Babymonster
South Korean girl group From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Babymonster (Korean: 베이비몬스터; RR: Beibimonseuteo; stylized in all caps), also referred to as Baemon (/beɪmɒn/ BAY-mon; 베몬), is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, consisting of seven members: Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita. They debuted as a full ensemble on April 1, 2024, with their eponymous extended play (EP) Babymons7er. Its single, "Sheesh", became their first top-ten hit on Korea's Circle Digital Chart. Babymonster subsequently released their debut studio album, Drip, on November 1.
Babymonster | |
|---|---|
Babymonster in April 2024 L–R, back: Asa, Ruka, Ahyeon L–R, front: Pharita, Chiquita, Rami, Rora | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Baemon |
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | K-pop |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Website | yg-babymonster.com |
History
Summarize
Perspective
2018–2022: Formation and pre-debut activities
Following the launch of YG Entertainment's representative girl groups, 2NE1 (2009) and Blackpink (2016), news of their next girl group circulated as early as 2018.[2][3] They received applicants from various countries, some of whom were accepted into its training program as early as age 10, training an average of four to five years.[4] In the number of recruits, each prospective member placed first against thousands in their respective auditions.[5] In January 2020, "Babymonster", one of many names initially considered for Blackpink,[6] and "Baemon" (a syllabic abbreviation of the former) were trademarked in English and Korean by the label and tentatively used by media outlets until the eventual disclosure of their official uses.[7][8][9]
Its selection process was chronicled in Last Evaluation (2023), a reality show filmed in the previous year prior to its airing, showcasing seven potential members.[10] Label founder, Yang Hyun-suk, enlisted assistance by Lee Su-hyun of AKMU, and Winner's Kang Seung-yoon and Lee Seung-hoon amidst others to judge, rank, and determine its formation for the duration of the show.[11][12] Yang revealed the number of members he first planned was five;[13] however, a seven-piece ensemble was finalized with three South Koreans (Ahyeon, Rami, Rora), two Japanese (Ruka, Asa), and two Thai members (Pharita, Chiquita).[14] Ahyeon, Ruka, Chiquita, Rami, and Pharita were selected by the label, while Rora and Asa were contemplated to be placed into two different projects before ultimately joining the final line-up as the "fans' choice".[14]
Leading to their acceptance into the label, Rami started as a child model at age two;[15] Ruka debuted in the Japanese girl group Shibu3 project;[7] Rora joined the children's music group U.SSO Girl with Hyein of NewJeans;[16] and Pharita modelled in contests and sought for audition programs.[17] Ruka, the longest trained member of the seven,[18] Rora, and Asa, trained under the company for six years anterior to their debut.[19] Rami and Ahyeon honed their craft for five years,[19] while Pharita, who was chosen out of 1,226 applicants in her audition,[20] trained for four years.[21] Chiquita, the final addition to the prospective group,[3] joined after three months of training,[20] the shortest period of all members;[3] cultivating with its members for three years.[21] In this time, their vocals were often recorded in their labelmate's work (i.e. the final chorus of Kang Seung-yoon's "Iyah" (아이야; aiya)).[22]
2023–2024: Introduction and debut
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YG Entertainment signaled the septet's formal introduction on December 30, 2022, with a poster and the subtext "YG Next Movement".[23] It heralded a trailer-esque video posted on YouTube on New Year's Day that garnered 15 million views in three days,[24] and featured appearances by members of Winner and Blackpink, sibling duo AKMU, dancer and choreographer Leejung Lee, and label founder Yang Hyun-suk.[25] Babymonster's introduction, together with the announcement of G-Dragon's feasible return as a soloist that same day, contributed to a subsequent rise in the label's stocks, leaping by 11.74%.[26] The seven members were revealed to the public through the gradual releases of live performance videos starting on January 12,[7] (in order: Rami, Ahyeon, Chiquita, Asa, Rora, Pharita, and Ruka).[27] They released a pre-debut promotional single titled "Dream" on May 14, 2023, coinciding with the release of Last Evaluation (2023);[28] the YouTube exclusive debuted atop the Billboard Hot Trending Songs chart.[29] Their channel soon surpassed one million subscribers in 52 days since its creation on December 28, 2022,[20] and two million subscribers in 129 days, becoming the fastest K-pop girl group to achieve this milestone.[30]
The group released two singles as a six-piece titled "Batter Up" and "Stuck in the Middle" on November 27, 2023,[31] and February 1, 2024,[32] respectively, with the former serving as the sextet's debut single and Babymonster's pre-debut release.[33] Label-mates Lee Chan-hyuk of AKMU and Choi Hyun-suk of Treasure contributed in penning the piece, while its member Asa, worked on both its music and lyrics.[31] Its music video amassed 22.59 million views within a day, became the most viewed debut music video in the first 24 hours in K-pop history,[34] and became the fastest debut music video to reach 100 million views on the platform, eighteen days after its release.[35] It found further success on Spotify, achieving 10 million streams in ten days, the fastest for a rookie K-pop girl group.[36] Ahyeon, who was absent from its releases for health reasons,[37][38] soon recovered and returned from her hiatus, joining the ensemble to promote their future activities as a seven-member group.[39]
Marking the group's official debut,[40] their first extended play (EP) Babymons7er, was released on April 1.[40] It was primarily supported by the titular single "Sheesh" and included re-recordings of "Batter Up" and "Stuck in the Middle" with all seven members.[40] A gift titled "Like That" by Charlie Puth following a viral cover of "Dangerously" sung by Ahyeon, was also included.[41] The eponymous release received over 460,000 pre-orders,[42] and debuted at number three on the Circle Album Chart.[43] Initially released to lukewarm reception,[44] "Sheesh" experienced a surge in popularity through its live performances,[44] peaking at number ten on the Circle Digital Chart.[45] It became the highest-charting K-pop girl group entry on Spotify that year,[46] debuting at sixty-ninth place on the Daily Top Songs Global Chart with 1.76 million streams.[47] To commemorate their debut,[48] a pop-up store at The Hyundai Seoul, which was held for ten days,[49] attracted 2,000 visitors in its first two days.[48] In tandem with their EP, the septet embarked on their inaugural fan meeting tour in May, covering six Asian regions: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and South Korea. Consequently, Babymonster entered "arena-class" venues within forty days of their debut,[50] selling out 26,000 tickets at their Tokyo stop alone.[51]
For Babymonster's first studio album, a pre-release digital single titled "Forever" was released on July 1.[52] The studio album Drip, was released on November 1, and was led by the two singles, "Clik Clak" and "Drip".[53] Notably, G-Dragon participated in the composition and demo recording of "Drip",[54] while Mino of Winner co-wrote the album's b-side, "Really Like You".[53] The album marked a new career high for the septet, with 820,000 orders within a week—nearly doubling the sales of their debut album Babymons7er in the same timeframe.[55] Furthermore, Drip became their first entry on the Billboard 200, debuting at number 149.[56] The titular single of the same name, recorded a new personal best, peaking at number 30 on the Billboard Global 200,[57] and acquired belated popularity in Korea and Japan, following the virality of their live performance videos on SBS Gayo Daejeon and The First Take, respectively.[58] In result, the septet obtained their second top ten hit on the Circle Digital Charts, and reached an all-time high on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 at number 26.
2025–present: First world tour
From January 25–26, 2025, Babymonster held a two-day concert at KSPO Dome in Seoul, the onset to their first world tour Hello Monsters; the event drew an audience of around 20,000 attendees.[59][60] Notably, the seven-member group became the fastest female act to hold a concert at the venue, accomplishing this milestone within eight months of their debut in April 2024.[61] The success achieved from their North America leg, which included two shows in Newark and Los Angeles, led to the announcement of six more shows in the region,[62] featuring performances in Toronto, Rosemont, Atlanta, Fort Worth, Oakland, and Seattle.[63] Moreover, the Japan leg of their tour sold all 100,000 initial tickets, prompting the opening of restricted view seats and additional shows to accommodate to demand.[64] In result, the group garnered an audience of 150,000 attendees across ten shows in the country, in record time for a K-pop girl group.[65]
Artistry
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Perspective
Image and reception
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Babymonster was crafted with an image reflecting their contrasting personas: a "baby" side, showcasing charm and innocence offstage, and a "monstrous" side, demonstrating a fierce and powerful performance onstage.[40][66] This duality often highlights their versatility and depth as artists. Furthermore, the group was designed to embody the charisma of 2NE1 and the glamour of Blackpink, two notable girl groups under YG Entertainment.[67] The blend of qualities the group personifies is the better known moniker, the "YG DNA",[68] a signature style that combines talent, boldness, and a "distinctive edge".[69][70]
The septet has been recognized as an "all-rounder" group, with each member excelling in various skills such as vocals, rap, and dance.[71][72] They have also been labeled as "elites" by the public and media for their abilities and dedication.[73][74] Their skills built the group a repertoire that became a hallmark of their identity, evident in their live shows. Unlike many K-pop acts that lean heavily on backing tracks to prioritize choreography, fashion, and visuals, Babymonster distinguished themselves by showcasing their raw talent, setting them apart from the crowded K-pop industry.[75] Additionally, the ensemble is proficient in multiple languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese, which allows them to connect with a diverse global audience, solidifying their reputation as a multi-national group.[76]
In a survey conducted by entertainment business magazine JoyNews24, two hundred industry professionals from entertainment companies and broadcasters, film and broadcast content producers, and entertainment reporters ranked the tentative group ninth in the "Most Anticipated Artist of Late 2021 and 2022", tied with Ive amidst others.[77] Following their debut, Babymonster was recognized as one of the "Next Generation Leaders" through a survey conducted by Sisa Journal and Gallup Korea,[78] and one of eleven artists to be named "Future of Music" by Rolling Stone Korea in 2024.[79]
Musical style and influences
Labelled as a versatile artist who seamlessly molds into any musical style,[80] the septet has ventured into a diverse range of genres throughout their career, including hip hop, ballad, R&B, and EDM. Emulating their predecessors, the group was classified as their company's style on "hip hop"; however, the ensemble has built from their foundation to blend genres and showcase various styles since their debut.[81]
Known for their "stage presence" and "musical prowess",[40] Babymonster cites their role models as fellow YG Entertainment artists,[82] drawing particular inspiration from Blackpink and 2NE1.[68] These influences have shaped their style and performance, reflecting the legacy of their predecessors.[68]
Other ventures
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Perspective
Endorsements
In February 2024, Babymonster became presenters for Pepsi in the Asia-Pacific region,[83] and the face of LG Household & Health Care's cosmeceutical brand CNP Laboratory,[84] to help expand their Generation MZ customer base.[85] Two months later, the group became global partners of Adidas,[86] and became its ambassadors through its sports collection, Z.N.E.[87][88] By November, the septet endorsed for the sportswear brand's first collaboration with Moon Boot, alongside French-Algerian content creator and author, Léna Mahfouf.[89] The following year, they were appointed as ambassadors for Banila Co.,[90] and collaborated with the battle royale game, PUBG Mobile, for their seventh anniversary,[91] Google Pixel's "Imagination Studio" campaign in Japan,[92][93] and McDonald's in Hong Kong.[94]
Philanthropy
In collaboration with the Muju YG Foundation, the septet helped establish a support fund through Naver's Happy Bean to combat child hunger and assist children with disabilities.[95] In 2025, Babymonster joined Muju YG Foundation and Loving Hands on the same platform, to raise ₩9.9 million to provide winter coats for 85 children and adolescents.[96]
Members
- Ruka (루카)
- Pharita (파리타)
- Asa (아사)
- Ahyeon (아현)
- Rami (라미)
- Rora (로라)
- Chiquita (치키타)
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [97] |
JPN [98] |
JPN Hot [99] |
UK DL [100] |
US [101] | ||||
| Drip |
|
1 | 9 | 7 | 84 | 149 | ||
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [97] |
CRO [106] |
JPN [98] |
NGA [107] |
UK DL [100] |
US World [108] | ||||
| Babymons7er |
|
3 | 5 | 6 | 98 | 69 | 15 | ||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [112] |
HK [113] |
IDN [114] |
JPN Hot [115] |
MLY [116] |
NZ Hot [117] |
SGP [118] |
TWN [119] |
US World [120] |
WW [121] | |||||
| "Batter Up"[a] | 2023 | 123 | 22 | 14 | 100 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 101 |
|
— | Baby-mons7er |
| "Stuck in the Middle"[a] | 2024 | —[C] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Sheesh" | 10 | 10 | 4 | 42 | 4 | 30 | 6 | 3 | — | 33 | ||||
| "Forever" | 101 | 16 | 20 | 92 | 7 | — | 12 | 6 | 7 | 141 | Drip | |||
| "Clik Clak" | —[D] | — | — | — | 18 | — | —[E] | 19 | — | —[F] | ||||
| "Drip" | 10 | 2 | 10 | 26 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | — | 30 |
|
|||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||||||||||
Promotional singles
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot [131] | |||
| "Ghost"[132] | 2025 | TBA | Mieruko-chan OST |
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR DL [130] |
JPN Heat. [133] |
SGP Reg. [134] |
TW [135] |
WW Excl. US [136] | |||
| "Monsters (Intro)" | 2024 | 113 | — | — | — | — | Babymons7er |
| "Like That" | 64 | 7 | 17 | 16 | 186 | ||
| "Love, Maybe" | 116 | — | — | — | — | Drip | |
| "Really Like You" | 116 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Billionaire" | 126 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love in My Heart" | 106 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Woke Up in Tokyo" | 142 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Batter Up" (Remix) | 145 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||||
Videography
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | "Dream" | Unknown | [29] |
| "Batter Up" | Seo Hyun-seung (Gigant) | [137][138] | |
| 2024 | "Stuck in the Middle" | Jason Kim (Flipevil) | [139][140] |
| "Sheesh" | Seo Hyun-seung (Gigant) | [141][142] | |
| "Forever" | Samson (Highqualityfish) | [143][144] | |
| "Clik Clak" | Yang Soonsik (YSS Studio) | [145][146] | |
| "Drip" | Samson (Highqualityfish) | [147][148] | |
| "Love in My Heart" | Yang Soonsik (YSS Studio) | [149][150] | |
| 2025 | "Really Like You" | Jason Kim (Flipevil) | [151][152] |
Other videos
Filmography
Tours and concerts
Tours
- Hello Monsters World Tour (2025)
Fan meetings
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2024 | Tokyo | Japan | Ariake Arena | 26,000 | [51] |
| May 12, 2024 | |||||
| June 8, 2024 | Jakarta | Indonesia | Tennis Indoor Senayan | — | [157] |
| June 15, 2024 | Singapore | The Star Performing Arts Centre | 5,000 | [158] | |
| June 23, 2024 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Music Center | — | [157] |
| June 29, 2024 | Bangkok | Thailand | Paragon Hall | ||
| June 30, 2024 | |||||
| July 30, 2024 | Kobe | Japan | World Memorial Hall | 20,000 | [159] |
| July 31, 2024[b] | |||||
| August 10, 2024 | Seoul | South Korea | Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace | — | [160] |
| August 11, 2024 | |||||
Accolades
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Artist Awards | 2024 | Popularity Award – Female Singer | Babymonster | Nominated | [161][162] |
| Asia Star Entertainer Awards | 2025 | The Best Group – Female | Pending | [163] | |
| The Best New Artist | Pending | ||||
| Fan Choice 5th Generation Award | Pending | ||||
| Brand of the Year Awards[G] | 2024 | Best Female Rookie | Nominated | [164] | |
| Best Female Rookie – Vietnam | Won | ||||
| Circle Chart Music Awards | 2024 | Rookie of the Year – Global Streaming | "Batter Up" | Won | [165] |
| Mubeat Global Choice Award – Female | Babymonster | Nominated | [166] | ||
| Rookie of the Year – Streaming Unique Listeners | "Batter Up" | Nominated | [167] | ||
| D Awards | 2025 | Best Girl Group Popularity Award | Babymonster | Nominated | [168] |
| Dreams Silver Label | Won | [169] | |||
| The Fact Music Awards | 2024 | Best Music – Winter | "Batter Up" | Nominated | [170] |
| 2025 | "Drip" | Pending | [171] | ||
| Golden Disc Awards | 2025 | Best Album (Bonsang) | Drip | Nominated | [172] |
| Best Digital Song (Bonsang) | "Sheesh" | Nominated | |||
| Most Popular Artist – Female | Babymonster | Nominated | |||
| Rookie Artist of the Year | Won | [173] | |||
| Hanteo Music Awards | 2025 | Artist of the Year (Bonsang) | Nominated | [174] | |
| Global Artist – Africa | Nominated | [175] | |||
| Global Artist – Asia | Nominated | ||||
| Global Artist – Europe | Nominated | ||||
| Global Artist – North America | Nominated | ||||
| Global Artist – Oceania | Nominated | ||||
| Global Artist – South America | Nominated | ||||
| Rookie of the Year – Female | Nominated | [174] | |||
| WhosFandom Award – Female | Nominated | [176] | |||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2025 | Best New Artist (K-pop) | Nominated | [177] | |
| Korea First Brand Awards[H] | 2025 | Female Rookie Idol | Nominated | [179][180] | |
| Korea Grand Music Awards | 2024 | Best 10 Artists | Babymons7er | Nominated | [181] |
| Best Rookie – Artist | Nominated | ||||
| Best Rookie – Song | "Sheesh" | Nominated | |||
| Best 10 Songs | Nominated | ||||
| Trend of the Year | Babymonster | Nominated | |||
| MAMA Awards | 2024 | Fans' Choice Female Top 10 | Won | [182] | |
| Artist of the Year | Nominated | [183] | |||
| Best New Female Artist | Nominated | ||||
| Melon Music Awards | 2024 | Best New Artist | Nominated | [184] | |
| Top 10 Artist | Nominated | ||||
| MTV Video Music Awards Japan | 2025 | Best K-Star Rookie | Pending | [185] | |
| Music Awards Japan | 2025 | Album of the Year | Babymons7er | Longlisted | [186] |
| Drip | Longlisted | ||||
| Artist of the Year | Babymonster | Longlisted | [187] | ||
| Best of Listeners' Choice: International Song | "Drip" | Pending | [188] | ||
| Song of the Year | Longlisted | [189] | |||
| "Sheesh" | Longlisted | ||||
| Seoul Music Awards | 2025 | Main Prize (Bonsang) | Babymonster | Pending | [190] |
| K-pop World Choice – Group | Pending | ||||
| K-Wave Special Award | Pending | ||||
| Popularity Award | Pending | ||||
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sisa Journal[note 1] | 2024 | Next Generation Leaders | Placed | [78] |
Notes
- "Stuck in the Middle" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 45 on the component download chart.[124]
- "Clik Clak" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 31 on the component download chart.[125]
- "Clik Clak" did not enter the RIAS Top Streaming Chart, but peaked at number 18 on the Top Regional Chart.[126]
- "Clik Clak" did not enter the Billboard Global 200, but peaked at number 135 on the Global Excl. US.[127]
- The Korea First Brand Awards is hosted by the Korea Consumer Brand Committee and the Korea Consumer Forum. Awards are based on a nationwide survey held in South Korea.[178]
- The Sisa Journal is one of the major weekly news magazines in Korea.[191] Established in 1989,[192] its annually conducted 'Who Moves Korea' survey determines the most influential figures in the country and highlights next-generation leaders of Korea.[193] The survey is conducted on a total of 1000 experts across 10 fields, including professors, journalists, politicians, businessmen, and cultural artists.[194]
References
External links
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