On June 11, THEBLACK LABEL’s newly announced co-ed group ALLDAYPROJECT unveiled their concept photos for their upcoming debut single, “FAMOUS.” As the first mixed-gender idol group from the label, expectations were high — but the response was anything but unanimous.
An online post titled “THEBLACK LABEL’S co-ed groups concept is terrible” quickly gained traction on Korean forums, with the original poster questioning, “Is the song gonna sound like ‘Hot ddeu-geo ddeu-geo hot’?”
The heavily retro-inspired visuals appear to channel Y2K and ’90s streetwear trends, but the blend of sunglasses, reggae-style braids, and throwback patterns seemed to miss the mark for some. Critics argue that rather than feeling like a modern reinterpretation, the styling came off as outdated or even mismatched.
However, others defended the creative direction, suggesting that the group may be aiming to bring back old-school K-pop vibes with a fresh twist — and that the concept might make more sense once the full music video and track are released.
Soon after the post went live, netizens flooded the comments section:
- It really feels like the ’90s.
- Is the member wearing sunglasses styled with reggae hair in all the photos?
- Feels like Youngmin and Friends.
- It’s a shame about Youngseo…
- Y2K vibes?
- Youngseo just looks like a regular girl group member.
As ALLDAYPROJECT gears up for their debut with “FAMOUS,” all eyes will be on whether the group’s music can outshine the criticism and win over skeptical fans. With co-ed groups still relatively rare in K-pop, the pressure is high for The Black Label to deliver both sonically and visually.
