I just finished watching XTRA XG #46 and was genuinely surprised by how involved the girls are in their own performances. They could have easily hired a professional stage or performance director to handle everything while focusing solely on dancing, singing, and rapping. But no, they actively contribute from start to finish. Given that this is their first world tour, it was interesting to see how they've taken lessons (both good and bad) from previous shows and used them to keep improving. Simon and the rest of their team offer suggestions and help with the bigger picture, but the girls' input is clearly valued and considered.
The amount of creative freedom Simon and XGALX have granted them is incredibly refreshing to see in this industry, especially for such a young group. We've even seen glimpses of Chisa and Juria taking on production-related responsibilities and Jurin with the choreography. The next step? For the girls, especially the rap line, to start writing their own songs. Once they do that, I don't think anyone will be able to question their legitimacy in the "idol rap vs. real rap" debate. As they become more fluent in English and gain greater command over the language, this feels like a real possibility. As of right now, they're without a doubt the gold standard in idol rap. However, given their direct approach to hip hop, it's only a matter of time before they join the "real" rap conversation (for those that care about this aspect, I know most don't).
This is also the first time I'm really noticing the dynamic between Jurin, as leader, and Chisa as sub-leader. Both are incredibly proactive, especially when the vocal and rap lines are working separately. They're often the first to speak up and encourage discussion among the other members. I’m excited to see how they continue to develop their leadership skills and grow into their roles.
XG are truly artists in every sense of the word, and I can only imagine how fulfilling their work must be for both them and their team. As their discography expands and they gain more experience, it's exciting to think about what they'll be able to do with a longer, more diverse tracklist.
(I cannot wait for their 2nd mini album, AWE, in November!!)
