When SEVENTEEN entered their military enlistment era in 2024, subunit albums necessarily became more common for the K-pop supergroup. In 2025, this included an album from members S.COUPS and MINGYU, aka CxM. While both are members of SEVENTEEN’s official hip-hop unit, the duo’s EP debut, HYPE VIBES, doesn’t solely lean into the genre. Lead single “5, 4, 3 (Pretty woman)” includes a feature from American rapper Lay Bankz, but it’s built around a sample of Roy Orbison’s 1964 rock ’n’ roll hit. Ironically, the Philly native utters the only Korean word in the disco-infused bop, dropping a “예뻐” (meaning “pretty”) in the middle of her verse. S.COUPS and MINGYU are the only ones rapping on low-key album opener “Fiesta” and R&B-driven “Worth it” before diving into more easy-listening vibes with “For you,” a pop track that extends an offer of friendship to anyone listening. “Let's hit up K-Town, 눈동자에 cheers,” MINGYU suggests, evoking the SoCal-meets-K-pop vibes that define much of the album. HYPE VIBES is a turning point of sorts for S.COUPS and MINGYU as they both look ahead to their thirties. On “Young again,” S.COUPS and MINGYU use lyrical guitar melodies to reflect on the fleeting nature of youth. But the K-pop idols aren’t old yet. “Let’s dance ’til the end,” they incite on EDM album ender “Earth,” proving they still have youthful energy left to burn.