KARMA

No one does boastful bangers like Stray Kids. The fourth-generation K-pop group has found some of its biggest successes with bravado-led, relentlessly high-energy tracks like 2020’s “God’s Menu”, 2022’s “MANIAC”, 2023’s “LALALALA” and 2024’s “Chk Chk Boom”. The fact that all were written by 3RACHA, the group’s hip-hop sub-unit (composed of members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han), grounds the songs in an authenticity arguably necessary to pull off Stray Kids’ “noise music” concept. On 2025’s <i>KARMA</i>, “BLEEP” is the most reminiscent of this signature “SKZ” style, but Stray Kids chose the comparatively low-key track “CEREMONY” as the lead single off of their fourth full-length album, released shortly after the conclusion of Stray Kids’ year-long, 54-show Dominate World Tour. In this context, “CEREMONY”’s hooky claim “Yeah, we gon’ celebrate ’cause we got good/Karma, karma, karma, karma” is a triumphal ritual cleanse. 3RACHA took the writing and composition lead on all of <i>KARMA</i>’s 11 tracks (three of which are versions of “CEREMONY”). On the hip-hop track “CREED”, Stray Kids preach the value of putting your money where your mouth is, while sad song “MESS” indulges in introspection around a lost relationship. Naughts-era-inspired punk-rock track “In My Head” continues on the theme of personal disarray introduced in “MESS” before <i>KARMA</i> switches tracks for “Half Time”, which suggests that Stray Kids are only at the midpoint of their careers.