Stray Kids Achieve Sixth Billboard 200 No. 1 – "First in 69-Year Chart History to Debut at No. 1 Six Times in a Row"

■ The Significance of Six Consecutive No. 1 Albums

Stray Kids have made history with their latest album Hop (合), topping the Billboard 200 with its debut.

Since March 2022, starting with their mini-album Oddinary, the group has achieved six consecutive No. 1 albums, including Maxident, 5-STAR, Rockstar, 8, and now Hop.

Billboard noted, "In the 69-year history of the chart, Stray Kids are the first to debut six consecutive albums at No. 1."

■ Proving Global Competitiveness‍

Hop outperformed strong competitors, including Kendrick Lamar's GNX and Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, to secure the top spot.

The album recorded 187,000 units in first-week sales, with physical album sales making up an impressive 171,000 units, showcasing the group’s strong and dedicated fanbase.

■ Album Features and Significance

The album's title, Hop, is a combination of SKZ (Stray Kids’ nickname) and hip-hop.

It features 12 tracks, including the title track Walkin’ On Water, a 1990s old-school hip-hop-inspired song.

Billboard highlighted Hop as the 27th non-English album to top the chart, underlining K-pop’s growing influence in the global music market.

■ K-pop Groups’ Billboard 200 Achievements

To date, eight K-pop groups have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

BTS and Stray Kids share the record for the most No. 1 albums, with six each, followed by ATEEZ (2), SuperM, BLACKPINK, TXT, NewJeans, and TWICE (1 each).

■ World Tour and Future Plans

Stray Kids are currently in the midst of their world tour, Dominate, covering 32 cities and 48 performances.

Starting in March 2024, they are set to perform in major stadiums across 20 locations in North America and Europe, including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Citi Field in New York.

This achievement is a testament to K-pop’s solid footing in the U.S. mainstream music market.

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Since BTS first topped the Billboard 200 in 2018, non-English albums have continued to prove their potential for global success.

Stray Kids’ latest milestone not only reflects their chart-topping prowess but also highlights the expanding global influence of K-pop.

Their ongoing large-scale world tour and direct interactions with local fans are expected to further enhance their growth and impact in the international music scene.