NCT U
{{Short description|South Korean boy band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = NCT U
| image = NCT U - Work It 보는 라디오 201124 03 (cropped).png
| landscape = yes
| caption = NCT U at SBS Radio in November 2020
| origin = Seoul, South Korea
| genre = {{hlist|K-pop|hip hop|R&B}}
| years_active = {{start date|2016}}-present
| label = SM Entertainment
| spinoff_of = NCT
| current_members = see NCT Members
}}
NCT U ({{Korean|엔씨티유}}; {{langx|ja|エヌシーティー}}) is the first sub-unit from the South Korean boy band NCT. They debuted on April 9, 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.{{cite magazine |last1=Herman |first1=Tamar |title=Examining NCT and Its Various K-Pop Units |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/nct-k-pop-group-guide-explainer-7647980/ |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard |access-date=March 18, 2024 |date=January 9, 2017}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Bahk |first1=Eun-ji |title=SM's new K-pop band NCT U to debut this week |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/03/398_201890.html |website=Korea Times |access-date=March 18, 2024 |language=en |date=April 4, 2016}} The group made their first broadcast appearance on April 9, 2016, in a Naver broadcast with Super Junior's Heechul,{{cite web |last1=Min-kyung |first1=Jung |title=Super Junior's Heechul roots for NCT U |url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201604111159048066272_2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424175241/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201604111159048066272_2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2024 |date=April 24, 2016}} where he introduced the initial group lineup of Taeyong, Ten, Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Mark.{{cite web |title=Breaking Down The NCT System, From The Rotational NCT U To The Upcoming NCT Tokyo {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/nct-members-groups-dream-127-u-dojaejung-tokyo-wayv-k-pop-universe |website=grammy.com |access-date=March 10, 2024}}
The group made their Chinese & Korean debut with two digital singles: "The 7th Sense" (released April 9, 2016) and "Without You" (released April 10, 2016).{{cite news |last1=Ji-hyoung |first1=Son |title=NCT U confirms lineup, set to unveil singles 'The 7th Sense,' 'Without You' |url=https://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201604061758581112853_2 |access-date=March 10, 2024 |work=kpopherald.koreaherald.com |publisher=The Korea Herald |date=April 6, 2016}}{{cite news |title=SM's neo-boy band 'NCT U' to launch this week |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2016/04/04/19/0701000000AEN20160404006300315F.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920032511/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2016/04/04/19/0701000000AEN20160404006300315F.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2024 |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |date=April 4, 2016}} The singles would peak at #2 and #3 respectively on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales charts on April 30, 2016.{{cite magazine |title=NCT U - Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/nct-u/chart-history/world-digital-song-sales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130031406/https://www.billboard.com/music/nct-u/chart-history/world-digital-song-sales |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 30, 2020}}
In 2018, NCT released NCT 2018 Empathy, featuring two new songs by NCT U: "Boss" and "Baby Don't Stop".{{cite magazine |last1=Benjamin |first1=Jeff |title=Three NCT Teams Debut on World Digital Song Sales Chart: Your Guide to Each One |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/nct-explained-empathy-album-world-digital-song-sales-chart-127-dream-u/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 18, 2024 |date=March 24, 2018}} 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 March 31, 2018.{{cite magazine |title=NCT U - Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/nct-u/chart-history/world-digital-song-sales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130031406/https://www.billboard.com/music/nct-u/chart-history/world-digital-song-sales |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 18, 2024 |date=November 30, 2020}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Benjamin |first1=Jeff |title=NCT Complete One Of 2020's Biggest K-Pop Albums With 23-Person Single & Concert |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2021/12/29/nct-complete-one-of-2020s-biggest-k-pop-albums-resonance-with-23-person-single--concert/?sh=26ba679170cd |website=Forbes |language=en}} NCT U would also receive their first award as a group on episode 375 of Show Champion for "Make A Wish".{{cite web |title=NCT U takes their first win ever as a unit group on 'Show Champion,' which is also the first win for new member Shotaro |url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2020/10/nct-u-takes-their-first-win-ever-as-a-unit-group-on-show-champion-which-is-also-the-first-win-for-new-member-shotaro |website=allkpop |access-date=March 18, 2024 |language=en}}{{Unreliable source|reason=Per WP:KO/RS#UR|date=September 2024}}
On December 14, 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, Shotaro and Sungchan.{{cite web |title=Here's the NCT U member lineup for NCT 2021's comeback title track 'Universe (Let's Play Ball)' |url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/11/heres-the-nct-u-member-lineup-for-nct-2021s-comeback-title-track-universe-lets-play-ball |website=allkpop |language=en}}{{Unreliable source|reason=Per WP:KO/RS#UR|date=September 2024}}
Upon the release of NCT's album Golden Age on August 28, 2023, NCT U's "Baggy Jeans" hit #1 on Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart the week of its release.{{cite magazine |last1=Rutherford |first1=Kevin |title=NCT U's 'Baggy Jeans' Tops Hot Trending Songs Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/nct-u-baggy-jeans-number-1-hot-trending-songs-chart-1235407333/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 18, 2024 |date=September 6, 2023}} This release marked the first reunion of NCT U's original lineup - Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, and Mark - since their 2016 debut.{{cite web |title=Watch: NCT U Flaunts Their "Baggy Jeans" In Stylish Comeback MV |url=https://www.soompi.com/article/1609896wpp/watch-nct-u-flaunts-their-baggy-jeans-in-stylish-comeback-mv |website=Soompi |language=en |date=August 28, 2023}}{{Unreliable source|reason=Per WP:KO/RS#UR|date=September 2024}} On December 6, 2023, "Marine Turtle" was released with a new member lineup of Renjun, Chenle, Xiaojun, and Kun.{{cite web |title=NCT U drops teaser images for NCT LAB project 'Marine Turtle' ft. Kun, Xiaojun, Renjun, and Chenle |url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2023/12/nct-u-drops-teaser-images-for-nct-lab-project-marine-turtle-ft-kun-xiaojun-renjun-and-chenle |website=allkpop |language=en}}{{Unreliable source|reason=Per WP:KO/RS#UR|date=September 2024}}
Discography
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, sales, certifications and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"| Recorded by ! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Sales{{efn-ua|Korean-language singles are downloads while Japanese-language singles are physical units, except noted.}} ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| KOR Chart positions on the Gaon Digital Chart:
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | KOR
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | JPN
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | WW
|
|---|
| scope="row" | "The 7th Sense" ({{lang|ko|일곱 번째 감각}})
| rowspan="2" | 2016 | style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark}} | 111 || — || — || 2 || — | | rowspan="5" | NCT 2018 Empathy |
| scope="row" | "Without You"
| style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun (Korean ver.) with Kun (Chinese ver.)}} | 126 || — || — || 3 || — | |
| scope="row" | "Boss"
| rowspan="3" | 2018 | style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Mark, Winwin, Lucas, Jungwoo}} | 97 || 80 || — || 3 || — | rowspan="9" {{N/A}} |
| scope="row" | "Baby Don't Stop"
| style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeyong, Ten}} | —{{efn-ua|"Baby Don't Stop" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at number 62 on the Gaon Download Chart.{{cite web |title=Download Chart 2018 Week 11 |url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=11&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week&yearTime=3 |website=Circle Chart |access-date=August 9, 2022 |language=ko}}}} || — || — || 2 || — |
| scope="row" | "Yestoday"
| style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas, Mark}} | — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Make a Wish"
| rowspan="4" | 2020 | style="text-align:left"| {{small|Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Lucas, Xiaojun, Jaemin, Shotaro}} | 14 || 15 || 59 || 11 || 128 | rowspan="2" | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 |
| scope="row"| "From Home"
| style="text-align:left"| {{small|Taeil, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Renjun, Haechan, Chenle}} | 92 || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "90's Love"
| style="text-align:left"| {{small|Ten, Winwin, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Yangyang, Sungchan}} | 84 || 65 || — || 15 || — | rowspan="2" | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
| scope="row"| "Work It"
| style="text-align:left"| {{small|Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, Jisung}} | 123 || — || — || 23 || — |
| scope="row"| "Universe (Let's Play Ball)"
| 2021 | style="text-align:left"| {{small|Doyoung, Jungwoo, Mark, Xiaojun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Yangyang, Shotaro}} | 86 || 96 || 61 || 14 || 147 | Universe |
| scope="row" | "Baggy Jeans"
| 2023 | style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark}} | 49 || — || — || — || — | Golden Age |
| colspan="11" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
= SM Station singles =
{{Main|SM Station discography}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Recorded by ! colspan="2" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Album ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | SM Station project |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| KOR Down. Circle Download Chart positions:
!scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Timeless"
| 2018 | style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun}} | — || — |
| scope="row" | "Coming Home"
| 2019 | style="text-align:left" | {{small|Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Haechan}} | — || 7 | rowspan="5" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row" | "Conextion (Age of Light)"
| rowspan="2" | 2022 | align="left" | {{small|Doyoung, Mark, Haechan}} | — || — | rowspan="4" | NCT Lab |
| scope="row" | "Rain Day"
| align="left" | {{small|Taeil, Kun, Yangyang}} | 80 || — |
| scope="row" | "N.Y.C.T"
| rowspan="3" | 2023 | align="left" | {{small|Taeil, Haechan}} | 49 || — |
| scope="row" | "Marine Turtle"
| align="left" | {{small|Kun, Xiaojun, Renjun, Chenle}} | — || — |
=Soundtrack appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! Title ! Year ! Member(s) ! Album |
| align="center" scope="row" | "Stay in My Life"
| align="center" | 2017 | align="center" | {{Small|Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung}} | School 2017 OST |
|---|
| align="center" scope="row" | "Radio Romance"
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 2018 | {{Small|Taeil, Doyoung}} | Radio Romance OST |
| align="center" scope="row" | "New Dream"
| {{Small|Taeil, Jaehyun}} | Dokgo Rewind OST |
| align="center" scope="row" | "Best Day Ever"
| {{small|Haechan, Chenle, Jisung}} | SM Station Season 3, Trolls: The Beat Goes On! Korean OST |
| align="center" scope="row" | "New Love"
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 2019 | {{Small|Doyoung, Jaehyun}} | Best Mistake (일진에게 찍혔을 때) OST |
| align="center" scope="row" | "Baby Only You"
| {{Small|Doyoung, Mark}} | The Tale of Nokdu OST |
= Collaborations =
= Other charted songs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| KOR Peaks of other songs on the Gaon Digital Chart: ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |KOR |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Misfit"
| rowspan="4"| 2020 | 130 || 88 | rowspan="4"| NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 |
| scope="row"| "Volcano"
| 168 || — |
| scope="row"| "Dancing in the Rain"
| 188 || — |
| scope="row"| "Faded in My Last Song"
| 186 || — |
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{NCT (band)}}
{{SM Town}}
Category:South Korean boy bands
Category:SM Entertainment artists
Category:2016 establishments in South Korea
Category:South Korean hip-hop groups
Category:South Korean dance music groups
Category:Mandarin-language singers of South Korea
Category:English-language singers from South Korea