Not IU, BTS, or IVE: The Unexpected Korean Group Making Billboard History!

Stray Kids have achieved yet another milestone as their latest album ‘HOP’ (合) tops the Billboard 200 chart, marking their sixth consecutive No. 1. Billboard announced on December 21 (local time) that Stray Kids’ ‘HOP’ debuted at the top spot on the chart.

The group has now set a historic record, as Billboard noted that Stray Kids are the first in the 69-year history of the Billboard 200 to have all six of their albums, including their first entry, reach No. 1. The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on album units, which include traditional album sales, streaming equivalent albums (SEA), and track equivalent albums (TEA). According to Billboard, ‘HOP’ amassed 187,000 album units during the latest tracking week, including 176,000 in pure album sales (171,000 CDs and 5,000 digital downloads). This achievement also secured the No. 1 spot on the Top Album Sales chart.

Stray Kids’ streak began with ‘ODDINARY’ in 2022, followed by ‘MAXIDENT,’ ‘★★★★★ (5-STAR),’ ‘ROCK-STAR (樂-STAR),’ and ‘ATE.’ Their six consecutive No. 1 albums tie them with BTS, who hold the same record. ‘HOP’ (合), a non-English album performed in Korean, introduces a fresh genre called “SKZHOP HIPTAPE,” combining Stray Kids’ acronym “SKZ” with hip-hop. This marks a bold and experimental direction for the group. K-pop artists who have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 include BTS and Stray Kids with six No. 1 albums each, alongside ATEEZ, SuperM, BLACKPINK, TXT, NewJeans, and TWICE.

Stray Kids also celebrated their second consecutive win at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs). The group took home the award for Top Global K-Pop Artist on December 12, solidifying their position as global leaders in K-pop.

In their acceptance speech, the members expressed their gratitude: “We’re truly thankful to all our fans around the world. Thanks to STAY(Fandom name for Stray Kids), we’re able to receive such meaningful awards and perform on big stages. It’s all because of you.”

At the BBMAs, Stray Kids performed ‘Chk Chk Boom’ and ‘JJAM,’ captivating audiences with their vivid outfits and powerful choreography during ‘JJAM.’ The 2024 BBMAs also saw nominations for other K-pop acts, with Stray Kids competing in the Top Duo/Group category and BTS’s Jungkook nominated for Top Song Sales Artist. The ceremony continued to celebrate K-pop with awards in four dedicated categories: Top Global K-Pop Artist, Top K-Pop Tour, Top K-Pop Album, and Top Global K-Pop Song. The Billboard Music Awards, alongside the American Music Awards and the Grammy Awards, is considered one of the top three music award shows in the United States.