I. Introduction
Hot Sauce is the first full studio album from the NCT sub-unit, NCT Dream. It was released on May 10, 2021 with the lead single "Hot Sauce."
II. Background and Release
This album was the group's first release with 7 members since Mark's graduation in 2018, after the elimination of the age-based graduation system. It was also the group's first full album after multiple EPs and mini albums, which the group's fans had been clamoring for.
Hot Sauce marks the third NCT sub-unit release following the all-unit NCT Resonance event, after NCT 127's Japanese release Loveholic in February and WayV's Kick Back in March. The group structure of NCT is unique among K-Pop groups due to the fact that the concept of NCT is an ever expanding group with "unlimited" members and it is comprised of several individual subunits. Currently there are 23 members in NCT, making up four individual subunits. The sub-units combine to create an all-unit project in select years that features all NCT members, debuts new ones, releases albums, appears on TV shows, web and social content. The albums tied to the 2020 all-unit Resonance event became best-sellers in 2020 with NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 temporarily becoming SM Entertainment's top-selling album of all time. Each NCT sub-unit's release after Resonance outperformed the group's previous releases, often selling more than double the previous amount.
The album was announced on April 12, with photo and video teasers up until its release on May 10. The album featured 7 versions with each member on the cover, as well as 3 photobook versions (Crazy, Boring, Chilling). The album contains 10 songs.
The group participated in a reality show 7illin' in the Dream prior to the album launch, as well as performing in a special launch showcase on YouTube, V Live, TikTok and Twitter on May 11 that included songs from the new album and previous songs, including the first time Mark performed in one of the 6-member tracks, "Boom."
In addition to the lead single "Hot Sauce," NCT Dream promoted the b-side "Dive Into You" in Korean music show performances. The group also collaborated with children's brand Pinkfong for a promotional partnership, including a special version of "Hot Sauce" and a version of the kids' song "Dino ABCs."
III. Tracklist
| Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
| "Hot Sauce" | Moon Yeo-reum, Jo Yoon-kyung | Martin Wave, Tinashe Sibanda, Philip Kembo, Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell, John Mitchell, Ninos Hanna, Yoo Young-jin | Martin Wave, Bantu, Dr. Chaii, Yoo Young-jin | 3:15 |
| "Diggity" | Kenzie | Kenzie, Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine), Ludvig Evers (Moonshine), Cazzi Opeia (Sunshine) | Moonshine | 3:29 |
| "Dive Into You" | Ellie Suh (Joombas) | David "dwilly" Wilson, Wyatt Sanders, James Abrahart | David "dwilly" Wilson | 3:12 |
| "My Youth" | Lee Ji-yoon | David "dwilly" Wilson, Wyatt Sanders, Scott Effman | David "dwilly" Wilson | 3:56 |
| "Rocket" | Jo Yoon-kyung | Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine), Ludvig Evers (Moonshine), Stephan Benson (Misunderstood), Jeffrey Okyere-Twumasi (Misunderstood), Realmeee | Moonshine | 2:55 |
| "Countdown" (3.2.1) | Jang Jeong-won, Rick Bridges | Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine), Ludvig Evers (Moonshine), Deez, Bobii Lewis, Rick Bridges | Moonshine | 3:34 |
| "ANL" | jane, ron, Grizzly, Daegam (Cracker), E. Do (Cracker), JUNNY, Aisle | no2zzcat, Aisle, JUNNY, ron | no2zcat | 3:45 |
| "Irreplaceable" | Cho A-young (Joombas), Rick Bridges | Deez, The Family, Rick Bridges | Deez | 3:24 |
| "Be There For You" | minGtion (ADC Music), JUNNY | minGtion (ADC Music), JUNNY | minGtion (ADC Music) | 3:43 |
| "Rainbow" | Jo Yoon-kyung, Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, Jisung | Jurek Reunamaki, Rik Annema, Jurek Reunamaki, Cimo Frankel, Annie Schindel, Griff Clawson | Jurek Reunamaki | 3:51 |
IV. Spotify Playlist
V. Videos
NCT Dream also collaborated with children's company Pinkfong to release a kids' version:
VI. Concept Photos
Crazy Jalapeño
Boring Jalapeño
Chilling Jalapeño
VII. Reception
The album launched to high demand and a record for the group and its parent company SM Entertainment, exceeding more than 1.7 million preorders. The album debuted at #1 on the Korean Gaon Album Charts, with its songs charting on all the digital charts (Genie, Flo, Melon). The album also topped the Chinese QQ, Kugou Music and Kuwo Music charts and iTunes charts in 37 regions, including the United States. Within 1 week, the album had surpassed more than 1,000,000 copies sold on the Hanteo charts, becoming the first SM album to accomplish this in its first week. It also topped the Japanese Oricon and Billboard Japan charts. Additionally, it became the second biggest streaming boy group album launch under SM on the global Spotify charts. The title song debuted at #189 on Spotify's global charts, becoming Dream's first song to do so. As of June 4, 2021, the album had sold over 2 million copies, making NCT Dream one of only 3 kpop groups to sell over 2 million copies of a single album.
The album became the highest-selling SM Entertainment release in the company's history, until the record was broken in October by NCT 127's Sticker. The album was certified 2x Million by the KMCA.
It also finished the year as the fourth selling album in the global United World Chart and the third selling album on the Gaon chart and Hanteo chart.
Hot Sauce won the Album Bonsang at the Golden Disc Awards, Best Album Award at the Seoul Music Awards and Album of the Year 2nd Quarter at the Gaon Chart Music Awards. It was also nominated for the Album Daesang at the Golden Disc Awards, Bonsang at the Seoul Music Awards and Album of the Year at the Melon Music Awards and MAMA. The title track "Hot Sauce" was nominated for a best dance performance and song of the year at MAMA.
