Stray Kids’ 5 Star
Stray Kids, the K-pop boy band, has released a trailer announcing their return in June with their studio album ‘5-Star’.The art and graphics of the post were monochromatic and incorporated elements of the Milky Way, such as stars, planets, the sun, and more.The teasers, including Youtiful, Topline, Get Lit, DLC, and FNF, showcase the group’s exceptional talent and creativity. Each track exudes brilliance and surpasses expectations, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the album’s release.
The album, which is their fourth overall, will be released on June 2, 2023, through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records. Following their seventh EP Maxident (2022), 5-Star is expected to showcase a “unique and quirky” sound. The majority of the album was written and produced by 3Racha, along with contributions from Felix and producers Versachoi, Chae Kang-hae, Restart, Zack Djurich, Millionboy, Trippy, Nickko Young, Kyle Reynolds, Chris LaRocca, and Jun2. The album also features a guest appearance from Tiger JK.
The album comprises twelve captivating tracks, with a total runtime of 36 minutes and 35 seconds. The songs were written and produced by the talented in-house production team, 3Racha, consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han. Additionally, a group of esteemed contributors including Versachoi, Zack Djurich, Millionboy, Trippy, Nickko Young, Kyle Reynolds, Chris LaRocca, Jun2, Chae Kang-hae, and Restart, joined forces to create this musical masterpiece. Member Felix also showcased his songwriting skills by contributing to two tracks, namely “Super Bowl” and “FNF”.
Furthermore, Korean-American rapper Tiger JK, known for his collaboration with 3Racha and Jung Jae-il at the 2022 MAMA Awards, not only featured in the track “Topline” but also played a role in co-writing it. The sixth track, “DLC,” which stands for “Dance like Crazy,” is a vibrant moombahton song that embodies the spirit of carefree dancing without any inhibitions.
One of the standout tracks, “FNF,” serves as a heartfelt tribute to the devastating 2019–20 Australian bushfire season. It evokes emotions of regret and longing, reflecting upon the lives lost by the flora and fauna during the wildfires.
The tenth track, “Youtiful,” cleverly combines the words “you” and “beautiful” to convey a warm and comforting message of support and solace. It serves as a reminder that everyone is beautiful just the way they are, offering encouragement and empathy to individuals living in the same era.
On April 28, 2023, Stray Kids released a captivating three-minute trailer to announce their highly anticipated third studio album, 5-Star. The trailer, inspired by the Korean game I Am Ground, features individual shots of each member introducing themselves with their chosen nicknames before coming together in a unified scene.
Following the trailer’s release, album pre-orders became available on the same day. The album is offered in five versions with a total of 12 different covers, including limited, A, B, C, and eight digipacks.
On April 30, Stray Kids shared the album’s unique Solar System-themed track listing, constellation-styled scheduler, and digital cover artwork on social media. The track listing confirmed that the lead single would be “S-Class” and revealed the inclusion of the Korean version of “The Sound,” originally from their Japanese album of the same name, as well as the 2022 single “Mixtape: Time Out” from the Mixtape Project.
Building anticipation, Stray Kids provided glimpses of their tracks “DLC,” “FNF,” “Get Lit,” “Topline,” and “Youtiful” through their “Unveil: Track” series on social media.The group also released a set of teaser photos, showcasing their determination to express their unique personalities and tastes. The photos feature the members in vibrant outfits against 1980s-styled backgrounds, combining elements of Korean traditional art and everyday life items.
In addition to the photos, a mood film was released, capturing the members with a melancholic gaze as they don mix-and-matched outfits while posing on city streets illuminated by faint city lights, creating an evocative atmosphere.
