The group Stray Kids is releasing various teaser content ahead of the release of their new album.

Stray Kids will be releasing a new-format album titled SKZHOP HIPTAPE ‘合 (HOP)’ on December 13th. SKZHOP HIPTAPE is a combination of the abbreviation of the group name ‘SKZ’ and the word hip-hop (HIP-HOP). It is an album that contains songs in a new genre unique to Stray Kids, like a new genre that has not been officially defined.

JYP Entertainment revealed the new album‘s timetable and announced the teaser schedule through their official SNS channel at midnight on the 16th.

The image captures the attention with various visual elements that highlight the unique Korean style, such as the album logo written in bright light contrasting with the dark Hanok door, calligraphy typography that brings to mind both the hip-hop word “hap” (HOP) and the Chinese character “hap” (合), modern graphic objects in harmony with the traditional window paper pattern, and red and blue colors reminiscent of the Taegeuk pattern. According to the timetable, starting on the 18th, various images and videos will be sequentially released. On December 13, the day of the new album release, they will hold a countdown live and communicate with fans, and on the 16th, they will release a remix single to continue the excitement.

The new name ‘合 (HOP)’ contains an ambiguous meaning that combines the hap completed by the eight members of Stray Kids and the English name of the hip-hop genre, ‘HOP’. Stray Kids, who have established a unique group identity with their original music and concept, are expected to open up new horizons with their new work and attempt a different kind of music.

They are currently enjoying huge popularity on stages around the world and are currently holding their new world tour, ‘Stray Kids World Tour ’. This tour, which kicked off with a splendid start at the KSPO DOME in Seoul from August 24th to 25th and from August 31st to September 1st, has seen them perform at mega stadiums such as the Singapore National Stadium, Melbourne Marvel Stadium, Sydney Allianz Stadium, Kaohsiung National Stadium, and Bangkok National Stadium, solidifying their reputation as ‘Global Top Artists’.

Stray Kids, who released their second full-length Japanese album, ‘GIANT’, on the 13th, and will be holding a solo concert at the Tokyo Dome in Japan for three days on the 14th and the 16th to the 17th as part of their world tour. Then, they will meet fans in Manila, Philippines on the 23rd (local time), Macau on the 29th and 30th, Osaka, Japan on December 5th and 7th and 8th, Bangkok, Thailand on the 14th, Jakarta, Indonesia on the 21st, and Hong Kong on January 18th and 19th, 2025. Additional locations for concerts in Latin America, North America, Europe, etc. will be announced in the future and they plan to meet more audiences.

Stray Kids’ SKZHOP HIPTAPE ‘合 (HOP)’ will be officially released on December 13th at 2 PM (0 AM EST).

(Photo courtesy of JYP Entertainment)

Jo Sung-woon, Donga.com reporter madduxly@donga.com