On April 25, 2024, it was announced that the four finalists from Produce 101 Japan The Girls, a reality competition show, had signed a contract with Lapone Entertainment under its newly established sub-label Lapone Girls, and formed the new girl group Is:sue. It was concurrently revealed that the group would make its official debut on June 19, 2024, with the release of their first single album, 1st Is:sue.[1]
On May 17, the group released the lead single from 1st Is:sue, "Connect".[2]
1st Is:sue reached number one on the Oricon weekly chart.[3] Additionally, the lead track "Connect" peaked at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.[4]