K-pop boy band Stray Kids has rewritten history in the U.S., the world’s largest music market, earning unparalleled recognition on Billboard.
According to a preview article released by Billboard on Sunday, Stray Kids’ album SKZHIP HOP “HOP,” released on December 13, sold approximately 187,000 units in its first week in the U.S., earning the group the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart dated December 28. This marks their sixth consecutive No. 1 album, making Stray Kids the first artist in the 69-year history of the Billboard 200, since its inception in March 1956, to debut six albums consecutively at No. 1. With this achievement, Stray Kids now hold the record for the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 among groups in the 2000s, standing alongside BTS, Linkin Park, and Dave Matthews Band.
Stray Kids first topped the chart in 2022 with their mini-album ODDINARY, becoming the third K-pop artist to achieve this milestone, following BTS and SuperM, and the second as a single group. They followed up with the mini-album MAXIDENT in the same year, their third full album 5-STAR and mini-album 樂-STAR in 2023, and the mini-album ATE in 2024, each reaching No. 1.
In December 2024, just six years after their debut and two years after their first Billboard 200 entry, Stray Kids successfully debuted six consecutive albums at No. 1 with their latest release, “HOP.” This accomplishment marks a historic first for K-pop and artists worldwide, cementing the group’s place in global music history. Notably, these records were achieved with self-produced albums, showcasing the talents of Stray Kids’ in-house producing team 3RACHA, led by the members themselves, adding deeper meaning to their success.
The album “HOP,” released on December 13, topped the Worldwide iTunes Albums chart on December 13, 14, and 16. By December 16, it had reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Albums chart in 28 regions, including Japan and Brazil. The track “Walkin on Water” also climbed to No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 25 regions, including Mexico and Chile, during the same period. Its music video ranked No. 1 on YouTube’s Worldwide Music Video Trending chart for five consecutive days through December 17. It appeared on the trending charts in 43 regions, including the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
In addition, Stray Kids won the Top Global K-pop Artist award at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards held on December 12. On December 13, the group appeared on Billboard’s Year-End Charts, where their album 樂-STAR ranked No. 4 on Top Album Sales, the highest among Korean artists. Their album ATE placed No. 9, while they took first and second place on the World Albums chart, first on the World Albums Artist chart, and second on the Top Album Sales Artist chart.
Currently conducting their largest-ever world tour, Dominate, with 48 shows across 32 cities, Stray Kids is set to embark on a large-scale stadium tour starting in March 2025, spanning 20 locations in Latin America, North America, and Europe.