South Korean girl group aespa announced their sixth mini-album, Rich Man, on August 4 through social media, alongside a clear shift in direction: “I Am Enough As I Am. I Am A Rich Man.” The album is scheduled for release on September 5. Since their 2020 debut with “Black Mamba,” the group has carved out a lane defined by heavy production, sharp choreography, and immersive visuals. Their track record includes singles like “Drama,” “Supernova, “Armageddon,” and “Whiplash,” each one shaping their identity in the fourth-generation conversation.
That growth continued in “Dirty Work,” released last June, the performance leaned into vocal dexterity from the rap verses to the singing rather than offer music production spectacle, contributing a rare moment of finesse in a catalog often dominated by futuristic themes. It gave Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning space to build nuance in their material.
In the lead up to Rich Man, the group did a closing performance at KCon Los Angeles last August 3 with a headline set that brought everything full circle. From performing “Supernova” to B-side singles like “Flights, Not Feelings,” aespa stood out with their growing stage presence. No longer defined by the high-concept digital avatars that marked their debut, the group carried their performances with more cohesion and vocal flair.
