8 Performances To Show Stray Kids’ Growth Through The Years

Since pre-debut, we knew Stray Kids would be special. They always showed immense stage presence and mind-blowing performing skills through their unique sound. As the years have gone by, they’ve grown to be one of the best performers in the industry, and they’ve never failed to blow everyone away by creating their own genre. The clues that they would grow to make history have always been there. Here are the performances that show how much they’ve grown as artists, performers, and as a group!

‘Hellevator’ in Their Survival Show’s Last Mission

Even before their debut, Stray Kids were already developing their unique sound and bold energy on stage. After the missions they went through in their survival show, their last mission was a live stage. ‘Hellevator‘ is the most special of them. It’s their first song and the stage that decided whether Stray Kids would debut with Lee Know and Felix. This stage felt special and right even back then, with impressive choreography, incredible rap skills, gorgeous vocals and an energy that would become so unique to Stray Kids. And history was made that day because, of course, Stray Kids debuted with its entire lineup.

Their Performance at the 2018 MAMAs

Stray Kids’ rookie year was nothing short of phenomenal. They won every single rookie award, and for a reason. Their MAMA performance was the culmination of all the hard work they had put into their music in their first year as a group. In 2018, they explored a dark side with I am NOT; they explored existential crises in the musical form with I am WHO and finally came to the bright side with I am YOU. In their first MAMA performance, Stray Kids performed their historic debut ‘District 9,’ as well as their iconic pre-debut single, ‘Hellevator.’ On top of that, they highlighted their roots as a self-produced group by performing 3RACHA‘s ‘P.A.C.E.’ This performance proved that they were way more than just your usual rookies. Stray Kids was here to change things and leave their mark – and they did.

Their Performance at the 2019 V HEARTBEAT Awards

2019 was a turning point for Stray Kids’ career, both in sound and recognition. They received their first two music show wins, for ‘MIROH‘ and ‘Levanter,‘ and their sound started to evolve into what we now know as Stray Kids’ signature music. Songs like ‘Side Effects‘ and ‘Victory Song’ remain some of their most iconic songs to this day. The latter part of 2019 was all about proving their power on stage and showcasing the full scope of their talent. However, there is no better stage than their performance at the V HEARTBEAT Awards in November 2019. The performance included ‘3rd Eye,’ ‘Side Effects,’ Changbin and Han‘s ‘Carpe Diem,’ and ‘Double Knot.’ They took on one of their best 2018 b-sides, their most controversial comeback of 2019, a brand new 3RACHA song, and finished it off with one of their best choreographies.

It was the perfect culmination of Stray Kids’ hard work all throughout their two years as a group, tied together with a unique storyline. If there’s one performance to look back at when it comes to 2019, it’s this one.

‘Victory Song’ at the 2020 MAMAs

While 2019 was the turning point, 2020 was the result of it, and when everything officially shifted for the better for Stray Kids. They took the world by storm with ‘God’s Menu,’ and they followed it up quickly with ‘Back Door,’ which officially established them as an unstoppable force. These comebacks became staples in their career, discography, and K-Pop history. They explored their sound further, included new elements in their music and styling, and fully developed the mala taste genre. By the end of 2020, Stray Kids was back at the MAMA to serve one of their biggest performances yet.

Their ‘Victory Song‘ performance was iconic for the bold choice to perform an almost two-year-old b-side by that point, the concept they put together, and the mindblowing rearrangement of the song. All of these choices exemplified Stray Kids putting artistry on top of everything else. They knew exactly what they wanted to tell with this performance. They weren’t even nominated, and they still left one of the biggest marks of the night. ‘Victory Song’ was the first step towards Mnet’s Kingdom: Legendary War, and we knew, even back then, that Stray Kids was ready to win.

‘DOMINO’ and ‘Thunderous’ at the Asian Artists Awards 2021

Stray Kids established their title as one of the best performers in the industry by winning Kingdom. But they were far from stopping there. It pushed them to explore their sound further and come out with one of the most impactful comebacks of their career with NOEASY and its title track, ‘Thunderous.’ It isn’t a surprise that at the end of 2021, Stray Kids won their first of many daesangs for Performers of the Year at the Asian Artists Awards. Soon after winning the biggest award of their career at that point and becoming the first 4th group to win a daesang (along with aespa that same night), Stray Kids gave the performance of 2021. The performance started with their iconic b-side ‘DOMINO,’ followed by 3RACHA performing, which included that iconic moment of Han accepting the daesang before his verse and an incredible Lee Know dance solo. And, of course, to top it all off: ‘Thunderous.’

There were many performances of ‘Thunderous’ during that award season, and Stray Kids reinvented themselves every single time. We even got a ‘Thunderous‘ Christmas version, which remains Stray Kids’ best rearrangement. But, by far, their performance at the AAA 2021 was the most representative of the huge year Stray Kids had.

‘MANIAC’ and ‘Venom’ at the 2022 MAMAs

There’s no denying Stray Kids were the main event at the 2022 MAMA. After all, they were one of the few artists to perform on both nights. And while 3RACHA opened night 2 with a legendary stage with Tiger JK, Stray Kids put up one of their most spectacular performances ever by performing both ‘MANIAC‘ and the ODDINARY opening b-side ‘VENOM’ with all their might, stage presence, and talent. 2022 was the year that Stray Kids reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart not once but twice,  and this performance showed exactly why. Their performance was powerful beyond words, with yet again a new arrangement and dance solo by Felix that served as a transition between the two songs. It became so iconic that Stray Kids included this version in their biggest tour yet, the dominATE World Tour. This was everything we expected and so much more.

‘S-Class’ at the 2023 MTV VMAs

With the release of their third full-length album, Stray Kids was everywhere, in everyone’s playlists and everyone’s minds. They gave several iconic performances in 2023, too. However, something will always be extra special about their VMA performance. If there’s one performance that showcases how Stray Kids rearrangement gives a whole other life to their songs, it’s this one. They gave one of the most impactful performances of that year’s VMA by keeping their essence and adding hip-hop elements, which only elevated ‘S-Class’ further. They didn’t need to prove anything to anyone by this point, but they definitely showed why they were given the K-Pop Act of the Year Award. No one is doing it like them.

Lollapalooza 2024

Stray Kids became the first K-Pop group to headline a Lollapalooza in 2023. In 2024, though, they headlined not one but three festivals. The crowd and the energy of festivals forever influenced their music. Songs like ‘TOPLINE’ became a staple in their setlists after its first live performance at Lollapalooza Paris. And we even got a festival version of ‘Chk Chk Boom‘ in their mini-album, ATE. After headlining Lollapalooza Paris in 2023, I-Days Milano, and BST Hide Park in July 2024, Stray Kids took over Lollapalooza in Chicago in August 2024. After renewing their contract as eight members and the legendary release of their best-selling album, Stray Kids gave one of the most important performances of their entire career. In perfect Stray Kids fashion, with such a beloved and timeless discography, they included songs from their early years, all up to songs that had been released for only a month.

Since day one, Stray Kids have had the energy to fill stadiums and overtake festivals, and that’s exactly what they’re doing now. Everywhere they go, they turn events into their own concert. Not every group or performer can touch such big crowds, yet Stray Kids did it with ease after establishing one of the most unique sounds in K-Pop and working hard to reach the success they have now. If anything, their Lollapalooza performance further proves that Stray Kids was always a one-of-a-kind group and that no one is touching them.

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