Xikers derive their name from a combination of the letter "x", symbolizing coordinates, and the word "hiker", meaning traveler. Altogether, the group name's refers to "boys who travel through time and space in search of coordinates".[5]
In August 2022, KQ Entertainment published interviews of ten trainees on their YouTube channel: Minjae and Junmin on August 15, Sumin and Jinsik on August 16, Hyunwoo and Junghoon on August 17, Seeun and Hunter on August 18, Yujun and Yechan on August 19. The group was known as KQ Fellaz 2 prior to debuting.[8] On August 20, KQ Entertainment released a YouTube video featuring all ten members together for the first time performing choreography to "Iffy" by Chris Brown. On August 23, the group premiered their pre-debut web seriesReady to One, which follows the members as they train in Los Angeles, California.[9]
In September 2022, for the finale of Ready to One, KQ Fellaz 2 released the music video for "Geek", a song composed and produced by Minjae. The video paid homage to the self-composed song "From" by labelmates Ateez and was uploaded to KQ Entertainment's YouTube channel on September 17.[10] KQ Fellaz 2's first reality show, The Player: KPOP Quest, premiered on the same day.[11]
2023: Group name reveal, debut and House of Tricky series[edit]
On February 24, 2023, KQ Entertainment unveiled KQ Fellaz 2's group name as Xikers and opened the group's official social media accounts.[12]
In March 2023, Xikers announced that they would debut on March 30.[13] On March 15, it was announced that the group would hold a showcase the day before their debut at the SBS Prism Tower Auditorium and that it would also be broadcast live on KQ Entertainment's YouTube channel.[14] On March 30, Xikers released their debut extended play, House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing and its double lead singles "Tricky House" and "Rockstar".[15] The album peaked at number four on the weekly Circle Album Chart and sold 97,857 copies.[16] In its first week, the album sold over 100,000 copies, the fifth-highest first week sales figure for a debut album in South Korea on the Hanteo Chart in 2023.[17]
In July 2023, Xikers announced their first comeback on August 2.[18] On July 10, Xikers revealed the title of their second extended play on their official social media accounts.[19] On August 2, Xikers released their second extended play, House of Tricky: How to Play and its double lead singles "Do or Die" and "Home Boy".[20]
2024–present: Continuation of House of Tricky series and Japanese debut[edit]
In February 2024, KQ announced that Xikers would release a new album sometime in March.[21] On February 12, Xikers revealed the title of their third extended play to be House of Tricky: Trial and Error and the release date which is on March 8.[22]
In July 2024, Xikers announced the release of their first Japanese single "Tsuki (Lunatic)" on August 7, ahead of their official Japanese debut.[23]
^Hosted by the Hong Kong Asia Pacific International Group and Sunway Records, the Asian Pop Music Awards bases its winners on the "Asian Pop Music Chart" which opened in September 2019.[52]
^Yoon Ki-baek (February 24, 2023). KQ엔터 새 보이그룹 팀명은 '싸이커스' [KQ Enter's new boy group team name is 'xikers']. E Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
^Yoo Yong-ju (October 28, 2018). '언더나인틴' 이상민 이예찬 이준환 장루이 장민수 학생증 사진 공개 [포토엔] ['Under Nineteen' Lee Sang-min, Lee Ye-chan, Lee Jun-hwan, Jang Louis, Jang Min-soo, student ID photo released [Photon]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Yi-jin (February 10, 2019). '언더나인틴' 센터=전도염, 원더나인 탄생...오는4월 데뷔 [전일야화] ['Under Nineteen' Center=Conduction, the birth of Wonder Nine... Debuting in April [All Night]]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ahn Byung-gil (August 20, 2023). KQ연습생10인을 소개합니다! [Introducing 10 KQ trainees!]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abYoon Seon-gyo (August 24, 2022). '케이큐 펠라즈 2', 미국 연수 리얼리티 '레디 투 원' 첫 방송 [First broadcast of 'KQ Fellas 2', American training reality show 'Ready to One']. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
^Park Ji-yoon (September 18, 2022). 케이큐 펠라즈 2, '선배' 에이티즈 오마주한 'Geek' MV 공개 [KQ Fellaz 2, 'Senior' ATEEZ homage 'Geek' MV released]. The Fact (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abKang Bo-ra (September 5, 2022). 제2의 에이티즈·블락비 키운다...'더 플레이어' 캐스팅 공개 [Growing the second ATEEZ and Block B... 'The Player' casting revealed]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
^Kim Min-ji (March 6, 2023). 'KQ엔터 신인' 싸이커스, 30일 '하우스 오브 트리키 : 도어벨 링잉' 발매 ['KQ Enter rookie' xikers, released 'House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing' on the 30th]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^Moon Ye-bin (March 16, 2023). 싸이커스, 데뷔 전날29일 팬쇼케이스 개최 확정 [xikers confirmed to hold a fan showcase on the 29th, the day before their debut]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^Myung Hee-sook (March 30, 2023). 싸이커스, '도깨비집'으로 단숨에 홀렸다 [쥬크박스] [xikers, instantly bewitched with 'Goblin's House' [Jukebox]]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abCumulative sales of House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing on Circle Chart:
^Kim Min-ji (April 6, 2023). 싸이커스, 데뷔 앨범 초동10만장 돌파...역대 보이그룹5위 [xikers, debut album surpassed 100,000 copies in the first week... 5th best boy group of all time]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Naver.
^Seon Mi-kyung (July 4, 2023). 싸이커스, 8월2일 컴백 확정..5세대 루키 입지 굳힌다 [Xikers confirmed comeback on August 2nd.. 5th generation rookie solidifies position]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim Won-hee (July 10, 2023). 싸이커스, 이번엔 '하우 투 플레이' [Xikers, 'How to Play' this time]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Hyun-sik (February 5, 2024). 신예 보이그룹 싸이커스, 3월 컴백 확정 [New boy group Xiekrs, confirmed to make a comeback in March] (in Korean). E Daily. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via Naver.
^Son, Jin-a (February 12, 2024). 싸이커스가 온다...3월8일 컴백 확정(공식) [Xikers is coming...March 8 comeback confirmed (Official)] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kang, Da-yoon (July 11, 2024). 싸이커스, 日 데뷔앨범 두 번째 콘셉트 포토…더위 날릴 '청량 비주얼' [Xikers, Japanese debut album second concept photo...'Refreshing visuals' to beat the heat] (in Korean). Media Daily. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年09月04日〜2023年09月10日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking September 9, 2023 – September 10, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年09月18日〜2023年09月24日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking September 18, 2023 – September 24, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
^Jung Ga-young (September 18, 2022). '케이큐 펠라즈2', LA서 찍은 'Geek' MV 공개 ['KQ Fellas 2', 'Geek' MV filmed in LA released]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023 – via Naver.
^Han Hye-in (March 2, 2023). 'KQ 신인' 싸이커스, 자체 예능 '트리키 하우스' 27일 공개 ['KQ Rookie' xikers, unveil their own entertainment show 'Tricky House' released on the 27th]. Star In News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Tae-soo (February 18, 2024). 한터뮤직어워즈 대상에 NCT 드림·세븐틴 등 [Hanteo Music Awards Grand Prize Winners: NCT Dream, Seventeen, etc.] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Ha-eun (January 3, 2024). 역사상 첫 해외 개최, 대상은 엔시티 드림 "2년 연속 수상 영광...시즈니 덕분"[제33회 서울가요대상] [Held overseas for the first time in history, the grand prize was awarded by NCT Dream "Honored to be awarded for the second year in a row...Thanks to Czennies" [The 33rd Seoul Music Awards]] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024 – via Naver.
