BabyMonster & Riize: Rookie K-pop groups to look out for in 2024

Coming under the banner of YG Entertainment, the same label that launched the global sensation BLACKPINK, BabyMonster is a new girl group that’s already making waves in the K-pop scene. They made a grand entrance with their debut single Batter Up last November, following a year-long buildup that even included a competition show, Last Evaluation, where the final group members were selected from a pool of YG Entertainment trainees.

Just like their label predecessors BLACKPINK and 2NE1, BabyMonster’s music embodies a bold, girl crush vibe. Their debut track introduced the world to the six original members, offering a catchy blend of trap and hip-hop that signaled their arrival on the K-pop stage. The group was later joined by a seventh member, Ahyeon, who made her first appearance in their inaugural mini album, aptly named ‘BabyMonster’.

Their title track SHEESH topped YouTube’s Global Weekly Music Video Chart from 29 March to 4 April, managing to hold onto the top spot for four days after its release. It also made its way into YouTube’s Most Viewed Videos in 24 Hours, racking up over 89 million views by 9 April. The track has been a hit in various global pop markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, in addition to Korea and Japan, demonstrating the group’s wide international reach.

Although still in the early stages of their career, TWS are rapidly becoming one of the most anticipated new K-pop groups of the year. Their music videos have already garnered millions of views, a testament to their growing popularity. TWS holds the distinction of being the first boy band introduced by Pledis Entertainment, a subsidiary of HYBE, since the successful launch of Seventeen, the company’s headlining act back in 2015.

TWS is a six-member ensemble, each bringing their unique talents and personalities to the group. They kicked off the new year in style by unveiling their pre-album teaser, intriguingly titled Oh Mymy : 7s. This tantalising teaser served as a prelude to their debut album, ‘Sparkling Blue,’ which was officially released on 22 January.

The album is led by the energetic track Plot Twist, a song that perfectly encapsulates the group’s youthful energy and dynamic sound. With its exciting synthpop productions and effervescent vocals, the song certainly lives up to its intriguing title. The Korean title of the song adds a touch of humour and self-awareness, acknowledging the challenges of making a memorable first impression. As the phrase ‘First Encounters are Always so Hard’ echoes in their song, TWS charmingly acknowledges the pressures of their debut while also expressing their determination to leave a lasting impression on the K-pop scene.

Riize, another flourishing act from SM Entertainment, has been making waves in the K-pop scene. After achieving numerous chart-topping hits in South Korea, such as the winter-themed Love 119, they caught the public’s attention for being the first boy band from the K-pop giant not aligned with its NCT multi-team project since 2016.

The group is comprised of two ex-NCT members and a fresh line-up, and they’ve embraced retro vibes in their music. Their debut singles, Get a Guitar and Talk Saxy, revolve around the instruments mentioned in their titles, while Love 119 takes cues from Emergency Room, an OST from the popular 2005 K-drama, Sassy Girl Chun-hyang. The band is projected to continue their musical journey in 2024, with at least one new album on the horizon.

Riize is also preparing for their global fan-con tour, ‘RIIZING Day’, which commences next month. The tour includes performances in ten diverse cities and regions in the coming months. The inaugural concert of ‘RIIZING Day’ is a two-day event at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul, scheduled for 4 and 5 May. The group will continue their tour with performances in Tokyo, and Los Angeles, later in May, and several more concerts in Southeast Asia in the subsequent month.

ILLIT, a rising girl group, has recently made a splash in the global music scene with their debut single, Magnetic. They are the latest addition to the expansive HYBE family, comprising members from various groups under the company’s subsidiaries. ILLIT, managed by BELIFT Lab, known for the successful boy band Enhypen, is an acronym for ‘I Will Be It.’

The five-member ensemble was formed during the reality show R U Next, which started airing in June of the previous year. They have since amassed a significant fanbase and are expected to join the ranks of NewJeans and Le Sserafim as another of HYBE’s female powerhouses.

In March, the group released their debut mini-album, ‘SUPER REAL ME.’ The album serves as an intriguing introduction to the quintet and showcases their potential for international success. It features four eclectic tracks that offer listeners a peek into ILLIT’s colourful pop universe.

Their lead single, Magnetic, with its catchy, TikTok-friendly beats, and the introspective B-side tracks My World, Midnight Fiction, and Lucky Girl Syndrome tell a story of relatable emotions and everyday experiences from members Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha.

The female act achieved a remarkable feat when Magnetic became the first debut song by a K-pop girl group to make it to the Global Spotify chart just a day after its release, starting at No. 160 and eventually climbing into the Top 40. According to Korea’s Hanteo Charts, ‘SUPER REAL ME’ sold over 380,000 physical albums worldwide in its first week of release.

BoyNextDoor is the inaugural boy band to debut under the aegis of rapper-producer Zico’s own label, K’Oz Entertainment, which is yet another offshoot of HYBE, the company that houses BTS.

The group made their debut in May with a mini-album titled ‘Who!’ and swiftly followed it up with their second, ‘Why…,’ in September. The lyrics across both albums are imbued with a relaxed, buoyant spirit that perfectly captures the essence of youth.

Musically, they bring a unique indie band energy, expressing their heartfelt emotions through lively tracks that seamlessly fuse expressive verses and lighthearted raps. The group’s name evokes a sense of familiarity and approachability, suggesting that they could be the friendly boys from next door.

NCT Wish, the newest and final subgroup of NCT, is a Japanese subunit formed through a partnership between South Korea’s SM and Japan’s Avex Trax. The group’s six members were revealed last year via a competition show titled NCT Universe: LASTART. After the show aired in the summer of 2023, the group temporarily adopted the name NCT New Team before officially being christened NCT Wish in January, adding to the roster of official NCT team brands which include NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT U.

Towards the end of 2023, the group offered glimpses of their vibrant and energetic style through the release of Hands Up and We Go. Furthermore, NCT Wish launched their first single album in late February. This album includes tracks like WISH and Sail Away, both of which are available in Korean and Japanese versions.

Kiss of Life, a dynamic and innovative all-female quartet, is making waves in the music scene with their fresh and unconventional approach. They launched their music journey with their debut album, which shares the same name as the group, in July. The album was unique in its format, featuring not only collective performances by the group but also individual solo tracks from each of the four members. This approach allowed each member’s unique style and talent to shine, adding a multi-dimensional aspect to the album.

One of the standout solo tracks was Sugarcoat, performed by Natty, a former trainee from JYP Entertainment. This track, with its throwback to Y2K R&B, became a surprise hit in South Korea in 2023, skyrocketing Natty, and by extension, Kiss of Life, into the limelight.

Kiss of Life’s emphasis on showcasing the individual talents of each member is a distinctive feature of the group. It’s worth noting that several of its members were already well-established in the industry before joining the group, with experience as solo artists, producers, or high-profile trainees. This wealth of experience and the diversity of their backgrounds allow each member to make a significant contribution to the group’s collective sound, while also maintaining their individual artistic identities.

In November, they released their second album, ‘Born to Be XX’. This album came with a series of music videos for their singles Bad News and Nobody Knows. With each new release, Kiss of Life continues to redefine the music landscape, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with in the K-pop industry.