After headlining performances at the I-Days Festival in Milano and BST Hyde Park in London, the self-produced, eight-member boy group Stray Kids is back. On July 19, the group – consisting of members Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N – returned with their latest EP, ATE. ATE has eight tracks, including the title track “Chk Chk Boom” and its music video. 

Gonna Blow Up Like “Chk Chk Boom”

“Chk Chk Boom” is an upbeat track with an eclectic blend of electronica, Latin influence, and elements of reggaeton. Yet again, Stray Kids tread new territory as they seamlessly meld together Korean, Spanish, and English lyrics. The explosive title track talks about knocking down goal after goal as they soar to new heights. The album also contains a remix of the track titled “Chk Chk Boom (Festival Ver.).” This remix is EDM heavy and truly does feel like something you’d hear at EDC Las Vegas with its intense drop and sped up vocals.

Meanwhile, the “Chk Chk Boom” music video is nothing short of iconic, as it opens with a skit featuring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as their respective characters, Deadpool and Wolverine. Years after the start of these actors’ friendship with the K-pop group, it was announced that Stray Kids would feature on the latest Deadpool and Wolverine soundtrack. The duo’s cameo in the music video appeals to the hearts of fans who have been there since the inception of the relationship. 

After the Deadpool and Wolverine skit, the music video takes off with the characteristic visuals of a rowdy Stray Kids concept. “Chk Chk Boom” plays out like an action movie, with Reynolds announcing disturbances across New York City of which Stray Kids are the culprit. The group perform in front of cluttered backgrounds like a trashed city and a room full of paintings, donning flashy streetwear, clean suits, and pops of red and black. The lyrics further convey the imagery of the music video as they declare, “Vamos, I know that you want it (Boom) / Chaos, we so catastrophic (Boom) / Ra-ta-ta-ta, I’ma make it / Boom, boom, chk, chk, boom.”

Stray Kids ATE Down

ATE, like many of Stray Kids’ latest releases, opens with a dramatic introduction. In “MOUNTAINS,” the group takes inspiration from rock, a genre they are well acquainted with. The track is a powerful anthem that speaks to the unyielding pride and work ethic of Stray Kids. The members chant about standing tall like a mountain and not getting distracted by the glitter of fame — instead they aim even higher. They know the crown is heavy, and they bear the burden well, never wavering the higher they go. Stray Kids’ pride can be felt in every growl, clap, and stomp of the instrumental, especially as Felix, who proclaims in his iconic lower register, “Head above the clouds, stand tall for the hell of it / Tower over crowds, don’t pause ‘cause I’m lovin’ it / Heavy and I’m proud, backbone never suffering.” The declaration is followed tactfully by Lee Know: “This is cloud nine, we’re at the top.”

“JJAM” follows the title track with its intense instrumental as a true dubstep track. Equating their craft to sweet, sticky jam, the group lets the listener know that one just can’t help but get addicted. Stray Kids’ pull is inescapable as Felix playfully raps, “Come and join the crew, get closer now / It’s time to make a move, get lit, so loud / We know we’ll never lose, get trophies now.” The wordplay between the Korean slang “잼” and “노잼” — meaning fun and not interesting — and the English word “jam” is plentiful throughout the track, showcasing the lyrical prowess Stray Kids are known for. 

The mood takes a complete 180 with “I Like It.” While a majority of the track is a cross between bubblegum-pop and hip-hop, the intro has a bit of a creepy vibe, hinting at the fact that this isn’t your average love song. “I Like It” is a track about remaining just a fling with someone. But, while many might find the “talking phase” infuriating, Stray Kids love it. The group sings about loving the chase — the lack of pressure and zero strings with someone they like but don’t necessarily want to be tied down to just yet. It’s hard to be mad when dancer and rapper Hyunjin reveals, “If you take one step closer, I’ll take two steps back / I want a relationship without any strategies” and it’s followed by Bang Chan’s gentle falsetto begging, “Don’t ask, ‘What are we?’”

Switching gears, “Runners” follows up “I Like It” with a much more serious tone. The track has elements of drill, trap, jersey club, and electronica masterfully blended together to yield a nostalgic yet powerful track coupled with earnest lyrics. The track feels a bit reminiscent of their 2018 track “0325,” as Stray Kids sing about staying true to their path, no matter the difficulty. “Runners” is deceptively emotional; yet, it can be felt in the way the instrumental quiets down as Hyunjin and Seungmin softly sing, “Deeper and deeper, I’m sinking, I’m drowning / One little trip and I know that I’ll fall in / Deeper and deeper, I’m thinking, I’m crying / Too many thoughts in my head, gotta let it go.” Though the fears plague them, the group knows they will reign victorious when they cry out, “I won’t stop running, I know that I’m becoming […] On the edge, we’ll never fall ’cause we’re the runners.”

Delving Deeper

The album slows down with the sixth track, “twilight.” “Twilight” is a gentle R&B-inspired pop-track about the tumultuous end of a loving relationship. The group sings sorrowfully about a love that burned so bright. Now, only ash remains. It’s easy to forget your sorrows in the day but as twilight approaches, so too does the heartache. That feeling of unending night as countless hours go by can be felt as Lee Know and Bang Chan croon, “I always cry without fail when I think of you / When I wake up after falling asleep exhausted / The sky is setting, and it’s night again in my room.”

The eponymous seventh track, “Stray Kids,” is a song dedicated to the group and their fans, STAY. Essentially serving as the end of the album, “Stray Kids” features references to various song titles, achievements, and future goals of the group. The song is an emotional track all about the group’s identity as they reflect on their journey up until this point. The group sings candidly about wanting more and more alongside each other. Although they might reach new heights the more famous they get, they still stay true to their roots. As the main rapper, Changbin, fittingly puts it, “We still stray, we always stay on the Lonely St. […] The time we spent will be remembered forever, ever.”

Show-stopping Artists

Through ATE, Stray Kids continue to showcase their versatility as performers, producers, and artists six years into the game. With four albums hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart back-to-back to headlining festivals, the octet has maintained their success while staying true to their sound. This latest release celebrates the accolades they’ve achieved and looks to the future with an insatiable hunger, proving yet again that Stray Kids are a force to be reckoned with.

Keep up with Stray Kids as they begin promotions for ATE by following them on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok!

Interested in more Stray Kids? Check out our coverage of their Met Gala debut here.

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