Let's do a quick history lesson — because this conversation doesn't make sense without it. K-pop as we know it didn't emerge from a cultural vacuum. Seo Taiji and Boys are credited with essentially creating the genre's modern blueprint in the early '90s — by directly pulling from American hip-hop, R&B, and funk. That DNA has never left. Listen to any era of K-pop or the newer wave of J-pop acts like XG and you hear it: the 808s, the trap hi-hats, the vocal runs, the AAVE-inflected ad-libs, the choreography lifted from B-boy culture, the locs and braids worn as aesthetic without context. This isn't a hot take — it's documented. Harvard has a published paper on it. The AUC library has a whole research guide dedicated to it. Here's what's uncomfortable: the same industry that commodifies Blackness at scale also has a documented history of blackface, blaccents played for laughs, and fans who'll fiercely defend their faves borrowing the culture while having very little to say when Black artists don't get the same shine in those same markets. XG is part of this ecosystem. That's not a condemnation — it's context. And it's exactly why a space like this one matters. We can love the music AND ask the hard questions. The question for today: Where do you draw your personal line between influence, homage, and appropriation — and does intention actually matter if the pattern of credit stays the same?

XG's first full-length album THE CORE dropped in January and landed in the Billboard 200 Top 100. Now the world tour is rolling — sold-out nights in Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, and dates locked in for Bangkok, Manila, Taipei, and eventually North America and Europe. By any metric, this is the biggest moment in the group's career. But it's not a clean storyline. A lot happened in a short window: producer Simon Jakops (Junho Sakai) was arrested in February on drug charges. Member Cocona came out as transmasculine non-binary in December and has publicly shared their transition — making XG now a co-ed group. And the label quietly rebranded the initialism from "Xtraordinary Girls" to "Xtraordinary Genes." A new album. A world tour. A gender identity announcement. A producer behind bars. An identity rebrand. That's a lot of shifts happening simultaneously — and the music is still in the room. So let's talk about it: Does THE CORE feel like growth to you, or does the new direction feel like it's chasing something? And how are you sitting with all the off-stage developments — do they change how you engage with the music?

I am hoping to be on the live tomorrow. I am posting this to be held accoutable. 🤣 I miss the last two on accident.

I must say first off. The response to our assessment of The Core review really affected me. What I felt like after reading some of the comments was profound. I almost felt like I had betrayed XG, the group that I have grown so fond of. I haven’t watched much XG content since then or participated much in any discussion. I didn’t listen to XG for a week or so. But I decided to listen to The Core a few more times and try and rekindle my excitement for this group. I have found that I am really enjoying The Core now. Something to reflect on. I think the ALPHAZ community can be quite toxic in some areas. Absolute devotion to a group is not healthy in my honest opinion. XG almost lost a fan a supporter in me because of the fandom and not because of their actions. I have realized that in the ALPHAZ community there are a couple of factions. The we support and are proud of XG and are ok with differing opinions. And the other toxic players in the game that want to tare down any decanting opinion even if it damages XGs reputation or success. Well I am back on board. I watched the Rock the Boat video and very much enjoyed it. They all look like they are genuinely happy and having a blast together. It made me smile and dance in my seat a bit with them. I am not going to let the fandom ruin my relationship with XG. Thank you for your reading. Aaron

I mean, what else is there to talk about? Lets break this album down! Lets walk through these songs! I need the perspective, trust me. See you Monday!