YangYang

I. Introduction

Liu YangYang (刘扬扬), known professionally as YangYang (Hangul: 양양) , is a Taiwanese songwriter, rapper, singer and dancer. He is the main rapper, one of the main dancers and the maknae in WayV. WayV sings primarily in Chinese, as well as songs in Korean and English, bridging a gap between c-pop and kpop. He is also a part of a WayyV mini unit, WayV Ten & YangYang, as well as a rapper and dancer, usually main or lead, in the rotational NCT subunit NCT U.

II. Career

III. 2018: SM Rookies and the formation of WayV

YangYang was born on October 10, 2000 in New Taipei City, Taiwan. He was cast in 2016 at the SM Global Auditions in Taiwan and was introduced as part of the pre-debut SM Rookies group on July 17, 2018. Members of SM Rookies performed in live performances and variety shows.

SM announced plans to launch an NCT China unit on August 13, 2018. The formation of the group was finalized and announced on December 31, under a new China-exclusive label. Due to the political tensions between China and South Korea at the time, the group was not promoted as an NCT sub unit.

IIII. 2019: WayV debut

YangYang debuted in the permanent Chinese sub unit WayV on January 17, 2019 with the EP The Vision. YangYang is considered one of NCT’s best rappers, although his style is more laidback than the other top rappers. His flow is more languid and looping, rather than rapid fire. He can be fast, but it’s not as staccato, reflective of WayV's sleeker, sexier sound and style compared to the other sub units, as well as a more fluid style of dance.

WayV released a second EP on May 9, 2019, Take Off, then released another EP on October 29, Take Over the Moon.

IIIII. 2020: First full album and NCT 2020

In March 2020, a repackage was released, Take Over the Moon the Sequel. WayV released its first full album Awaken the World on June 9, 2020, following its online live concert on Vlive. It also appeared in its own reality show, WayVision. He also began his own ongoing web series on the WayV YouTube channel with group mate Ten, Enjoy The Challenge.

YangYang participated in the NCT 2020 project in October 2020, featuring all NCT members, and debuting two new ones. This project also included a 2-part NCT full album, NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 and NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2. He appears as a rapper on WayV's song "Nectar," as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 3 songs: "Misfit," which is an entirely rap song, "I.O.U." and one of the singles, "90s Love." He also appears in the combination single "Resonance," which combines multiple songs. The entire project also appeared on NCT World 2.0, a competition-focused show.

IIIV. 2021: Kick Back and new sub-units

WayV released its third EP, Kick Back, on March 11, 2021, while simultaneously airing the second season of its reality show WayVision 2: Winter Sports Channel.

In July, WayV released its first OST song, "Everytime", for the Running to You Soundtrack.

In August, the second WayV sub-unit was announced: WayV Ten & YangYang and released a single "Low Low."

In August, it was announced that YangYang and group mates Xiaojun and Hendery would appear on the TV show We Became A Family.

YangYang participated in the NCT 2021 project in December 2021, featuring all active NCT members at the time. This project also included a NCT full album, NCT 2021 Universe. He appears as a rapper on WayV's song "Miracle," as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 4 songs: the co-title track "Universe (Let's Play Ball)", entirely rap "New Axis," rap-focused "OK!" and "Know Now." He also features in the all-unit song "Beautiful." As part of NCT 2021 promotions, he also appeared in a special short digital series EuMARKJUNGsim, co-hosted by NCT group mates Mark and Jungwoo, and NCT 2021 YearDream, around the group's lore.

YangYang appeared with the other active members of NCT in December 2021 as part of the 2021 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU Express album on the song "Hope for Kwangya." He also appeared on the rap-focused song "Zoo," with his group mate Hendery, NCT 127's Taeyong, NCT Dream's Jeno and aespa's Giselle. He also appeared in the accompanying New Year's Day concert, performing "Hope" and "Zoo." Spurred by its dance practice video, "Zoo" became a viral hit on TikTok.

IIV. 2022: First SM Station

In May, YangYang began his own web series, YOTD - YangYang's Outfit of the Day, under the WayV-ariety umbrella. In July 2022, it was announced that YangYang would be featured as part of the SM Station NCT Lab series, which highlights solo tracks, self-composed titles and more from NCT members. The song, "Rainy Day", also features Taeil of NCT 127 and Kun of WayV, as part of a NCT unit and was released on July 19. YangYang showcased his singing ability, which was first highlighted in NCT's "Beautiful."

In September, YangYang featured in his own cover song video on WayV's channel, performing Shawn Mendes' "Look Up at The Stars."

In October, he featured on the show Food Truck Battle with group mate Ten for Thai TV.

WayV released its fourth mini, Phantom, on Dec. 28, 2022. The album became the group's highest first week sales of their career and then embarked on a multi-country fan meeting tour.

IIVI. 2023: First Podcast, Golden Age and WayV 2nd Album

In August 2023, YangYang appeared with Ten as hosts of their own podcast show, Unbelievable, for Eric Nam's Dive Studios.

YangYang appeared with the other members of WayV on the fourth NCT album, Golden Age, as well as in the all-unit NCT Nation concerts in Korea and Japan. He featured on the NCT U songs "Kangaroo", "That's Not Fair" and "Alley Oop."

III. Discography

Performer

IIII. Songwriting

Usually credited with other writers, typically writes his own rap lyrics.

Key: L= Lyricist, C = Composer, A = Arranger, P = Producer

US = Billboard US World Chart

References:

KOMCA: Searching Works (search YangYang 10023722 under Writers & Publishers)

GAON charts

Billboard charts

IV. Videography

Photos

NCT 2020 Resonance

NCT 2023 Golden Age

V. Trivia

- His official NCT emoji is 🐑 (sheep because "yang" means sheep in Mandarin and Korean.)

- Born in Taiwan, but raised in Germany, he is fluent in Mandarin, German, English and Korean.

- He moved to Germany in the fourth grade.

- He did not know how to rap, sing or dance when he started with SM.

- He often helps with translating for fellow member Ten, who is not as fluent in Chinese, as well as helping the Chinese members with their English.

- YangYang is one of the members who speaks the most languages fluently: he is a native Mandarin speaker, but moved as child to Germany, so is also extremely fluent in German and English. He's also very fluent in Korean.

- He is the maknae of WayV. He is younger than the maknae of NCT 127, Haechan, but older than the maknae of NCT Dream.

- He is close friends with Renjun in NCT Dream.

- He is considered part of the WayV "triplets" with Xiaojun and Hendery.

- He has a playful and mischievous personality, but is sweet and thoughtful with fans.

- He auditioned for SM after having a dream while under anesthesia for surgery on a shoulder injury. He dreamed he was on a stage performing. Two weeks later, he saw the information on the upcoming auditions.

- YangYang is one of only two members in WayV who does not use a stage name. The other member is Kun.

- His fans are called Yangqi.

- YangYang is considered a member of the "Foreign Swaggers." During their pre-debut SM Rookies promo video, Mark dubbed the group of Johnny (an American), Mark (a Canadian) and Jaehyun (a Korean who "lived in American for five years, that's why he's here, man") as foreign swaggers. The joke has grown over the years and is referenced in social content. The group has expanded to include other foreign-born members who are fluent in English like Ten (Thai) and YangYang (Taiwanese).

- YangYang is Ariel in WayV's Princess performance of their song "Bad Alive" for Winwin's birthday in the web series WINformation.

- SM released a video using the audio from NCT's MAMA performance that captures the journey of the members through their career.

- NCT members participated in a NCT 24 Hour Relay Cam that gives a snapshot of their daily lives during NCT 2020 Resonance Promotions.