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.
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.
It’s been over a year since Stray Kids’ last proper comeback with ATE in July 2024. Since then, it’s been non-stop between going on their biggest tour yet with the dominATE World Tour, releasing a special album with HOP at the end of last year, their unit songs in Mixtape: dominATE, having two Japanese comebacks, including their second full-length Japanese album with GIANT, and their masterpiece of a mini-album with Hollow, and all that while breaking records left and right. 2025 has been a busy year for Stray Kids, but it hasn’t been a quiet one. Yet, we knew what it would all eventually lead to, and after months of spoilers at concerts that left us looking like idiots, one of the most anticipated releases of the year is finally here: KARMA.
They already had us screaming the word ‘karma’ at the top of our lungs at every stop of their tour when they performed ‘TOPLINE,’ but now the word truly has earned its own meaning and special spot in Stray Kids history. And here’s how.
Image source: JYP Entertainment
‘CEREMONY’
Stray Kids have a lot to celebrate after over seven years as a group: music show wins, awards, record-breaking achievements, a perfect discography, a contract renewal, and a team that is ready to continue taking over the world. And this is precisely what ‘CEREMONY’ is about.
While ‘CEREMONY’ screams Stray Kids and has the sound that makes them so unique, it also feels fresh and new, especially with its production, which blends trap beats with EDM, and the melodies they deliver. With less than three minutes, there are still so many details in the track to unpack, from the “no one, nobody can stop me” detail at the end of Changbin‘s verse, or Han giving us one of his most special raps in a title track. It also wouldn’t be a Stray Kids song without witty word plays, and here the most significant one is between ‘karma’ and ‘calmer.’ And the reference to a ‘ratio’ is one of the most iconic things 3RACHA has ever written.
Tied together by a sports concept, ‘CEREMONY’ possesses a unique energy that celebrates achievements, hard work, and passion. ‘CEREMONY’ is infectious with how positive it is – listening to this alone will make you feel like good things are coming your way. There’s nothing to worry about when you put good things into the universe, and moving past their struggles, Stray Kids found the other side brighter than anyone else.
KARMA includes two additional versions of ‘CEREMONY’: the English version, but most importantly, the Festival version. We could never forget the impact of the Festival version of ‘Chk Chk Boom,’ but this new remix is out of this world. Stray Kids makes it feel like we’re already at a rave. It’s a version that isn’t afraid to fully embrace EDM and electronic elements, serving a song that stands on its own outside of the original. Versachoi really outdid himself and proved, again, how remixes can really blow your mind.
KARMA
KARMA is not just a simple comeback; it’s also Stray Kids’ fourth full-length album, following some of their most iconic and groundbreaking releases: GO LIVE, NOEASY, and 5-STAR. It’s no problem to follow up such monumental releases because Stray Kids know how to deliver an album that is both cohesive and explores different styles, themes, and influences to create something unique that only they could do. KARMA celebrates their path, and it’s deeply influenced by everything that has happened in their career and carries messages of hope, heartbreak, and power. And as expected: it’s incredible.
Image source: Spotify
‘BLEEP’
Stray Kids start off KARMA with an absolute banger – or rather a slap, if you will. One thing about Stray Kids is that they consistently know how to open an album, and ‘BLEEP’ does the job extremely well, being one of the biggest highlights of the album. ‘BLEEP’ is the older sister of ‘CHEESE,’ incorporating more hip-hop elements to make a track that feels darker, bolder, and even more confident. With one single track, Stray Kids have already established their confidence, their never-ending passion, and their unique identity. The build-up to the last chorus is an experience that cannot be described and is already one of the best moments in the entire album – the production is intense. They didn’t hold back in any aspect with ‘BLEEP,’ whether it’s rap, production, or lyrics: this is Stray Kids.
‘BLEEP’ is a track that shuts down and dismisses all the mindless hatred thrown at them, making it the perfect track to embody KARMA and transition into celebrating everything they’ve become by being better people.
‘CREED’
If you’re still listening to 3RACHA‘s discography as much as we are, ‘CREED’ will probably be your favorite. Stray Kids have always been heavily influenced by hip-hop, and they established themselves as one of the groups with the strongest rap lines in the industry even before their debut. But with ‘CREED,’ they fully went for it with the hip-hop sound, giving us a dark track full of personality, and verses that will leave you absolutely speechless (especially the second verse). Stray Kids‘ raps are just too good. ‘CREED’ is about Stray Kids’ convictions, their journey, and how they’ve always stuck to their guts, and that’s why they’re here now.
‘MESS’
From ‘Another Day,’ to ‘Secret Secret,’ to ‘Collision’ and ‘GET LIT,’ it’s a staple that a good Stray Kids full-length album will always give us an incredible hanpop song. And it makes sense that this song dates back to 2021, the same year that we got songs like ‘Wish You Back‘ and ‘HaPpY‘ from him, because ‘Mess’ has that exact same vibe. And needless to say, those are some of our favorite songs from Han. The lyrics are heartbreaking yet create a beautiful and irreplicable atmosphere while giving us catchy melodies that will have you feel every note in the depths of your soul. ‘Mess’ feels desperate, heartbreaking, and has everything you need in a good sad song.
‘In My Head’
Stray Kids know exactly what they’re good at, and over the years, they’ve perfected their signature sound; however, that has never stopped them from exploring outside of their comfort zone. While Stray Kids are no strangers to dipping their toes in rock, and it’s a genre that has had a huge influence on their music since day one, we’ve never heard something quite like ‘In My Head’ from them yet. Giving us that late 2000s, early 2010s pop-punk sound, ‘In My Head’ sees Stray Kids bringing us back to our teens. It has the same energy as some of our favorite anthems from that time, down to the lyrics of self-doubt and exploration of mental health, which also brings us back to the themes from their early discography.
A song like ‘In My Head’ was a matter of time for Stray Kids, and we’re so happy it’s finally here. One thing about this one is that, for once, it will never leave your head, and two, you will find yourself constantly reaching for it.
‘Half Time’
Following the sports concept explored in the title track, ‘Half Time’ is a fun, dynamic, explosive track about Stray Kids’ journey and ambitions. Stray Kids have been on their biggest tour yet, selling out stadiums all over the world, for the past year, and it’s in songs like ‘Half Time’ where you can see so clearly the influence of such an experience. ‘Half Time’ has the perfect energy and melodies for big crowds, loud cheers, and captures the electric energy from Stray Kids’ live performances in their music. To put it simply: it’s a brighter, more confident version of their 2023 b-side, ‘Blind Spot.’
‘Phoenix’
We got Stray Kids going full-on pop-punk, we got Stray Kids bringing the most hip-hop track they’ve ever made as a full group, and we also got Stray Kids doing EDM again – and it’s never been this beautiful. Stray Kids themselves described ‘Phoenix’ as a middle point between ‘MIROH‘ and their self-titled song ‘Stray Kids,’ and that’s literally it – meaning also, yes, perfect for an encore. It is impossible to put into words all the emotions this song awakens in the listener and the absolute genius of the production. The influence of legends in EDM music, such as Avicii, is palpable: ‘Phoenix’ is melodic, nostalgic, but full of hope. This is the B-side in KARMA if you ask us. Give us ‘Phoenix’ and ‘CEREMONY (Festival version)’ and we’re ready for the rave.
‘Ghost’
Even before the release of ‘Ghost,’ everyone was going feral over its melodies spoiled in Stray Kids’ signature mashup teaser. And it did not let us down (though we wouldn’t say no to a full version of that remix…). ‘Ghost’ has some of the most addictive melodies in the album. Its pop sound feels incredibly satisfying, accompanied perfectly by a track that leans more towards hip-hop, showcasing Stray Kids‘ genius in blending and mixing genres. But despite the brightness of the track, ‘Ghost’ is one of the darkest tracks in KARMA. It explores feelings of loss and numbness, yet still holds a hint of hope. It’s so Stray Kids.
‘0801’
‘0801’ is the last new track in KARMA – followed by the festival version and the english version of ‘CEREMONY.’ It’s been seven years since the release of ‘0325’ in I am YOU, where Stray Kids celebrated their beginning, naming a song after their debut date. It’s a full-circle experience to have a song named after the anniversary of the fandom. After Bang Chan gave us ‘Youtiful‘ in 5-STAR, ‘0801‘ writes itself in the list of Stray Kids’ fan songs, and it might be one of our favorites. With immaculate, infectious pop melodies, ‘0801’ feels warm and special, serving as a beautiful showcase of the bond between the group and STAYs. That callback to one of their most important songs, ‘Grow Up,’ will never fail to get us close to tears. ‘0801’ is sweet yet vulnerable, and the cherry on top of a masterpiece of an album.
The concept of hard work and that good things eventually come around has never been lost on Stray Kids. Even before their debut, the group has been releasing incredible music into the world and has given us one of the most perfect and iconic discographies in all of K-pop. All the hard work and passion have paid off, with them already being one of the biggest K-pop groups ever. And clearly, KARMA shows that they’re not ready to stop any time soon.
If you’re like us and still can’t get enough of Stray Kids, even after listening to KARMA, Stray Kids not only brought KARMA to life in several cities by teaming up with Spotify, but they also created a playlist featuring their entire discography. And if you’re wondering what kind of Stray Kids champion you are, you can take the quiz here!
What’s your favorite version of ‘CEREMONY?’ What’s your favorite b-side out of KARMA? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
