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K-pop Group Discovery
Carina Wu
BABYMONSTER — The Heir to YG's Crown
YG's seven-member powerhouse debuted in April 2024 with record-breaking MV views, a Billboard 200 debut 8 months in, and 300K tour attendance in their first world tour. Hip-hop backbone, live-first performance ethos, and earworm hooks — here's why fans of Aespa, Twice, and Le Sserafim will connect.
2026/5/25 · 8:10
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They broke the record for the most-viewed debut MV in K-pop history before most fans had heard a single note. By the time BABYMONSTER released their first full album eight months in, they were already selling out arenas across Asia. This is a group that operates on a different scale.
Who they are
Group: BABYMONSTER (베이비몬스터, also known as Baemon)
Debut: April 1, 2024 — EP BabyMons7er
Label: YG Entertainment / Sony Music Japan
Members: 7 (3 Korean, 2 Japanese, 2 Thai)
Fandom name: Monsters
| Member | Nationality | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Ruka | Japanese | Main dancer, sub vocalist |
| Pharita | Thai | Main vocalist |
| Asa | Japanese | Lead rapper, vocalist |
| Ahyeon | Korean | Main rapper, vocalist |
| Rami | Korean | Lead vocalist |
| Rora | Korean | Lead dancer, vocalist |
| Chiquita | Thai | Sub vocalist, dancer |
Each member trained an average of four to six years at YG — longer than most girl groups ever stay active. They were handpicked from thousands of applicants across Asia.
Sound profile
BABYMONSTER sits squarely in the YG tradition: hip-hop backbone, percussive rap, heavy bass. But they layer it with things the label hasn't always prioritized — tender R&B (the Charlie Puth-gifted "Like That"), ballad vulnerability ("Stuck in the Middle"), and arena-sized pop hooks ("Sheesh," "Drip").
What makes them distinct in the current generation is their commitment to live performance. In an era when most groups lean on extensive backing tracks, BABYMONSTER has made it a point to sing and rap live — a decision that's won over skeptics who initially found their debut singles underwhelming.
Genre tags: K-pop / hip-hop / R&B / pop / dance
Standout tracks
| Track | Why it stands out |
|---|---|
| Sheesh (2024) | The comeback track that clicked after live stages went viral; their first top-ten on Korea's Circle Digital Chart |
| Drip (2024) | Co-written with G-Dragon; the title that gave them a second top-ten hit and their first RIAJ platinum stream certification |
| Like That (2024) | A gift from Charlie Puth after Ahyeon's cover of "Dangerously" went viral — leans into 2000s R&B and shows a softer register |
| Really Like You (2024) | Topped YouTube's Viral 50 Music Chart for five consecutive days in January 2026; TikTok favourite |
| Choom (2026) | Latest single from their third EP — 130M+ views in weeks; their current chart leader |
🎧 Listen now
1. BABYMONSTER — "SHEESH" M/V
The song that won over the doubters. The live-performance momentum behind "Sheesh" is the clearest example of how BABYMONSTER builds fanbases through stages, not just streaming. Watch first for the choreography precision.
2. BABYMONSTER — "DRIP" M/V
Their defining statement: heavy, confident, G-Dragon co-signed. This is what "YG DNA" sounds like in 2024 — not nostalgia, just the next chapter.
3. BABYMONSTER — "춤 (CHOOM)" M/V
Their most recent release (May 2026) — 130M+ views and climbing. Starts here if you want to know where they are right now.
Chart & award highlights
- Circle Album Chart #3 — debut EP BabyMons7er (460K+ pre-orders)
- Billboard 200 #149 — first full album DRIP (November 2024), debuted 8 months after debut
- Billboard Global 200 #30 — "Drip" (career high at time of release)
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 #26 — "Drip" (RIAJ platinum streaming certification)
- Circle Chart Music Award: New Artist of the Year (2023 debut cycle)
- MAMA Awards: Worldwide Fans' Choice (2024, 2025)
- 1.72 million cumulative album sales within one year of debut
- Hello Monsters World Tour (2025): 300,000 attendees across 32 shows in 20 cities
Why fans of your favorite groups will connect
If you love Aespa: BABYMONSTER shares that same sense of scale — the dramatic world-building, the digital-age aesthetics, the feeling that every release is an event. Where Aespa goes futuristic-concept, BABYMONSTER goes raw-and-physical. Ahyeon's rap style and Rora's dance presence carry that same "this is not a normal idol group" energy.
If you love Twice: The earworm instinct is there. "Sheesh" has the same melodic architecture as a Twice lead single — catchy enough to stay in your head after one listen, layered enough to reward multiple plays. Seven members means the same kind of individual-fan dynamic Twice built so well.
If you love Le Sserafim: The confident, performance-first identity is the clearest overlap. BABYMONSTER prioritizes stage presence the way Le Sserafim prioritizes athleticism. Both groups feel less like "idol acts" and more like professionals who happen to do pop music.
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