BABYMONS7ER Mini Album Review: Hidden Details You Missed (SHEESH)

BABYMONS7ER made a powerful statement as BABYMONSTER's first mini album when it dropped on April 1, 2024, captivating fans with its darker musical direction and impressive commercial success. Breaking records from the start, this debut EP sold an astonishing 401,287 copies in its first week alone, establishing the highest first-week sales for any girl group debut album to date. The mini album features "SHEESH" as its title track, described as a hip-hop song with a powerful chorus that presents a darker version of the group's debut single "BATTER UP".

Notably, the BABYMONS7ER tracklist includes "LIKE THAT," a track gifted to the group by American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth after member Ahyeon's cover of his song "Dangerously" caught global attention. With a total runtime of just over 20 minutes, the BABYMONSTER BABYMONS7ER album offers fans eight different versions to collect—one Photobook and seven "YG Tag" versions, each featuring a different member (Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita). Furthermore, both versions have achieved significant recognition, with the BABYMONS7ER mini album receiving certifications from the KMCA for selling 250,000 copies of the Photobook version and 500,000 copies of the Tag versions via Circle Chart.

The Comeback Story: BABYMONS7ER’s Release Timeline

The journey to BABYMONS7ER's creation tells a compelling story of group evolution and strategic marketing. This timeline captures how BABYMONSTER transformed from a seven-member rookie group to a complete ensemble ready to make their mark with their first mini album.

Ahyeon's Return and Group Reformation

BABYMONSTER originally debuted as a six-member group in November 2023 with "BATTER UP" after Ahyeon took a hiatus due to health concerns. Her absence created a gap in the group's dynamic that fans eagerly hoped would be temporary. In January 2024, YG Entertainment delighted fans by announcing Ahyeon's recovery and imminent return. This pivotal moment signaled a fresh chapter for the group, as they could finally showcase their complete seven-member formation as originally intended. The reunion proved significant for their musical direction, allowing for more complex vocal arrangements and choreography in their upcoming project.

Pre-release Singles and Teasers

Following Ahyeon's return, the group maintained momentum through carefully orchestrated pre-release activities. In January 2024, they released "SHEESH" as a digital single, offering fans the first taste of their evolved sound. The track quickly garnered attention for its hip-hop influences and bolder aesthetic. Subsequently, the group released concept photos featuring all seven members in striking visual concepts that hinted at the mini album's darker theme. Additionally, they unveiled short performance videos and interview snippets across social media platforms, building anticipation while showcasing each member's unique talents and personalities.

Official Album Announcement and Trailer

By March 2024, YG Entertainment officially announced the BABYMONS7ER mini album with a dramatic trailer that accumulated millions of views within days. The trailer featured intense visuals and snippets of multiple tracks, revealing the project's comprehensive nature beyond a single release. Moreover, the announcement confirmed the inclusion of "LIKE THAT," Charlie Puth's contribution, alongside re-recorded versions of previous tracks now featuring Ahyeon's vocals. The strategic rollout culminated in the April 1st release date, positioning BABYMONS7ER as not merely a comeback but a proper introduction of BABYMONSTER as a complete seven-member powerhouse in the competitive K-pop landscape.

Tracklist Breakdown: Themes, Genres, and Collaborations

The seven-track lineup of BABYMONS7ER showcases BABYMONSTER's versatility across multiple genres while establishing their musical identity through carefully crafted themes and notable collaborations.

1. Monsters (Intro): Setting the Tone

"Monsters (Intro)" opens the album with a powerful declaration of the group's ambitions. Originally titled "We're BABYMONSTER" in early tracklist drafts, this intro symbolizes the septet's determination to "spread throughout the world". The track essentially serves as a confidence anthem where they position themselves as "monsters of the industry" with exceptional skills. With its assertive lyrics like "There's a new kind of monster" and "Outnumber you seven to one," the intro establishes the bold musical direction that defines the entire mini album.

2. SHEESH: Title Track and Visual Identity

As the album's centerpiece, "SHEESH" presents a hip-hop dance track featuring baroque-style piano melodies and grand synth sounds. YG Entertainment described it as having "an element of darkness" not previously showcased by BABYMONSTER. The track received mixed critical reception, with some reviewers praising its "well-constructed pre-chorus and bridge", although others criticized its similarity to previous YG releases. Regardless, the song accumulated over 25 million YouTube views within 24 hours of release.

3. Like That: Charlie Puth's Gifted Track

Perhaps the most surprising collaboration on the album comes from American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth. "Like That" was personally gifted to BABYMONSTER after Puth discovered Ahyeon's cover of his song "Dangerously," which has amassed over 39 million views. YG founder Yang Hyun-suk described this unexpected contribution as "a huge gift" that fans would enjoy. The track features Puth's signature production style alongside arrangement by Count Baldor.

4. Dream: From Pre-debut to Official Release

"Dream" holds special significance as it transitioned from pre-debut material to an official album track. First released on May 14, 2023 as a pre-debut song on YouTube, it quickly garnered 32.9 million global views. This ballad showcases the members' vocal abilities through delicate emotional expressions. As the song progresses, additional instruments and strings create an increasingly dramatic atmosphere that highlights the group's harmonization capabilities.

5. Re-recorded Versions: Ahyeon's Vocal Additions

The album thoughtfully includes re-recorded "7 versions" of previous singles "Batter Up" and "Stuck in the Middle," now featuring Ahyeon's vocals. These updated tracks complete the septet's sound as originally intended. In addition, a remix of "Stuck in the Middle" rounds out the tracklist, bringing the total runtime to just over 20 minutes.

Album Packaging and Versions: What’s Inside Each Box

Physical presentation stands as a crucial element of K-pop albums, and the BABYMONS7ER mini album takes this aspect seriously with its distinctive packaging options. YG Entertainment created multiple versions that cater to different collector preferences while maintaining the album's monster-inspired concept.

Photobook vs YG Tag Versions

The BABYMONS7ER mini album comes in two primary variants that offer completely different collecting experiences. The Photobook version features a larger format with an extensive 80-page photobook showcasing all seven members in high-quality photoshoots that align with the album's darker aesthetic. This version measures approximately 150mm x 210mm and comes in a sturdy box with a matte finish. In contrast, the YG Tag versions consist of seven individual member editions (Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita), each in a compact case resembling a luggage tag—hence the "YG Tag" name. These versions are notably smaller at 105mm x 148mm but contain exclusive member-specific photos not found in the Photobook edition.

Inclusions: Photocards, QR Cards, and More

Each album version contains a specific set of collectibles. The Photobook edition includes:

One random photocard from a set of 28 possibilities (four per member)
One folded poster (random from seven designs)
One sticker sheet
One QR code card linking to exclusive digital content

Meanwhile, the YG Tag versions contain:

Two member-specific photocards
One mini folded poster of the featured member
One special holographic tag card
One exclusive polaroid-style photocard

Both versions include the CD containing all tracks from the BABYMONS7ER mini album.

Collectibility and Fan Appeal

The album's dual format strategy has proven effective for collectors. Many dedicated fans purchase multiple copies—the Photobook for its comprehensive group content plus individual YG Tag versions of their favorite members. This approach has contributed significantly to the album's commercial success, with the Photobook version receiving KMCA certification for 250,000 sales and the Tag versions collectively reaching 500,000 units. Particularly sought-after are Pharita's photocards, which often command premium prices in secondary markets among collectors. The QR cards have also added a new dimension to collecting, providing fans with digital experiences that complement the physical album.

Chart Performance and Critical Reception

BABYMONS7ER's commercial impact immediately established BABYMONSTER as a formidable presence in the K-pop industry, setting unprecedented records while receiving mixed critical assessment.

First Week Sales and Hanteo Record

Upon release, the BABYMONS7ER mini album shattered existing sales benchmarks for rookie groups. According to Hanteo Chart, the album sold a remarkable 401,287 copies in its first week (April 1-7), establishing a new record for the highest first-week sales of any girl group debut album. This achievement made it the first girl group debut album in Hanteo history to exceed 400,000 copies in its initial week. The previous record belonged to ILLIT, whose "SUPER REAL ME" had sold 380,056 copies in March. Furthermore, the album's commercial momentum continued steadily, ultimately reaching 524,925 copies sold approximately seven weeks after release.

Certifications by KMCA

The album's commercial success translated into significant certifications from the Korea Music Content Association. By October 2024, the Photobook version received Platinum certification for exceeding 250,000 copies sold. Simultaneously, the Tag versions collectively achieved an even more impressive 2× Platinum certification for surpassing 500,000 units. These certifications, awarded through Circle Chart tracking, further solidified the group's powerful market presence during their rookie year. Throughout 2024, the album maintained strong positions across multiple charts, ranking #3 on South Korean Albums (Circle) and #15 on US World Albums (Billboard).

NME Review and Global Chart Rankings

Despite commercial triumph, critical reception proved more divided. NME's Carmen Chin awarded the album just two out of five stars, primarily criticizing "SHEESH" for closely resembling previous YG Entertainment girl groups BLACKPINK and 2NE1. Nevertheless, she acknowledged "Like That" as a "hidden gem" that demonstrated the septet's genuine potential. Conversely, Billboard praised "SHEESH" as "pop-rap magic" and named it among the best pop songs upon release. The track performed impressively on global charts, reaching #16 on the Billboard Global Chart and #69 on Spotify's Daily Top Song Global Chart. The music video likewise dominated, debuting at #1 on YouTube's global ranking and accumulating over 160 million views. Notably, it reached the 100-million-view milestone in just 10 days, setting a new speed record for K-pop girl group debut songs.