Cube Entertainment’s rookie boy group NOWZ is back with a head-turning twist: a straight-up, old-school baseball concept. K-pop has toyed with hoops and skating before, but a full-on traditional baseball theme is a rare swing.
Four months after crashing in with a gritty, hard-rock-leaning release, NOWZ returns with the single album “Play Ball,” determined to run the bases across EDM, old-school hip-hop, and even a sweeping ballad―all staged on their sonic “diamond.”
Meeting at Cube HQ, the members sounded confident about the quick turnaround. “We worked hard because we wanted to show fans something great as soon as possible,” YEONWOO says. “I hope this album gives everyone who checks us out a lot of good energy.”
Dropped on Nov. 26, the third single “Play Ball” packs three tracks: title cut “HomeRUN,” “GET BUCK,” and “To an Unnamed World.” “HomeRUN” is an EDM-fueled dance track built on heavy drops and fearless rap, charting youthful grit that turns an uncertain future into opportunity.
In spirit, the record suits the group up as ballplayers gunning for a K-pop home run.
“It’s been about a year and a half since debut, so I’d say we’re in the second or third inning,” YEONWOO adds. “After our rebrand, we took on rock with ‘IGNITION’ and pulled it off. With ‘Play Ball,’ we’re solidifying that momentum.”
NOWZ has been carving out a lane that blends rookie charm with high-impact performance and fearless genre-hopping. They leaned into baseball to fuse the sport’s energy with hip-hop attitude and lock in a color that feels distinctly NOWZ.
Each member even picked a position. YOON claims “designated hitter,” the guy who brings bright energy and can deliver the big swing. YEONWOO takes “pitcher,” the one who best controls the game’s flow. JINHYUK steps in as “catcher,” the stabilizing partner to the pitcher. SIYUN covers the infield, cutting plays with quick reads and faster reflexes. Leader HYEONBIN calls himself an outfielder―someone with a wider field of vision contributing across the album.
SIYUN and JINHYUK also contributed lyrics this time. On co-writing “GET BUCK,” SIYUN says, “We’re already boiling at 100 degrees and only getting hotter―that’s the vibe I love.” JINHYUK, who helped write “HomeRUN,” adds, “It captures our determination to keep going until we hit the sky.”
The group has been gaining traction overseas, too. On Nov. 8, they made a splash at Waterbomb Macau 2025 with a high-octane set that left a strong impression on Asian fans.
SIYUN, who went viral as “that Waterbomb guy” for his razor-sharp abs, laughs: “I was grateful for the chance to go shirtless after training, and fans loved it―it was a great experience. I’d love to do it again. Instead of dehydrating, I ate chicken and hit the gym. I put on about 4 kg of muscle from my usual 60 kg range.”
NOWZ was also named Billboard’s K-Pop Rookie of the Month, fueling expectations. “Just having our name next to Billboard―the music we’ve always dreamed about―felt powerful and exciting,” says JINHYUK. HYEONBIN takes it further: “My old YouTube handle was ‘Billboard Guy,’ so becoming a Billboard rookie feels surreal. Now all that’s left is to land on the Billboard charts.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)