A new name is beginning to surface in America’s crowded streaming landscape as rookie K-pop group I’LL-IT lands a rare debut feat on Spotify.
Their single Not Cute Anymore opened at No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. “Top Songs Debut” chart for the November 28–30 tracking period, an early sign that the group may be the next act to ride K-pop’s expanding foothold in the American pop market.
The song also ranked No. 2 on the global chart for the same category, underscoring its fast-building reach.
The track has been gaining momentum since entering Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart on November 27, passing the ten-million-stream mark within its first week.
For a group only beginning to establish visibility outside Asia, the rapid pickup suggests that American listeners are embracing K-pop acts well beyond the genre’s established names.
Part of the appeal lies in the song’s sound. Not Cute Anymore moves away from the bright, bubbly style typical of many K-pop debuts and instead leans into a calmer, more atmospheric pop built on reggae-inspired rhythms.
The understated hook and soft, winter-ready tone have helped the track stand out at a time when moody pop is finding renewed traction on U.S. playlists.
The single also arrives with a familiar American touch. Jasper Harris, the producer behind a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, worked on the track, giving it a polish that aligns with current U.S. pop production trends.
On social platforms, a brief choreography moment—where members shift from a smile to a blank expression—has become the song’s viral signature, helping push it further into American feeds.
International media have begun to take note. Billboard Philippines described the release as a defining chapter that broadens I’LL-IT’s artistic identity and positions the group for bolder creative moves, a perspective that echoes a broader trend of emerging K-pop acts using the U.S. market as an early testing ground for new styles.
The group will maintain visibility through a run of year-end broadcast appearances across Japan and South Korea, though their performance schedule remains focused on solidifying momentum sparked by their U.S. streaming breakthrough
