Seungmin (Stray Kids) – KPOPREVIEWED

[Album Review] 合/HOP (1st SKZHOP HIPTAPE/Mixtape) – Stray Kids

January 11, 2026January 10, 2026Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Bangchan (Stray Kids), Changbin (Stray Kids), Felix (Stray Kids), HAN (Stray Kids), Hyunjin (Stray Kids), I.N (Stray Kids), Lee Know (Stray Kids), Seungmin (Stray Kids), Stray KidsLeave a comment

Stray Kids is nominated for Best Male Group and Best Stage Presence in the 2025 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. CEREMONY is also nominated for Best Dance Performance (Male Group) and Best Concept, while Hollow is nominated for Best International Song (Japanese). Individual members and units are also nominated for various song categories. Support Stray Kids, CEREMONY and Hollow by clicking here today to vote.

As alluded to last week, Stray Kids’ first mixtape (branded as SKZHOP HIPTAPE), 合 (HOP), is the final 2024 album that I will be reviewing for the time being. This means I can still review other 2024 albums I have missed in the future, but for now, I will shift my focus to 2025/26 albums. Anyhow, Stray Kids’ HOP features the title track Walkin’ On Water, solo songs that the group had performed as part of their Dominate World Tour, and two additional tracks (one of which is a collaboration with EPIK HIGH’s TABLO). It dropped back in December 2024.

The mixtape has some really great songs from the group and individual members. If you want to get to know Stray Kids more, then this mixtape is a good way to do so. Following the release of HOP, the group went on to release their Mixtape: DOMINATE single album, their fourth Japanese mini-album Hollow, their fourth studio album KARMA (with CEREMONY as the lead single), and their second mixtape DO IT (featuring the lead singles DO IT and DIVINE).

1. Walkin On Water (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Walkin On Water. (8/10)

2. Bounce Back – Personally, I felt Bounce Back could have been a better title track, showcasing what the group has to offer across the board. Bounce Back combines old-school hip-hop and rock to create a cool diss track. It carries intensity and powerful energy from the start, making you want to stick around. Impressive rapping and nice vocals (for a hip-hop number) bring Bounce Back to life, courtesy of the members. (9/10)

3. U (ft. TABLO of EPIK HIGH) – Previously, TABLO from EPIK HIGH made an appearance in Stray Kids’ music video for MEGAVERSE. This time around, TABLO returns to collaborate with Stray Kids in U. This song is much more emotional than usual, showcasing the group in a different light. Both the group and TABLO’s delivery throughout the track pack a lot of emotion, with CHANGBIN (in the second verse) and TABLO (in the bridge) hitting hardest with their rapping for me. I also enjoyed the drum and bass in the instrumentation, as well as the soft vocals, which add to the emotional heft of U. (9/10)

4. Walkin on Water (Hip Version) – See my review for Walkin on Water above.

5. Railway – Click here for my full review of BANG CHAN’s Railway. (8.5/10)

6. Unfair – Click here for the full review of FELIX’s Unfair. (7/10)

7. HALLUCINATION – Click here for the full review of I.N’s HALLUCINATION. (9/10)

8. Youth – Click here for my full review of LEE KNOW’s Youth. (8/10)

9. So Good – Click here for my full review of HYUNJIN’s So Good. (8/10)

10. ULTRA – Click here for my full review of CHANGBIN’s ULTRA. (8/10)

11. Hold my hand – Click here for my full review of HAN’s Hold my hand. (10/10)

12. As we are (그렇게, 천천히, 우리) – Click here for my full review of SEUNGMIN’s As we are. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

[Review] As We Are – SEUNGMIN (Stray Kids)

August 4, 2025November 20, 2025Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Seungmin (Stray Kids), Stray Kids8 Comments

With news that Stray Kids will be making a comeback soon with their fourth studio album, KARMA, I thought I would start on the many reviews I have not posted for Stray Kids – the solo tracks from their Hop mixtape and the unit tracks from their Mixtape: Dominate album. Next up is SEUNGMIN’s solo single from Hop, As We Are. For the other reviews of Stray Kids’ solo songs from the Hop mixtape, see the links below the music video.

If I were ranking the solo tracks by how much they stood out to me, the uplifting As We Are would follow I.N’s HALLUCINATION very closely. The chorus melodies and SEUNGMIN’s vocals are what really spoke to me the most in As We Are. There is just something so familiar and inviting about these melodies. I also loved the way SEUNGMIN builds up his vocals alongside the acoustic band instrumentation. His first run at the chorus was so soft and beautiful. By the time we get to the final chorus, you can feel the oomph and emotions behind his vocals. That brief pause just before the bridge helped give the SEUNGMIN and the final chorus a relatively intense rush, closing out As We Are strongly. The only reason why As We Are follows I.N’s HALLUCINATION is that SEUNGMIN’s solo felt expected for SEUNGMIN, and so it didn’t have that unexpected edge.

The music video shows SEUNGMIN playing baseball and music, which were two of his passions whilst growing up. Both come naturally to him. But in the end, we see him make the decision to go with music, running away in the opposite direction from his teammates. I think part of the video depicts that the road to music was going to be lonely for him, as none of his friends share the same passion. But his friends from baseball respected his decision and continued to support him, as shown through the scene where they lie down next to him. The decision to go with music and not baseball, as well as the support from his friends regardless, goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics, which speak to sharing the personal struggle with a companion and the unwavering support they provided during this time.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9/10

[Review] Gone Away – HAN, Seungmin & I.N (Stray Kids)

October 16, 2021Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged HAN (Stray Kids), I.N (Stray Kids), Seungmin (Stray Kids), Stray KidsLeave a comment

The final side track that I will be reviewing separately from the upcoming album review for NOEASY is Gone Away. This side track is performed by the three remaining members who have yet to appear in a unit track, HAN, Seungmin and I.N.

Gone Away is a beautiful ballad. It too takes us on a different direction from the other tracks on the album, but it isn’t a new direction for Stray Kids, who have put out ta few heartfelt songs in the past. Due to the nature of ballads, the vocals of all three members were on display throughout Gone Away. Seungmin, the group’s main vocalist, takes my pick for outstanding members as his voice resonated the greatest for me. HAN and I.N did a great job themselves. HAN manages to surprise me every time he sings. Every time he sings, I forget that he is one of the rappers on their team. I.N vocals are extremely pure, and this aspect of the youngest members’ vocals are definitely highlighted in Gone Away. For the instrumentation, the piano and classical elements really helped concentrate more of that emotive side of the song. I also liked how Gone Away‘s instrumentation builds and progresses. The change up for the bridge was probably my favourite bit in the whole song, as it allowed the members to add some power behind their delivery and give the ballad the peak it needed, whilst also allowing HAN (and Seungmin to a lesser extent) to add some emotional rapping to further this peak. Overall, the trio presents with a stunning ballad that sounds so good.

The song is about letting go someone who loves someone else. In this video, the three members are all interested in the same girl (though at different points in time). I.N wants to confess to the girl by buying flowers. HAN becomes shy when she enters the store and buys the top she was looking at to gift to her. Seungmin is staring at her lovingly while on their field trip and pulls the blanket up on her while she naps away. But each realises that she is with someone else, so each member makes the decision to not pursue her. I liked how the members are shown to be older at the end, reminiscing over the memory. It is a bittersweet moment for them, but it was what felt right and ultimately a decision made with the best interest of their crush in mind. I feel the acting from the three members in this video was really good, with Seungmin standing out, particularly during his closeups around the campfire.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10