For many artists, performing or releasing new music to a huge audience can be a nerve-wracking experience. There’s always the worry whether the release will flop or become their greatest work. Fortunately for the newly debuted K-pop boy group AHOF (아홉), their mini-album launched worldwide with a strong and promising start, quickly capturing the attention of fans around the globe.
The rookie group made their debut on 1st July (Tuesday) with the album “Who We Are”, which quickly gained popularity. Following their debut, they hit #13 on the worldwide iTunes album charts. Additionally, It reached #1 on iTunes’ Top Albums charts in seven countries, including Malaysia. It also secured a spot in the top 20 in several other countries, including Hong Kong, Thailand and Canada.
The group consists of 9 members, all of whom were finalists in the SBS survival show “Universe League”. Even though they just recently debuted, the boys already had quite a following under their belt. For example, the leader, Steven (스티븐), was originally part of the Australian-Korean boy band LUMINOUS (루미너스) before they disbanded. Woongki (웅기) was part of another K-pop band, TO1 (티오원), before leaving due to personal reasons.
Their debut album, “Who We Are“, includes six tracks: “The Little Star,” “The Universe,” “Rendezvous,” “Incompleted,” “Cosmic Underdog,” and “AHOF.” Critically acclaimed producer EL CAPITXN (이정), who also served as a mentor on “Universe League”, produced the entire album, including the title track “Rendezvous”.
The album didn’t just gain popularity on Apple Music but also on YouTube. The music video for “Rendezvous” has already hit over 6 million views since its release earlier this week, showcasing the strong connection between the group and their growing fanbase.
AHOF’s debut marks a significant milestone in the K-pop industry, highlighting the power of international collaboration and dedicated fan engagement. With a diverse lineup representing multiple countries, they’ve successfully reached audiences far beyond South Korea and the traditional K-pop community, signalling a new era of global appeal.
Check out their title track “Rendezvous” below:
Zaima Humaira contributed to this article.
