How It’s Done

"How It's Done" is a bold and fiery anthem of empowerment, confidence, and dominance, serving as a mission statement for the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X from the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters". The song's meaning is centered around a powerful declaration of their unmatched skill, strength, and unapologetic attitude. It functions as both a battle cry within the movie's narrative—where the group fights demons—and a broader manifesto of self-assured feminine power. The lyrics portray the members as elegant, fierce warriors who are not only prepared for any challenge but are destined to win, blending swaggering bravado with sharp, multilingual verses. The song celebrates their duality: they are stylish and glamorous ("Heels, nails, blade, mascara") yet lethal and dangerous, a concept reinforced by the seamless mix of English and Korean lyrics. Ultimately, "How It's Done" is about setting the standard, proving their superiority, and showing the world their flawless method of achieving victory, making it a powerful anthem of control and triumph.

The song opens with a confrontational and bold declaration, directly addressing an adversary who has made the mistake of challenging them. The group, HUNTR/X, immediately establishes a tone of unwavering superiority and control. They warn their opponent that attempting to reach their level is not just futile but dangerous, using hyperbole like "you might die" to emphasize the massive gap in power and skill. The lyrics assert a fundamental difference in their very nature, with lines like "Bleeding isn't in my blood" and the Korean phrase "뼈속부터 달라서" (different down to the bone), reinforcing their inherent strength and resilience. They portray themselves as predators who are not just unapologetic but take pleasure in their dominance, with a self-assured, 'naughty, not even sorry' attitude. They are always ready for a confrontation, even if they arrive fashionably late to the party.

The pre-chorus builds on this tension, using the metaphor of a lullaby to describe how effortlessly they can neutralize a threat. This juxtaposition of a gentle image with a powerful action highlights their unique blend of style and lethality. The chorus serves as the song's explosive mission statement and the group's signature catchphrase: "Huntrix don't miss. How it's done, done, done." This line is a powerful, rhythmic flex of their flawless execution and capability. It’s a war cry that is both catchy and a definitive statement of their identity and prowess.

As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more elaborate, combining elements of high fashion and weaponry. Lyrics mention "Heels, nails, blade, mascara" and describe their current phase as a "napalm era," painting a picture of warriors who are both glamorous and deadly. They are creating a new standard of being both "cute and savage." This duality is a core theme, showing that their style is not just for show but is an integral part of their power. The members trade rapid-fire verses, each adding a layer to their collective persona. One might be the silent, venomous type who doesn't talk but bites, while another might be a lyrical Rambo, whose words are weapons. They emphasize that their effortless appearance is the result of immense effort—'blood, sweat, and tears'—making their skill look natural. The final parts of the song escalate the theme of dominance to a global scale. They declare that they "run the town" and the "whole world" is playing their sound. The hunt is a recurring motif, culminating in the triumphant declaration that they have captured their prey and are now demonstrating their ultimate superiority. The song ends with an unwavering assertion of their power, leaving no doubt as to who is in control and how things are properly done.

"How It’s Done" was created for the soundtrack of the 2025 Netflix animated film, K-Pop Demon Hunters, produced by Sony Pictures Animation. The song is performed by the fictional K-pop girl group from the movie, HUNTR/X. The real singing voices behind the group members are EJAE as Rumi, Audrey Nuna as Mira, and REI AMI as Zoey. The production team sought to create an authentic K-pop sound, enlisting several high-profile producers. Notably, Teddy Park, co-founder of The Black Label and producer for major acts like BLACKPINK and 2NE1, produced "How It's Done" along with another track, "Golden," after being impressed by a pitch from the film's directors, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. The songwriting credits include EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, and Danny Chung. The goal was to create music that felt legitimate within the K-pop space, capable of standing alongside real-world hits. The song was released as part of the film's official soundtrack in June 2025.

"How It's Done" features a driving, energetic rhythm and a structured yet dynamic rhyme scheme that reinforces its anthemic quality. The song is built on a foundation of trap-influenced electronic drums, characterized by crisp hi-hats, a prominent snare, and a deep bass, all set at an upbeat tempo suitable for both dancing and action sequences. The rhythmic structure is propulsive, particularly during the rap verses, which feature rapid-fire, percussive vocal delivery that syncs tightly with the beat. The rhyme scheme in the verses is often fluid, using a mix of perfect rhymes and slant rhymes to maintain a conversational yet punchy flow (e.g., "level"/"battle", "sorry"/"party"). The pre-chorus builds tension by slightly pulling back on the rhythmic intensity before launching into the highly structured and memorable chorus. The chorus itself is built on heavy repetition and a simple, powerful AABB-like structure ("town"/"sound", "down"/"done"), making it an infectious and chant-like hook that is easy to remember and shout along to. This rhythmic and rhyming foundation makes the song a quintessential hype track, designed for maximum impact and memorability.

"How It’s Done" employs a dynamic blend of musical and literary techniques to create its aggressive and confident tone.

• Musical Style: Sonically, the track is a genre-bending fusion of hard-hitting trap beats, traditional K-pop melodic hooks, and attitude-heavy rap sections. This hybrid approach creates a sound that is both commercially appealing and edgy, reflecting the dual identity of the demon-hunting idols. The production, handled by industry veteran Teddy Park, ensures a polished, high-octane feel comparable to modern K-pop hits.
• Vocal Delivery: The song features a rotation of fierce vocal deliveries from the three singers, representing the characters of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. This includes aggressive rap verses, confident sung lines, and powerful group chants in the chorus, creating a varied and dynamic texture that keeps the energy high.
• Bilingual Lyrics: The seamless integration of English and Korean lyrics (e.g., "Bleeding isn't in my blood, 뼈속부터 달라서" - 'different down to my bones') is a key stylistic choice. This not only roots the song in its K-pop context but also enhances the theme of duality, appealing to a global audience while maintaining cultural specificity.
• Literary Devices: The lyrics utilize hyperbole ("'Cause you might die") to establish their intimidating presence and similes ("Knocking you out like a lullaby") to highlight their unique combination of deadliness and grace. The direct address ("Ugh, you came at a bad time") creates an immediate sense of confrontation and confidence.

"How It's Done" gained significant cultural traction as a standout track from the soundtrack of the 2025 Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters. The song, performed by the fictional group HUNTR/X, quickly became one of the most-searched tracks from the movie on social media platforms like TikTok, where fans created numerous edits and videos featuring it. Its popularity was boosted by the film's success and the high-quality production involving famed K-pop producer Teddy Park, known for his work with BLACKPINK. This association lent the song a sense of authenticity and legitimacy within the K-pop genre, allowing it to be appreciated by both general audiences and dedicated K-pop fans. The song played a crucial role in establishing the film's tone and the badass identity of its protagonists. While specific chart data is not available for a fictional group's song, its viral nature and prominence in discussions surrounding the film highlight its impact as a successful piece of transmedia storytelling, effectively blurring the line between a film's narrative and real-world music culture. Some users on social media have even called for a collaboration between K-Pop Demon Hunters and the video game Fortnite, often using "How It's Done" as the soundtrack for their suggestions.

The lyrics of "How It’s Done" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that construct the group's identity as fierce, stylish warriors.

• The Hunt: The group's name, HUNTR/X, and recurring phrases like "We hunt you down" directly frame conflict as a predator-prey dynamic. This positions them as being in complete control, actively seeking out and neutralizing threats rather than passively defending.
• Duality of Glamour and Danger: The line "Heels, nails, blade, mascara" symbolizes the fusion of femininity and lethality. These items, typically associated with beauty and fashion, are listed as if they are weapons in an arsenal. This challenges traditional notions of femininity by portraying it as a source of power and danger. Their "napalm era" reinforces this, suggesting a period of intense, destructive, and stylish force.
• Lyrical Weapons: The line "when shootin' my words, I go Rambo" is a direct metaphor for the power of their lyrics and vocal delivery. It equates their musical performance to a high-intensity, unstoppable assault, suggesting their art is their primary weapon.
• The Lullaby: The phrase "Knocking you out like a lullaby" is a striking oxymoron. It juxtaposes the violent act of incapacitating someone with the soothing, gentle image of a lullaby, symbolizing their ability to defeat opponents with unnerving ease and style.

The most significant recurring phrase in the song is its title, "How it's done, done, done." This phrase acts as the song's central thesis and a powerful hook, repeated in the chorus and post-chorus. Its repetition drills the message of the group's superiority and flawless execution into the listener's mind, functioning as a defiant war cry and a statement of identity. Another key recurring motif is the concept of the "hunt," which ties directly into the group's name, HUNTR/X, and the movie's plot. This is explicitly stated in the final chorus with lines like "We hunt you down, down, down," reinforcing their role as predators in control. The repetition of "done, done, done" and "down, down, down" creates a rhythmic, percussive effect that enhances the song's aggressive and conclusive tone. Finally, the group's name, "Huntrix," is shouted out, particularly in the chorus, functioning as a signature call sign that solidifies their brand and power.