Over the past few weeks, ARTMS have payed around with expectations. Rather than simply debut a video and song as normal, they first dropped pre-release track Born Stunner via an unexpected Instagram reaction video. This is a great way to build buzz and conversation, but at the end of the day the actual music must be solid if the group wants to keep listeners’ attention.
This year, I’ve become convinced that the K-pop industry has become incredibly insecure. Why else would so many groups have to constantly tell us how great/attractive/strong/etc they are? In 2026 alone, we’ve been forced to endure dozens of such songs. It’s now become a formula: take some “experimental” hyperpop production, find a quippy catchphrase and repeat it over and over again in the most obnoxious tone you can muster. For ARTMS, those catchphrases include gems like “I said, “Okay, okay, okay, okay” (I’m stunner)” and “Watch me step into the club like I’m your trauma, trauma.”
I just don’t understand who enjoys listening to this. If you’re a big fan of this specific style of song, please let me know why it resonates with you because I’ve reached an impasse. All a song like Born Stunner reminds me of is that annoying, self-obsessed friend who says things like “I don’t look for the drama. It just follows me around!” as if they’re some sort of victim. It’s an insufferable mentality and these songs are a brutal soundtrack to our SNS-and-meme-driven world. As a song, Born Stunner doesn’t even boast any strong moments (or any real semblance of melody), so it plunges to the bottom of this undesirable slop pile.
| Hooks | 3 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 3 |
| Bias | 3 |
| RATING | 4 |
Grade: F
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
“It appears K-pop agencies have taken a very slow bus and are just now arriving to last year’s “Brat summer.” I beg of you, K-pop … don’t take on this particular trend. You’re not well-equipped to pull it off in any way that feels authentic.” – Nick when reviewing Gnarly
The K-pop industry was definitely not equipped to handle this trend. Probably the worst trend in K-pop, no highlights and lots of slop.
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Agreed. Ugh.
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This has genuinely been the worst year for music in kpop and it doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
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Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only crazy person thinking this. I mean, I don’t want to write negative reviews, honestly!
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no
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i actually thought it was decent
then the chorus hit and I was taken aback a couple ways
easily the worst post loona track by far, latencys debut at least didnt use sing talk
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Outside of JYP and SM, I feel like every single company dropped at least one dud, if not an absolute abomination. And I thought 2020 was pretty bad in terms of music quality…
In other news, I’ve been listening to many other songs in previous years and they’re miles better than 95% of the songs this year, some of which I’ve bumped up to a 10 and will reveal it when Nick drops the Legendary song inauguration later this month(?).
Anyway, uhh, this kinda sucks, just listen to Icarus or Virtual Angel instead
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anyway enough of this garbage, its the THIRD BAD MUSIC PARTY TIME!!!
drop your 5.75- rated songs in the replies below, it doesn’t have to be kpop!
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