NCT U

Sub-unit of K-pop group NCT
  • K-pop
  • rap
  • hip hop
  • R&B
Years active2016-presentLabelsSM EntertainmentSpinoff ofNCT
Musical artist

NCT U (Korean: 엔씨티유; Japanese: エヌシーティー) is the first sub-unit from the South Korean boy band NCT. They debuted on 9 April 2016 with the double digital single "The 7th Sense" and "Without You" under the label SM Entertainment. The member line of NCT U is rotational, changing with each release and concept. The group's original members were Taeyong, Ten, Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Mark. NCT U is most known for their experimental nature, with their singles inspired by various genres such as trap and electro pop.[1]

History

NCT U's debut was confirmed in early April 2016 after SM Entertainment CEO Lee Soo-man announced plans in January 2016 to create a boy group with core principles of localization and flexibility in its lineup.[2] The group made their first broadcast appearance on 9 April 2016 in a Naver broadcast with Super Junior's Heechul,[3] where he introduced the initial group lineup of Taeyong, Ten, Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Mark.[4]

The group made their Chinese & Korean debut with two digital singles: "The 7th Sense" (released 9 April 2016) and "Without You" (released 10 April 2016).[5][6] The singles would peak at #2 and #3 respectively on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales charts on 30 April 2016.[7]

In 2018, NCT released NCT 2018 Empathy, featuring two new songs by NCT U: "Boss" and "Baby Don't Stop".[8] The member lineup for this release consisted of Taeyong, Ten, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Mark, Winwin, Jungwoo, and Lucas. "Baby Don't Stop" and "Boss" would peak at #2 and 3 respectively on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales charts on 31 March 2018.[9]

NCT's second studio album NCT 2020 Resonance featured multiple new NCT U songs, including "Make A Wish" (also called "Birthday Song"), "From Home", and "Work It". In contrast to the smaller member lineups on the singles of 2016 and 2018, this release featured all 23 members of NCT.[10] NCT U would also receive their first award as a group on episode 375 of Show Champion for "Make A Wish".[11]

On 14 December 2021, NCT U released the title track for NCT's 2021 album Universe, "Universe (Let's Play Ball)". This release's lineup included members Doyoung, Jungwoo, Mark, Xiaojun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Yangyang, and Shotaro.[12]

Upon the release of NCT's album Golden Age on 28 August 2023, NCT U's "Baggy Jeans" hit #1 on Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart the week of its release.[13] This release marked the first reunion of NCT U's original lineup - Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, and Mark - since their 2016 debut.[14] On 6 December 2023, "Marine Turtle" was released with a new member lineup of Renjun, Chenle, Xiaojun, and Kun.[15]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, sales, certifications and album name
Title Year Recorded by Peak chart positions Sales[A] Album
KOR
[16] 		KOR
Billb.
[B][17] 		JPN
Hot
[18] 		US
World
[19] 		WW
[20]
"The 7th Sense" (일곱 번째 감각) 2016 Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark 111 — — 2 — NCT 2018 Empathy
"Without You" Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun (Korean ver.) with Kun (Chinese ver.) 126 — — 3 —
"Boss" 2018 Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Mark, Winwin, Lucas, Jungwoo 97 80 — 3 — —
"Baby Don't Stop" Taeyong, Ten —[C] — — 2 —
"Yestoday" Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas, Mark — — — — —
"Make a Wish" 2020 Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Lucas, Xiaojun, Jaemin, Shotaro 14 15 59 11 128 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1
"From Home" Taeil, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Renjun, Haechan, Chenle 92 — — — —
"90's Love" Ten, Winwin, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Yangyang, Sungchan 84 65 — 15 — NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2
"Work It" Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, Jisung 123 — — 23 —
"Universe (Let's Play Ball)" 2021 Doyoung, Jungwoo, Mark, Xiaojun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Yangyang, Shotaro 86 96 61 14 147 Universe
"Baggy Jeans" 2023 Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark 49 — — — — Golden Age
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

SM Station singles

Title Year Recorded by Peak chart positions Album SM Station project
KOR
Down.
[24] 		US
World
[19]
"Timeless" 2018 Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun — — NCT 2018 Empathy SM Station Season 2
"Coming Home" 2019 Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Haechan — 7 Non-album singles SM Station X 4 LOVEs for Winter
"Conextion (Age of Light)" 2022 Doyoung, Mark, Haechan — — NCT Lab
"Rain Day" Taeil, Kun, Yangyang 80 —
"N.Y.C.T" 2023 Taeil, Haechan 49 —
"Marine Turtle" Kun, Xiaojun, Renjun, Chenle TBA TBA

Soundtrack appearances

Title Year Member(s) Album
"Stay in My Life" 2017 Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung School 2017 OST
"Radio Romance" 2018 Taeil, Doyoung Radio Romance OST
"New Dream" Taeil, Jaehyun Dokgo Rewind OST
"Best Day Ever" Haechan, Chenle, Jisung SM Station Season 3, Trolls: The Beat Goes On! Korean OST
"New Love" 2019 Doyoung, Jaehyun Best Mistake (일진에게 찍혔을 때) OST
"Baby Only You" Doyoung, Mark The Tale of Nokdu OST

Collaborations

Title Year Recorded by Peak chart positions Album
KOR
Down.
[25]
"Maniac"
(prod. Ryan S. Jhun) 		2021 Doyoung, Haechan 52 Maxis by Ryan Jhun Pt. 1

Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[26] 		KOR
Billb.
[B][17]
"Misfit" 2020 130 88 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1
"Volcano" 168 —
"Dancing in the Rain" 188 —
"Faded in My Last Song" 186 —

Notes

  1. ^ Korean-language singles are downloads while Japanese-language singles are physical units, except noted.
  2. ^ a b Includes the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 (defunct as of 2022), and South Korea Songs (part of Billboard's Hits of the World (2022 onwards)).
  3. ^ "Baby Don't Stop" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at number 62 on the Gaon Download Chart.[23]

References

  1. ^ Herman, Tamar (9 January 2017). "Examining NCT and Its Various K-Pop Units". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  2. ^ Bahk, Eun-ji (4 April 2016). "SM's new K-pop band NCT U to debut this week". Korea Times. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  3. ^ Min-kyung, Jung (24 April 2016). "Super Junior's Heechul roots for NCT U". Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Breaking Down The NCT System, From The Rotational NCT U To The Upcoming NCT Tokyo | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  5. ^ Ji-hyoung, Son (6 April 2016). "NCT U confirms lineup, set to unveil singles 'The 7th Sense,' 'Without You'". kpopherald.koreaherald.com. The Korea Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  6. ^ "SM's neo-boy band 'NCT U' to launch this week". Yonhap News Agency. 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  7. ^ "NCT U - Billboard". Billboard. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30.
  8. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (24 March 2018). "Three NCT Teams Debut on World Digital Song Sales Chart: Your Guide to Each One". Billboard. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  9. ^ "NCT U - Billboard". Billboard. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  10. ^ Benjamin, Jeff. "NCT Complete One Of 2020's Biggest K-Pop Albums With 23-Person Single & Concert". Forbes.
  11. ^ "NCT U takes their first win ever as a unit group on 'Show Champion,' which is also the first win for new member Shotaro". allkpop. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Here's the NCT U member lineup for NCT 2021's comeback title track 'Universe (Let's Play Ball)'". allkpop.
  13. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (6 September 2023). "NCT U's 'Baggy Jeans' Tops Hot Trending Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Watch: NCT U Flaunts Their "Baggy Jeans" In Stylish Comeback MV". Soompi. 28 August 2023.
  15. ^ "NCT U drops teaser images for NCT LAB project 'Marine Turtle' ft. Kun, Xiaojun, Renjun, and Chenle". allkpop.
  16. ^ Chart positions on the Gaon Digital Chart:
    • "The 7th Sense", "Without You". April 16, 2016. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
    • "Circle Chart" Boss – 2018년 11주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
    • "Circle Chart" Make a Wish – 2020년 42주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
    • "Circle Chart" From Home – 2020년 43주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
    • "Circle Chart" 90's Love – 2020년 48주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
    • "Circle Chart" Work It – 2020년 49주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
    • "Circle Chart" Universe (Let's Play Ball) + Beautiful – 2021년 51주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
    • "Baggy Jeans – 2023 Week 37 Digital Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Billboard K-Pop 100 chart positions:
    • "NCT U Chart History: Billboard K-Pop 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
    • "Make a Wish": "Billboard K-Pop 100". Billboard. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  18. ^ Japan Hot 100:
    • "Make A Wish(Birthday Song) (October 26, 2020)". Billboard Japan. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
    • "Universe (Let's Play Ball) (December 22, 2021)". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Billboard World Digital Songs:
    • "NCT U Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
    • "Resonance": "World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. December 19, 2020. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  20. ^ "Global 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    • "Make a Wish (Birthday Song)". Billboard. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  21. ^ "Circle Chart" 2016년 04월 Download Chart (see #142). Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  22. ^ "Circle Chart" 2016년 04월 Download Chart (see #220). Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  23. ^ "Download Chart 2018 Week 11". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  24. ^ Circle Download Chart positions:
    • "Rain Day": "Download Chart 2022 Week 30". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
    • "N.Y.C.T": "Download Chart 2023 Week 36". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "Circle Chart" 2021년 33주차 Download Chart [Week 33 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). August 8–14, 2021. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  26. ^ Peaks of other songs on the Gaon Digital Chart:
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