Stray Kids will release a new type of album, "SKZHOP HIPTAPE," kicking off their new series with the release of “HOP.” This marks the K-pop boy group's effort to introduce fans to a fresh and innovative genre of music.
On Friday, the group unveiled a teaser clip for the upcoming release, slated to roll out on Dec. 13, on its social media.
“'SKZHOP HIPTAPE' is a name combining Stray Kids' abbreviation 'SKZ' with 'HIP-HOP.' It's an album featuring songs in Stray Kids' own 'new genre' that can't be officially defined,” the agency said in the release.
The 24-second teaser shows the logo for the new album's title with a red and blue spherical object creating intense ripples on a calm water surface, which in turn creates strong waves, hinting that the group's upcoming release will create a “new wave.”
“The first work of 'SKZHOP HIPTAPE,' 'HOP' carries a double meaning, combining the 'hop' from hip-hop with the Korean word, meaning unity, of all eight members,” the agency explained.
Breaking into Billboard's main chart, Billboard 200, with the 2022 mini-album “ODDINARY,” the group has been establishing themselves as global artists, topping the chart for five consecutive times, marking its latest achievement with their album “ATE,” released in July this year.
“ATE” became this year's bestselling K-pop album in the U.S., surpassing 500,000 single and album sales in the country.
The group recently released its second Japanese full-length album “GIANT” on Wednesday and is set to hold various collaboration promotions for the new release with local brands such as beverage maker Suntory, Osaka shopping mall HEP FIVE and Spotify.