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XG: From 5‑Year Training to Global Pop Powerhouse

Japanese K‑pop group XG overcomes harsh training, bonds, and new identities to rise as a global music sensation.

Source: bbc.co.uk1 min read
XG: From 5‑Year Training to Global Pop Powerhouse
Image via bbc.co.uk

In brief

XG started as a seven‑member group from a brutal five‑year trainee program that tested resilience and camaraderie. After relentless training and a unique pre‑show chant that celebrated their bond, they debuted in 2022 with chart‑topping hits like “Tippy Toes” and “Galz Xypher”. In 2025 they broke boundaries by sharing gender identities and reshaped their brand to “Xtraordinary Genes,” reflecting inclusivity. Their soaring success spans worldwide concert tours, a Coachella headline spot, and hit singles that blend sci‑fi beats with nostalgic R&B, proving that unity fuels global stardom.

Japanese pop group XG started as a seven‑member squad after five years of intense training that pushed young talents to their limits.

Every night before performances, the group gathers in a circle, shouting the Japanese word for umbilical cord, “Hesono‑o,” to mark their unbreakable bond.

The training was brutal—tours, burpees, and zero‑tolerant for social media posts—yet these hardships forged a tight sisterhood that now fuels XG’s global beat.

Their milestone 2022 debut single “Tippy Toes” hit 49 million YouTube views, and 2025’s “Galz Xypher” gives the group an international Coachella spot.

In December 2024, the lead rapper Cocona publicly identified as transmasculine and non‑binary, prompting the name shift from “Xtraordinary Girls” to “Xtraordinary Genes” to champion individuality.

XG’s newest album “The Core” merges sci‑fi flair with R&B roots, featuring tracks like “Hypnotise” and “O.R.B.” that echo the group’s inclusive core.

With a world‑tour that touches Wembley, Coachella, and more, XG balances high‑energy gigs with downtime—anime, snowboarding, and trombone practice—to keep their creative flow steady.

Their story shows that relentless perseverance, deep bonds, and authentic identity can catapult a local group onto the global stage.

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