[OSENWORLD] Stray Kids have carved out another chapter in K-pop history, becoming the first act in Billboard 200 history to debut seven consecutive albums at No. 1. Their fourth full-length album KARMA topped the Sept. 6 chart, sealing a golden milestone in the ranking’s 70-year history.
The number carries a special symbolism. After seven years of running full speed with the mantra “Fate is not given, it’s made,” destiny answered with their lucky seven. In 2025, Stray Kids are living proof that persistence and creativity can reshape fate itself.
Seven Times Around the World, One Unstoppable Tour
From August 2024 to July 2025, the group embarked on their largest-ever trek, the Stray Kids World Tour < dominATE >. Covering more than 285,000 kilometers — the equivalent of circling the Earth seven times — the run took them from Seoul to Rome and established them as one of the most in-demand stadium acts in the U.S.
Across nine American cities, they staged 12 stadium shows, including historic firsts at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, Washington D.C.’s Nationals Park, and Chicago’s Wrigley Field. In Arlington, they became the first act ever to headline Globe Life Field twice since its opening.
This leap from arenas during their MANIAC tour to stadiums in just two years underscored their explosive growth and unshakable presence in the global market.
Chill Yet Fierce: Stray Kids’ Distinct Sound
Returning home from their record-breaking tour, the octet doubled down on what defines them most: their self-produced music. Known for crafting every release since debut, the members expanded their sonic palette with KARMA.
The title track CEREMONY marked a first for the group — a trap EDM single with pounding bass and high-energy drops. Driven by heavy beats and sharp turns, the track captures Stray Kids’ trademark intensity and confidence. “When I feel everyone giving their all together, my heart burns beyond explanation,” the group shared. “All eight of us are madly in love with music, the stage, and Stray Kids itself.”
The result is an anthem of confidence — both fierce and effortlessly cool — that celebrates how far they’ve come.
Seven No. 1s and a Billboard Crown
Alongside their world tour, Stray Kids dominated the U.S. charts. Between 2022 and 2025, they racked up four more Billboard 200 No. 1s, three entries on the Hot 100, and wins at the MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards.
With KARMA, they broke their own first-week sales record and became the only K-pop act so far in 2025 to top the Billboard 200. In total, they appeared across 16 categories, including Hot 100 (No. 52), Artist 100 (No. 1), and Top Streaming Albums (the first K-pop group ever to enter).
The album itself reflects their philosophy: fate can be chosen through determination and action. Now, in their seventh year, Stray Kids have grown from seedlings into a rooted tree, their unwavering belief in music now bearing dazzling results.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
