RIIZE’s latest single Fame is a big shift from their boy next door image they had at debut.
The song is a harder, more intense hip-hop track discussing their fears and anxieties around the concept of fame. Particularly since it’s not the reason they became idols in the first place.
Released on November 24, 2025, “Fame” is the lead track of a single album that also features “Something’s In The Water” (a pop/R&B song about self-acceptance) and “Sticky Like” (a dance-pop track exploring pure love).
The Story Underneath the Lyrics
Fame sounds like a commentary on being a celebrity. Yet the emotional weight of the track hits differently once you remember where RIIZE comes from.
For those who don’t know, RIIZE originally debuted as a seven member group. Seunghan was put on hiatus months after his debut.
Korean fans wanted him gone due to rumors he had a shady past that would damage RIIZE’s reputation. International fans felt that Seunghan was being wrongfully targeted by K-fans over leaked pictures of him with his girlfriend. To them, parasocialism was the real reason they wanted him gone.
Throughout the whole ordeal RIIZE’s fandom splintered with each section wanting different things from the group.
When they sing about love mattering more than fame, it feels more like a plea. They want a connection that is real. They want support that isn’t conditional. They want to be seen as people, not projections.
Love Over Fame, In Their Own Words
The message of the song is direct. Sohee said that the song is about how love matters more than fame. For him, it includes Briize (fandom name), music, family, their team, and himself.
Fame is not a rejection of fans. It is a reminder that fame does not define them. Love does.
A Single Built on Emotional Release
Even the choreography leans into that internal conflict. The final dance break is intense and chaotic. It’s almost like the group is pushing through the weight Fame spends three minutes exploring. The ending feels more like a release. It mirrors the message that fulfillment comes from truth, not attention.
Either way, RIIZE’s Fame is a surprisingly vulnerable track. One that reveals that being famous isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be for K-pop idols. It treats fame as something you survive, not something you chase.At the end of the day, RIIZE wants love over being a celebrity. They’re choosing authenticity over the idea of perfection that fans expect from them. Fame finally lets them say all of this out loud.
