The Self-Producing Girl Group
(G)I-DLE, led by rapper-producer Soyeon, distinguished themselves as K-pop’s most creatively autonomous girl group. Their 2022 hit “Tomboy” from “I Never Die” album rejected typical feminine concepts, embracing androgynous fashion and rebellious lyrics. The song topped Korean charts and went viral on TikTok globally.
Soyeon writes/produces most (G)I-DLE tracks—rare for K-pop girl groups typically reliant on external producers. Their conceptual ambition (horror themes in “Nxde,” feminist messaging in “Tomboy”) and genre experimentation (from EDM to Latin to rock) earned critical respect. Despite losing member Soojin (2021 bullying scandal), (G)I-DLE rebounded commercially, proving their resilience and Soyeon’s creative vision.
Sources: Soompi, Gaon Chart, Billboard Korea