ENHYPEN Knife plagiarism controversy 2026: A Clash of Identities at HYBE

Is K-Pop losing its creative edge? ENHYPEN just dropped their latest album THE SIN: VANISH, but the celebration was short-lived. The title track Knife has sparked an intense online debate, with some listeners accusing the group of mimicking the sound of their labelmates.

CORTIS Comparison Sparks Outcry

Shortly after the release, netizens pointed out striking similarities between Knife and the musical style of CORTIS, a new group under BIGHIT MUSIC. Since both BELIFT LAB and BIGHIT operate under the HYBE umbrella, critics argue that the conglomerate is recycling sounds rather than fostering individual identities. One viral post on X claimed that "HYBE artists have no unique identity anymore."

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Fanbase Defends ENHYPEN’s Originality

However, the ENGENE fandom isn't staying silent. Fans highlighted that ENHYPEN has been building this specific sound for years, citing tracks like Pass the Mic. Rumors have also surfaced that ENHYPEN received the demo for Knife at least 3 months before CORTIS even debuted in 2026. This timeline, if true, would debunk the plagiarism claims, suggesting that any similarity is a result of shared production trends within the multi-label system.