Not BTS or BLACKPINK… Billboard’s Historic Chart Topper Is ‘This’ K-pop Artist

Stray Kids has done it yet again by breaking a historical record on the acclaimed Billboard Charts.

This past week on the 24th, Billboard officially announced that Stray Kids’ new album ‘SKZHOP HIPTAPE (HOP)’ had reached No.1 on the Billboard 200.

This new feat confirms that Stray Kids currently holds the title as the only artist to have had 6 different albums top the charts consecutively.

Stray Kids is a male K-pop idol group of 8 members that debuted under JYP Entertainment’s label in March, 2018. After their debut, Stray Kids has only released hit songs, continuing to receive much love and attention from their fans. Their most popular songs include ‘MANIAC’, ‘LALALALA (樂)’, ‘Lose My Breath’, ‘Chk Chk Boom’, ‘Walkin On Water’, and ‘God’s Menu’.

They have been steadily climbing the charts, captivating fans with songs that each have their own charm. In particular, 'Maniac' gained even more popularity after being used as the competition song for Bebe, a dance team that appeared on Mnet's popular TV program 'Street Woman Fighter'.

The addictive chorus of this song left a deep impression on many fans. Netizens responded to 'Maniac' by saying, "Maniac is so good...? Felix's voice is the identity of this song itself", "Why did I find out about this song now? It's so good", "These guys' songs are really addictive", "The beat is exciting and the more I listen to it, the better it is", "I found out about this song through Bebe, and I came here because I wanted to see the dance", leaving positive reviews for the song.

Their recently released album '合 (HOP)' is especially meaningful. The album consists of self-composed songs that all members have participated in, making it a piece that demonstrates their unique musical colors. Stray Kids’ 3-person unit called ‘Sriracha’ (a play on word for 3-racha) has been writing songs based on their unique hip-hop style since their debut. They are expressing their strong love for the hip-hop genre in this album as well. This musical characteristic has played an important role in forming a personal and deep relationship with their fan base.

The ‘合 (HOP)' album shows that Stray Kids is continuing to pursue their individual musical direction and growth. Billboard highly evaluated their musical growth potential, saying, "Stray Kids will continue to dominate with their new album ‘(HOP)'." This is a sign that Stray Kids will continue to experiment with music and stand out even more in the global music market.

The news of Stray Kids' No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart this time also received great attention from music media around the world. Famous media outlets such as Forbes, Rolling Stone, and NME applauded the group for their achievements and artistry. They praised Stray Kids as "the artist who broke the Billboard 200 chart record" and "the first in Billboard's 69-year chart history to break the glass ceiling," recognizing their accomplishments as a highly laudable one.