Like That: BABYMONSTER Show Fort Worth What They’re Made Of
By Britney McVey | September 9th, 2025
Fort Worth has hosted plenty of big-name acts at Dickies Arena, but this past Sunday night felt different. BABYMONSTER, having just debuted in 2024, walked in and made the space entirely their own. You could feel it from the opening notes of “DRIP”—the kind of sharp, precise performance that makes you forget they only debuted months ago.
The setlist was a rollercoaster, moving from the true swagger of “BATTER UP” to the arena-shaking energy of “SHEESH.” Each song felt bigger live, partly because of the live band arrangements and partly because BABYMONSTER pour everything into their performances. “LIKE THAT” showed just how tight and polished they already are as a group, while “CLIK CLAK” had the entire arena in cheers.
The solo and unit stages gave us a deeper glimpse into each member. Rora’s cover of “Someone You Loved” was so tender you could hear the hush fall over the crowd. Asa and Ruka turned the stage into their own playground with “Woke Up in Tokyo,” bringing the kind of confidence you’d expect from seasoned rappers, but in a fun and youthful way. And Ahyeon—already a fan favorite—stunned with “Dangerously,” showing off vocals that somehow sound even better live. These weren’t just filler moments, they were real statements of identity. I could tell each member put a lot of thought into how they wanted to showcase themselves to MONSTIEZ (BABYMONSTER fans).
The girls (Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rora, and Chiquita) shared that they’d spent the day before exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards. They talked about trying on cowboy hats and boots, and when they came back out, Ahyeon was proudly wearing her new boots on stage. It was such a small detail, but it made the crowd roar—it showed how much they were embracing the city that embraced them.
From L to R: Rora, Pharita, Chiquita, Asa, Ruka, Ahyeon
Photo Credit: YG Entertainment
The encore itself felt like a party. The band version of “SHEESH” was chaos in the best way, “BATTER UP (Remix)” had everyone on their feet, and closing with “Stuck in the Middle” as they re-introduced themselves felt warm and intimate, like a final thank you to the fans in the arena.
Of course, Rami’s absence was felt throughout the night. The girls carried her spirit with them on stage, and you could tell the fans were keeping her in their hearts. It was a reminder that BABYMONSTER isn’t just a group, but a family—and l will be ready to cheer even louder when all seven are back together again.
Walking out of Dickies, I felt proud. Proud of how far they’ve come in such a short time, and excited for what’s next. It may still be the beginning for BABYMONSTER, but in Fort Worth, they played like a group already destined for the biggest stages in the world.
Now, if you missed out on seeing BABYMONSTER live, you can look forward to their newest comeback, “WE GO UP,” out on October 10th.
