Stray Kids’ ‘ATE’ Album Review: Every Song Ranked
The group’s latest Billboard 200 chart-topper shows SKZ’s determination towards experimentation while remaining true to their core messages.
Stray Kids
JYP Entertainment
When Stray Kids previewed upcoming new music following their Charlie Puth collaboration and second Billboard Hot 100 hit “Lose My Breath,” leader Bang Chan teased to Billboard that it would be “very new, very different.” He also hinted that the forthcoming record would remain “very genuine and authentic,” because “the messages that we want to say through music are all packed inside.”
Indeed, just eight months after the boy band released their Rock-Star EP, the octet delivered something genuine and fresh for the Stray Kids brand with ATE to secure a record-breaking fifth No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Helmed mainly by the group’s in-house production unit 3RACHA (consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han), the new mini-album serves a smorgasbord of sonic flavors that expand Stray Kids’ musical palette. Lead single “Chk Chk Boom” boldly ventures into Latin-inspired hip-hop and reggaeton while incorporating Korean, English and Spanish lyrics. Elsewhere, ATE demonstrates the group’s versatility and willingness to experiment on tracks like the piano-led jazz composition “twilight” (written entirely by Han) or the English track “Runners” (written by and composed by Bang Chan and Felix).
Even through the stylistic changes, Stray Kids ultimate message of representing underdogs is never lost. Perhaps it’s why the record closes with the eponymous anthem “Stray Kids” where they declare: “So proud of myself / Never doubt who we are.”
From Stray Kids’ most experimental tracks like “Chk Chk Boom” and “twilight” to soon-to-be classic concert jams like “MOUNTAINS” and “JJAM,” here’s our ranking of the songs on the group’s latest chart-topping EP.
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“JJAM”
A high-energy hip-hop track that embodies the group’s signature sound, “JJAM” is next-level dynamic with clever lyrics that add a personal touch for fans to appreciate—like the shout-out to member Lee Know in the final line of the bridge, “I know, you know, Lee Know!” Be sure not to miss the moment Seungmin and I.N (a.k.a. Vocalracha) harmonize to close out the second verse.
“JJAM” isn’t ranked lowest because it’s a bad song by any means, but doesn’t quite compete at the same level of experimentation of other ATE songs. Still, this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment, but rather highlights the group’s ability to blend consistency with innovation through albums.
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“Runners”
An inspiring, all-English track composed by members Bang Chan and Felix, “Runners” delivers relatable themes of perseverance and confidence. The song moves from Changbin rapping, “Cybernetic system, yeah, I felt like a machine” to Seungmin and Lee Know’s bold assertions: “I know that I’m becoming/ G.O.A.T., I’m stunning, let me show the world/ I’m feeling edgy” demonstrating the group’s range of drive. The euphoric pre-chorus nearly eclipses the entire track with Hyunjin’s emotive texture in delivering lines like “Deeper and deeper, I’m thinking, I’m crying/ Too many thoughts in my head, gotta let it go,” spotlighting a gorgeous rawness that makes the line particularly perfect for Hyunjin but can resonate with anyone who listens.
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“MOUNTAINS”
Image Credit: Ssam Kim Reminiscent of the group’s best hype tracks like “Victory Song” or “Hall of Fame,” opening track “MOUNTAINS” opens ATE on an epic tone with roaring vocals from I.N and Seungmin against a backdrop of stomping percussion. Penned and composed by 3RACHA’s Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, the showcases Stray Kids’ signature high-energy style while delivering introspective lyrics about overcoming obstacles: “Mountains, mountains, I woke up on the mountains/ Ain’t nobody stopping me, I’m walking like a titan,” Changbin spits. While “Mountains” certainly stays within the group’s comfort zone, its anthemic quality makes it a standout track and the perfect song to open their upcoming world tour.
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“I Like It”
With flirty lyrics about enjoying a fling without the pressures of love, “I Like It” isn’t just another new thematic avenue that Stray Kids explore but rather unique for K-pop in general. In an industry where songs about love and romance dominate, SKZ’s approach towards more traditional Top 40 pop on a K-pop track is rare but refreshing—and makes one wonder if this is a track I.N referred to when he said, “I hope you don’t get too surprised about the things that are going to come.”
Lines like “Let’s not go official, we can keep the ‘you and me,’” and “I love that I like you, but I don’t wanna love” highlight the song’s playful attitude, while Seungmin’s warm vocals and Han’s dynamic raps add important depth to the performance. While letting Stray Kids push some boundaries and explore unconventional themes, “I Like It” should also help the group reach new audiences.
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“twilight”
Perhaps the most unexpected track on Stray Kids’ latest album, “twilight,” blends jazz and bossa nova sounds for a refreshing changeup for the high-energy ATE EP. Written entirely by Han, known for his R&B influence, the song adds a soulful touch, highlighting his versatility as a songwriter and producer. With its lyrics penned entirely in Korean (a stark difference for SKZ music in general, but particularly after following the all-English track “Runners” in ATE‘s tracklist), “twilight” is a soothing contrast to what’s typically expected from Stray Kids and should become a key track in touching fans and new listeners alike.
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“Stray Kids”
A song that acts as both a self-referential anthem to uplift the group while resonating universally, “Stray Kids” is a bold, special declaration. The track lets them showcase their self-esteem (on lyrics like Felix’s “So proud of myself / Never doubt who we are”) and reflects the pride and ambition in their musical journey (“We do what we wanna do/ The message through our music,” sings I.N).
“Stray Kids” also includes numerous references to their earlier songs (including the first-ever Stray Kids “Hellevator” as well as fan-favorite tracks like “Miroh” and “Lonely St.)” and other vocabulary longtime STAYs will catch to create a song with a vibrant tapestry of K-pop history. Stray Kids’ sophisticated style of blending personal and collective narratives into such an anthem makes it an even more powerful song — which is not something many artists can pull off.
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“Chk Chk Boom”
Image Credit: JYP Entertainment The standout track from ATE, “Chk Chk Boom” sees Stray Kids bring unexpected Latin influences to their signature high-energy hit-making style in a true showcase of the group’s ability to be extremely versatile musically while remaining on message as the musicians they were from the start.
Written entirely by Bang Chan, Changbin and Han for 3RACHA, “Chk Chk Boom” and its Latin hip-hop and reggaeton elements are refreshing in SKZ’s sonic world but still deliver Stray Kids’ signature, insightful and introspective lyrics. Changbin’s raps have several standout lines about how he’s “Sick of this life/ It’s regular” and declares, “I’m the owner of my goal.” Seungmin offers inspiration through the lyrics, “Shoot down my goals one by one/ I snipe them,” while Han tells listeners, “I’m not a changed man.”
There are even some unexpectedly cheeky lines like, “Filling up my truck, yeah you want that ride/ Hit you like a truck, I’mma make you fly,” first sung by Bang Chan and later by Seungmin on the second pre-chorus. Another fun surprise is integrating Spanish into the K-pop mix of Korean and English but remaining entirely Stray Kids with lines like, “Lobos, we cannot stop hunting,” with lobos being wolves in Spanish and recalls how the group previously compared their unity and determination to a wolf pack in 2021’s “WOLFGANG.”
Beyond the musical, lyrical and thematic triumphs, “Chk Chk Boom” gets extra points, pushing it to No. 1 on this ranking since ATE also included a “Festival Version” to close the EP. We’ll take that as indication that Stray Kids will no doubt continue their run as festival headliners as they push through an epic year playing Lollapalooza in Chicago, BST Hyde Park in London, and I Days in Milan, as well as confirmation that Stray Kids’ chart-topping reign isn’t letting up anytime soon after breaking chart records and becoming the first group to debut their first five chart entries at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
