This & That (EP)

In 2025, Stray Kids released their fourth Korean-language studio album, Karma, and the second mixtape, Do It. The albums expanded the records for the first act ever to top the Billboard 200 with their first eight entries.^[1] The former became the best-selling 2025 album in South Korea, earning 3.03 million copies.^[2] Additionally, the band featured on French record producer DJ Snake's track "In the Dark" from his third studio album Nomad (2025).^[3] The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) reported that Stray Kids was the second best-selling artist worldwide in 2025, behind only Taylor Swift.^[4]

On January 1, 2026, Stray Kids uploaded the video "Step Out 2026", outlining their 2025 accomplishments and plans for 2026, including a new album.^[5] On March 12, JYP Entertainment released a statement about the member Seungmin's suffering from stress fracture in his left ankle.^[6] On July 2, JYP further revealed that Seungmin would absent from filming some content for the upcoming release due to an ongoing injury, which is taking longer than expected to heal.^[7]

This & That consists of eight tracks with twenty-five minutes and eleven seconds long.^[8] Stray Kids' in-house production team, 3Racha, consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, co-wrote all tracks,^[9] showcasing their versatile side and justified confidence to do "this" and "that",^[10] and reflecting their own experiences of growth, challenges, relationships, comfort, etc.^[11] The EP opens with "Run It", a pop and alternative hip-hop track, incorporated worldbeat rhythm and driven by brass instruments and marching drums.^[12] It conveys the message of "unstoppable progress and the confidence of racing toward victory" from "small room" to "the world".^[13] The title track, "This & That", is a hip-hop track^[14] that speaks of their composure and confidence^[15] that anything can be possible,^[11] with departing from the band's previous lead singles' sound with more chill and relaxed sounds.^[16]

"After You", a dance-pop^[17] and progressive house song, expresses the moment of falling in love at first sight.^[18] Inspired by the Internet slang "aura farming",^[19] "Farming" features hip-hop rhythms^[20] and electronic sounds,^[21] depicting the process of moving toward their goals until they are satisfied.^[22] "I Do" offers comfort and encouragement in times of loneliness^[23] with rock sound.^[24] An acoustic hip-hop song, "Way Out" captures the understated emotions of a breakup^[25] that features multiple languages.^[26] The 2000s-styled^[27] alt-pop^[17] "Back Then" inspired by a television drama Han watched^[28] and talks about the sentiment of looking back on moments spent with a past love.^[29] This & That concluded with the "Festival" version of the title track.^[30]

On June 22, Stray Kids uploaded a teaser video for the single, "Run It", which was released two days later.^[31] The band self-described the song as their "new anthem".^[32] In the teaser video, the band also announced their tenth Korean-language EP, titled This & That, set to be released on August 7, 2026, as well as its supporting Run It World Tour.^[33] The band surprisingly uploaded the video, titled "Test", on July 6.^[34] Adopting the format from Yoo Byung-jae's web show Hate Scary Stuff,^[35] the video features Yoo hosts the show and watches Stray Kids—except Seungmin—exploring an abandoned house from a first-person camcorder perspective via laptop. At the end, Yoo suddenly glitches and switches to Seungmin's appearance, and the truck's tailgate closes, and its license plate displays the EP's title.^[36]

The EP's official trailer was released and physical formats pre-orders began on July 8.^[37] The "cinematic" and "surreal" video begins with a protagonist receiving an LP from Seungmin and walking into a mysterious truck. After the music is played, he is drawn into the "unreal" world, where everyone bear the faces of Stray Kids in each situation—Bang Chan as barista, Lee Know as photographer, Changbin as chef, Hyunjin as dancer, Han as auctioneer, Felix as bakery clerk, and I.N as waiter—and the conversation is limited to only "this" and "that".^[38] The next day, the band posted the EP's 3D-animated promotional itinerary, showing stickers stuck on orange boxes pouring out from the door-opening This & That truck.^[39] The EP's track list was revealed on July 10. The image features coffee cascading from eight paper cups, each inscribed with the song's title, credits, roast levels, tasting scores, and track mood hints. At the same time, the short-form video depicts coffee pouring out alongside the song titles.^[40]

The EP's four sets of concept images were teased. The first depicts the members with the coffee concept, including props such as cups of coffee, bread, and LPs.^[41] The second set features each member wearing white inside decorated trucks.^[42] The third depicts "vintage yet kitschy" Y2K styling with the members in mint-colored outfits.^[43] The final set showcases each member's "vintage yet sophisticated" photograph with various shooting techniques, such as flash effects, shaky frames, and rough cropping.^[44] Stray Kids teased the EP's songs through video series "Unveil: Track" for "Farming",^[45] "After You",^[46] and "Back Then",^[47] and street-styled retro EDM mashup on café-styled animated video.^[48] The Run It World Tour commenced at KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea, on July 25–26 and 29 and August 1–2,^[49] where they debuted the EP's tracks, "I Do" and "After You", prior to the official release.^[50]

During the pre-release promotion, Stray Kids held the "2026 StayWeek" event from July 26 to August 1 to commemorate the eighth anniversary of their official fan club Stay. Its contents include a birthday café, This & That: The Secret of Stay Company short-form drama, behind-the-scenes, livestream, vlogs, and compilation album SKZ-Replay 2026 Pt.1.^[51] On August 4, the band uploaded the video, Intro "This & That", to discuss the album's production and behind-the-scenes.^[52] A day before its release, on August 6, the band held This & That press conference at Conrad Seoul^[53] and the EP's "Listening Gallery" in partnership with Apple Music in Seoul.^[54]

An accompanying music video for the title track premiered alongside the release of This & That.^[55] Stray Kids and Soundwave set to launch the EP's pop-up store at the Gabae Seongsu, Seoul, from August 8 to 20.^[56] Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, collectively as 3Racha, hosted the six-episode Spotify podcast, 3Racha Session,^[57] During the promotion, Stray Kids performed "This & That" at Music Bank,^[58] and appeared on several programs during the promotion; 3Racha made a guest appearance in the web show Fake Kim Hyoyeon.^[59]

Musicians

Technical

Locations