Stereotype (EP)

Stereotype (stylized in all caps) is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group STAYC. Distributed by Kakao Entertainment, it was released by High Up Entertainment on September 6, 2021, almost ten months after the group's debut.^[1]

Stereotype
Digital cover
EP by STAYC
Released	September 6, 2021 (2021-09-06)
Length	12:56
Language	Korean
Label	High Up Kakao
Producer	Black Eyed Pilseung Jeon Goon
STAYC chronology
Staydom (2021) Stereotype (2021) Young-Luv.com (2022)
Singles from Stereotype
"Stereotype" Released: September 6, 2021

Composition

Stereotype contains four songs. The title track conveys the message that people should not be judged based on their looks, and instead appreciated for the "various colors and elements that make who they are".^[2] The other tracks include "I'll Be There", which "speaks about the pain of a breakup", "Slow Down",“ a tropical house song, and "Complex", a song that "blends groovy beats with catchy melodies".^[2]

Release

On August 4, 2021, High Up Entertainment announced that STAYC would be releasing their first EP in early September. On August 15, 2021, its title was revealed to be Stereotype.^[3] The EP and the music video for its title track were released simultaneously on September 6.^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
IZM	[4]
NME	[5]

In a review for NME, Carmen Chin wrote that the EP was "a project of pure aural bliss" and "STAYC doesn’t just challenge expectations of girl group music, but blazes the trail for a promising future through what has become their best release yet."^[5]

Commercial performance

Stereotype sold over 114,000 copies within one week after being released.^[6] It debuted at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart.^[7]

Track listing

All tracks were written by Black Eyed Pilseung and Jeon Goon, and arranged by Rado.

Stereotype track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Stereotype" (색안경)	3:11
2.	"I'll Be There"	3:09
3.	"Slow Down"	3:10
4.	"Complex"	3:06
Total length:		12:56

Notes

• All tracks are stylized in all caps.

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Stereotype

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[8]	25
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[9]	2

Release history

Release history for Stereotype

Region	Date	Format	Label
Various	September 6, 2021	Digital download streaming	High Up Kakao
South Korea		CD

References

1. Lee, Min-ji (August 18, 2021). "스테이씨, 9월 6일 컴백 확정…1st 미니앨범 콘셉트 프리뷰 공개(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
2. Park, Jun-hee (September 6, 2021). "StayC hopes to break cliches through 'Stereotype'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
3. Yeo, Gladys (August 18, 2021). "STAYC to release first-ever mini-album 'STEREOTYPE' next month". NME. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
4. Kim Seong-yeop (September 2021). "STAYC – Stereotype". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2023.
5. Chin, Carmen (September 8, 2021). "STAYC – 'Stereotype' review: K-pop's most promising girl group prove they are anything but cliché". NME. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
6. Lee Ho-young (September 14, 2021). "스테이씨, 초동 기록 갈아엎어 "11만 4천 장"" [STAY breaks the Initial Chodong record, "114,000 copies"] (in Korean). MBC. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Naver.
7. "Stereotype" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. September 5–11, 2021. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Gaon Chart.
8. 週間 アルバムランキング2021年09月20日付 [Weekly Album Ranking September 20, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
9. "2021년 37주차 Album Chart" [Week 37 of 2021 Album Chart] (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. September 5–11, 2021. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Gaon Chart.