When BABYMONSTER debuted, it was obvious that YG was not looking for another “cute” girl group to place neatly in a display case. From the very beginning, they felt more like a project built on energy, performance and that unmistakable feeling of: “Yes, we know you are watching us.”
And the new mini album “춤 (CHOOM)” confirms exactly that direction.
The album was released on May 4, 2026, and even the title itself is interesting. “Choom” is the romanization of the Korean word for dance — not a sterile English title, but something that sounds raw, Korean and simple at the same time. Around the comeback, YG builds the idea that music and movement can bring people together into one crowd, one energy, one chaos under flashing lights.
And honestly?
This album is not about deep melancholy or philosophical storytelling in the style of BTS’s HYYH era. This is more like:
“Come outside. Stop thinking. Break your heels. Dance.”
Tracklist: short, but clearly thought through
The mini album contains four songs:
- MOON
- CHOOM (title track)
- I LIKE IT
- LOCKED IN
Yes, only four tracks. Which, with YG, has become a bit of a tradition in recent years: fewer songs, but a strong focus on image, performance and replay value.
🌙 “MOON” — a darker intro to the whole atmosphere
“MOON” opens the album in a surprisingly atmospheric way. According to YG’s descriptions, it is a southern trap / R&B hip-hop track with a slightly dreamy, almost nocturnal aesthetic.
And that fits BABYMONSTER perfectly.
They are not fairies in pastel skirts. Their vibe is more:
- neon,
- asphalt after rain,
- heavy bass,
- a camera too close to the face,
- and an expression that says, “Try saying something.”
“MOON” feels like a song set in the moment before the explosion. It does not go all in immediately. It builds tension instead.
That kind of feeling:
“Something is coming.”
💃 “CHOOM” — the title track that wants to move the internet
The title track “CHOOM” is exactly the kind of song made for:
- TikTok dance challenges,
- fancams,
- concert scream moments,
- short viral edits,
- and an audience that wants to shout the chorus in a crowd.
YG describes the song as a hip-hop dance track with an aggressively addictive synth riff and heavy bass.
And yes — this is exactly the type of production where:
- the beat is not “background”,
- the beat is the main character.
BABYMONSTER sound more confident here than they did at the beginning of their career. You can hear the group slowly moving from the phase of:
“rookie monster girls”
to the phase of:
“OK, now we know who we are.”
✨ “I LIKE IT” — lighter energy, but still not sugary
This song feels like the freshest moment on the album.
After the darker opening, a different kind of energy suddenly arrives — one that feels like:
- a summer night drive through the city,
- open car windows,
- convenience stores glowing at 2 a.m.,
- aesthetic TikTok videos with a grain filter.
It is still BABYMONSTER, so there is no ultra-cute bubblegum pop here. But there is more light, more movement, more ease.
And honestly?
This could be the sleeper hit of the album.
The kind of track that is not first on every thumbnail… but two months later, people may be streaming it the most.
🔒 “LOCKED IN” — an R&B ending with emotions under the surface
The album closes with the R&B pop song “LOCKED IN”.
And this is exactly where you can hear that BABYMONSTER are not just a performance group.
They have strong vocals. And YG clearly seems to be using them more.
“LOCKED IN” does not feel dramatic in the style of:
“crying in the rain on a rooftop in Seoul”.
It is more like:
- controlled emotions,
- tension,
- obsession,
- the moment when someone pretends to be calm… but is not entirely calm at all.
Rami is still missing — and you can feel it
An important thing: member Rami did not participate in this comeback because of a health-related hiatus.
And even though the group still works very well, her absence is noticeable, especially in the vocal layers. Rami had one of the most distinctive voices in the whole lineup — the kind of voice that could change the atmosphere of a song in three seconds.
That is why the fandom experiences this comeback in a slightly double way:
- excitement for a new era,
- but also a quiet sense of missing something.
Which, by the way, is a very typical K-pop emotion:
joy and melancholy at the same time. K-pop is almost dangerously good at this.
YG is already planning more MVs
And this is where you can see that YG is still investing heavily in the project.
Besides the main MV for “CHOOM”, more music videos were also announced:
- “I LIKE IT”
- and “MOON”.
That is a pretty smart move.
Because each of those songs has a different atmosphere:
- CHOOM = performance chaos,
- MOON = dark aesthetic,
- I LIKE IT = replayable vibe content.
YG clearly does not want just “one viral title track”.
They are trying to build a whole mini era.
BABYMONSTER are no longer “just BLACKPINK’s younger sisters”
This may be the most interesting moment of their career so far.
During the first year after debut, people mostly talked about them as:
“YG’s new girl group after BLACKPINK”.
But now?
They are starting to have their own identity.
BLACKPINK feel like:
- luxury,
- dominance,
- high-fashion charisma.
BABYMONSTER, for now, are more:
- raw energy,
- performance,
- movement,
- chaos,
- young pressure,
- volume.
Less “untouchable icons”.
More:
“a party that could turn into a riot at any second.”
And that is a good thing. Because copying BLACKPINK would be a direct ticket to fandom-comment hell.
So… is “CHOOM” worth listening to?
If you are expecting:
- a deep concept album,
- BTS-style lore,
- art-pop experiments,
- or emotional devastation in the style of some NewJeans tracks…
then maybe not entirely.
But if you want:
- energy,
- a strong performance vibe,
- dance tracks,
- a confident YG sound,
- and a soundtrack for the moment when you simply want to feel cool…
then yes.
“CHOOM” feels like an album that does not want to analyze your soul.
It wants to drag you onto the dance floor.
And then smudge your makeup with sweat and strobe lights.
And sometimes?
That is exactly what a person needs. And I have to admit it: it works for me. CHOOM, CHOOM, CHOOM!
Discover more from Bead Culture by Lola Tralala
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