XG is a group that I have been so into since discovering them in late 2022. If you were keeping up with my blog last year, you probably know about my affinity for this group. Everything about what they do captivated me from the jump, as they have a super unique aesthetic and are absolutely oozing with talent in every manner. XG is a K-Pop group(technically, as they are based in Korea and use a lot of K-Pop-esque choreography in their dancing) full of Japanese members who make music primarily in English. I know that this is a pretty strange concept, but I have to say it works perfectly well. XG is made up of seven members: Rappers Jurin, Maya, Cocona, and Harvey(they also do some singing, but most handle the group’s rapping performances); and singers Chisa, Hinata, and Juria. After releasing a couple of one-off singles in the spring and summer, XG burst onto the scene in late 2022, when a few of their XGAX Xypers went viral on YouTube. Around the time these rap Xyphers dropped that set the world by storm, they put out a couple of really awesome dance videos that show off their choreography. XG really started to make their mark at the beginning of 2023, when they released their singles ‘Shooting Star’ and ‘Left Right’ These two tracks captivated fans across the nation, albeit K-Pop stans or general music fans. Both of these tracks were among my personal favorites of 2023, and they proved this group had something very special going. XG released a couple more very good singles throughout 2023 like ‘Girl Gvng’ and TGIF,’ leading up to their debut EP New DNA. This was a very fun project that highlighted how diversely talented this group is; it is a more than solid debut project for one of the more interesting groups on the rise right now. After releasing some more rap, singing, and dancing videos on their YouTube over the last half year or so to keep the momentum around them, XG recently just dropped their first track of 2024(apart from their collaboration with VALORANT called ‘Undefeated’ which came out about a month ago), titled ‘WOKE UP.’ Below, I wanted to briefly highlight this latest track from XG, as it is another great example of why this group is so special and enthralling. Please let me know in the comments below what you think of XG’s ‘WOKE UP,’ and also comment the names of any other new K-Pop or J-Pop artists/songs you think I should check out!

Full disclosure, ‘WOKE UP’ has quickly emerged into one of my favorite songs of the summer over the last month or so after it came out. This track is a larger-than-life banger that is bound to get any function bumping when it comes on. I honestly wish I lived somewhere that would play artists like this in the club(unfortunately, you are not going to find places in Milwaukee that are going to play K-Pop or J-Pop, regardless of how popular or hype the track is) because I know this song could drive the energy through the roof in any room. I am so confident in the power of this track that I think that you could play this anywhere and get people pumped up even if they have no idea what the song or artist is; ‘WOKE UP’ just has an infectious and motivating energy that permeates through the speakers. The melody for this track is honestly intimidating. It is provided by some distorted synths with a very menacing tone that feels like something is looming. The beat for this track is just as intense as the melody. ‘WOKE UP’ has a pounding bassline and intricate beat that just hits so hard. As cool as the instrumental is, The vocal performances on this track are even better. All of the rappers from XG smoke this track. I can not even single any of them out as the best, as they all totally kill it. All four rappers in XG spit with a different tone and flow that complements one another so well and really makes this song pop. The singers in XG do not do a ton on this track vocally, but that is okay. The sassy and cold demeanor they deliver the hooks with matches the energy of the rapping nicely. Before I end this write-up, I have to shout out the music video for ‘WOKE UP.’ This music video has such a high production value and is so enticing. All of the outfits and sets in the video fit so well with the abrasive sound of the song and contribute to this track’s ambiance. The choreography in the music video for ‘WOKE UP’ is incredible. I love how the fierceness of the dancing from XG enhances the raucous feeling of the track. ‘WOKE UP’ was a triumphant return from XG after their massive 2023, and it makes me so excited to see what they have cooking up next.