Korean-Australian Alternative Hip-Hop Group 1300 Release Debut Studio Album ILLSAMGONGGONG

Photo: Universal Music Korea

Korean-Australian alternative hip-hop group 1300 (pronounced "one three hundred") has officially released their long-awaited debut studio album, ILLSAMGONGGONG. More than a debut, the 13-track project is a defining statement from the five-member collective, capturing the experiences, friendships, and unwavering ambition that have shaped their rise across Australia, Korea, and the global music scene.

Following the breakout momentum of recent singles "clear out the room" and "Headrock (feat. GIRIBOY),” ILLSAMGONGGONG arrives as the culmination of years spent crossing continents, building their sound, and navigating the realities of chasing a dream together. After a period of reflection, the album finds 1300 returning with renewed purpose, documenting the struggles, victories, and bonds that transformed five friends into one family.

Named after the Korean pronunciation of "one three hundred," ILLSAMGONGGONG serves as both a mission statement and an anthem. Opening with its explosive self-titled introduction, the album immediately establishes the group's relentless confidence before launching into the fearless energy of "Headrock (feat. GIRIBOY),” a bold declaration of perseverance inspired by the Korean proverb of recklessly charging forward despite impossible odds.

Across the record, 1300 effortlessly blur the boundaries between hip-hop, punk, electronic, and alternative music. Tracks like "Fever" examine the fleeting nature of relationships with sharp wit, while "Where's My Money" featuring Kim Ximya transforms confidence into an infectious anthem built around playful charisma. On "WHISTLE," co-produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer NEZ (A$AP Rocky, ScHoolboy Q), the group channels early-2000s hip-hop through minimalist production and undeniable swagger, while "100" featuring DKAY and Changmo delivers a high-energy cypher inspired by classic '90s rap traditions.

As the album progresses, its emotional core comes into focus. "HOME" redefines home not as a place, but as the people who remain beside you through every chapter, while "Party all night" captures the fleeting joy of living fully in the present. "MUSIC" pays tribute to the force that brought five distinct individuals together, before closing with "Sick," the deeply personal finale that ultimately reveals the answer behind everything the group has endured: despite the uncertainty, the exhaustion, and the sacrifices, they have already found where they belong—in each other.

Made up of rappers DALI, goyo, rako, and producers Nerdie and pokari, 1300 has emerged as one of the most exciting voices redefining alternative hip-hop on a global scale. Their recent signing to Universal Music Korea marked the beginning of a new era to Universal Music Korea marked the beginning of a new era, while early singles from the project earned widespread acclaim, including praise from Clash Magazine, which declared, "Clearly, 2026 is going to be their lucky year – and 1300 have got a debut album to prove it." Billboard also spotlighted the group's signing, with Universal Music Korea describing 1300 as artists who are "reshaping the boundaries of Korean hip-hop" and poised to expand their global reach.

With ILLSAMGONGGONG, 1300 delivers a debut that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant — a record born from perseverance, friendship, and the unwavering belief that the greatest destination isn't fame or success, but finding a place where you truly belong.