the dominATE World Tour gave Stray Kids a chance to play around with each other and connect with the crowd in a way not many groups can. But it was also filled with impressive, showstopping choreographies, and one of the strongest moments of this setlist was by far: ‘MEGAVERSE.’ This 2023 B-side on its own manages to capture every aspect of Stray Kids. It is a track that tells you everything you need to know about Stray Kids: the witty lyrics, the impressive rap verses, the magnetic EDM drop, and the jaw-dropping choreography, all filled with their stage presence. Getting to watch ‘MEGAVERSE‘ live is a unique experience, and we could never get tired of it. The closest thing we will ever get to repeating such an experience is the cinema—for that alone, sign us up.
‘Blind Spot’
The encore of every Stray Kids show was always something everyone looked forward to for more playful songs such as ‘I Like It’ and ‘My Pace.’ One of the best additions, though? ‘Blind Spot.’ This song was the perfect addition to the setlist, allowing the members to play around on stage and dance. (Yes, Han slowly but surely learning the choreo from the dancers is a highlight on its own.) But ‘Blind Spot’ also carries a beautiful message on its own – one that reflects Stray Kids‘ restless effort to make their mark on the industry and the world. Sure enough, going on the biggest tour of 2025 did leave a mark on the industry. The lights and the chants at the end of the song for the last chorus will never fail to give us chills and reflect on just how far Stray Kids have come.
The Surprise Song
Stray Kids have a lot of hype songs that make for perfect encore songs. And during this tour, Stray Kids didn’t have just one, but two encores. The last encore, for the latter half of the tour, always consisted of the festival version of ‘Chk Chk Boom’ and one special addition—a sort of surprise song every night. The Stray Kids: dominATE Experience shows the concerts Stray Kids held in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, which gives us two options for the surprise song: ‘Hall of Fame‘ and ‘ITEM.’ Both B-sides made such an impact in their discography, and both songs hit harder live. One thing is for sure: whichever song they choose to show on the big screen, we’ll know it’s going to be the perfect song to wrap up this entire, incredible experience.
What’s the moment you can’t wait to see in the big screen for the dominATE Experience? Which surprise song do you think they will show? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
From rookie groups to some of the most-established idols finally going solo, K-Pop was full of iconic debuts in 2025. We saw record-breaking sales, one-of-a-kind concepts, and more idols getting hands-on in the production process than we could’ve dreamed. It was really hard to narrow down our favorite K-Pop debuts from this year, but here’s our top 10 in 2025!
MARK
Considering it sometimes feels like MARK debuted 802 years ago and is in more groups than we can count, it feels kind of strange to think that he hadn’t had a solo debut yet. But all that experience led to one of the most versatile and fully-realized K-Pop debut albums, not just in 2025, but ever. The concept of The Firstfruit, led by the title track ‘1999,’ is built around the four cities that made MARK who he is today: Toronto, New York City, Vancouver, and Seoul. We’d love this debut for the concept alone, so the tracks being that good just feels like a bonus.
Hearts2Hearts
Hearts2Hearts’ 2025 has been so strong that it’s kind of hard to believe it’s their debut year. ‘STYLE’ might be the group’s biggest hit of the year, but there’s no denying the statement that their debut, ‘The Chase,’ which was written by fellow THP faves FLO, made. ‘The Chase,’ and Hearts2Hearts concept so far, is a pure embrace of pop in all its open-hearted, bright, “sparkle, sparkle,” glory.
CORTIS
CORTIS was arguably the most-anticipated K-Pop debut of 2025, and the rookie group seemed to take that all in their (very tall) stride! BIGHIT’s third boy group, after BTS and TXT, CORTIS was always going to be under scrutiny. However, not dissimilar to their predecessors, CORTIS jumped onto the scene with an anarchic attitude, determined to do their own thing. Their debut track, ‘What You Want,’ and pre-debut release, ‘GO!,’ show off this energy perfectly, as well as their commitment to a hands-on approach to their music.
JURIN ASAYA
In 2025, leader JURIN ASAYA became the first member of XG, a Japanese group based in South Korea, to have a solo debut. Collaborating with Rapsody on the track ‘PS118,’ JURIN ASAYA put her skills on display perfectly, with her quintessential delivery and lyrical wordplay. The track was a great example of what a solo debut should be: a clear statement of individual identity with just a lil’ sprinkle of the group’s character, too.
XLOV
Four-member K-Pop group XLOV had a truly unique debut in 2025. They promote a genderless concept, spotlighting their intricate choreography, decadent styling, and impressive production skills instead. Of course, this has earned them a lot of attention, both positive and negative, and shines a light on how gendered the expectations but on boy groups and girl groups can sometimes be. But, even putting all of that aside, XLOV would still be one of our fave debuts this year, thanks to how great ‘I’mma Be’ was. And they’ve just gotten better since!
YEONJUN
Does this count as a debut? Technically, yes, so we’re gonna talk about it. TXT’s Yeonjun released his official solo debut album in November, and we’re already anticipating a NO LABELS: PART 02 in 2026…maybe? Taking the stage by storm, as always, Yeonjun brought his quintessential power and charm to the record. NO LABELS: PART 01 deftly balances the opulence of K-Pop with the grit of Yeonjun’s other musical influences blending, hip-hop, hard rock, and more, seamlessly.
BEOMGYU
Ok, so we might be contradicting ourselves just a teeny-weeny bit. Like Yeonjun in 2024, Beomgyu didn’t have an official solo debut this year, but he did release his debut mixtape track, ‘Panic.’ The indie-pop song grows from a gentle intro to a searing anthem, with one of the sweetest concepts in any 2025 debut. The track came to life thanks to Beomgyu’s personal experience of music’s healing powers and how he’s been comforted by his own favorite artists. In turn, Beomgyu wanted to pass that hopeful energy onto MOA, and so, ‘Panic’ was born!
YEJI
ITZY’s formidable leader, YEJI, finally had her solo debut in March 2025. Air is all about embracing excitement, and there were few releases more exciting than this one! A mix of synth-pop and dream-pop, this EP had exactly the energy we had dreamed of for a YEJI debut, but it still exceeded all our expectations, with killer performances and fairytale references. YEJI’s intention with this solo debut was to showcase her aura, and she definitely achieved that!
HUNTR/X
You knew we had to include our girls, HUNTR/X, right? In 2025, the girl group that stars in K-Pop Demon Hunters had a debut year that most idols couldn’t even imagine! ‘Golden’ has topped the Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) chart for a record-tying 19 weeks, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 8 weeks, too. And all of that success is before we even mention their other songs, like ‘How It’s Done’ or ‘What It Sounds Like!’
Saja Boys
Where HUNTR/X go, the Saja Boys will follow! Just like HUNTR/X arguably became the world’s favorite girl group in 2025, Saja Boys became a top boy group, in our hearts as well as charts all over the globe. From ‘Soda Pop’ to ‘Your Idol,’ there are few debut tracks that have gotten stuck in our collective heads like the ones from K-Pop Demon Hunters!
And that’s our ten! Do you agree with our picks for favorite K-Pop debuts of 2025? Anyone you wish we had included on this list? Hit us up! You can find us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, or by visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
Every time we think Stray Kids have reached a new peak, they’re on their way to reach a new one, breaking records and making history. Stray Kids’ growth has been unstoppable since their debut, and this year they reached the much-feared seven-year mark without a sweat, making 2025 their biggest year yet. From completing their biggest world tour yet, to having one of the most impactful comebacks of the year, releasing impeccable songs and collabs, Stray Kids were everywhere all around the world more than ever before!
The 5th Fanmeeting: SKZ 5’CLOCK
In Stray Kids’ fashion, for the fifth year in a row, they hosted their fifth fanmeeting: the 5’Clock fanmeeting. With the concept of a sleepover, Stray Kids filled the INSPIRE Arena in Seoul for three days on a row around Valentine’s Day. Fanmeetings always feature new performances, but it’s also about bringing back older, fan-favorite songs. This time, they brought back ‘I Am You’ and, even more surprisingly, ‘Voices’ with the original choreography. ‘DLC‘ and ‘Astronaut‘ were also part of the setlist for one of the three days. Even better yet, we got the live debut of their 2024 b-side, ‘Bounce Back,’ along with a choreography, and the first live performance of ‘Cover Me‘ – featuring some of their most heavenly vocals.
The highlight of the fan meeting last year was, by far, the real-life-sized SKZOO. So, of course, they were brought back this time around and were just as iconic. Plus, this year, we got the bonus of Stray Kids going around with bear versions of their SKZOOs. But it wouldn’t be a fanmeeting without fun games and challenges. The list is lengthy and includes many iconic moments, but here are our highlights: the ‘NEMO NEMO’ challenge with Lee Know, Seungmin, and I.N, the ‘AS I TOLD YOU’ challenge with Hyunjin, Han, and Felix (in the form of a Bbokkari plushie), ‘WHIPLASH’ with Bang Chan, Lee Know, and Han, ‘Home Sweet Home’ with Changbin and Han, ‘Shanghai Romance’ with Lee Know, Changbin and Hyunjin, and several versions of ‘Kissing You.’ The most memorable challenge of last year also made its comeback: Lee Know doing the ‘Loveable’ challenge, along with Bang Chan and Han. But truly nothing beats the reveal of the long-awaited ‘My People’ by Bang Chan and Changbin, a song that ended up being even better than we could’ve ever imagined from the snippet we had heard in that one 3RACHA VLive back in early 2020.
However, the actual showstopping part of this fanmeeting goes, hands down, to the Stray Kids members switching their solos from the first part of the dominATE World Tour and b-sides in HOP. Felix performed ‘Hold My Hand,’ adding the fun element of a toy guitar. Logically, the maknae on top himself, I.N, took over ‘Youth’ and even used one of the dances from ‘Hallucination’ during the dance break. In exchange, Lee Know killed it by performing ‘Hallucination.’ Changbin performed ‘As We Are,’ showcasing his incredible vocals and adding his own rap verse. ‘So Good’ was covered by Bang Chan – but with a mullet before his hair got long, no, we haven’t forgotten. Han did an excellent job with ‘Railway’ and even revealed part of his side tattoo on the third day. And Hyunjin showcased yet another set of skills in ‘Unfair.’ But if there’s a single one performance to keep from the fanmeeting, it’s Seungmin’s take on ‘ULTRA.’ The extra layers of vocals and the evil PuppyM in the background with laser eyes: absolute cinema.
This year’s fanmeeting came with many surprises, but its setlist would also serve as a huge spoiler for the tour’s setlist change, and little did we know, this would be the last time the solos were performed.
Mixtape: dominATE
With the first half of the tour behind them, Stray Kids had set to change things up for the remaining legs of the DominATE World Tour – and that included, of course, new songs. They announced Mixtape: dominATE would be released just a few days before their seventh anniversary. Unlike their other mixtapes, this one featured more than one song: the Korean version of their Japanese title track, ‘GIANT,’ and four brand-new sub-units.
‘Burnin’ Tires’ is a fun, energetic song that combines the wit and charisma of Changbin and I.N., while Han and Felix teamed up for ‘TRUMAN’ – a rap-heavy track that showcased their immense talent and versatility as songwriters and idols. We got a second sub-unit, ‘ESCAPE,’ featuring Bang Chan and Hyunjin, with influences similar to their first sub-unit, ‘Red Lights,’ but even more intense. And finally, Lee Know and Seungmin delivered an incredibly meaningful and heartwrenching ballad with ‘CINEMA.’ It was the first taste we got of what the first half of the year would be all about for Stray Kids: the dominATE World Tour.
The Second Part Of The dominATE World Tour
Stray Kids embarked on their biggest tour yet, the dominATE world tour, last year following the release of ATE, touring across Asia and Australia. In January, they concluded this leg of the tour with two dates in Hong Kong. After a break from the tour, Stray Kids finally began their first tour in Latin America on March 27th in Chile, a leg that saw them fill some of their biggest stadiums to date. They went to Brazil (both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo) and Peru, and finally to Mexico. For the occasion, they mixed up the setlist a bit, rearranging the order and adding the unit songs, as well as ‘Walkin On Water,’ ‘GIANT,’ ‘Cover Me,’ among others. And for this leg of the tour only: ‘I am You.’
They later played the Shizuoka Stadium ECOPA in Japan for four days, before kicking off the North American leg of the tour, where they played 13 shows in 10 different cities across the United States and, for the first time, Canada. The last leg of the tour was the long-awaited European leg, six years after their showcase tour in summer 2019. They became the first K-Pop act to perform at the iconic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, and the act to sell the most tickets in France, selling out two shows at the Stade de France, the biggest stadium on their entire tour. They also toured in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Madrid, and eventually wrapped up the tour in Rome.
The DominATE World Tour remained iconic, full of energy and passion for music, right up until the very last day, and easily earned its place in K-Pop history. Stray Kids were the first Korean act to perform in several of these stadiums, but that was far from being their only milestone. It was estimated that the tour would bring a total of 2.2 million people worldwide, making it the South Korean tour with the most attendees per date and breaking records for attendance and revenue in Latin America, North America, and Europe. When Stray Kids announced this would be their biggest tour yet, they surely hadn’t expected to break every record out there.
The Fourth Japanese Mini-Album: Hollow
In the midst of having one of the biggest tours in K-Pop history, Stray Kids found the time to release music. Indeed, Stray Kids released their fourth Japanese mini-album on June 18th. It featured five songs: ‘Hollow,’ ‘Parade,’ ‘Never Alone,’ ‘just a little,’ and ‘宿命’ (translated to ‘Fate’). This mini-album explored vulnerability through the title track, ‘Hollow,’ while also delivering powerful anthems about finding your place, like ‘Parade’ and ‘Never Alone.’ It also included songs written solely by Han and another one by Changbin. Hollow was a breath of fresh air that everyone needed.
And everyone in Japan agreed with the pure genius behind this mini-album. Stray Kids, once again, topped both the Oricon Albums Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot Albums. With 523k copies sold in its first week, Hollow broke the record as their most sold album during the first week, and became the most sold album in its first week in 2025 by a non-Japanese artist. As of now, with over 700k copies sold, Hollow is certified platinum in Japan.
The Fourth Full-Length Album: KARMA
As much as the tour broke records and Hollow took over every playlist, the biggest shake Stray Kids would cause in 2025 was yet to come. After months of hints and not-so-subtle spoilers, in the midst of the European leg of their tour, the announcement finally dropped: Stray Kids were making a comeback on August 22nd with their fourth full-length album, KARMA.
KARMA consisted of nine brand-new songs, plus the festival version of its title track, ‘CEREMONY.’ The album was directly influenced by the tour, as seen in songs like ‘In My Head’ and ‘Half Time.’ It was grand, full of confidence like in ‘BLEEP,’ and they experimented with staples of their music, pushing the boundaries further in tracks like ‘CREEP’ with its heavy hip-hop influence and ‘Phoenix’ where they brought back EDM into their music. But KARMA was also not afraid to be vulnerable and introspective, yet comforting, as in tracks like ‘MESS,’ ‘Ghost’ and ‘0801.’ It offered a time capsule of this new peak Stray Kids reached, while also honoring their roots and lengthy journey, making KARMA a jewel in their discography.
The star of the show, though? ‘CEREMONY.’ It celebrated Stray Kids’ artistry, their journey, their bound, and their love for music all in one song that can’t help but give you a boost of energy and confidence. The song earned six wins in Music Shows, including a double crown at MCountdown, making it their first song to win first place on every music show. It’s also the most-viewed K-Pop boy group music video of 2025. They went on to perform the song, along with ‘Thunderous’ and ‘God’s Menu,’ at the Public Culture Exchange Committee Launch in front of the president and the culture minister. ‘CEREMONY’ is all about Stray Kids owning their history, celebrating every step that got them where they are, and becoming even more of a part of it in the process.
KARMA made some massive noise – unsurprisingly – topping the music charts in over 10 countries, earning them a gold certification in France and the United States, and a three-million-copy certification by KOMCA. It earned Stray Kids their seventh consecutive number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making them the first act in Billboard history to do so with their first seven entries. Thanks to KARMA, Stray Kids became the group with the most number-one albums this century. It only made sense for KARMA to earn Stray Kids their first MAMA daesang for Album of the Year, the first JYPE act to do so, and a week later, it also won the daesang for Album of the Year at the Asian Artists Awards.
The World Tour Finale: dominATE: celebrATE
The grand finale of the World Tour came two months after the release of KARMA, as a celebration of the release and a final tour performance, this time in South Korea. Stray Kids sold out the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium for both dates, October 18th and 19th, marking their first-ever stadium concert in South Korea. They performed the unit songs for the first time in Korea, as well as the Korean version of ‘GIANT.’ Additionally, they performed for the first time live KARMA b-sides: ‘BLEEP,’ ‘Half Time,’ and ‘In My Head.’
The show served as the perfect closure to Stray Kids’ biggest era yet, but it also opened the doors to what was next. Because one thing about Stray Kids is that they’ll drop spoilers during their concerts, so when they turned up on the second day with outfits with the words ‘DO IT’ and ‘IT TAPE’ on them, we knew something was coming. And indeed, even before Stray Kids stepped off the stage, the trailer for DO ITdropped, and was afterwards premiered for everyone in the stadium.
SKZ-IT TAPE: DO IT
DO IT was a release that followed a similar pattern to HOP, which was fully named SKZ-HIP TAPE: HOP. This time it was SKZ-IT TAPE: DO IT. The special mixtape dropped on November 21st, merely three months after the release of KARMA. This time it included four songs, two of which were title tracks. ‘DO IT’ was a fun track that brought back the reggaeton influence we had already seen in ‘Chk Chk Boom,’ but with a more sultry side. The song was at the forefront of the release and earned them a double crown in Show Champion.
Meanwhile, ‘DIVINE’ was all about Stray Kids mixing many influences to give us ultimately an incredible song, filled with 90s Hip-Hop influence and incorporating Korean traditional culture in it too. ‘DIVINE’ had its live debut at none other than the MAMAs stage. ‘Holiday’ and ‘Photobook’ are not to be forgotten, though. These are some of the best songs we’ve gotten from Stray Kids in 2025. ‘Holiday’ is a seemingly fun yet quite vulnerable and emotional track about feeling burned out. ‘Photobook’ is a heartfelt song full of nostalgia and beautiful melodies inspired by band music.
Even before its release, DO IT made history, reaching over one million pre-saves on Spotify. On its release, DO IT went head-to-head with the WICKED: For Good Soundtrack on the Billboard 200 to know who would dethrone Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl on her seven-week streak at the top. And, well, Stray Kids made history once again, extending their record as the first act to have eight consecutive number ones with their first entries. It tied them with U2 as the third group with the most number ones on the chart, behind legends like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.
Solo Activities, Collabs & More Music
You would think that, with such a packed year and so many achievements, there would be nothing to add, and yet… From fashion shows to collaborations with big brands, Stray Kids was everywhere. Despite releasing one album, one mini-album, and two mixtapes, Stray Kids also ventured into other aspects of music. There were unit OSTs this year: Lee Know, Seungmin, and I.N for Resident Playbook with ‘START!,’ and Han, Felix, and I.N for Genie, Make a Wish with ‘Genie.’ Stray Kids was also the first K-Pop group to collaborate with DJ Snake on the main single of this album: ‘In the Dark,’ following their meeting in 2023. And SKZOO had their own collaboration with Tamagotchi and ZOOTOPIA 2. Past all the group activities, each member left their own mark in the industry this year – here are the highlights.
The year started with a bang when Bang Chan was announced as the new ambassador of Fendi, leading him to attend two of Fendi’s Fashion shows in Italy. On the last occasion, he filmed a music video for his original solo song, ‘Roman Empire.’ Bang Chan also reached second place as the idol with the most writing credits under KOMCA. In June, Lee Know was announced as the new brand ambassador for Gucci, leading to his appearances on the covers of two magazines.
Changbin participated in the writing and featured in the title track of 2PM’s Jun.K’s comeback, ‘R&B Me.’ In addition to continuing to be a brand ambassador for Versace and Cartier and attending their shows, Hyunjin also became a brand ambassador for Givenchy Beauty. At the 2025 AAA, he won the Best Choice award, reflecting his status as an icon. In 2025, Han wrote a song for NEXZ, the B-side ‘Run With Me,’ full of his color and personality. He later got invited to a variety show along with NEXZ’s Hyui. In October, Han released his first solo OST: ‘Updraft,’ and one of the songs he wrote for Stray Kids, ‘Collision,’ went viral in South Korea. He was also the cover star of Nylon Japan, modeling for NARS Cosmetics.
Felix will never beat the most employed person allegations – he would need an entire section for himself if we were to recap every single collab he has done in 2025 alone. He kicked off the year by featuring in LiSA’s ‘ReawakeR,’ the opening title for the second season of Solo Leveling nominated for Best Collaboration at the Asian Pop Music Awards. Felix continued to be an ambassador for Louis Vuitton, but in August, he also became a brand ambassador for Hera, who released two lip colours inspired by him, including ‘Brownie Boy.’ One of his biggest collaborations this year was becoming the first K-Pop idol to serve as an ambassador for Gong Cha. And he also became the new host of Fridge Interview. No one deserved the award for Grand Presence of K-Pop at the 2025 AAA quite like him.
On the music side, Seungmin continued his Song by.series until reaching episode 10, and went viral with his cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER.’ He also released a SKZ-RECORD, ‘Goodbye,’ written by Bang Chan. Additionally, he released two solo OSTs: ‘My Destiny’ for The Potato Lab, and ‘All I Want Is You’ was released as the first OST for Would You Marry Me. In the fashion world, he was announced as the new Burberry brand ambassador after being revealed as one of the faces of the Burberry Festival campaign. Meanwhile, I.N became a brand ambassador for two massive brands this year alone: Bottega Veneta and Damiani. Even outside of music, there was no getting away from Stray Kids – and believe us, we didn’t want to.
Content & More Content
Stray Kids always find time to shower us with content, and 2025 was no different. They’ve been releasing their vlog series continuously, alongside the usual SKZ-Talker and SKZ-Talker Go content, as well as the Rachalog series with new trios. There were several SKZ-CODE episodes released this year, including Snow Kids World, which brought us back to the first-ever episode from 2021. The most important content they released, though, was, of course, the 2025 version of the 2 Kids Room series, covering every single pair as they had previously done in 2023.
Throughout the year, Stray Kids were invited to several variety shows and series; here are the most notable. We finally got Stray Kids at Dingo’s Killing Voice, where they sang some of their most iconic songs and their best B-sides. We got two new episodes of Idol Human Theater, 3RACHA went head-to-head with Epik High in Epik High, Lee Know and Felix were featured in two episodes of Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, and Changbin and Hyunjin flooded our timelines with clips from Workdol. Outside of variety shows, Stray Kids was also featured in national news several times to celebrate their tour and releases. Even with so many schedules, Stray Kids made sure our entertainment was assured.
The K-Pop Champion: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year & Other Achievements
In the past year, Stray Kids went on tour, flew around the world seven times, released the most iconic music, sold out stadiums, topped the most important charts in several countries, and broke record after record. Rolling Stones named their constant record-breaking one of the most iconic moments of K-Pop in 2025. It isn’t surprising either that Forbes ranked them third on its list of the year’s Korean idols, the highest-ranked group. Stray Kids’ music continued to impact and redefine K-Pop this year, and 3RACHA were named the Best Producers by the AAA 2025. They ended the year with 234 credits for Bang Chan, 198 for Changbin, and 191 for Han, ranking 2nd, 6th, and 8th, respectively, among the most credited idols in KOMCA.
Among all the awards, this year alone, Stray Kids doubled their number of daesangs, remaining the 4th-gen boy group with the most, with a total of 16 awards. The Fact Music Awards gave them two daesangs: Honor of the Year and Record of the Year. They won Grand Honor’s Choice and Grand Record at the KGMA, and Boy Group Best Artist Award at the K-World Dreams Awards. And finally, they won the award for Album of the Year and took their first Artist of the Year daesang at the AAA 2025, merely a week after becoming the fifth JYPE act to win a daesang at the MAMAs: Album of the Year for KARMA.
So what’s next? With Stray Kids raising the bar year after year, literally anything is possible. But 2026 is already packing out to be another year breaking records and making history – as proved by Stray Kids being the first K-Pop act to headline the Rock In Rio festival in 2026 and becoming the first act since Beyoncé in 2013 to sell out the event in under an hour. 2025 may have been Stray Kids’ biggest year, but we’ve come to know that Stray Kids have no limits to their impact and music.
What was your favorite song Stray Kids released this year? What’s the most memorable 2025 Stray Kids moment for you? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
SUNMI is an icon in every sense of the word. Since the 2nd gen of K-Pop, SUNMI has blessed us with her voice and talent, going from one of the most iconic girl groups to dominating the scene as a soloist. After giving us many unforgettable hits, her first full-length album as a soloist is finally here, and her talents as a songwriter and producer are shining brighter than ever before. From the influence of dance music to rock sounds, HEART MAID explores the entirety of SUNMI’s artistry, making every song a gem. But there are those that no one should miss out on!
‘BLUE!’
Before we got the entirety of HEART MAID, SUNMI dropped two singles, and they remain among the best songs on the album. While ‘Balloon In Love‘ was released last summer, ‘BLUE!’ was released earlier this year as the official first taste of HEART MAID. It’s a soft, magical, encapsulating song about unconditional love that feels bittersweet yet youthful, influenced by both synth-pop and band music. Everything about this song is better, and what made it even better was the aesthetic SUNMI accompanied it with – the ideas behind the song, the short blond hair, and, of course, she was back on the bass. Even with the entirety of HEART MAID, ‘BLUE!’ remains one of the main highlights in the release.
‘DDU DDU’
One of the most fun sides of HEART MAID is when SUNMI dips her toes completely in dance tracks, and ‘DDU DDU’ is the best example of this. She’s always been amazing at this type of music, and ‘DDU DDU’ is fun, carefree, and one of her best dance tracks yet. If there’s one b-side from HEART MAID that could be a title track, it’s ‘DDU DDU.’ It’s catchy and infectious, all while saving that side of SUNMI that makes everything seem intricate and dark. It’s not a coincidence that this is the fan favorite.
‘Bath’
While HEART MAID offers fun tracks, towards the end of the album, SUNMI also gets more vulnerable, offering us sweeter, comforting tracks. The best one? ‘Bath.’ The second-to-last track in HEART MAID is the perfect blend of the influence of band music in SUNMI’s discography, her sweet, enveloping voice, and her ability to build an atmosphere and a story in only a few minutes. ‘Bath’ is that ballad that sticks, with an atmosphere perfect for the fall and the winter.
‘Tuberose’
‘Tuberose’ is the highlight of HEART MAID, with its sultry, enticing, mysterious sound. Not only is the guitar solo in the post-chorus exquisite, but SUNMI’s mixing of soft and powerful vocals gives this song a rich texture and a big personality. ‘Tuberose’ is SUNMI excellence only like she can do. And having it followed by the bass solo in the interlude with ‘Bass(ad)’ makes it even better. If there’s one b-side to remember among all these gems, it’s ‘Tuberose.’
‘CYNICAL’
While every single b-side in HEART MAID is worth all the attention, the star of the show for this release is, of course: ‘CYNICAL.’ SUNMI has always excelled at giving us strange, weird, spooky, and cheeky songs, and ‘CYNICAL’ is one of the best examples of this kind of music, so props to her. With its electronic sound, ‘CYNICAL’ is full of irony, giving it an even more unsettling yet fun energy. Even when you’re done listening to the entire album, it’s the song that will never leave your mind.
What’s your top five in SUNMI’s HEART MAID? What was your favorite single from the album? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
ITZY have been all over our playlists in 2025, from Yeji‘s solo debut back in March to their incredible mini-album, Girls Will Be Girls. But they’re still not letting go of the hold they have on us in 2025, because they’re back with another bolder and even greater mini-album: TUNNEL VISION. With six tracks, ITZY explore their confident side, their darker side, their vulnerabilities, their cheeky side, and everything in between that makes us love ITZY so much.
The Title Track
ITZY‘s dark concepts are always special, combining empowerment with their unique personalities. Produced by legends in the industry, ‘TUNNEL VISION’ is deep, bold, and a banger. If the rhythmic intro doesn’t already catch your attention, the pre-chorus rap will definitely have you on your feet. Followed by a stripped-down moment, and then a chanted, bold, and confident chorus that still highlights ITZY‘s unique vocal textures, ‘TUNNEL VISION’ is addictive and pure musical genius. It’s a title track that is truly impossible to put in a box – the label of the box is simply ITZY, because ‘TUNNEL VISION’ is ITZY excellence. It combines all the elements we love in ITZY and pushes beyond all imaginable limits, and they pull it off with ease. It’s daring and the perfect song to prove all of ITZY‘s immense power and ambition.
The B-Sides
With such a bold, jaw-dropping intro like ‘Focus,’ there was no way TUNNEL VISION wouldn’t turn into one of ITZY‘s best musical statements. It takes 5 seconds for them to have our whole unconditional attention, and they follow it up with some of their best music. ‘Focus’ does a great job at highlighting every member and setting the aesthetic and vibe for the entire comeback. To follow up such a strong intro and ‘TUNNEL VISION’ is no easy job, but ‘DYT’ does it effortlessly. Building on the overload of energy from the title track, ‘DYT’ could be a title track itself, as ITZY further develop some of the sounds they explored in Girls Will Be Girls – dark, groovy, and addictive.
‘Flicker’ is on the cheeky, brighter side of ITZY‘s sound. It’s fun, care-free, and perfectly infectious bubblegum pop with a hint of ITZY’s special color. It serves as the perfect transition into ‘Nocturne.’ The fifth track in TUNNEL VISION puts their vocals at the forefront, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a ballad. ‘Nocturne’ is smooth, seductive, and dark, all while the lyrics explore struggles, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. ‘Nocturne’ feels like an encapsulating nightmare, but by the end of the song, they’re able to free themselves back into reality. And it all leads to the weirdest, most fun, and most ITZY track in TUNNEL VISION: ‘8-BIT HEART.’ It’s one of their best renditions of hyperpop; it’s so unserious, cheeky, and a track no one but ITZY could pull off. Along with a video game effects-type production and featuring the most surprising bridge, you can never guess where this track will lead you next, other than right back at hitting replay on TUNNEL VISION.
What’s your favorite part of the ‘TUNNEL VISION’ choreography? What’s your favorite B-side out of TUNNEL VISION? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
It’s here! Yeonjun has released NO LABELS: PART 01, and neither us nor our playlists will ever be the same again. We’ll be the first to admit that we had very, very high hopes for Yeonjun’s debut solo album, but we’ll also hold our hands up and say that he exceeded every single expectation. Rather than a perfect, sparkling pop album (which we all know Yeonjun is capable of, too), NO LABELS is bold, untamed, and disruptive.
Throughout NO LABELS: PART 01, Yeonjun provocatively dares the listener to try and categorize him, whilst proving time and time again that it’s impossible. Every aspect of the album is rebellious yet calculated.
However, as thought-out as NO LABELS: PART 01 is, it never comes across as inauthentic. Yes, Yeonjun has a point to prove, but that point is so intrinsically tied to him and his artistic self that it never feels deliberate. Yeonjun can’t help but demonstrate just how dynamic and enigmatic he is, because that’s just him.
From now on, too, through my music, I’ll keep showing you the honest and new sides of myself.
Yeonjun on the NO LABELS: PART 01 listening party CDs.
There’s no doubt that K-Pop’s formula to promote upcoming releases works incredibly; from concept photos to MV teasers to tracklist announcements, with something happening pretty much every day at 00:00 KST, it’s a surefire way to get audiences hyped for a comeback or debut. With NO LABELS: PART 01, Yeonjun rebelled even against that process, announcing and promoting the album on his own social media, including setting up a Pinterest account specifically for the concept photos, and giving MOAs sneak peeks at almost every track on the album. Plus, throughout TXT’s career, Yeonjun has been notorious for dropping spoilers, and he seriously weaponized that talent for NO LABELS.
Even the very notion of a PART 01 is disruptive. We already (especially after that teaser at the end of the music video) know we can expect a PART 02, but when and what that looks like is on Yeonjun’s terms. And he’s always one step ahead!
My very presence speaks for me, and it will not be silenced. I exist on my own terms. Outside of words, this is just me.
Text in Yeonjun’s NO LABELS: PART 01 packaging
Track By Track
Now, let’s get stuck into the details, and how each NO LABELS track proves Yeonjun’s artistry is limitless.
‘Talk To You’
Once upon a time, we had ‘LO$ER=LOVER,’ which opened with Soobin kicking us in the face; now we have ‘Talk To You’ opening with Yeonjun getting punched. Unlike the music video, which has it as the grand finale, Yeonjun opens NO LABELS: PART 01 with ‘Talk To You,’ the title track. Like the rest of the album, this song toes the line of just-weird-enough, and on first listen reminded us of another album that straddles that line: RM’s RPWP. ‘Talk To You’ builds on a duality that Yeonjun is already well known for: the potent mix of rock and hip-hop. Both genres are rife with anarchy, which is exactly the energy that Yeonjun attacks them with.
If there were ever any doubt that Yeonjun’s personal mark is all over this album, then ‘Talk To You’ alone would prove that theory wrong. Yeonjun is credited for both the lyrics and composition (he’s credited on five out of the six NO LABELS tracks), and further contributed to its creative direction through the choreography and performance. In fact, the choreography itself is some of the hardest we’ve ever seen, to the point where, in behind-the-scenes content, Yeonjun has been warning fans not to try it out! We’d expect nothing less from the 4th Gen It Boy, but he still exceeded all our expectations.
‘Forever’
If ‘Talk To You’ reminds us of RM’s RPWP, then ‘Forever’ reminds us of another of RM’s previous collaborators, Anderson .Paak. Where so much of this album is deliberately disruptive, ‘Forever’ is its sleekest moment. A simple (in comparison!), bright hip-hop track contrasts with the nonchalant delivery of Yeonjun’s all-English rap, and we love this low-pressure version of a seize-the-day mentality. Yeonjun mentioned that a lot of his friends picked this track as their fave when he gave them a sneak preview of NO LABELS: PART 01, and we can totally appreciate why.
‘Let Me Tell You (featuring Daniela of KATSEYE)’
This is the track for the 00s R&B lovers! With two of K-Pop’s best dancers, we knew the choreography of this track would hit, and it still blew us away. The sensual nature of ‘Let Me Tell You’ suits both Yeonjun and Daniela so well, and we need a full performance ASAP!
And, once again, Yeonjun rebels against the limitations placed on idols, who often face massive backlash (think ENHYPEN’s ‘Bite Me’) for performing with people of other genders. Of course, male and female idols singing and dancing together shouldn’t be controversial, but it is, and Yeonjun and Daniela do a beautiful job of pointing out the absurdity of that, simply by not acknowledging it at all.
‘Do It’
‘Do It’ is an underrated gem on NO LABELS: PART 01, and we can totally see this track having some serious longevity. The song is full of confidence and charisma, but in a completely unexpected way; it’s not brash or loud. In fact, the live band style and jazz influences make ‘Do It’ feel like a very intimate listen, and this nonchalance adds to its effectiveness. Yeonjun doesn’t need to shout to be heard, or for everyone to stop what they’re doing and pay attention.
In the second half of the album, which ‘Do It’ kicks off, Yeonjun responds to the question of NO LABELS more directly, speaking about his persona and the criticism that he has faced. Throughout ‘Do It,’ he teaches his critics how to be “YJ’s miniature,” but even when he plots out the most basic steps for them, they can’t manage it. All of this goes to show that just because Yeonjun makes something look easy, that doesn’t mean it is. That’s just his talent.
‘Nothin’ ‘Bout Me’
Like ‘Do It,’ ‘Nothin’ ‘Bout Me’ tackles the album’s themes head-on. With lyrics like “you can’t fit me in any kind of frame,” and “I’m my own product,” Yeonjun speaks directly to people who try to contain him as any one specific thing. Moreover, whilst “you” try to box him in, he’s not even paying attention to your failed efforts; he’s busy “snoring in a Carnival.” A Carnival is the car most commonly used by idols, and it’s not the first time they’ve been used as a status symbol in a diss track, just look at the way ATEEZ belittle their stalkers in ‘MATZ.’
Yeonjun co-wrote and composed Nothin’ ‘Bout Me,’ and you can definitely feel that raw, untamed energy come through in this hip-hop track. On an album full of self-assuredness, ‘Nothin’ ‘Bout Me’ still takes the crown for the most provocative and defiant moment.
I rip off any label put on me, even if it gets sticky, sticky, sticky, I still go.
Yeonjun, referencing NO LABELS and ‘GGUM’ on ‘Nothin”Bout Me’
‘COMA’
‘COMA’ is Yeonjun’s favorite track on NO LABELS: PART 01, and we’re inclined to agree with him. The production on this hip-hop track is deliberately disorienting, as Yeonjun displays how much power he has over his rapt audiences. In addition to creating the choreography for ‘COMA,’ Yeonjun co-wrote the lyrics. As a result, ‘COMA’ brings us one of our favorite Yeonjun trademarks: wordplay. When rapping “The ‘GGUM’ you were chewing on,” Yeonjun uses 씹다, which means both ‘to chew’ and ‘to belittle’ (source: TranslatingTXT), so this line can also be taken as a reference to the haters’ reactions to his 2024 mixtape.
Yeonjun then goes on to say that he has “Fed this scene a new topic, eyes on me, all them eyes on me.” Yeonjun’s name is often mistranslated as ‘fed,’ so it’s like he already knows that everyone will be talking about NO LABELS: PART 01, and about Yeonjun himself too. With an album this iconic, can you blame us?
It’s clear in every aspect of NO LABELS: PART 01 that Yeonjun has uncovered a true artistic vision, and as fans, we couldn’t be happier for him (or happier to reap the benefits!). From the lyricism to the aesthetic and everything in between, NO LABELS: PART 01 is completely undefinable, except for the only label it needs: Yeonjun.
What’s your favorite track on the album? And tell us your predictions for NO LABELS: PART 02! Let us know over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
And if you want more TOMORROW X TOGETHER in your life, you’ve come to the right place…
LUCY knows exactly how to set the mood for the season with their music. From the lyrics to the instrumental and the vocals, the atmosphere LUCY sets with their releases makes us feel like we’re living in a movie every time. We’ve had releases for every season, and this year they’re bringing us the perfect soundtrack to fall, leading us slowly but surely into winter. From heartfelt, emotional songs to fun tracks, Sunflower is another perfect example of all the unique things LUCY brings to our lives with their masterful music.
‘Where’s Your Love’
LUCY has a way about their music that makes every song sound bright, youthful, and hopeful. ‘Where’s Your Love’ plays with that energy, going against the expectations. Despite its hopeful, comforting sound, ‘Where’s Your Love’ is a heartbreaking song about the person you love growing away from you. The expectations and memories are conveyed through the softness of the verses, with lyrics full of happy memories and love. However, it’s in the chorus that reality hits, and the intense voice kicks in along with it, evoking the emotions of continuing to love someone who is falling out of love. ‘Where’s Your Love’ is a beautiful, engulfing song that combines the hopeful, bright sound of LUCY with their more emotional, sentimental side, making it the perfect LUCY song.
Sunflower
It would’ve been enough to give us one song for it to be the soundtrack to our autumn season, but Sunflower explores the season in its four tracks. ‘EIO’ is the most fun and bright song in Sunflower. It’s cheerful, cheeky, and mixes soft vocals with powerful belts in the way only LUCY can. The highlight of the song has to go to the instrumental, especially the bass, and of course, the mindblowing instrumental post-chorus. It’s simply the musical excellence and the serotonin boost you would expect from any LUCY release, and so much more.
LUCY‘s featurings always hit, and their collaboration with Wonstein is simply genius. While the entirety of Sunflower feels cozy, ‘In a Rush’ is the one that fits the fall atmosphere the most. You would think it’s a LUCY song unlike any other until you get the switch in the bridge for Wonstein, and it turns into an addiction. And there is no better way to end the mini-album than with a chill, sweet, heartfelt ballad, and that’s exactly what they gave us with ‘Lisianthus.’ This track is a solo by Shin Yechan, and his musical genius is evident throughout the song, from the melodies to the beauty in the lyrics. The atmosphere this song creates is beyond magical, especially during the instrumental interlude, and the softness in his voice makes the song all the more personal and unique. While the entirety of Sunflower is fall magic, ‘Lisianthus’ is the perfect transition as LUCY guides us with their music from fall to winter.
What’s your favorite song from Sunflower? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
