Stray Kids’ fans are said to be the happiest in the music community. With the release of mini album THIS & THAT, their STAYS should be bouncing off the walls.
The eight-track collection dropped at the stroke of midnight and opens with the anthemic digital single “RUN IT,” written and produced by the group’s in-house production unit 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, and HAN).
Arriving in June of this year, the song “tells a story of growth from humble beginnings to a journey that expands from ‘Seoul to the world,’” reads a statement from the K-pop act. “It expresses our determination to overcome challenges and limitations and ultimately move forward to victory.”
It’s fair to say, those challenges and limitations have been drop-kicked into touch. And records have been trashed along the path.
All eight of the outfit’s Billboard 200 chart entries have debuted at No. 1, beginning with the mini-album ODDINARY in 2022. In 2024, when HOP debuted atop the list, Stray Kids became the first act to debut at the summit with their first six entries in the 69-year history of the chart. They’ve extended that feat with the chart-topping bows of KARMA and DO IT.
With that streak intact, their trophy cabinet is impressively stacked. Along the way, the singers have collected Top K-Pop Album at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, group of the year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards and K-pop album of the year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
And after the release of 2025 mixtape SKZ IT TAPE DO IT, Stray Kids became the artist with the most RIAA Gold album certified K-pop act in history.
Another world tour is underway, one that will will see the lads become the first K-pop act to perform at and headline Rock in Rio Brazil festival next month.
Hold on, there’s more.
The South Korean boy band this year launch STRAYCITY, a series of live performances across Argentina, Colombia and Mexico that comes in addition to Rock in Rio. It’s set to kick off Sept. 9 at the Vive Claro Distrito Cultural in Bogotá and wrap in Mexico City’s renowned Estadio GNP Seguros on Sept. 25.
For Stray Kids’ fanbase, it’s all gravy. According to a study of “happiest” followers, published this week by The Action Network, Stray Kids are said to “radiate the most joy online,” leading the study by a three-point margin, based on 1.5 million-plus comments across 106 music subreddits.
Will THIS & THAT extend the chart streak? Stream it in full below.
