The Night xikers Made New York Shake

All Photos: Jean Libert

Before xikers even hit the stage for their Brooklyn, New York stop on their xikers 2025 WORLD TOUR [Road to XY : Enter the Gate], the energy was already building. A countdown clock glowed on the screen as fans screamed louder with every second. When it finally hit zero, it was pure chaos–the good kind. xikers stormed out on the Kings Theatre stage with the kind of confidence that instantly commanded attention. Their entrance had weight, like the whole room shifted. As the intro track “XIKEY” dropped, every light stick moved in sync with their sharp, fluid moves. They were locked in from the jump.

“Red Sun” took things even further. The live vocals were clean. The raps? Tight. The choreography? Full of intensity and power. Their breath control was unreal, barely a hint of strain as they kept the pace. The entire group was in sync and moving like a single unit. By the time “Oh My Gosh” hit, the crowd leveled up. The energy bounced from stage to fans and back again. The verses landed hard, and the crowd answered with chants and cheers that felt like part of the show.

After a few back-to-back performances, the group took a moment to introduce themselves. They thanked fans, gave a warm welcome back to Junghoon, and hinted at something special. “We’ve never performed this one live before.” The room tensed with anticipation.

“BACK OFF” came on and the crowd went insane; cheers from every direction. Props like bats and desks turned the stage into a dramatic scene. The backdrop flashed red with lyrics and visuals that matched the mood. Every move was precise, transitions smooth. The props weren’t just there for show, they added to the intensity. Then came “CANVAS,” a nod to their KQ Fellaz 2 roots. The rap line went off, no skips. Vocals were especially sharp, and the crowd knew it, chanting “CANVAS” on loop until the floor shook. Overheard in the crowd: “This that KQ energy. No one else is doing it like this.” And honestly, they weren’t wrong.

A cinematic interlude followed. Smoke filled the stage. A ticking clock. Then the screen flashed: “xikers, it’s time.” The buildup was eerie. Then came “WITCH,” which burst in with crisp, high-impact choreography and live vocals that didn’t miss. They rolled straight into “KOONG” with no hesitation. The beat was raw, with a heavy hip-hop pulse that hit you in the chest. Members broke formation to take turns spitting their verses. The chant of “KOONG KOONG KOONG” echoed like a battle cry, and the crowd fed them energy, they turned right back around.

“Doorbell Ringing” brought a shift. Still intense, but with a melodic bridge that gave their vocals room to shine. The crowd was ready, screaming “Don’t kill my vibe, out of control!” in sync like they’d practiced it for weeks. Then came a breather: a cover of “Holy” by Justin Bieber featuring Chance the Rapper–an unexpected pick, but it landed. The slower vibe had fans swaying, lights casting a soft glow across the room. That pause didn’t last long though. Next was a surprise choreography to “Ring-a-Ling” by Tkay Maidza. Afrobeats-inspired, fast footwork, high energy. They nailed every move, and the crowd lost it.

The next break had a lighter tone. Members joked about switching parts and talked about how much fun they were having. Roadys got in on it too, especially during a chaotic “BREATHE” challenge that had everyone chanting and doing choreography. 

“You Hide, We Seek” raised the stakes again. Hunter came out seated, glitchy visuals playing behind him. It added this eerie, broken television vibe that matched the aggressive choreography. Despite the speed, their moves stayed clean. Their stamina was still on full display. Then came “We Don’t Stop.” Boom bap beats filled the space. It was the perfect lead-in to “Rockstar,” a track that felt like a shot of adrenaline. The beat dropped, they got sturdy, and the bass didn’t let up. It was a wall of sound in the best way. “DO or DIE” followed, and the visuals were wild. A huge Statue of Liberty flashed on the screen, a nod to the New York crowd. Glitchy text and bold graphics lit it up. The rapline’s verse? Straight fire.

Another short moment with fans brought out more laughs. They teased the crowd for screaming too much, then introduced the “last” song of the night. “Tricky House” turned the venue into a party. Chants hit loud and on time. The crowd screamed “Shanty Shanty Ya Ya Ya” without missing a beat. The members matched that energy and then some, and just when it seemed like the end, they gave us more: a surprise singalong. The crowd sang “We Don’t Stop” and “DO or DIE” word for word, in Korean and English. A moment that showed just how deep the connection runs.

They returned for “Moonlight,” soft and glowing. Then “Break A Leg,” which felt like it was made for Roadys. “Sunny Side” followed, and it hit different live–nostalgic, warm, like the perfect ending to a perfect night. They wrapped things up with thank-yous and group photos, but the fans weren’t finished. Chants for “BREATHE” erupted before they even left the stage. Of course, xikers delivered.

That final fanchant shook the entire theatre. Every voice was in it, every lightstick moving. The energy felt endless. And xikers? They walked off like they hadn’t just given two hours of full-force vocals, dancing, and connection. Every fan, pre-debut and new, left that venue with their jaws on the ground, completely blown away.

Precision. Power. Joy. That’s what xikers 2025 WORLD TOUR [Road to XY : Enter the Gate] was built on. If this is how xikers do it, we’re coming back every single time.

Thank you to KQ Entertainment, Kings Theatre, and of course xikers for having us on this tour and we can’t wait to see you next time.