In the span of only a few years, Stray Kids has gone from a breakout act that helped prove K-pop was here to stay in America to one of the most successful groups of all time when looking specifically at the largest accumulation of No. 1 albums.
The South Korean boy band returns to the summit of the Billboard 200 this time around with yet another collection as This & That arrives. Stray Kids pulls further ahead of all other names in K-pop with another new champion on the most competitive albums roster in America – and the singers even manage to tie a legendary rock group for a very special place in the history books as they launch at No. 1.
Stray Kids Debuts at No. 1 on Four Charts
This & That debuts at No. 1 on every Billboard chart it reaches this week. In addition to the Billboard 200, the project also leads the Top Album Sales, Vinyl Albums and World Albums charts.
The short set becomes Stray Kids’s ninth No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Shockingly, the group has never missed the summit with any collection. The band has placed nine projects on the ranking, and every one of them has spent time at No. 1.
Stray Kids Ties The Rolling Stones
With nine No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, Stray Kids ties for the second-most leaders among groups in the half-century-long history of the ranking. Billboard reports that the K-pop powerhouses match The Rolling Stones, as both acts have now accumulated nine champions on the Billboard 200.
The Beatles remain far out in front of all non-solo artists with 19 No. 1 albums. Looking at all acts, Drake and Taylor Swift sit side-by-side behind the legendary rock band with 15 leaders apiece.
Here are all of Stray Kids’s No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.
- 5-Star
- Ate
- Do It
- Hop
- Karma
- Maxident
- Rock-Star
- Oddinary
- This & That
Stray Kids Has Ruled Every Year Since 2022
Stray Kids first dominated the Billboard 200 in 2022 with the EP Oddinary. Since then, the group has racked up two new champions every year – almost every year, that is. So far, 2026 is the first year since that initial breakthrough in which Stray Kids has collected only one No. 1 album, though that could easily change. With months left before 2027 begins, it is entirely possible that the musicians may return with another collection and score a milestone tenth Billboard 200 champion.
Stray Kids Could Soon Join Madonna and Elvis Presley
Whenever Stray Kids earns its next No. 1 on the Billboard 200 – it seems like a sure thing whenever the singers are ready with another collection – the group will move into an even more exclusive tier of artists. A tenth leader will bring the K-pop talents onto the same level as both Elvis Presley and Madonna. The Queen of Pop earned her landmark tenth Billboard 200 No. 1 earlier this summer when Confessions II debuted in first place.
Only 11 acts have earned double-digit No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 throughout the chart’s more than half-century-long history. Stray Kids now sits only one win away from joining that very small club.
Here are all the artists with 10 or more No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.
- 19 – The Beatles
- 15 – Drake, Taylor Swift
- 14 – Jay-Z
- 12 – Future
- 11 – Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West)
- 10 – Elvis Presley, Madonna
Stray Kids Scores Three More No. 1 Albums
This & That gives Stray Kids a ninth No. 1 on not only the Billboard 200, but also on both the Top Album Sales and World Albums charts. The group has now placed 10 projects on the Top Album Sales ranking, with all but one reaching the summit. On the World Albums roster, Stray Kids climb to 23 total appearances and 20 top 10s, including nine leaders.
This & That also helps Stray Kids hit No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart for the first time. The project marks the group’s second appearance on the format-specific tally, and this time, it immediately launches in the highest possible position.