CORTIS, K-pop’s newest rookie group, debuts under Big Hit Music, the tour de force behind K-pop supergroups BTS and Tomorrow X Together (TXT). The quintet—comprising Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho first made a splash on social media for about a week by launching each of their accounts. They finally introduced the world to their sound with their very first single, “Go!” on Aug. 10, which came with an accompanying music video that racked up more than three million views on YouTube in just 24 hours.
The moniker “CORTIS” is a nod to “Color Outside the Lines,” a philosophy that drives the group’s artistic narrative—to think freely and break boundaries through songwriting, composing, performing, and filming. “Go!” teases this creative spirit while setting the tone for their debut album, Color Outside the Lines, dropping on September 8.
The song is a cross between hip-hop and pop, featuring simple trap beats and synth riffs. With every member chipping in on production, “Go!” feels like a statement piece that embodies CORTIS’s creative vibe. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone US, Juhoon says, “I think it’s the best track to introduce ourselves. It really has our daily lifestyles, our vibes. It really introduces who we are.”


Lyrically, the track is about pushing beyond limits. The pre-chorus lines “We don’t need another sign” and “Paint the town, green lights” are a call to action to keep moving forward, while the looping post-chorus line “Bring me a new beat, bring me a new hit” conveys the hunger for new sounds. When they sing “Watch me go,” it’s an invitation to see them in action and a reminder that the only way to get what you want is that you “just gotta get it.”
The music video is reminiscent of guerrilla-style filmmaking that draws on stock shots and footage from the band’s early days in Los Angeles to tell their story through their own lens. Breaking away from the usual K-pop formula of lavish backdrops, expensive sets, and intricate choreography, the video records the members’ carefree vibe and camaraderie in candid, everyday moments—scenes of them running on a promenade, soaking up some sun, or messing around at a car wash. The use of a 360 camera sequence, spontaneous angles, and shaky handheld camera movements adds to the raw, natural charm of the images, while jump cuts and montage shots bring pace and excitement to the narrative.
“Go!” begins a new journey—sparking a new K-pop dream—introducing CORTIS and their sound to the world. The band is officially debuting on Aug. 18, releasing “What You Want,” the lead single from their upcoming album, Color Outside the Lines.
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