RIIZE Drops "Fame" Single: SM Entertainment Group Tackles Rage Hip-Hop for First Time
SM Entertainment's six-member group RIIZE released their second single album "Fame" on November 24, 2025, venturing into rage-style hip-hop territory for the first time in their career.
The title track challenges conventional notions of success in the entertainment industry. Rather than glorifying celebrity status, the song emphasizes authentic human connection and emotional resonance over superficial recognition.
Breaking New Ground with Rage Hip-Hop
"Fame" represents a significant stylistic departure for the group known for their "emotional pop" sound. The track blends aggressive rhythmic elements with raw electric guitar textures, creating an edgier sonic landscape than their previous releases.
Member Shotaro described the new direction as refreshingly cool and unrestricted. He emphasized that fans should experience the choreography alongside the music to fully appreciate the creative vision.
For Eunseok, the song boils down to one concept: inner self. He hopes listeners will use the track as a mirror to examine their own priorities and values.
What Success Really Means
The single's title carries deliberate irony. While "fame" typically connotes widespread recognition and celebrity, the lyrics flip this narrative on its head.
Anton explained his perspective on the song's central theme. Although he acknowledges that public recognition matters, his primary motivation stems from personal fulfillment and artistic growth. He believes authentic dedication naturally attracts the right kind of attention.
The member elaborated that the "love" the song prioritizes encompasses his fandom BRIIZE, the creative process itself, his family, his teammates, and self-acceptance. He suggests each listener will discover their own interpretation of what truly matters.
Three Tracks, Three Emotional Landscapes
The single album features a compact but diverse three-song tracklist:
"Fame" opens with the group's first rage hip-hop experiment, questioning whether celebrity holds real value compared to genuine emotional bonds.
"Something's in the Water" shifts into R&B-pop territory with subdued vocals floating over deep bass lines. The track explores accepting anxiety and self-doubt as natural components of personal growth rather than obstacles to overcome.
"Sticky Like" closes the album with pop-rock energy. Dramatic instrumental builds featuring drums, guitar, and piano underscore lyrics about complete devotion in romantic relationships.
Live Showcase and Fan Connection
The group held a showcase at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin district on November 24 at 5 p.m., streaming simultaneously on YouTube and TikTok for international fans.
Member Sungchan expressed gratitude to BRIIZE, promising the comeback would reveal previously unseen facets of the group's artistic identity. He thanked fans for making 2025 memorable while looking forward to creating more shared experiences in 2026.
Building on Commercial Success
This release follows RIIZE's first full-length album "Odyssey," which dropped on May 19, 2025. That album moved 1.79 million copies during its first week, securing triple million-seller status for the group.
The "Fame" comeback arrives as RIIZE continues their "Riizing Loud" world tour. After wrapping the North American leg, the group will resume touring in January 2026 with stops planned for Jakarta, Macau, and Tokyo. Their Tokyo Dome performance will mark a milestone as one of the fastest K-pop boy groups to headline the venue since debut.
With "Fame," RIIZE asks both themselves and their audience to look past the glittering surface of entertainment industry success and consider what drives genuine human satisfaction-a thoughtfully mature message delivered through their most sonically aggressive work yet.
