{"id":1991049,"date":"2025-09-01T11:18:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T11:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1991049"},"modified":"2025-09-01T11:18:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T11:18:37","slug":"monsta-x-talk-new-music-monbebe-fandom-10-year-anniversary-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/monsta-x-talk-new-music-monbebe-fandom-10-year-anniversary-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Monsta X Talk New Music, Monbebe Fandom, 10-Year Anniversary, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\tFor a group that\u2019s known as being \u201cbeast idols\u201d (more on that later), Monsta X<\/a> have a tender quality that comes across even in a bland hotel conference room that\u2019s too small to contain their energy. Though they are in the hot seat answering questions about their decade together and the non-stop work ethic that got them here, they are thoughtful, funny, and impeccably polite.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tEarlier this morning, the K-pop<\/a> group released their latest EP, The X<\/em>, which is a clever play on their group name and<\/em> the Roman numeral for 10, which is the number of years they\u2019ve been together. They also made the intentional choice to showcase six new tracks that represent their six-person lineup. After a deliberation process where each artist got his say on which songs to include, they worked on the songs together, as they\u2019ve always done.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cMajority rules,\u201d vocalist Kihyun tells Rolling Stone <\/em>in an exclusive interview over Zoom. \u201cWe each explain our reasons for why we want to include a song, but if we continue to disagree, then we\u2019ll vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSmiling, group leader Shownu adds, \u201cSometimes we\u2019ll share little drinks to make it fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSitting in a reverse V shape at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, Kihyun and rapper Joohoney are seated up front. Shownu sits in the back, flanked by fellow vocalists Minhyuk and Hyungwon. (The youngest member, I.M \u2014 a bilingual rapper \u2014 stayed behind in Seoul to recuperate from a back injury, and answered questions via email.) Dressed in neutral colors, Kihyun, Minhyuk, and Hyungwon wear their hair in the favored middle part. Shownu and Joohoney, the lone blond in the group, have bangs that lay just so over their eyebrows. Though they may look effortlessly youthful, the members are quick to point out they\u2019re not in their twenties anymore (except for I.M, who is 29).<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe are in our thirties now, so we\u2019re all very interested in taking care of our health,\u201d Shownu says. \u201cIt\u2019s so important to focus on our wellbeing.\u201d The unspoken portion of his thought process is that they have to remain strong so that their beloved fandom, Monbebe, won\u2019t worry about them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\t\tEditor\u2019s picks<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n

\n\tUnlike previous conversations where they spoke predominantly in Korean, this interview is conducted in Korean, English, and Konglish \u2014 a portmanteau of the two languages with a liberal use of loanwords. Shownu, who can be shy in interviews, seems less concerned about getting his quotes included than in ensuring that his bandmates are featured. Actually, all of them are quick to prop each other up. When we discuss which songs on The X <\/em>marks the spot for them, they don\u2019t dwell on the songs they individually wrote or produced. Instead, they rattle off what they love about each other\u2019s songs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tThe X<\/em> is a love letter to Monbebe, but also a reminder of the group\u2019s continual growth as artists. \u201cChoosing the final six tracks wasn\u2019t easy at all,\u201d I.M says. \u201cAfter lots of listening sessions and discussions with the members, we finally decided on the lineup. Each song has its own unique vibe, [and] we\u2019ve shaped them in a way that really feels like us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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They\u2019re eager to talk about their new songs, so we start with their pre-release single \u201cDo What I Want,\u201d an explosive banger driven by a throbbing bass line. \u201cThat song has a very unique hook,\u201d Shownu says. \u201cAnd Honey [a.k.a. Joohoney] made it into our own style. He added Monsta X\u2019s color.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cN the Front\u201d is a chaotic but melodic rap song with strong percussion that feels like it could appeal to a multitude of generations. \u201cI thought that, too,\u201d Joohoney says. \u201cEach part of the song is full of energy. We think everyone can enjoy this song.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minhyuk says that the funky \u201cCatch Me Now\u201d is his personal favorite. \u201cAll the tracks on the album are really good,\u201d he notes. \u201cBut this song in particular was made to perform onstage in the future. We hope you have a chance to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTuscan Leather\u201d offers the singalong hook, \u201cWe\u2019re 1 for the M, 2 for the X,\u201d which Joohoney says is an homage to decades gone past. \u201cI wanted to incorporate elements from Nineties hip-hop. And that line is something that fans can sing along to. It\u2019s especially good for global fans, because it\u2019s a line they can easily remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\tRelated Content<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n

\n\tIn a case of art imitating life, KPop Demon Hunters<\/em><\/a> <\/em>filmmaker Maggie Kang has said that Monsta X was one of the inspirations for the Saja Boys, her film\u2019s fictional boy band. The animated hit utilized physical elements from several real-life boy groups to create its own supergroup. But when I mention to them that the Saja Boys\u2019 \u201cYour Idol\u201d seems to share the same musical dynamics that are highlighted in Monsta X\u2019s work, they nod their heads and smile at the compliment. \u201cSavior,\u201d for instance, is a sexy, catchy earworm that\u2019s featured on The X<\/em>. Monsta X worked on the song prior to the movie\u2019s release, but \u201cSavior\u201d and \u201cYour Idol\u201d sound like they could be companion pieces. When Monsta X sings, \u201cMy last confession, you\u2019re my obsession,\u201d listeners can almost visualize MX garbed in black Grim Reaper outfits trying to steal our souls, just as they did in arguably the best dance cover<\/a> of \u201cYour Idol.\u201d <\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThat song is really our youngest member I.M\u2019s track,\u201d Kihyun says, noting that I.M and Joohoney co-wrote the lyrics, and I.M did the composition and arrangement. \u201cThere were actually a lot of different versions before we chose the one on [The X<\/em>]. It really shows the deeper color of Monsta X\u2019s style. It\u2019s a track on the album that was also the hardest to sing vocally.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThough he raps on \u201cSavior,\u201d I.M wrote it with the vocal line in mind. He credits his bandmates for how well the song turned out. \u201cWe had a clear vision for each song,\u201d he says. \u201cI feel \u2018Savior\u2019 fits our vocal members perfectly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tThat vision is one reason why the group has excelled for so long in a highly competitive field that doesn\u2019t always encourage longevity. At this point in their career, the men are less concerned with commercial success than in creating a legacy for themselves that they can be proud of.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIf we look at Monsta X\u2019s early years, the group distinguished itself from many of its contemporaries by projecting a more mature and masculine image, inheriting the \u2018beast idol\u2019 mantle once held by 2PM,\u201d says K-pop scholar Hye Jin Lee, who teaches a class on Korean pop culture at the University of Southern California. \u201cThey debuted as Starship Entertainment\u2019s first hip-hop idol group, and they lived up to that positioning with members like Joohoney taking on an active role in songwriting and production from the very beginning. Their combination of strong, athletic physiques, along with intense, hard-hitting music, and dynamic, high-energy performances set them apart within the K-pop landscape. I think that the group\u2019s main rappers, Joohoney and I.M, also being strong vocalists is their strength\u2026and the group was able to branch into a more pop-oriented style of music, [which] requires more vocal skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMonsta X have been unfettered by a need to fit into any one genre. Ballads incorporate rap, and many of their rap tracks include the sweetest melodies. They are also one of the few K-pop artists to release some of their albums entirely in English. Eleven years after BoA released her self-titled all-English album, Monsta X dropped All About Luv<\/em> in 2020. This was a daring feat for a Korean group that didn\u2019t include a native English-speaking member. Even I.M, who had spent part of his childhood in Boston, has said it was difficult <\/a>to retain his foreign language skills when he had no one to practice with in Korea.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tWe get around to discussing the final track on The X<\/em>. Co-written, co-composed, and co-arranged by Hyungwon, \u201cFire & Ice\u201d has an old school R&B vibe that would\u2019ve fit into the New Jack Swing scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. \u201cIt\u2019s a song about different people and how they love each other,\u201d Hyungwon says. \u201cIt\u2019s particularly special to me because it\u2019s about how they come together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tOf course, the members \u2014 who were born between 1992 and 1996 \u2014 were too young to remember those days, but we talk about how New Jack Swing\u2019s mashup of rapping and singing is something Monsta X deftly incorporates into their music, making their songs attractive to older fans who predate Millennials and Gen Z.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tOne of\u00a0Monsta X\u2019s most well-known supporters is actress Kim Young-ok (Squid Game<\/em>), who went viral after attending their concert in Seoul this summer. Kim, 87, is so beloved in South Korea that she\u2019s known by the honorific title of the Nation\u2019s Grandmother. Dressed up for the show, she danced, sang along, and teared up watching the group perform<\/a>. In a video she posted on her personal YouTube channel, she tells Joohoney, her friend since 2016, \u201cI really liked your comment, \u2018I\u2019m not someone who runs for the top, I just keep going.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen Jantine Annika Heij was asked to collaborate on \u201cFire & Ice,\u201d the songwriter knew how important The X<\/em> was for Monsta X. She has worked with them since 2020, co-writing 10 songs both with the group as well as individual members for their solo projects. \u201cThis one was different, though, since this mini-album is a comeback,\u201d Heij says. \u201cIt had to be big, more epic, more of that guess-who\u2019s-back feeling. \u2026 What makes MX stand out is the involvement of the individual members in the songwriting, composition, and arrangement process. The boys are ultra aware of what they want, and what sound they\u2019re looking for. It\u2019s always a delight working with artists who have such a clear vision. I feel like they set the trend [rather than] following it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAs the interview draws to a close, the members take the opportunity to compliment each other one last time.<\/p>\n

\n\tOf Minhyuk, Kihyun says, \u201cHe is getting so much better at English at this point and continues to become an even better vocalist than he already is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLooking over at Shownu, Minhyuk says, \u201cHe always thinks about his health.\u201d As Shownu nods, Minhyuk adds, \u201cHe\u2019s also very handsome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSmiling, Shownu says, \u201cHyungwon is also handsome and cares deeply for all of our members, even those of us who are older than him. He says sweet things to Monbebe. And he buys drinks for us often!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cJoohoney is my younger brother, but I learn from his passion and energy,\u201d Hyungwon says. \u201cHe\u2019s always thinking. He is awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen it\u2019s Joohoney\u2019s turn, he says he\u2019ll speak about both Kihyun and I.M. \u201cAll of us work really hard, but Kihyun in particular,\u201d he says. \u201cMonsta X wouldn\u2019t be the same without him. He always has to hit the high parts of our songs, so he works extra hard. And I.M adds so much to our music. He\u2019s very friendly and<\/em> is a great friend to us. We miss him now and wish he wasn\u2019t in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n

\n\tJoohoney\u2019s message to I.M is especially poignant, because the group\u2019s maknae<\/em> (or youngest) is the final member of the group who will enlist for military duty, most likely in the upcoming months.<\/p>\n

\n\tFrom Seoul, I.M relays a message meant for his bandmates and Monbebe. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.rollingstone.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For a group that\u2019s known as being \u201cbeast idols\u201d (more on that later), Monsta X have a tender quality that comes across even in a bland hotel conference room that\u2019s too small to contain their energy. Though they are in the hot seat answering questions about their decade together and the non-stop work ethic that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1991050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[23842,359749],"class_list":["post-1991049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-k-pop","tag-monsta-x"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Monsta-X-Talk-New-Music-Monbebe-Fandom-10-Year-Anniversary-and.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991049","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1991049"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991049\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1991050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1991049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1991049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1991049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}