When people say that K-Pop idols aren’t real artists, they usually mean that K-Pop idols don’t write their own music. However, I have the biggest counterpoint: Stray Kids writes 95% of their own music. Despite debuting as young men (between the ages of 20 and 17), they have made a concerted effort to use their own words. Their music has always talked about important issues, like mental health in young people (“Side Effects”) and asserting oneself (“Miroh”). In all of K-Pop, Stray Kids has one of the strongest individual voices as a band, and their audience knows it.

“소리꾼 (Thunderous)” has a particularly interesting video because of how it mixes different eras. Traditional Korean architecture and people in hanboks are juxtaposed with Chanel outfits and comic books. By channeling cultural history into a hype hip-hop video, they make a point about knowing your past while validating yourself and your identity.

And, of course, it does slap.