Stray Kids HOP On Top With ‘Walkin on Water’

Stray Kids may have had a quiet-ish first half of the year, but since May, it’s been nonstop for the group. ATE was already enough to put them at the top as one of the most successful groups this year by breaking records and taking over the world. But they’re back with an extra special album, HOP, dipping their toes more than ever in their hip-hop influence, bringing something new, fresh, addictive, and extremely Stray Kids. That, on top of the release of their solos, HOP is the perfect way to wrap up the year and get ready for what’s next for Stray Kids.

‘Walkin On Water’

Hip-hop influence has already been all over Stray Kids‘ discography, but it’s never been quite this intense and straightforward. From the styling to the choreography, the lyrics, and the flows, everything is an ode to 90s hip-hop and its culture with a perfect old-school hip-hop feel and boom-bap rhythm. If you’re still not over the flow of ‘Muddy Water,’ this song will definitely be for you. It fits perfectly with Stray Kids’ unique raps and witty lyrics. Yet, they also include incredible singing moments, like in the second verse. ‘Walkin On Water’ is catchy, addictive, and overflows with confidence and attitude. It feels so incredibly true to Stray Kids and their love for hip-hop music. It’s all portrayed in the most impressive way with a music video that mixes Korean and hip-hop culture.

And if you need even more of the 90s hip-hop influence, Stray Kids realized the HIP version of ‘Walkin On Water.’ This remix brings you right back to watching MTV in the late 90s. It’s just as good as the original as it adds new twists and turns. It’s full of elements and details that elevate the song. ‘Walkin On Water’ is a banger in every form.

The B-sides

When it comes to Stray Kids, it is never all about the title track. Indeed, for HOP, Stray Kids made sure to create a universe and explore different ways hip-hop could influence their music and style, giving way for two of their best songs this year: ‘Bounce Back’ and ‘U.’

‘Bounce Back’

The first b-side in HOP is ‘Bounce Back.’ While Han usually gives us some of the most heartbreaking, melodic songs in their albums, this Hanpop song is much different. But if you know anything about ‘I GOT IT,’ this song will not come as a shock. ‘Bounce Back’ is unapologetic with its harsh lyrics and flows; it’s strong and intense and raises the energy to a whole other level. Similarly to ‘Walkin on Water,’ its production is immensely influenced and inspired by hip-hop. The whistle tone and the beat at the back make the song as luring and addictive as it is. ‘Bounce Back’ is a straight-up diss track that highlights their power and how they overcame the odds. Stray Kids‘ diss tracks always push the boundaries further, and ‘Bounce Back’ is no exception.

‘U’ (feat. Tablo)

After so much energy, things slow down slightly with ‘U,’ and it’s magical. It’s been over a year since Tablo‘s cameo in the ‘MEGAVERSE‘ music video, and it’s been longer since we’ve been wishing for a collab between Stray Kids and him. We’re finally here, and we can’t think of a better way or better album for this collab. ‘U’ is a soft, gloomy track that explores feelings of nostalgia, love, yearning, and loss. Tablo‘s verses fit so perfectly and smoothly in the song that it is seamless and natural, elevating the song from a masterpiece to a god-tier song. Stray Kids are amazing with high-energy songs, but they also excel at heart-wrenching songs and soft rhythms. The melodic beat in the chorus makes the song seem gloomy and atmospheric as it creates a world on its own.

The Solos

Ever since the 5-Star Dome Tour, Stray Kids have included solo stages in their setlist to explore their music and art individually. For the dominATE Tour, they debuted brand new songs and stages. It’s been months of us watching the stages, knowing this would be some of their best solo work, and the songs are finally here. Each song highlights their talent and individuality, and we’re in love with all eight of these songs.

‘Railway’ (Bang Chan Solo)

‘Railway’ is the first solo track in the album, and it’s none other than Bang Chan‘s. This song has Bang Chan‘s name all over it with its obscure, sensual, R&B energy. Think of ‘Red Lights‘ meeting a similar vibe to The Weeknd, and you get ‘Railway.’ This song is alluring, mysterious, and atmospheric, with a hint of danger as he sings about a toxic relationship. It’s a genre Bang Chan had never fully explored before, yet it suits him perfectly, and he served one of the most impactful songs in the album.

‘Unfair’ (Felix Solo)

Felix takes us in a whole other direction. He had already tackled a sadder tone in ‘Deep End,’ and ‘UNFAIR’ continues that with more dynamism and incorporating rap. The genius of this track lies in the songwriting and composing: the way Felix mixes heavy rap verses with his low tone and transitions into some of the most addictive melodies. ‘Unfair‘ is inspired directly by Beauty and the Beast and is written from the perspective of the Beast towards the end of his story when he feels unlovable and loses the only person who ever loved him. It’s gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and beyond beautiful.

‘HALLUCINATION’ (I.N Solo)

Initially, ‘HALLUCINATION’ was composed by Changbin for the group, and his influence can definitely be heard. However, how I.N completely switched the song, added unique melodies, and made the song his in every way to express his own artistry and identity is more than impressive and admirable. ‘HALLUCINATION’ is I.N. – it shows his art and his vision in the best way. While ‘Hug Me’ was a cutesy, bright song, ‘HALLUCINATION’ shows a new side of I.N. The R&B-pop influence is all over the track. It showcases the versatility of his unique vocals, and the performance shines with his stage presence and dancing skills. ‘HALLUCINATION’ feels like a fever dream with how good it is.

‘Youth’ (Lee Know Solo)

‘Youth’ is the song that will brighten your day no matter what. It’s carefree, fun, and an instant serotonin hit. Even through such a joyful song, Lee Know‘s vocals truly shine. His sweet tone is always a breath of fresh air, and that’s exactly how ‘Youth‘ feels. And it doesn’t stop him from serving vocals in higher notes, too. This song alone feels like it makes our lives easier: it’s comforting yet energetic and simply a blast of a song filled with Lee Know‘s youthful energy and unique to his aura.

‘So Good’ (Hyunjin Solo)

Watching Hyunjin perform will always be an incredible experience, and whenever he performs ‘So Good,’ it really does feel like a celebration of life, art, and everything Hyunjin loves. ‘So Good’ is an explosive, intense yet extremely fun urban track about enjoying life. It has an incredibly optimistic outlook that turns addictive with the catchy lyrics and crazy beats and switch-ups. It has incredible production and amazing rap verses, and it overflows with Hyunjin‘s energy – what’s not to love?

‘ULTRA’ (Changbin Solo)

‘ULTRA’ has a level of energy that only Changbin could reach and encapsulate into a song. The word powerful almost doesn’t feel enough to describe how explosive and insane this song is. From the electronic breaks to Changbin‘s witty, dynamic rap verses, passing through the most impactful and addictive chorus, ‘ULTRA’ is an instant highlight in HOP. Stray Kids‘ takes on EDM has gone to many levels, and this is simply on another stratosphere. ‘ULTRA’ is really that song.

‘Hold my hand’ (HAN Solo)

‘Hold my hand’ is a personal song about resilience, growth, and love. Han wrote an explosive pop-rock song to comfort his past self. The music video also interpolates a lot with the feelings in Han‘s ‘Alien,’ where his ‘Alien’ represented his struggles and his worries when he was younger, and ‘Hold my hand’ represents his present self, hopeful and stronger. ‘Hold my hand’ has that feeling that makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs and run through a grass field. It is pop-rock perfection only in the way Han could do it. It represents hope and love and is by far one of Han’s most personal songs yet. Hanpop will always hit.

‘As we are’ (Seungmin Solo)

When we first heard the solo songs at Stray Kids‘ dominATE Tour, if we had had to pick a song to close off an album, it would’ve been Seungmin‘s ‘As we are.’ And well, here we are. Seungmin teamed up with Hong Jisang, who has written songs with Stray Kids like ‘Levanter‘ and ‘Silent Cry’ but has also written songs for Xdinary Heroes and many songs with DAY6. Just by knowing that, you can feel the vibe of acoustic guitar and comforting pop-band energy. The duo already gave us ‘Stars and Raindrops,’ and they did it again with ‘As we are.’ It’s a gorgeous song that highlights Seungmin’s honey vocals and the unique flair he gives to the songs, and it has one of the most beautiful and satisfying build-ups. ‘As we are’ is simply perfect.

Stray Kids are stronger as eight, but their individual sounds are something we always love to hear, as they explore their artistry even further. Even with all these different, unique personalities and influences, they all come together to create a masterful album that represents Stray Kids in all their states and forms—and we love every single one of them.

What’s your favorite song out of HOP? What solo music video are you the most excited about? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.

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