FIRST READ · MON 7 AM ETTHE WEEKEND LEXICON · SAT 9 AM ET
XG
- Agency
- XGALX
- Fandom
- ALPHAZ
- Debut
- 2022
- Generation
- 4th gen
- Members
- 7
XG, short for Xtraordinary Girls, is a seven-member group of Japanese artists who train and are based in South Korea, working under XGALX, a subsidiary of Avex. They perform in Japanese, Korean and English, and their sound is rooted in hip-hop and R&B, with house, pop-punk, techno and Y2K pop colors added over time. The group calls its own blend "X-POP." U.S. fans have plenty of reasons to watch them: they became the first Japanese group on Billboard's Top 40 Radio Airplay chart, closed the Sahara stage at Coachella in 2025, put an album on the Billboard 200, and booked a North American arena run for their 2026 world tour.
Personnel
In their own words
- Beyoncé Chisa named her among the American R&B and hip-hop artists who inspired the group. nme.com
- Rihanna Named alongside Beyoncé as a favorite American influence. nme.com
- H.E.R Cited by Chisa as an inspiring American artist. nme.com
- SZA Cited by Chisa as an inspiring American artist. nme.com
- Boyz II Men A childhood favorite of Maya. elle.com
- Michael Jackson A childhood favorite of Harvey. elle.com
- Lady Gaga A childhood favorite of Chisa. elle.com
- Madonna A childhood favorite of Chisa. elle.com
Timeline
- 2022Debut with "Tippy Toes"
- 2022"Mascara" and first Korean TV appearance
The release of "Mascara" in June 2022 brought the group's first television appearance in South Korea. Later that year their rapper cypher went viral on YouTube and TikTok.
- 2023"Shooting Star" and "Left Right" make radio history
- 2023"Xtra Xtra" documentary series
A trainee-to-debut documentary series began in April 2023, opening with an episode that mixed trainee footage and an interview with producer JAKOPS (SIMON).
- 2023Remixes with Rico Nasty, Ciara and Jackson Wang
Remixes followed for both singles, with Rico Nasty on "Shooting Star" and Ciara and Jackson Wang on "Left Right."
- 2023First U.S. performance at Head in the Clouds
- 2023Mini album "New DNA"
The first mini album came out on September 27, 2023, preceded by the pre-release singles "GRL GVNG," "TGIF" and "New Dance."
- 2024Singles run and first U.S. tour
"WOKE UP," "SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT" and "IYKYK" arrived before the next mini album, and the group completed its first U.S. tour, ending in Chicago.
- 2024Mini album "AWE" and first Billboard 200 entry
The eight-song "AWE" came out in November 2024 with a wolf and crescent moon concept, and became the group's first entry on the Billboard 200.
- 2024Start of "The First HOWL" world tour
The first world tour began in 2024 and ran into 2025, covering 47 shows in 35 cities across 18 countries and regions.
- 2025Coachella and Tokyo Dome
In April 2025 XG performed at Coachella as the only Japanese act and closed the Sahara stage. The first world tour wrapped with a Tokyo Dome show on May 14, 2025.
- 2025Second world tour announced
On October 17, 2025 XG announced a second world tour covering Japan, Asia, North America, the UK and Europe, Australia and Latin America.
- 2025Name change announced
Billboard reported the group announced a new name meant to reflect artistic and personal growth as the members entered adulthood.
- 2026First full album "The Core"
The 10-track debut studio album was released January 23, 2026, led by "Hypnotize" and the earlier single "Gala." It debuted and peaked at number 93 on the Billboard 200, and fans picked it as the favorite new release in a Billboard poll.
- 2026"THE CORE" world tour
The tour began in Yokohama in February 2026 with sold-out Japanese dates, then moved through Asia, Australia, the UK and Europe, and North America (Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, Hamilton, Newark) in autumn 2026.
- 2026Capital's Summertime Ball debut
XG made a rain-soaked debut at Capital's Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium in June 2026.
- 2027Dome finale announced
The tour finale is scheduled for Tokyo Dome on February 10 and 11, 2027, and Kyocera Dome Osaka on February 27 and 28, 2027.
Latest
- XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE
The tour reached its North American leg in November 2026, with Oakland, Los Angeles and Chicago sold out and Hamilton and Newark still on sale. Venue merchandise details for Hamilton and Newark were posted November 10. The Tokyo Dome finale is set for February 10 and 11, 2027, and Kyocera Dome Osaka for February 27 and 28, 2027.
xgalx.com - Capital's Summertime Ball debut and press
After a Wembley Stadium debut at Capital's Summertime Ball, XG spoke with the BBC about their training years and their pre-show ritual built around the idea of an umbilical cord bond.
bbc.com - The Core album promotion
The group's first full-length album, with the lead single "Hypnotize," topped a Billboard fan poll and reached number 93 on the Billboard 200.
billboard.com - JAKOPS (SIMON) talks next chapter
Billboard noted that the group's executive producer said the goal for The Core was to make the greatest record in the world, as part of an interview about the group's next chapter.
billboard.com - XGALX announces second world tour
XGALX announced XG's second world tour, with Japan tickets going first to members of the ALPHAZ fan club.
xgalx.com
- usatoday.com: Meet XG: Girl group talks 'Left Right' and 'Shooting Star', messages for fans and more
- xgalx.com: XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE
- complex.com: Shop Official XG CDs and Tops on Complex
- elle.com: XG on AWE, HOWLING, ALPHAZ, and Outer Space
- briefly.co.za: XG members guide: Ages, names, height, nationality, positions, and more
- xgalx.com: XG 2nd WORLD TOUR to be held! - NEWS
- complex.com: XG | THE CORE - Hoodie | Sweatshirts
- nme.com: XG say their music is "really inspired" by Beyoncé and ...
- morungexpress.com: XG launch documentary series shows their journey from trainees to debut
- billboard.com: XG | Biography, Music & News
- legit.ng: Who are XG members? Ages, height, do they speak Korean?
- billboard.com: XG's 'The Core' Voted Favorite New Music This Week
- imdb.com: Xg launch documentary series shows their journey from ...
- elpee.jp: "The Core" by XG | Billboard 200 Chart History
- bbc.com: Pop group XG on the 'pure survival' of training and global ...
Fan sites
- ALPHAZ official fan clubOfficial fan club sign-up page named on the XGALX site.
Last researched Nov. 11, 2026