XG, which stands for “Xtraordinary Girls”, is an all-Japanese girl group with seven members based in Korea. Signed under the Korean division label of the same name, they first began as part of the XGALX project produced by the prominent Japanese entertainment company AVEX. CEO and main producer Jakops has experience in both Korea and Japan. The project launched with the video entitled “XGALX - The Beginning” in January 2022, and drew attention by showcasing their incredible rap and dance skills through their series XG TAPE and XG MOVE. They officially debuted with their single Tippy Toes on March 18, 2022. They’ve selected the systemic production process a-la K-pop, with added SF gimmicks. And yet the group has backgrounds in both Korea and Japan, with performances mainly done in English. They captured the elements of what makes global pop popular and ran with it, to connect with fans all over the world.
XG is a fascinating team indeed. Perhaps this view comes from observing certain differences among the team like nationality, main performance language, and main sphere of activities; it would be difficult to deny that there are certain stereotypes that they may be associated with with regards to their identity. Even their choice of genre is compelling - it lands somewhere between K-pop and J-pop, challenging the barriers. One good example of this is the GALZ XYPHER series. They take a rap banger, then add the members’ original verses to showcase the members’ rap chops, going beyond what is commonly done in the idol pop genre, both to draw attention to skill and pay respect to the original artist. In other words, these girls are truly dedicated to rap. But this evaluation might suggest that there is a limit to what the listeners expect from idols who rap. This makes their new track “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” that much wittier: “Why are you standing there playing dumb?”
“SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” is based on the garage house beat that is reminiscent of Disclosure. The hi-hat and snare relentlessly interrogate the listeners in the intro, followed by the funky bass drop in the first verse that seems to see right through you: “I feel you creeping.” They announce that the lie has been exposed. The speaker has the high ground here. This becomes apparent in the “rule breaking” scenes as in “Who could be running game over me?” and “I don't do three strikes, only one time” as they break the mold of conventional rules. In this track, justice is for those who hum along to the lyrics, and the opposition is but a coward who dared (!) to deceive them but failed and is now cowering in the corner like a fool. XG’s music videos reflect their sci-fi fantasy-based imagination. Using their superpowers, they empty out the streets of Shibuya - undoubtedly one of the most populous places in the world - and disrupt the workplaces, all the while singing “You've been acting funny lately.” They once again let everyone know who has the upper hand when it comes to deciding what’s “RIGHT” and wrong.
The overwhelming confidence that they unabashedly show hints at what drives them to disrupt the different contexts around them. “I” simply exist, and the way the group challenges the external gaze that tries to define their worth isn’t just a role that they play in a world that they designed. XG is commonly associated with keywords like “GAL” and “X-pop.” In the case of the former, it is a trend that has been revived in the 2020s along with Y2K fashion. The Y2K style of expressing futuristic imagination that transcended time and space thanks to the spread of the Internet is mirrored in the way the empty Shibuya streets have been portrayed in “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT.” Cultivating one’s own aesthetic, and living by one’s own standards as per the young culture movement also runs parallel with the message of the songs. In the sense that the group isn’t bound to any single area, calling their music “X-pop” creates a sense of tension among the pop listeners. This may be a welcome explanation to those who are tired of pushing out-of-the-box people into neatly defined categories. And yet, grasping the characteristics of the content they embody within the framework of the existing genre of K-pop might be one of the ways of discovering their value. Regardless of critical effectiveness, it can be seen that the attitude shown in "SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT" is not a coincidence in that they present themselves as the standard.
In fact, the works presented by XG are highly unconventional, but never destructive. The strength of XG can be seen in their clear references and including the grammar of different genres such as hip-hop and dance (EDM) and approaching the global pop aesthetic. Taking a closer look at their first EP “NEW DNA,” the hard-boiled textured hip hop highlights XG’s talent for rap in songs like“X-GENE”, which is influenced by U.K. drill, and “GRL GVNG”, which is full of swag created by the trap beat. On the other hand, although their tunes are close to the styles that evolved since the 2010s, their expression of it inherits the legacy of the time when hip-hop and pop came together around the 2000s. "NEW DANCE" is a cool song with a refreshing groove and a funky guitar riff that makes you dance, while "PUPPET SHOW" layers DnB and future bass that makes it the perfect electro-pop style that has recently become popular worldwide. This global nature can also be seen in, say, Jung Kook’s “GOLDEN,” which was released around the same time. Some might say that compiling English tracks to land the U.S. Billboard charts are “attempts at erasing the K from K-pop” (though it would be difficult to say that this sort of move is stepping away from K-pop). If this is true, then “NEW DNA” can also be seen in the same light. However, while Jung Kook successfully captured the attention of his listeners with a milder finish, XG took a more aggressive approach, to reach closer to the essence of the genre and embody it.
K-pop is known for mixing and matching different genres and styles to create music.In this view, the previous single "WOKE UP," which filled the track with rap while focusing on the select genre it drew from, portrays their aggressive aspect in the form of experimenting with the mixing ratio. On the other hand, "LEFT RIGHT” showcases a smoother mix, with elegant combinations such as adding trap rhythms to melodious synths. This comes across as a groove to be obtained only after catching the wave of alternative R&B, which is gradually becoming globally popular. In other words, boldly drawing on different genres and mixing them together are how XG tries to break through the stereotypes they are associated with. Their confident way of creating their own standards, and their performance skills that back that confidence are moving the audience one at a time.