Stray Kids KARMA Album 2025: Release Date, Tracklist, Faker Cameo & Billboard Records
K-pop superstars announce fourth studio album with sports concept and legendary gamer appearance
Stray Kids released their fourth studio album "KARMA" on August 22, 2025, marking their first full-length Korean release since 2023's "5-STAR." The eight-member group held a press conference in Seoul to celebrate the milestone comeback.
Album Details and Sports-Inspired Concept
The 11-track album features title track "CEREMONY" alongside songs including "BLEEP," "CREED," "MESS," "In My Head," "Half Time," "Phoenix," "Ghost," and "0801". Two additional versions of "CEREMONY" complete the tracklist: a Festival Version and English Version.
The album concept centers on "Karma Sports" set in 2081, with each member portrayed as past champions competing in a futuristic arena. The sports theme emerged from their recent stadium tour experiences.
Member Changbin explained: "We adopted a sports concept after performing stadium tours and envisioning our stages in these venues."
Historic Billboard Success Continues
Stray Kids made history as the first act to debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 with their first six chart entries, including "ODDINARY," "MAXIDENT," "5-STAR," "ROCK-STAR," "ATE," and "HOP." This achievement ties them with BTS for most No. 1 albums among groups in the 21st century.
The group's previous release "ATE" earned 231,000 equivalent album units in its first week, marking the largest 2024 debut for any K-pop album.
Faker's Surprise Music Video Appearance
The "CEREMONY" music video features a surprise cameo from League of Legends legend Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok. The esports icon appears at the video's end, making his signature pose.
Felix shared: "Faker filmed while we were on tour overseas. We couldn't meet in person, but we're honored by his participation. We'd love to meet him and play games together someday."
Global Stadium Tour Success
The group completed their "dominATE" World Tour from August 2024 to July 2025, spanning 54 shows across 34 regions and covering 285,000 kilometers. They became the first South Korean act to perform at venues including Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Changbin recalled performing at Tottenham: "I filmed videos like crazy, bragging to friends. It was an incredible moment of glory."
Group Reflects on Seven-Year Journey
The members addressed their growth and challenges during the press conference. Changbin discussed overcoming early doubts: "We had concerns about our music in the beginning and saw negative comments. But our members and STAY believed in us. That stubbornness worked positively."
Leader Bang Chan emphasized their artistic mission: "Our ultimate goal is promoting the music Stray Kids wants to do long-term. This album showcases our musicality."
Member Han delivered an emotional message about their bond: "Despite ups and downs over eight years, we became beings who could lean on each other. We've grown from branches into a tree with strong roots."
What's Next for Stray Kids
The group will promote "KARMA" through various appearances and a pop-up store at Seoul's Lotte World Mall from August 23 to September 3. Future plans include potential encore concerts following their record-breaking world tour.
With "KARMA," Stray Kids continues establishing themselves as global superstars while maintaining their self-producing artistry and strong connection with fans worldwide.
"KARMA" is available on all major streaming platforms as of August 22, 2025, 1 PM KST.