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NCT 127
NCT 127
(Korean: 엔시티 127; RR: ensiti il-i-chil) is the first fixed and second overall sub-unit of the
South Korean boy band NCT, formed and managed by SM Entertainment. The current lineup
consists of nine active members: Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark,
and Haechan.[3] NCT 127 are known for their experimental hip hop and R&B-based music and
energetic choreographies. After debuting in 2016, they broke into the domestic mainstream in 2017
with "Cherry Bomb", now recognized as one of their signature songs, and received greater
international attention following the release of "Kick It" in 2020. NCT 127 have released four studio
albums, three of which were reissued, and four extended plays in the Korean language thus far.
They have also ventured into the Japanese music scene with the release of a Japanese version of
their second single "Limitless", an EP, and a studio album.
NCT 127 released their first single "Fire Truck" on July 7, 2016, with an original lineup of seven
members: Taeil, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, and Haechan. Their debut extended
play (EP) NCT #127 (2016) was a commercial success upon release, winning them the Best New
Artist title at several South Korean music award shows. Members Doyoung and Johnny joined the
unit in December 2016, ahead of their second EP Limitless (2017) and its title track of the same
name; Jungwoo, the final member, was introduced in September 2018 for their first studio
album Regular-Irregular (2018).
In April 2019, NCT 127's increasing global popularity prompted SM Entertainment to sign marketing
and distribution deals with Capitol Music Group and Caroline Distribution, respectively. The unit
subsequently released the EP We Are Superhuman that year and their second Korean studio
album, Neo Zone, in 2020, the latter becoming their first top-five entry on the US Billboard 200 and
their first release to sell over one million copies.[4] In 2021, NCT 127 released their third Korean
studio album, Sticker, and its repackaged version Favorite. With a combined 3.58 million copies
sold, it broke the record for the best-selling album of all time by an act under SM Entertainment and
earned the group the Daesang[b] award at the 31st Seoul Music Awards.[6][7] Sticker debuted at
number three on the Billboard 200, becoming the longest and highest-charting K-pop album in the
US in 2021.[8] In 2022, NCT 127 released their fourth Korean studio album 2 Baddies, which sold 3.2
million copies and made them the second K-pop act to have three albums debut in the top five of
the Billboard 200.[9][10][11]
History
2013–2016: Formation, pre-debut activities and early days
See also: SM Rookies
All ten members of NCT 127 were originally introduced through SM Rookies, a pre-debut training
team established by SM Entertainment.[17] Johnny was the first member to join the label through an
American audition at Chicago, Illinois in 2007, while Yuta was recruited through the SM Global
Audition in Osaka, Japan and Mark in Vancouver, Canada in 2012.[18][19] The same year, Taeyong and
Jaehyun joined the label after being cast by label employees and passing auditions and were the
first members to be introduced through SM Rookies.[20][21][22] Taeil was the next member to join the
label in 2013, despite having chosen twice before to not pursue an idol career.[23] Doyoung and
Donghyuck joined the label in 2013, with Winwin being introduced through SM Rookies on January
5, 2016, and Jungwoo on April 17, 2017.[24][25]
Prior to the unit's debut, several members had solo activities during their time in SM Rookies,
including Taeyong's music video for "Open the Door" and feature in Red Velvet's second single "Be
Natural" (credited as SR14B's Taeyong) in 2014.[26][27] Taeyong then joined fellow trainees Johnny,
Mark, Donghyuck, Yuta and Jaehyun in the Mnet-produced reality show Exo 90:2014.[28] Doyoung
and Jaehyun became fixed MCs for the music show Show Champion from January to June 2015,
while Mark and Donghyuck were Mouseketeers on Disney Channel Korea’s The Mickey Mouse
Club in July 2015.[24][29] The members eventually had their first official show, titled SMRookies Show,
in Seoul in September 2015 and later in Bangkok, Thailand in February 2016.[30][31] Taeil released his
first solo soundtrack “Because Of You” for the television series The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 on
January 26, 2016, and Winwin, who appeared as a dancer for the live performance of NCT U's "The
7th Sense" during the sub-unit's first live performance in China at the 16th Music Feng Yun Bang
Awards later in April 2016.[32][33] Along with other SM Rookies trainees, the members starred in their
first reality show series, titled NCT Life, in the same month.[34] Taeyong, Taeil, Jaehyun, and Mark—
all of whom previously debuted in NCT U—as well as Yuta, Winwin, and Donghyuck (who selected
the stage name Haechan) were confirmed to debut in NCT 127, the Seoul-based unit of NCT, on
July 1, 2016.[16]
NCT 127 officially debuted with the release of the music video for "Fire Truck" on July 7, 2016, and
had their debut performance on Mnet's M Countdown on the same day. They performed the single
alongside another promotional song, "Once Again".[3][35] They released their self-titled extended
play (EP) on July 10, 2016.[36] The record was a commercial success, debuting at number two on
the Gaon Album Chart and rising to the number one position by the third week of its release, while
reaching number two on the Billboard World Albums Chart.[37][38][39] In collaboration with Coca-Cola,
NCT 127 released the single "Taste the Feeling" under the SM Station project on July 29 while
continuing promotions for "Fire Truck" on television music shows such as Music Bank, Show
Champion, and Inkigayo.[40] The group then collaborated with the W Korea magazine and modeling
agency ESteem for a special performance video, which featured five members (Yuta, Taeyong,
Jaehyun, Mark, and Winwin) performing a then-unreleased track, titled "Good Thing".[41] On
December 20, NCT 127 released the music video for "Switch", previously issued as a bonus track
on NCT #127, which featured other SM Rookies trainees (who were referred to as SR15B at the
time of release).[42] The unit was named the Best New Group of 2016 at several music award shows,
including Asia Artist Awards, Seoul Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, Mnet Asian Music
Awards and Gaon Chart Music Awards.[43][44][45][46][47]
NCT 127 attending Music Bank on October 12, 2018, for their first live performance of "Regular."
On September 17, SM Entertainment introduced a new logo for NCT 127 on all social media
platforms. On October 1, they were announced as Apple Music's Up Next Artist of the October,
making them as the first K-pop artist to be selected for the series.[69] Along with the release of a new
teaser video, the label confirmed that member Jungwoo would officially join the lineup for their
upcoming first full-length album, titled Regular-Irregular, on October 12.[70] Jungwoo previously
debuted in the rotational unit NCT U for the single "Boss" in February 2018. The album was a
commercial success domestically, remaining at number one on the Gaon Album Chart for two weeks
and becoming NCT 127's first to receive a Platinum KMCA certificate for selling over 250,000
copies. In addition, the album debuted at number eighty-six on the US Billboard 200, earning the
group their first charting title on the chart and leading all ten members to extend their promotions to
the United States.[71][72] In association with their role as one of Apple Music's Up Next artists, album
promotions included a group performance of an English version of the lead single "Regular" and
"Cherry Bomb" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as the group's first appearance on US national television.
[73]
NCT 127 also performed on ABC's Mickey's 90th Spectacular TV special on November 4[74] and
released an Apple Music-exclusive digital EP, Up Next Session: NCT 127, on October 21. The digital
EP contained an English version of "Cherry Bomb", remixes for "Fire Truck" and "Regular," and the
original song "What We Talkin’ Bout" featuring American singer Marteen.[75] NCT 127 re-
released Regular-Irregular under the title Regulate on November 23, led by the single "Simon Says".
[76][77]
The single was moderately successful in South Korea but experienced greater success in the
US, becoming NCT 127's first to top the Billboard World Digital Songs chart and their first to enter
the New Zealand Hot 40 Singles chart.
Due to his preparations to debut with China-based sub-unit WayV, member Winwin did not join the
group's promotional activities for the release of the repackage.[78] On December 19, it was announced
Haechan would be taking a hiatus from the group due to injury.[79]
In April 2019, NCT 127 signed a worldwide distribution deal with Capitol Music Group and Caroline
Distribution via SM Entertainment.[93] Ahead of the North American leg of their tour, the group made
appearances on Good Morning America and Strahan and Sara on April 18; they were the third K-
pop act to perform on the former.[94] In the same month, the group announced their fourth EP, We Are
Superhuman, released on May 24, 2019,[95][96] and performed once again as a nine-piece group, with
Winwin continuing to promote solely as a member of WayV.[97] The group performed the EP's lead
single, "Superhuman", on Good Morning America and Strahan and Sara.[85] They also performed the
song on The Late Late Show with James Corden on May 14.[98] NCT 127 appeared in the Japanese
variety show NCT 127 Teach Me JAPAN!, which began airing on dTV from June 9.[99]
We Are Superhuman debuted at number eleven at the Billboard 200 with 27,000 units, becoming
NCT 127's second entry on the chart.[100] The EP also became their second number-one album on
the Billboard World Albums chart.[100] An English version of "Highway to Heaven" was released as the
EP's second single on July 18, 2019.[101] In August 2019, SM Entertainment announced that Jungwoo
would sit out the group's activities for undisclosed health reasons,[102] although the label clarified in
November 2019 that his health had been improving and that he may be able to rejoin the group in
2020.[103]
NCT 127 performed as special guests at the 2019 Global Citizen Festival in New York in September
2019.[104] They released their first live album, Neo City: Seoul − The Origin, on October 24,[105] and
performed at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards in Seville, Spain on November 3, becoming the
first K-pop group to do so.[106] NCT 127 also performed at the 2019 Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade in New York on November 28, making them the first Korean artist to perform at the event,
[107]
as well as on the program Today on November 29.[108]
Members
Originally a septet at the sub-unit's debut in July 2016, the lineup now consists of nine active
members as of 2022:
Current (active)
Taeil (태일)
Johnny (쟈니)
Taeyong (태용) – leader
Yuta (유타)
Doyoung (도영)
Jaehyun (재현)
Jungwoo (정우)
Mark (마크)
Haechan (해찬)
Current (inactive)
Winwin (윈윈)[c]
Timeline
Artistry
Musical style
NCT 127's music incorporates genres such as hip hop, R&B, and EDM. Their most prominent style,
however, is experimental hip-hop, which Taeyong described as "neo", in reference to NCT's name,
Neo Culture Technology. NCT 127's hip hop-based experimental singles include the hardcore hip
hop song "Cherry Bomb", the Latin-inspired hip hop song "Regular", the "powerful" hip hop and R&B
song "Kick It", and the critically polarizing minimal hip hop song "Sticker". They have collaborated
frequently with American producer Dem Jointz, who has composed many of their lead singles
alongside South Korean songwriter Yoo Young-jin. Gelene Penalosa of POP! dubbed NCT 127 the
"K-pop's kings of noise music" after noting the increasing prominence of experimental music among
fourth generation K-pop groups.[142]
Songwriting
The members of NCT 127 have participated in songwriting since their debut. Taeyong and Mark
often write their own raps on songs such as "Cherry Bomb", "Kick It" and "Sticker"; Jaehyun
participated in songwriting for "Fire Truck". According to the Korea Music Copyright Association,
Taeyong and Mark have songwriting credits on 62 and 51 songs, respectively.[143][144] NCT 127 are
among the few acts under SM Entertainment that regularly write their own tracks.
Choreography
NCT 127's choreography has been noted for its intensity and complexity, and the members'
synchronized dance moves across different styles has received praise.[145] Tim Chan of Rolling
Stone described their choreography as "difficult for even professional dance troupes to
master."[146] Taeyong has actively participated in the conception of the group's dances for both lead
singles and album tracks, most notably for "Kick It" and "Bring the Noize".