EXID

South Korean girl group EXID deliver an exuberant brand of hip-hop fused with electronic-tinged dance-pop. Their breakthrough arrived in 2014 once a fan-recorded clip of them performing “Up & Down” circulated widely online, driving the track to the summit of the Gaon chart. Two years afterward, their first full-length album Street reached number two at home and number nine on the Billboard World Chart. Every subsequent EP has landed inside Korea’s Top Ten: Ah Yeah in 2015, Eclipse and Full Moon in 2017, and We in 2019. Their Japanese long-players Trouble and B.L.E.S.S.E.D. both entered the Top 20 on the Oricon Albums Chart in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Following an extended break, EXID marked their tenth anniversary by issuing the three-track single album X in 2022.

Producer Shinsadong Tiger and AB Entertainment assembled the lineup in 2012, placing leader and main vocalist Solji alongside main rapper and lead dancer Elly, lead vocalist and lead dancer Hani, lead vocalist Hyelin, and main dancer, lead rapper, and sub-vocalist Jeonghwa. That year the quintet released their introductory single “Whoz That Girl,” which climbed to number 36 on the Gaon Singles Chart, then followed it with “I Feel Good” and “Every Night.” A fourth offering, “Up & Down,” surfaced in 2013 and initially stalled at number 94 before the same fan clip propelled it to the top position. The song later appeared on the 2015 EP Ah Yeah, which peaked at number five domestically and number 12 on Billboard’s World chart.

EXID returned in 2016 with Street, their first project under the Banana Culture imprint—the new name adopted by Yedang Entertainment after its merger with China-based Banana Project—and again worked with Shinsadong Tiger. Elly contributed writing or composition to several of the twelve songs, and the set, led by “L.I.E.,” reached number five on the Gaon Albums Chart while also featuring “Cream,” “Hot Pink,” and “Only One.” Shortly after the release Solji stepped away for health reasons, yet the remaining members continued touring and promoting the record.

Two further EPs arrived in 2017: Eclipse registered at number five in Korea and number four on the World Albums Chart, while Full Moon reached number seven and number six on those respective lists; although Solji remained offstage she still contributed vocals to the latter project. The group also embarked on the EXID Asia Tour, performing in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei. A standalone single titled “Lady” emerged in April 2018. Later that year Solji resumed live work after winning King of Mask Singer under the alias “Dongmakgol Girl,” then rejoined the others for “I Love You,” which debuted at number five on the Billboard World Song Sales chart. Their Japanese debut Trouble followed in April 2019 and peaked at number 12 on the Oricon Albums Chart.

The fifth Korean EP, We, appeared the next month and included the single “Me & You,” rising to number three on the Gaon chart and number eight on the World Albums chart. Additional Japanese material arrived via the 2019 single “Bad Girl for You” and the full-length B.L.E.S.S.E.D., the latter finishing at number 16 on Oricon. Reports of an impending shutdown prompted EXID to exit Banana Culture in March 2020. After a two-year absence the members resurfaced with X to commemorate their tenth year together.