Stray Kids and Jimin Make Chart History With K-Pop Album Debuts

The old adage that good things come in twos holds true as Stray Kids and Jimin make chart history together. The two acts, who respectively released the new albums ATE and MUSE recently, currently occupy the Number One and Number Two spots on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The feat marks the first time two K-pop records have held those positions in the chart’s history.

ATE is the ninth Korean-language EP to be released by Stray Kids. The project arrived on July 19 with the single “Chk Chk Boom” and marks the group’s fifth consecutive release to debut at Number One on the Billboard 200. Jimin’s MUSE, his second solo release outside of BTS, was also released on July 19. The musician selected “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” and “Who” as the lead singles for the record.

In an analysis of MUSE, Rolling Stone wrote: “Muse is Jimin’s unified seven-song suite, exploring the themes of experimentation and adult self-discovery, from the opening “Rebirth (Intro)” to the climactic “Who.” He made his first solo album last year with Face, but Muse is more complex. Like the rest of his bandmates in BTS, Jimin had to put music on hold for his mandatory military service. So he’s returning to his art and his audience, but as an older and different person. He keeps singing about people trapped in their isolation because they’re too fearful to share their secrets — in other words, it’s music for a lonely hearts club.”

And just as Jimin has hit the ground running with new music, Stray Kids have been plotting their domination for months. In January, the octet teased their year ahead, revealing plays for a third world tour, a fourth “fanmeeting,” and two albums. The group split the releases into “one album and one special album,” in addition to teasing pop-up shows, new episodes of their YouTube series, and more.

Back in 2018, Jimin had a hand in another historic chart feat as BTS’ Love Yourself: Tear became the first-ever K-pop album to land at Number One on the Billboard 200.