K-pop Group MONSTA X to Release Third All-English Language Album

The “K” in K-pop may stand for “Korean,” but many K-Pop acts have branched out into English-language tracks over the years, and MONSTA X was one of the first. Now on their unprecedented third English album set to be released on April 3, international fans are excited for what’s to come.

MONSTA X’s English Track Excellence

While many K-pop groups are incorporating more and more English into their songs these days to accommodate a growing international fanbase, this wasn’t always the case. K-pop songs of old were typically mostly in Korean, with an English hook here or there to allow non-Korean-speaking fans to sing along to the chorus. 

MONSTA X made waves all the way back in 2019 when they released their first all-English album, “All About Luv” to great success. For that album, they toned down their usual heavy, hip-hop-infused sound for something more poppy and stuck to an overall theme of love that would resonate with fans of all ages and nationalities. The group’s lead rapper, I.M, told Apple Music, “There are a lot of ways to express love. I think love is really hard to define. I think love is the best thing to do for humanity. That’s why we named it “All About Luv.”

MONSTA X went on to release a second all-English album two years later, titled “The Dreaming,” which followed the same pop-forward formula. Rolling Stone spoke highly of the album, saying, “MONSTA X pays homage to boy-band culture, with Nineties-style harmonies, slick choruses, and head-bopping beats that come together in an infectious and joyous 27 minutes.” 

Now MONSTA X is back with a third all-English album titled “Unfold.” Featuring 10 tracks, including Heal, Growing Pains, Baby Blue, This!, Before You Met Me, Glass Half Empty, Main Attraction, Enemies with Benefits, On Our Way, and Sorry to Myself, the album preview hints at a continuation of MONSTA X’s commitment to boy band excellence in their English albums. Pre-release track Baby Blue set the tone for the album with its retro stylings and catchy melody.

MONSTA X The Group

If you haven’t heard of MONSTA X, they are a third-generation K-pop group that debuted in 2015. K-pop is divided into generations, with each generation spanning a relatively arbitrary number of years. The third generation began in 2012, by most accounts, and contains groups like EXO, BLACKPINK, and the mega-popular global sensation BTS. Third-generation groups typically have members in their thirties now, so you can expect a more mature sound and a healthy amount of seasoning.

MONSTA X was formed on the K-pop survival show “NO.MERCY,” and originally debuted with 7 members. Member Wonho departed the group and began his solo career in 2019 following a controversy. The group consists of four vocalists, leader Shownu, Minhyuk, main vocalist Kihyun, and Hyungwon, along with two rappers, Joohoney and youngest I.M.

The group’s Korean tracks lean heavily into hip-hop, with the group’s rappers catching a lot of the attention, but as mentioned, their English tracks tend to have a different feel. MONSTA X has a massive discography, so there’s guaranteed to be a little something for everyone. 

If you’re new to K-pop and looking for a good entry point, MONSTA X’s English albums are definitely a good place to start. Sing along with songs that feel both familiar and fresh, and bask in the awe of the members’ incredible English pronunciation, despite only member I.M being completely fluent in English. My personal recommendations? Check out tracks WHO DO YOU LOVE? (feat. French Montana) from “All About Luv” and Whispers in the Dark from “The Dreaming” for a synth-pop good time.