Stray Kids continue to prove that evolution doesn’t have to come at the expense of identity. With THIS & THAT, the group’s new Korean mini album, Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, HAN, Felix, Seungmin and I.N deliver seven tracks that build on their signature explosive production while leaving more room than ever for melodic moments and vocal growth.
Released on August 7, THIS & THAT arrives less than a year after Do It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 295,000 equivalent album units and surpassed 2.21 million first-week sales in South Korea. Expectations were understandably high, especially after lead single “RUN IT” introduced the era with one of the group’s biggest-sounding anthems to date.
The EP wastes no time reminding listeners why Stray Kids remain one of K-pop’s most adventurous self-producing acts. Opening track “RUN IT” immediately explodes with pounding EDM drops, aggressive synths and relentless hip-hop percussion, pulling the audience into the project’s adrenaline-fueled atmosphere within seconds. Even months after its release, the song still feels fresh, serving as the perfect introduction to the record’s confident, high-energy identity.
Momentum hardly slows when the title track “THIS & THAT” arrives. Built around a groovy hip-hop beat, booming bass and playful lyrical contrasts, the song embraces duality with infectious confidence. Instead of chasing an overwhelming drop, Stray Kids rely on sharp vocal interplay, charismatic rap performances and memorable hooks, creating a title track that feels effortless without sacrificing intensity.
One of the EP’s biggest surprises comes with “After You.” Following two explosive openers, the group strips things back just enough to showcase how much their vocals have developed over the past few years. Warm acoustic guitar, polished pop production and expressive harmonies allow each member to shine, resulting in one of the project’s most emotionally satisfying moments. The transition from the title track into “After You” is particularly effective, preventing the EP from becoming sonically one-dimensional while maintaining its overall momentum.
That balance ultimately becomes THIS & THAT’s greatest strength. Rather than relying exclusively on high-impact production, Stray Kids mix explosive performances with melodic songwriting, allowing the record to breathe between its biggest moments. The sequencing keeps the seven-track project engaging from beginning to end, and the concise runtime ensures very little feels unnecessary.
Below, we’ve ranked all seven songs on THIS & THAT from worst to best.
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