Stray Kids Set New K-pop Record by Claiming 6 Consecutive No. 1 Spots on Billboard 200

Stray Kids achieved a historic milestone on the U.S. Billboard main album chart, the Billboard 200, with their album “HOP.” They recorded an unprecedented achievement in K-pop history by having every album they released since their first entry onto the chart reach No. 1 in succession. According to Billboard, Stray Kids’ “HOP” debuted at No. 1 on this week’s Billboard 200, surpassing Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX” and Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department.” As a result, Stray Kids have now had six albums—“ODDINARY” in 2022, followed by “MAXIDENT,” “★★★★★,” “樂-STAR,” “ATE,” and now “HOP”—reach No. 1 on the chart in a row. This record matches that of BTS, which previously held the mark for six No. 1s on the Billboard 200. What is even more notable is that Stray Kids are the first group in the 69-year history of the Billboard 200 to have every album, including their debut release, reach No. 1. Unlike BTS, which experienced positions other than No. 1 in the early stages of its chart entries, Stray Kids have remained at the top from their very first appearance. “HOP” generated 187,000 Album Units during this tracking period. The physical album sales amounted to 176,000 units (171,000 CDs and 5,000 digital downloads), securing it No. 1 on the same week’s “Top Album Sales” chart as well. Streaming Equivalent Albums (SEA) totaled 10,000 units, while Digital Download Equivalents (TEA) totaled 1,000 units. Stray Kids introduced a new format and genre in “HOP” called “SKZHOP HIPTAPE,” which combines the group’s acronym “SKZ” with “Hip-Hop.” Their agency, JYP Entertainment, described it as an album that presents a uniquely defined genre belonging solely to Stray Kids. The album includes 12 tracks in total, featuring the title track “Walkin On Water,” along with “Bounce Back,” “U,” and eight solo songs by individual members performed during their world tour. Billboard noted that “HOP” is primarily composed in Korean, making it the 27th album in general and the fourth in 2024 to reach No. 1 despite being in a language other than English. The site added that 18 out of the 27 albums that have reached No. 1 are mostly in Korean, and 23 of these were released after BTS first claimed No. 1 on the chart in 2018. As of now, there are eight K-pop groups that have held No. 1 on the Billboard 200: Stray Kids and BTS (each with 6 times), ATEEZ (2 times), SuperM, BLACKPINK, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, NewJeans, and TWICE (each with 1 time). Stray Kids’ recent accomplishment demonstrates that K-pop has evolved beyond being merely a genre to become a dominant force in the global music market.