Drip (BABYMONSTER)

What is Drip by BABYMONSTER?

Drip is the first full-length studio album by South Korean multinational girl group BABYMONSTER, released on November 1, 2024, through YG Entertainment. The album features nine tracks, including double title tracks "Drip" and "Clik Clak," alongside the pre-release single "Forever". The titular track "Drip" is a danceable hip hop composition co-composed by BigBang member G-Dragon, marking a significant collaboration in the album's production.

The drip song serves as one of two title tracks from the album, presenting a hip hop-driven sound that emphasizes the group's musical identity. The track's lyrics express themes of confidence, passion, and ambition, with members alternating between Korean and English verses throughout the composition. The song features all seven BABYMONSTER members and incorporates elements characteristic of YG Entertainment's signature hip hop style.

The drip album achieved notable commercial performance upon release, selling 133,450 copies on its first day. The album subsequently recorded 677,961 units sold during its first week, surpassing the group's previous releases. Internationally, the album secured the number one position on iTunes Top Albums charts across 11 regions, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Taiwan. The album debuted at number 149 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.

The Recording Industry Association of Japan awarded the drip album a gold certification in May 2025 for surpassing 50 million streams. By February 2026, the album received platinum certification, indicating continued streaming momentum beyond its initial release period. The album's nine-track configuration includes contributions from multiple producers and songwriters, with members Ruka and Asa participating in the creation of "Woke Up in Tokyo" and "Love In My Heart".

How was Drip created?

Songwriters and producers

The production of the drip song involved multiple contributors across writing, composition, and arrangement roles. Sandra Wikström, YG, Airplay, Masta Wu, Choice37, and Sonny received writing credits for the track. The composition was handled by Wikström, G-Dragon, Airplay, and Illjun, with arrangement duties managed by Airplay and Illjun alongside YG. AiRPLAY (KOR), Illjun, and Yang Hyun Suk served as the primary producers. The collaboration marked a significant contribution from G-Dragon, described as an unexpected participant whose involvement resulted in what Yang characterized as a "great outcome".

Musical elements

The drip song spans three minutes and is composed in the key of F-sharp major with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. The track incorporates multiple genre influences, blending dance pop, hip-hop, EDM, and powerhouse pop styles into a unified composition. The production features electronic dance beats that create what critics described as an "air of swagger". A notable vocal moment occurs during the bridge, where member Ahyeon performs a three-octave high note. The song structure includes a rubbery groove and slapping percussion that provides rhythmic drive, coupled with pre-chorus and bridge sections that showcase the vocal capabilities of the members.

Recording process

The recording sessions demonstrated substantial member involvement in creative decisions. Members Asa and Rami contributed input during production, with both showing aptitude for developing their artistic direction. G-Dragon provided a foundational flow and identity for the rap sections, which allowed Ruka and Asa to develop their individual sound within the framework. Sandra Wikström maintained an active presence throughout the recording process, establishing a collaborative relationship with the group. The sessions captured member Rora working through vocal challenges while documenting the progression of the members' artistic development.

What makes Drip unique?

G-Dragon's involvement as co-producer represents a significant endorsement from one of K-pop's most iconic figures, adding sophistication and excitement to the track. The collaboration positions the drip song beyond typical rookie releases, correspondingly elevating the group's credibility within the industry. Yang Hyun-suk explained that the term "drip" extends beyond its literal meaning of water dripping to describe individuals who dress stylishly and coolly, establishing the song's thematic foundation around confidence and fashion-forward attitudes.

The track's genre fusion distinguishes it from contemporary releases by incorporating dance music, hip-hop, EDM, and powerhouse pop into a cohesive composition. This multilayered approach blends languages as well as musical styles, creating what critics identified as a universal pop experience that positions BABYMONSTER as a force in K-pop's expanding international influence. The vocal performances demonstrate unexpected strength, in particular Ahyeon's high note toward the bridge which critics described as spectacular. The pre-chorus sections showcase distinct charisma, whereas the rap delivery projects an edgy quality that diverges from the group's previous output.

The production features a rubbery groove and slapping percussion that provides rhythmic drive uncommon in standard K-pop compositions. Critics noted that the in-your-face style represents a departure from prevailing trends favoring subdued approaches, making it notable among 2024 rookie girl group releases. Beyond the title track itself, members Asa and Ruka demonstrated creative involvement by writing on several album tracks, specifically "Woke Up in Tokyo" which incorporates Japanese lyrics and showcases the duo's individual artistry. The song's boastful subject matter connects with YG Entertainment's signature hip-hop aesthetic while establishing BABYMONSTER's distinct musical identity within the label's legacy.

Drip's commercial success

Weekly chart positions

The drip album secured peak positions across multiple regional charts during its chart run. The album debuted atop the Circle Album Chart in South Korea and reached number 7 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart. Additional weekly chart placements included number 36 on the Hungarian Physical Albums chart, number 9 on the Japanese Albums Oricon chart, number 8 on the Japanese Combined Albums Oricon chart, number 84 on the UK Album Downloads chart, and number 22 on the US Independent Albums chart. The album also achieved number 2 on Line Music's Top 100 Albums chart in Japan.

Monthly chart performance showed the album reaching number 40 on the Japanese Albums Oricon chart and number 6 on the South Korean Circle Albums chart for 2024. Year-end rankings placed the album at number 49 on the 2024 South Korean Circle Albums chart and number 26 on the 2025 Japanese Hot Albums Billboard Japan chart.

Global reach

The title track entered the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. at number 16 and the Billboard Global 200 at number 30, marking the highest chart positions for the drip song. The track maintained presence on Spotify's Daily Top Songs Global Chart for ten consecutive days. In China, both double title tracks consistently topped QQ Music's K-pop weekly charts.

Streaming certifications

The drip song accumulated 286,213,778 streams on Spotify since its November 1, 2024 release. The album received platinum certification from South Korea's KMCA for the standard version, representing 250,000 certified units. The Nemo version achieved 2× Platinum certification with 500,000 certified units. The album garnered 5,089,018 streams on Spotify during its first day.

Critical reception and reviews

Billboard positioned BABYMONSTER among 2024's most promising K-pop rookies based on the drip album release, noting that the LP further establishes the septet as a force in K-pop's expanding international influence through its genre blending and multilingual approach. The music video for the drip song accumulated 14 million views within 24 hours of its premiere, whereas "Clik Clak" garnered 24 million views since its Wednesday release. Critics identified the multilayered linguistic and genre approach as evidence of the group's intentions toward global reach, with the drip kpop song incorporating dance music, hip-hop, EDM, and powerhouse pop elements.

CrucialRhythm characterized the drip album as BABYMONSTER's most confident statement, describing it as bold and cohesive while successfully balancing YG Entertainment's iconic style with the group's emerging identity. The review emphasized that the album proves BABYMONSTER actively exceeds expectations rather than merely meeting them. SelectiveHearing noted that among the double title tracks, the drip song presents more accessible content for audiences seeking catchy K-pop, channeling a 2NE1-like dance track aesthetic. The review acknowledged that album cuts demonstrate the group's proficiency on lower to mid-tempo compositions.

TheBiasList assigned the drip song a 7.5 rating, observing that the production maintains bouncy energy through its rubbery groove and slapping percussion. The review noted nice vocal moments during the pre-chorus and bridge, though critiquing the simplistic catchphrase hooks at the expense of melody. AlbumOfTheYear's assessment indicated gradual improvement in BABYMONSTER's musical output, identifying the lush melodies in the drip song lyrics pre-chorus as supportive of member vocal strengths. Critics consistently recognized the disconnect between YG Entertainment's hip-hop push and the members' capabilities in groovy, melodic sections.

FAQs

When was the drip album officially released?

YG Entertainment released BABYMONSTER's first full album on November 1, 2024, with pre-orders opening on October 8, 2024, at 11:00 AM KST and closing on October 31, 2024, at 11:59 PM KST.

What physical versions are available for purchase?

The drip album was manufactured in three distinct versions: ZIP LOCK Ver., BINDER Ver., and YG TAG ALBUM Ver.. Each version offered different packaging designs and contents to collectors.

Where can the album be purchased?

The album became available through multiple retail platforms, including YG SELECT stores for Korean, global, and Chinese markets, Ktown4u for Korean, global, and Chinese customers, and Weverse Shop. Each retailer provided special gifts with purchases, with specific gift details announced separately by individual stores.

Does the album incorporate sustainable materials?

Both the ZIP LOCK Ver. and BINDER Ver., along with the YG TAG ALBUM Ver., were manufactured using paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and printed with biodegradable soy ink. Album contents were subject to potential changes during the production process.