THE CORE – 核 has the confidence and attitude to position septet global group XG as a legitimate dangerous force – even if its focus on making chart-topping hits is not enough to forge their otherwise exciting vision to shake the broader pop industry to its core.
Release date: January 23, 2026 | XGALX | Official website | Instagram | Facebook
Three years ago on an uneventful Friday night drive back home, I let my Spotify do its thing with its Release Radar playlist. A couple of songs in, I heard an icy chime play out followed by auto-tuned ad-libs that finalized with someone saying the letters X and G. Soon after – a pummeling drop that gave way to a ruthless trap-infused hip hop with biting raps and one of the catchiest hooks I’ve heard in a good while. To say that I was no longer paying attention to the road is a bit of an understatement: I was gone (and, sure enough, lived to tell the tale).
And that was my formal introduction to XG (Xtraordinary Genes; formerly known as Xtraordinary Girls): a seven-member Japanese group – composed of rap line Cocona, Harvey, Jurin, and Maya, and vocal line Chisa, Hinata, and Juria. Spearheaded by executive producer and K-pop boy band DMTN alumni Simon Junho-Park (alias Jakops), they are known for putting out pop-infused American hip hop and r&b – all under a wolf pack/alien theme that brings forth their mission to break current pop industry norms. Ever since their formation in 2022, they have steadily caught the attention of many – me included – thanks to their seemingly genuine appreciation and care for the golden age of the aforementioned genres, evidently embedded in their songs to varying degrees; it’s an authenticity that immediately set them apart from other idol groups.
After releasing a bout of very solid singles and EPs, along with having recently performed on prolific stages such as the Tokyo Dome and Coachella, we’re at last graced with a debut full-length album aptly titled THE CORE. Including a kanji character in its title that roughly translates to ‘nucleus’, the record sets out to properly introduce XG to a global audience, an inviting yet robust statement that aims to present both their self-described ‘X-pop’ genre and the members themselves for what they truly are to the world’s extent.
With high expectations of what an XG debut record would sound like, at first – and sure enough – I expected more after my initial listens. Having been a fan for years now, I’m aware of what the group is fully capable of and this record kind of maintains a level they’ve reached already. There’s also the added layer that THE CORE – 核 feels like, more than anything else, an effort to pump out hits and make a safe impression on a wider audience. But I get it – it’s still a fun and quality pop record with tons of replayability, and what better way to put out a major debut album than to completely lock in with what they already excel at?
Main single “GALA” offers a stellar peek at the album through captivatingly intergalactic house. Inspired by the voguing/ballroom scene, the track glistens with much glamour and ferocity thanks to its fluorescent synth chords that transport you to a futuristic runway show, coupled with clever but nonetheless saucy rap schemes (Jurin’s ‘I could dress naturally…‘ verse and Maya’s Kill Bill/Zoolander lines are nothing short of elite) that further hone in on the central idea of turning a ‘Met Gala into an X-GALA‘. Chisa’s performance on the track’s pre-choruses is of the calibre of a pop superstar, while the bridge handled by Hinata and Juria is one of my favorite moments off the entire album simply due to their cool nonchalance paired with the fun easter eggs on their lines paying tribute to artists the likes of Ciara, Kehlani, and Styx (yes, Styx).
The dance-pop streak continues on “TAKE MY BREATH” – a funky French house cut not too unlike Daft Punk‘s outputs that sports an infectious drive with an early 2010s pop sheen, with the only setback being that the way the song was produced blended the group’s vocals at times, resulting in the song sounding a bit one-dimensional. In similar fashion, “HYPNOTIZE”, with its crisp hi-hats, dynamic backdrop, and keen use of space, sees the group giving a masterclass of making a prime pop track.
The Aaliyah-interpolated “ROCK THE BOAT” sees the group exploring themes of romance and sensuality with a naturalness that’s fresh to see. Harvey’s part starting the second verse is a clear milestone for her: punchy, seamless, and full of personality, especially given her uniquely recognizable voice. It’s also a contender for the summer jam of 2026 with its clean guitar licks and overall bright production. The r&b further seeps through on songs like the silky, body-swaying, and confrontational “NO GOOD”, where XG are truly in their element and at their peak vocally, and the more laid-back “UP NOW” with its contagious bounce, which also marks a rare appearance of Juria rapping, sharing lines with Harvey on the track’s first verse and sounding just at home in the process.
The rap line is together once more on “PS118” for a funky but gritty boom bap track (one that was first released as a standalone single for Jurin’s fire-flame solo debut, featuring none other than Rapsody), with each member receiving writing credits and whose pen and flow are nothing to scuff at. The song further proves why Cocona is a fan-favorite thanks to their rich timbre and merciless delivery, but Maya and Harvey do not fall behind as they’re completely in the pocket here.
THE CORE – 核 is not without its complete left turns, either. The more obvious one comes in the form of the pop punk rocker “O.R.B (Obviously Reads Bro)” which, admittedly, did not do much for me. I’m not a fan of pop artists unexpectedly pivoting to rock on a one-time basis as they tend to sound overly produced, stale, and too on the nose. That’s unfortunately the case here, even more so considering there’s potential for a great XG rock song. Still, the track does have its silver linings, mostly from the song clearly coming off as tongue-in-cheek and self-aware, but also from its endearing lyrics and how the constant use of ‘bro’ and its many iterations is not really much of a coincidence given the recent news of rap line member Cocona coming out as transmasculine nonbinary. It’s for sure a heartwarming song about the friendship that the group has developed over time and I appreciate the fun and sincerity of the overall performance, but ultimately it’s not one I’ll find myself returning to any time soon.
Further subverting expectations is “4 SEASONS”, a delicate acoustic ballad about the passage of time entirely performed by the vocal line. I love how stripped back yet spacious the production is; it gives each member’s vocals much more depth and clarity. Hinata’s tone sounds so velvety in comparison to her other moments on the album, and the way Chisa’s emotive vocals reverberate on the track’s bridge gives much more weight to the subject matter at hand. It’s fairly simple in the grander scheme of acoustic songs, but effective nonetheless.
THE CORE – 核 more than does its job to leave a lasting impression on newcomers with its finely curated collection of pop tracks while letting each XG member have their much deserved spotlight. Nevertheless, and as great an album as it is where debuts are concerned, it’s not one that fully captures what X-pop is, nor is it transformative enough to further carry their goal of disrupting pop music industry conventions. There’s definitely character and substance to this record regardless, and the growth the group has gone through is unmistakable. If anything, it makes it all the more exciting to see where XG will go from here because the talent, attitude, and mindset are apparent – it’s only a matter of time before the XG takeover is in full effect.
