Rookie boy band CORTIS has been carving out their identity since debuting under BIGHIT MUSIC. Their debut EP COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES is built on the idea of breaking molds, rejecting conformity, and embracing imperfection.
Tracklist
- GO!
- What You Want
- FaSHioN
- JoyRide
- Lullaby
- What You Want [English version] (feat. Teezo Touchdown)
Their first two singles “What You Want” were bright and playful, mixing hip hop with bursts of pop rock energy. GO! was their introduction to the world while their official title track What You Want, reflected the need to chase desire on their own terms.
FaSHioN, the third single from their debut mini album COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES (released September 8, 2025), does a complete 180. It’s a hard-edged hip hop track that feels raw in a way their earlier songs didn’t.
Fashion as a Metaphor
At first listen, “FaSHioN” sounds like a simple ode to clothing and style. The track digs deeper, using fashion as a metaphor for ambition, and survival in the spotlight. The group raps about making a name for themselves through how they present themselves and carry their image:
“Dongmyo’s where we gather, like a seminar
Hongdae’s where we gathеr, we set it off
To the hеart of Cheongdam-dong, spreading out
Squad is on the way, but we can’t wrap it up”
“My tee, five bucks, my pants, 10,000 won
My vision, billions, trillions like Bezos
Dongmyo, wassup? Hongdae, wassup?
I make them famous, I call that, fashion
Fashion, fashion, fashion, fashion
Fashion, fashion, fashion, fashion
My tee, five bucks, my pants, 10,000 won
Let’s get it, let’s go, fashion, fashion”
Korean cities Dongmyo, Hongdae, and Cheongdamdong are referred to as places where fashion and culture converge. Here, fashion is about transformation. The lyrics map out a journey of the band moving up to become idols who have made their mark in the industry.
Third Time’s The Charm
Honestly, I wish this was the title track over What You Want. FaSHioN isn’t as heavily processed so we can actually hear the guys’ voices. Their rapping shows they have potential if they ever wanted to brand themselves as a pop rap idol group. Lyrically, it’s better than GO! and does a better job at showing what CORTIS is capable of as artists.
By using style as a metaphor for ambition, they turn a superficial theme into a declaration of intent. CORTIS still has a long way to go but “FaSHioN,” is a step in the right direction.
