K-pop, or Korean pop music, has been rapidly increasing in popularity within recent years. However, when BTS, one of the most prominent groups in the industry, went on hiatus due to their military enrollment, many began to explore different groups. One of these groups rising in recognition is Stray Kids– an eight member group with songs in many different genres such as electronic, rap, and hip-hop. The group’s members, consisting of Bang Chan, Felix, Hyunjin, I.N., Lee Know, Seungmin, Han, and Changbin, debuted as Stray Kids in 2018, and although a portion of their recent popularity might be attributed to the BTS hiatus, their recognition internationally has been growing for years, bringing a surplus of new fans to their music.
To start, at the 2023 Video Music Awards (VMAs), the group won the “Best K-pop” category with their song “S-Class”, and they even performed the song live at the show, shocking audience members with their electrifying performance. In addition to the STAYs– the nickname for fans of the group– in the audience cheering them on, Taylor Swift was seen looking starstruck at their performance.
Soon after their triumph at the VMAs, the group went on to secure a win at the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) for their 3rd studio album 5-Star, which, after its release in June 2023, earned a No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 list. The group also performed two of their singles, “S-Class” and “LALALALA”, on a fire filled stage at the BBMAs.
Across the board, the group Stray Kids has been increasing its presence in American music award shows, in addition to the numerous Asian award show wins they have already achieved since their 2018 debut.
Their latest extended play (EP) in November 2023, titled Rock-Star, marked their 8th EP, and STAYs are patiently awaiting their next comeback. Recently, the fans’ hopes soared as a video posted by the Stray Kids YouTube channel, titled “STEP OUT 2024”, stated that the group would be going on their 3rd world tour at some point within the year.
Overall, the members of Stray Kids have proven themselves to be an extremely talented group, with numerous awards and nominations to show that. With their music containing catchy beats and spanning a variety of genres, Stray Kids is a group worth checking out, especially due to their upcoming world tour.