The group Stray Kids has achieved remarkable success on global music charts with the release of their second Japanese full album ‘Giant’ on November 13. This album comes about 1 year and 9 months after their first Japanese full album ‘The Sound’, released in February 2023, and has raised great expectations among fans.
On the day of release, the album topped the comprehensive, pop, and K-pop album charts on Japan’s Apple Music and iTunes, creating a hot response. It also reached the top of Line Music’s real-time album Top 100 and AWA’s real-time rising album Top 100. As of the 14th, it also ranked first on the iTunes Top Song chart in 9 overseas regions and the iTunes Top Album chart in 19 regions, including Japan and the United States. Notably, this album is the first Japanese album released by a K-pop artist to reach number one on the US iTunes Top Album chart this year, adding to its significance. Additionally, from the 12th to the 15th, it topped the Oricon chart daily album ranking for four consecutive days, reaffirming their influence.
As part of their new world tour ‘Dominate’, which began at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on August 24, 25, 31, and September 1, Stray Kids held a solo concert at the Tokyo Dome on the 14th and 16th-17th, spending special time with local fans. Since their official debut in Japan in March 2020, Stray Kids have demonstrated overwhelming popularity locally, conquering major charts such as Oricon, Tower Records, and Billboard Japan with various works. Last year, they successfully completed the ‘Five Star Dome Tour 2023’, becoming the first 4th generation K-pop boy group to enter Japan’s four major dome venues.
Riding on this momentum, Stray Kids is set to release a new format album ‘SKZ-REPLAY Mixtape ‘合 (HOP)’’ on December 13 at 2 PM (U.S. Eastern Time 0 AM). ‘SKZ-REPLAY Mixtape’ is a title combining the group’s abbreviation ‘SKZ’ and hip-hop, featuring songs of a new genre that has not been officially defined, raising expectations. Fans are looking forward to what new musical attempts Stray Kids will show in their future activities.
