K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids is back in full force. The eight-member group dropped its highly anticipated mini album THIS & THAT on Friday, August 7, delivering a confident, genre-fluid set that marks a fresh chapter after a streak of record-breaking successes.
The eight-track EP, released through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, arrives just days after the group launched its new world tour RUN IT with five sold-out shows at Seoul’s KSPO Dome. It follows last year’s mixtape DO IT, which helped Stray Kids become the first act to debut eight consecutive releases at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
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All tracks were written and produced by the group’s in-house unit 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han), underscoring the self-producing identity that has defined Stray Kids since debut. The title track, “This & That,” leans into a groovy hip-hop sound with a noticeably chill, approachable vibe. Members have described it as a deliberate shift from the intense, high-energy style of earlier title tracks—keeping the group’s signature edge while dialing up cool confidence and accessibility.
“It’s our ninth year, and we’ve tried many genres from the start,” Bang Chan said at a press conference ahead of the release. “With this album, we prepared a new color of Stray Kids, just as the title suggests.”
What makes THIS & THAT truly special is that it displays a side of Stray Kids we have never quite seen before. The production is simply outstanding—amazingly high-quality, polished, and intentional at every turn. Every track feels completely different from the others, showcasing the group’s exceptional genre-blending capabilities at their absolute peak. From the anthemic brass-driven energy of pre-release single “RUN IT” to the progressive house emotions of “After You,” the witty hip-hop of “FARMING,” the nostalgic 2000s-pop bounce of “I Do,” the multilingual flow of “Way Out,” the reflective mood of “Back Then,” and the explosive festival version of the title track—each song stands firmly on its own while still sounding unmistakably Stray Kids.
The title track itself is pure excellence: catchy, high-quality, and irresistibly groovy. Its languid yet addictive melodies and confident delivery make you want to jump in and move with it. Early reactions already call THIS & THAT one of the strongest and most complete albums of the year.
Key First-Day Achievements (still counting as of mid-to-late Day 1)
Physical / Hanteo (Korea) ~668k–709k copies sold on Day 1 (still counting). Ranked among the higher first-day sales for 4th-generation groups in 2026 so far.
YouTube – “This & That” MV
- Surpassed 4 million views in approximately 5 hours and 41 minutes (tying with “Thunderous” as one of their faster openers; behind only a few recent titles like “Chk Chk Boom”).
- Hit 500k+ likes relatively quickly.
- Debuted and held #1 on YouTube Trending Worldwide; expanded to trending in 68 countries.
- Strong first-hour progress (~594k views / 277k likes in early reports).
iTunes / Apple Music Title track reached #1 in at least 5 countries so far (Argentina, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Peru, Ukraine), with fans targeting 25 regional No. 1s. Strong early presence for both the album and individual tracks across multiple regions.
Spotify Album and tracks live immediately. Finished #2 on the Spotify Global Countdown with over 1.06 million pre-saves (one of the stronger K-pop marks). Full Day-1 global filtered streams for the new tracks are still being tallied. “RUN IT” had been performing solidly in daily streams leading up to the drop. Burning Time events are ongoing to boost numbers.
Korean platforms (Melon, Genie, Bugs, Flo, etc.) Tracks charting in real-time (Bugs around #11–12, Genie fluctuating in the 150s range in mid/late afternoon–evening updates). Full rankings and Unique Listeners still developing as Day 1 progresses, with active Burning Time pushes. Album available across Melon, FLO, genie, and more.
China platforms All-kill as best-selling daily album on the three biggest services:
- #1 QQ Music
- #1 NetEase Cloud Music
- #1 KuGou
Japan / other Line Music JP: Album #1 (realtime), title track in the top 20 songs range in updates.
Tracklist
- RUN IT (pre-release)
- This & That (title)
- After You
- FARMING
- I Do
- Way Out
- Back Then (그날)
- This & That (Festival Version)
All tracks involve 3RACHA production. Physical versions are extensive (standard This/That, Truck limited, individual member editions, vinyl variants, US exclusives, and more).
Numbers are early/first-day and still rising. Chart accounts update frequently throughout the day and night. Streaming and physical sales will continue counting through the end of the day and into first-week tracking.
With THIS & THAT, Stray Kids once again prove they can evolve without losing the experimental, self-assured spirit that has made them one of K-pop’s most consistent global forces—this time revealing a cooler, more refined, and production-perfect side that feels brand new. The album is available now on all major platforms. Stream it, groove to it, and experience one of 2026’s standout releases.