An album that celebrates the feminist glory of financial independence

On their sixth mini album, the members of Korean girl group aespa declare themselves “rich men”. This is in K-pop persona character for GISELLE, KARINA, NINGNING and WINTER, who have famously been “big girls making money” and “some kind of supernova” in previous empowerment-themed “girl crush” hits, but the 2025 album crafts an entire concept around the feminist glory of financial independence.

The album’s rock-influenced, catchphrase-centric title track begins with an iconic 1996 interview response from Cher, re-recorded by Japanese member GISELLE: “My mom said to me, ‘Find someone who can give you everything.’ And I said, ‘Mom, I already have everything. I am a rich man.’” Rich Man is often less explicit in its exploration of independence, but leans into complementary themes like accelerating ambition (hip-hop dance track “Drift”), romantic dependability (synth-immersed R&B song “Count on Me”) and supportive self-confidence (midtempo pop track “To the Girls”).