ATEEZ’s leader Hongjoong has sparked discussions with his latest rap lyrics, which some fans believe take a jab at HYBE's internal controversies.

On January 15, Hongjoong released the song "SMB" in collaboration with American rapper Odetari. K-pop fans quickly focused on the rap section written by Hongjoong himself.

The lyrics include lines such as, “Not a single thing is fun / Act your age, loser,” “You think you’ve made it, hitman / If you’ve got time to watch others, watch your back / Du-du-du, Bang,” “Blinded by envy and jealousy / Spouting insults while name-dropping,” and “Oh my, it’s getting hot / Even your home’s traces are shaking / I fan the flames / Low-level boomer.”

Fans speculate that the words "hitman" and "bang" could reference HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk, who is also known by the nickname "Hitman Bang." Phrases like "watching others" and "name-dropping" seem to allude to the controversial internal document from HYBE that previously caused a stir in the K-pop industry.

However, others argued that the song’s lyrics are open to interpretation.

The controversy in question dates back to October of last year when an internal HYBE document, referred to as the "Weekly Music Industry Report," was disclosed during a parliamentary audit by the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee. The document mentioned artists from various agencies, not just HYBE, and included harsh criticisms and offensive remarks about the appearances of active artists.

In response, HYBE’s CEO Lee Jae Sang publicly apologized, saying, "I sincerely bow my head and apologize to the artists, industry colleagues, and fans."

While some fans believe Hongjoong’s lyrics are a diss track about the incident, others say that the song could have broader themes unrelated to HYBE.

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