Stray Kids is a South Korean boy group formed under the wing of JYP Entertainment, having risen to become one of the most successful and influential acts in today's K-pop world. Known for their self-produced tracks, high-intensity performances, and relatable lyrics, Stray Kids broke boundaries and accomplished remarkable success all over the world because of the love of their fandom called STAY. From contestants on a survival show to global icons, their journey reflects the immense transformative power of K-pop in bridging cultural gaps and gathering huge amounts of international fans. Stray Kids made their debut on March 25, 2018, after the airing of a survival show of the same name by JYP Entertainment. Even before their official debut, the group garnered a strong following due to their raw talent and authenticity. One could hear the bold and rebellious energy in the title track "District 9" from their debut EP I Am NOT. The EP went on to chart domestically and internationally-no mean feat for any rookie group.
They have been in fast emergence ever since their debut into one of the leading fourth-generation K-pop groups. And this is due to their style-noise music-mixed with heavy electronic sounds, experimental beats, and strong lyrics. Stray Kids often sing on their tracks about self-identity, freedom, and being strong, creating a deep resonance among an entire generation facing personal and social struggles. The major global breakthrough came for Stray Kids upon the release of the 2020 album GO LIVE, including the hit track "God's Menu." The song was really viral, boosting their international recognition. GO LIVE started the domination for the first time in global charts, including that of the U.S. Billboard 200. In 2022, Stray Kids made history for JYP Entertainment: the first group ever to top the Billboard 200 with ODDINARY. They continued to chart on Billboard since then, their place in the U.S. market assured. Then came multiple world tours, including their "MANIAC" world tour this 2022, wherein they sell out from North America, Europe down to Asia. They have been continuing to fascinate their audiences with dynamic performances and a powerful stage presence. Stray Kids won the Best K-pop award during the 2023 MTV VMAs and other prestigious awards. Their recognition in domestic and international award shows makes them one of the global leaders of K-pop. They set various records in streaming platforms, with billions of streams on Spotify and YouTube.
Their music videos tend to garner millions of views within hours after release, further demonstrating their immense popularity across large geographical regions. In 2021, Stray Kids signed with the U.S.' largest record label: Republic Records. This strategic partnership has served as one of the important factors contributing to the expansion of their international presence.
Stray Kids is an eight-member prominent group that is recognised for the strong bonding of members that keeps them intact and individually talented. It features a highly acclaimed musical vision led by the producer, lead vocalist, rapper, and dancer Bang Chan, spoken very highly of as the driving force in the self-producing track, while charisma and precision abound with intricate choreography from Main Dancer Lee Know. This includes Changbin, who is the main rapper, main vocalist, and one of the producers; his characteristic fast rap and deep voice have placed him in the frontline of the group's hard-hitting rap parts. He is also a member of the producing trio "3RACHA" alongside Bang Chan and Han. Hyunjin serves as their lead dancer, lead rapper, and visual. One can see the sharp visuals and expressive dancing that make him an outstanding performer. Han is an all-rounder main rapper, lead vocalist, and producer of the group who does an excellent job as a rapper and singer in that he is emotional and writes songs. He is also a member of "3RACHA." Felix, on the other hand, is easily recognizable by his deep voice with his unique accent. Not to forget, this man delivers very good work as a lead dancer with flowy movements and control. Vocalist Seungmin provides clear and emotional vocals, while his performances give stability to the energetic tracks of the group during live performances. And last but not least, I.N is the "maknae," or the youngest member of the group, famous for his "vocal and boyish charm" and has grown incredibly from the time of his debut in stage presence and even vocal techniques. Stray Kids made a memorable appearance at the 2024 American Music Awards (AMAs), performing at the 50th anniversary special. Their stage was a tribute to the boy band legacy, featuring a fusion of their hit song "Chk Chk Boom" and *NSYNC’s iconic track "Bye Bye Bye." The performance was an homage to *NSYNC's puppet-like choreography, with Stray Kids recreating the signature moves, adding their high-energy style to the mix. In addition to their tribute performance, Stray Kids have seen remarkable success with their latest EP ATE, which topped the Billboard 200 for five consecutive weeks in 2024.
