BE:FIRST brought their high-energy style to the World Hip Hop Dance Championship 2026, performing BRUCE WAYNE, a collaboration with US hip-hop artists Flo Milli and ATL Jacob. The performance, which aired in a fixed version on YouTube in late August, demonstrated the group's continued push into hip-hop-influenced territory.

BE:FIRST has built a reputation for blending J-Pop with global hip-hop and R&B influences since their debut under the HYBE subsidiary BELIFT LAB. Their willingness to collaborate with international artists and perform at cross-genre events reflects how the group has positioned themselves at the intersection of Japanese pop and Western hip-hop culture.

The World Hip Hop Dance Championship represents a significant platform for dance-focused performances. For BE:FIRST, appearing at such a venue aligns with their track record of prioritizing choreography and physical performance alongside music. The group's membership, which includes several trained dancers, makes hip-hop-centered tracks and competitions a natural fit for their artistry.

BRUCE WAYNE marks BE:FIRST's continued experimentation with English-language features and cross-cultural collaborations. The inclusion of Flo Milli and ATL Jacob brings authentic US hip-hop credibility to the track, positioning it as something more than a typical J-Pop crossover attempt. This approach has become increasingly common in the Japanese music industry as groups seek to expand their reach beyond domestic audiences and tap into the global appeal of hip-hop.

The performance's release on YouTube, in a fixed version, suggests the group or their label saw value in making the performance available to a wider audience beyond the live event. This strategy of sharing live performances and collaborations online has become standard practice for major J-Pop acts looking to maintain visibility and reach international fans.