Copied Or Inspired: THE BOYZ Stole Stray Kids' 'Silver Teeth' For Their Latest Comeback?

Who would have thought K-pop stans would be arguing over teeth, but here we are. THE BOYZ and Stray Kids have been at the center of an odd debate due to a pair of silver teeth. What are we talking about? Well, Stray Kids used silver teeth as the cover art for their album ATE. Months later, THE BOYZ used silver teeth as the visual for their song Bite Back. With THE BOYZ making use of the imagery later, of course, they were accused of plagiarism. Well, before we start this teeth-chattering debate, lets get one thing straight: THE BOYZ have been utilizing teeth imagery for over a year now. One could clearly see it throughout Roar’s music video, which was dropped way before ATE's release.

Now that the visual differences are clear, let's move onto the concepts. With ATE, Stray Kids seemingly used the imagery of teeth and grillz for three distinct reasons. First, the album is called ATE, so it goes without saying that there will be a mouth in the artwork. Secondly, grillz stands for a rebellious beacon of self-confidence, which is the concept of the album. It could also emphasize the concept of self-expression and standing out, themes that Stray Kids frequently explore in their lyrics. Additionally, the aesthetic choice demonstrates the group's readiness to bite back against challenges and criticism, aligning perfectly with ATE's theme.

Stray Kids(스트레이 키즈) "ATE" ONLINE COVER

2024.07.19 FRI 1PM (KST) | 0AM (ET)

🥠PRE-SAVE & PRE-ORDER "ATE" NOW!https://t.co/OGIBDtigG0#StrayKids #스트레이키즈#ATE#ChkChkBoom#StrayKidsComeback#YouMakeStrayKidsStay pic.twitter.com/AM0AgIg2ii

— Stray Kids (@Stray_Kids) June 21, 2024

Meanwhile, THE BOYZ featured silver teeth in T RIGGER's highlight medley for Bite Back. Upon listening to the song, you'll realize how perfectly the visuals of the devilish teeth fit. The lyrics, which can either be interpreted as sexual or rebellious, builds on the idea of resilience and taking control. Using fangs as the imagery is in keeping with the theme since they are often associated with predatory animals and mythical creatures like vampires, who are known for their ability to dominate and take control.

Moreover, no group owns teeth or their imagery. Before Stray Kids, XG, Blackpink's Lisa and many more artists, both K-pop and non K-pop, used teeth and grillz as part of their concept. So, by that logic, Stray Kids also copied. Sounds wild, right? ALSO READ: So, did THE BOYZ copy Stray Kids' idea? In our opinion, no. With THE BOYZ having used the visuals for quite some time and there being striking differences between the images, it could even be argued that it isn't even inspired. So, rather than pitting the two groups against each other, let's just listen to their songs and marvel at their intriguing lore.