aespa’s latest single, Dirty Work, arrives on the heels of a red-hot streak. Between Supernova, Armageddon, and Whiplash, the group is riding a career high thanks to experimental title tracks, strong vocals, and their now iconic futuristic, sci-fi concept.
So when Dirty Work dropped, fans expected another hit. Instead, they got a glossy, hip-hop track with a concept that blends girl crush with…construction sites? Many were left wondering: is this really the best aespa has to offer?
A Polarizing Pivot
At its core, “Dirty Work” sticks with aespa’s badass persona, but ditches the futuristic edge and experimentation that’s defined much of their discography. Critics have pointed out that it leans heavily on its chorus and spoken delivery while offering little in the way of vocal or melodic development. Even with a short runtime, the track starts to drag halfway through.
The music video goes for grit and grime. Most scenes take place at construction sites, where the girls are literally getting their hands dirty by playing in the mud. Industrial backdrops are nothing new in K-pop, and aespa’s take doesn’t add much.
Lyrically, it’s a mixed bag. While the hook “Real bad business, that’s Dirty Work” is catchy, references to the Mafia mutants feel more like they were pulled from a buzzword generator. Some even speculated whether the lyrics were AI-generated, an ironic twist for a group once praised for their digital-age storytelling.
Also, I’m aware of the criticism towards the choreography for this song, but I’ve decided to talk about it in a separate article. aespa will perform Dirty Work on M Countdown Thursday, July 3. I want to see the full performance first before I make a final opinion on the choreo.
Is aespa Chasing Western Trends at the Expense of Their Identity
Dirty Work wouldn’t sound out of place on Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits or Top Songs playlist. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with a group trying something new.
But for some fans, this shift feels like it’s trying too hard to appeal to Western music fans. Rather than building upon their distinct identity, Dirty Work flattens it into a vibe-heavy, concept-light single that could’ve come from just about anyone.
Can aespa Rebound from a Mid Comeback?
Commercially, aespa’s still doing just fine. Dirty Work sold over a million pre-orders. It also debuted at #63 on Spotify’s global chart with 1.836 million streams. Clearly, the core fanbase is loving the song or at least, are willing to support it.
Dirty Work doesn’t tank their momentum, but it does stall it. With no new comeback expected until later this year, that’s enough time for the song’s limitations to fester and for public interest to cool off.
But there are fans who actually like this change in direction. This isn’t their first detour away from the æ-aespa lore. Maybe with time, more people will learn to love Dirty Work for what it is, dirt and all.
