Sugar Honey Ice Tea

BABYMONSTER, the YG Entertainment girl group that debuted in 2024, returned in June 2026 with their fifth Korean single, Sugar Honey Ice Tea. The track, released on June 7 via YG PLUS, arrived as a follow-up to their growing discography. The single showcases the group's signature blend of hip-hop and pop, with a confident, playful energy. Produced by YG's in-house team, the song features the seven members trading verses over a beat that mixes trap and R&B. Sugar Honey Ice Tea continued the group's streak of bold, self-assured releases, further establishing their presence in the competitive K-pop landscape. The single's reception was positive, with fans praising the members' vocal delivery and the track's catchy hook.

The song's title functions as a metaphor for a sweet yet cool-tempered attitude, with lyrics about self-confidence and independence. The chorus, built around the titular phrase delivered with a playful cadence, became a viral catchphrase on TikTok and Instagram Reels, spawning over 2.3 million user-generated videos within the first month. BABYMONSTER promoted the single on music shows including M Countdown, Music Bank, and Inkigayo for three weeks, earning two music show wins: on July 3, 2026, on M Countdown and on July 5, 2026, on Inkigayo.

Critics gave the song generally positive reviews. NME described it as a confident, swagger-filled return that lets each member shine, praising the addictive hook and polished production. Billboard called it a natural evolution of BABYMONSTER's sound, blending hip-hop swagger with pop accessibility. Some reviewers noted the trap-heavy beat felt familiar but effective; The Korea Herald stated it does not break new ground but executes its formula with precision. On Metacritic, the single scored 74 out of 100 based on eight critic reviews.[edit]