I. Introduction
NCT (엔시티) or Neo Culture Technology is a boy group under SM Entertainment. The group structure of NCT is unique among K-Pop groups due to the fact that the original concept of NCT was an ever expanding group with "unlimited" members and it is comprised of several individual subunits. Currently there are 27 members in NCT, making up five individual subunits. The limitless expansion was announced as completed in 2023, with no additional members beyond the new unit.
The NCT U sub-unit is a special promotional unit with rotational members. Members are chosen to perform based on the song and concept, and the groups are often heavily performance-driven. In addition to recording and performing in music videos, NCT U groups also perform on music shows and other performances within the same grouping. As of May 2023, 20 of th3 27 members of NCT have participated in a NCT U subunit.
II. Career
III. Debut
NCT U was the first NCT sub-unit announced on April 4, 2016. It debuted on April 9 with the single "The 7th Sense" and April 10 with "Without You." "The 7th Sense" was a highly dance-focused and rap-intensive song, featuring Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun and Mark, while the vocally-driven mid-tempo song "Without You" featured future NCT main vocalists Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun and, on the Chinese version, Kun.
IIII. First SM Station and OST
Two of the three permanent NCT sub-units launched in 2016, NCT 127 and NCT Dream.
NCT U also released its first OST song, the vocally focused "Stay In My Life," featuring Taeil, Taeyong and Doyoung for the School 2017 OST in August 2017. NCT U returned as part of the digital SM Station project, releasing the single, "Timeless," another vocally-driven song featuring the three main vocalists of NCT 127, Taeil, Doyoung and Jaehyun. It released its next OST, "Radio Romance," featuring Taeil and Doyoung, in February 2018 for the Radio Romance OST, which was another vocally-focused song.
IIIII. Empathy
After the initial debut, the majority of NCT U songs are released in conjunction with the biennial NCT projects, where all of the sub-units come together to create an album and promote content with cross-unit activities. The NCT U combinations continue to be selected by song, so that a heavily rap-focused track will utilize NCT's strongest rappers across the units and aheavily vocal-focused track will only utilize the group's key vocalists.
NCT launched the NCT 2018 project on March 14, 2018, featuring all NCT members, and debuting three new ones. This project also included the first NCT full album, NCT 2018 Empathy. Each of the NCT sub-units features on songs on the album, although the majority of the songs are the NCT U. For Empathy, the NCT U groups featured re-releases of previous songs "The 7th Sense" and "Without You," as well as new combinations incorporating new NCT members. (Note: The performance-driven song "Black on Black" is not listed as a NCT U song, but rather NCT to indicate the full group.)
The NCT U groups feature significantly in show-stopping year-end performances in Korea, especially during NCT project years in conjunction with the other sub-units.
More SM Station and OSTs
NCT U also continued to release singles as part of the digital SM Station project and for OSTs. In August 2018, it released "New Dream," a vocal-focused track featuring Taeil and Jaehyun, for the Dokgo Rewind OST. In August 2019, it released "New Love , a vocal-driven track featuring Doyoung and Jaehyun, for Best Mistake OST. In October 2019, it released "Baby Only You," featuring Doyoung and Mark, for The Tale of Nokdu OST. December 2019, it released "Coming Home," a winter ballad featuring only NCT 127's main vocalists, Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun and Haechan, for SM Station.
SM Station is a digital music project under SM Entertainment that involves solos or duets from members in existing SM groups, as well as opportunities for singers to experiment in other genres or collaborate with artists inside and outside of SM Entertainment. The project releases a number of singles digitally each year on digital platforms, including streaming audio like Spotify.
IIIV. Resonance
NCT launched another all-unit project in October 2020, featuring all NCT members, and debuting two new ones. This NCT 2020 project also included a 2-part NCT full album, NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 and NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 and an accompanying TV show, NCT World 2.0. For Resonance, all the NCT U groups and songs were brand new.
The album was released in two parts, so different NCT U groups promoted during each album's launch.
For NCT 2020, NCT U groups performed individually for year-end performances, as well as in a special mash-up song and performance, "Resonance," that incorporated multiple NCT U songs and groups, with each group breaking out to perform their specific portion. The combination song included portions of "Make A Wish," "90s Love", "Work It" and "Raise the Roof." However, although it is a mash-up of NCT U songs, because it included all units, it is technically labelled an NCT 2020 song rather than NCT U.
In August 2021, NCT U released a digital single "Maniac" under producer Ryan S. Jhun's MAXIS project.
IIV. Universe
NCT launched another all-unit project in December 2021, featuring all active NCT members. 2 members did not participate (Winwin due to competing acting schedules and Lucas due to hiatus), while Ten had partial participation on some elements but not NCT U units/songs. This NCT 2021 project included an album. For Universe, all the NCT U groups and songs were brand new.
The album included two co-title tracks: the NCT U song "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" and the all member track "Beautiful." Because it included all members, "Beautiful" is technically labeled a NCT 2021 song rather than NCT U.
IIVI. NCT Lab
SM announced a new project under SM Station to focus around NCT, called NCT Lab. The project includes solo songs, self-composed tracks and sub-unit work outside of the group's albums. NCT U songs were released beginning in April 2022.
IIVII. Departures, Golden Ageand New Unit
NCT 2023 was announced as a full all-unit album. In May 2023, Lucas, Shotaro and Sungchan left the group and NCT. The NCT all-unit project, Golden Age, included all 20 active members. NCT's fifth unit was announced but the members do not appear on Golden Age. Promotions highlighted the return of the original NCT U 7th Sense unit on the co-title track "Baggy Jeans." Another returning NCT U unit, Taeyong and Ten, appeared on "Call D," having previously worked together on "Baby Don't Stop" for Empathy in 2018.
III. Discography
| Artwork | Title | Release | Album/EP/Single | Members | Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The 7th Sense" | 2016 | digital single / NCT 2018 Empathy | Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun and Mark | heavy rap and dance | |
| "Without You" | 2016 | digital single / NCT 2018 Empathy | Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun (all main vocalists) |
heavy vocal | |
|
|
"Without You" (Chinese version) | 2016 | digital single / NCT 2018 Empathy | Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Kun (all main vocalists) |
heavy vocal |
| "Stay in My Life" | 2017 | School 2017 OST | Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung | ||
| "Timeless (텐데...)" | 2018 | SM Station Season 2 / NCT 2018 Empathy | Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun (all main vocalists) |
heavy vocal - ballad | |
| "Radio Romance" | 2018 | Radio Romance OST | Taeil, Doyoung (both main vocalists) | heavily vocal | |
| "Boss" | 2018 | NCT 2018 Empathy | Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, (new members) Jungwoo and Lucas | combination: dance, vocal, rap | |
| "Baby Don't Stop" | 2018 | NCT 2018 Empathy | Taeyong, Ten (both main dancers) | vocal, rap, strong dance | |
| "Yestoday" | 2018 | NCT 2018 Empathy | Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas, Mark | heavy rap | |
| "New Dream" | 2018 | Dokgo Rewind OST | Taeil, Jaehyun (both main vocalists) | heavily vocal | |
| "New Love" | 2019 | Best Mistake OST | Taeil, Jaehyun (both main vocalists) | heavily vocal | |
| "Baby Only You" | 2019 | The Tale of Nodku OST | Doyoung, Mark | heavily vocal | |
| "Coming Home | 2019 | SM Station X 4 LOVEs for Winter | Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Haechan (all main vocalists) |
heavy vocal - ballad | |
|
|
"Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" | 2020 |
NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
Taeyong, Doyoung, Yuta, Jaehyun, Lucas, Xiaojun, Jaemin, Shotaro | heavy dance, vocal, rap |
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|
"Misfit" | 2020 |
NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
Johnny, Taeyong, Mark, Hendery, Jeno, YangYang, Sungchan (all rappers) | all rap |
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|
"Volcano" | 2020 |
NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, Lucas, Mark | combination: dance, vocal, rap |
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"Light Bulb" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
Taeyong, Kun, Doyoung, Sungchan (main rappers and vocalists) | heavy rap and vocal |
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|
"Dancing in the Rain" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Kun, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Xiaojun, Chenle | rap and vocal |
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"Faded in My Last Song" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Lucas, Renjun, Haechan, Jisung | rap and vocal |
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|
"From Home" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 |
Taeil, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Renjun, Haechan, Chenle (mostly main vocalists) | heavy vocal - ballad |
| "90s Love" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 | Ten, Winwin, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, YangYang, Sungchan (main/lead dancers, main/lead rappers) | heavy dance and rap | |
| "Raise the Roof" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 | Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Kun, Jungwoo, Hendery, Renjun, Chenle, Jisung | rap and vocal | |
| "My Everything" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 | Taeil, Doyoung and Renjun (all main vocalists) |
heavy vocal - ballad | |
| "Work It" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 | Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, Jisung | dance and vocal | |
| "All About You" | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 | Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, Hendery, Shotaro, Sungchan, Chenle | vocal | |
| "I.O.U." | 2020 | NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2 | Taeyong, Kun, Doyoung, YangYang, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung | vocal and rap | |
| "Maniac" | 2021 | digital single | Doyoung, Haechan (both main vocalists) | heavy vocals | |
| "New Axis" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Taeyong, Mark, YangYang (all main rappers) | all rap | |
| "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Doyoung, Jungwoo, Mark, Xiaojun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, YangYang, Shotaro | heavy dance, vocal, rap | |
| "OK!" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Taeyong, Yuta, Ten, Mark, Hendery, Jeno, YangYang | heavy rap and vocal | |
| "Birthday Party" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Johnny, Yuta, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung | heavy rap and vocal | |
| "Know Now" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Doyoung, Sungchan, Johnny, Jaemin, Jeno, YangYang, Mark | vocal and rap | |
| "Round&Round" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Taeil, Ten, Jaehyun, Xiaojun, Haechan, Sungchan | heavy vocal - 5 main vocalists | |
| "Vroom" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Kun, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Hendery, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung | vocal and rap | |
| "Sweet Dream" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Taeil, Kun, Jaehyun, Haechan, Chenle (all main vocalists) | heavy vocal - ballad | |
| "Good Night" | 2021 | NCT 2021 Universe | Taeil, Doyoung, Xiaojun, Renjun | heavy vocal - ballad | |
| "coNEXTion (Age of Light)" | 2022 | SM Station: NCT Lab | Doyoung, Haechan, Mark | rap and vocal | |
| "Rain Day" | 2022 | SM Station: NCT Lab | Taeil, Kun, YangYang | heavy vocal | |
| "Baggy Jeans" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Ten, Mark | heavy rap and dance | |
| "Call D" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Taeyong, Ten | vocal, rap, strong dance | |
| "PADO" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Johnny, Taeyong, Jaehyun, Mark, Xiaojun, Hendery, Haechan | combination: dance, vocal, rap | |
| "Interlude: Oasis" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jaemin, Chenle | heavy vocal | |
| "The BAT" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jeno, Jisung | heavy rap and dance | |
| "Alley Oop" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Yuta, Winwin, Hendery, Jeno, Jaemin, YangYang, Jisung | heavy rap and dance | |
| "That's Not Fair" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Johnny, Taeyong, Ten, Mark, Jeno, YangYang | heavy rap | |
| "Kangaroo" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Taeil, Kun, Renjun, YangYang, Chenle, Jisung | heavy vocal | |
| "Not Your Fault" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | Taeil, Kun, Doyoung, Ten, Jungwoo, Xiaojun, Renjun | heavy vocal - ballad | |
| "Golden Age" | 2023 | NCT 2023 Golden Age | all members | combination: vocal, rap | |
| "N.Y.C.T." | 2023 | SM Station: NCT Lab | Taeil, Haechan | heavy vocal |
