I. Introduction
Beatbox is a repackage of the album Glitch Mode from the NCT sub-unit, NCT Dream. It was released on May 30, 2022 and featured the lead single "Beatbox."
II. Background & Release
After the release of their record-breaking second studio album, Glitch Mode, SM announced the repackage title and date on May 8 as Glitch Mode promotions were trailing down. The logo reflected an early 80s hip hop style aesthetic and featured elements hand-drawn by the members.
The 2-week teaser period included a substantial teaser campaign on TikTok and Instagram built around the Dream Squad Studio and members creating songs and beats, including substantial teasers of the title track. As part of the TikTok promotions, fans were encouraged to participate in the group's multiple Beatbox challenges, which were reposted on the NCT Dream social channels. Within the first few weeks of promotion, the TikTok content reached views of over 325M.
During this period, releases of special stages and clips around existing Glitch Mode songs continued to occur.
The album has 3 versions: 2 phonebook versions (New School and Young Star) and a Digipack version with artwork drawn by the members and randomized member covers. It also featured environmentally-friendly techniques and materials, like UV coasting and soy ink.
Like Glitch Mode, the album's tracks reflected a nostalgic, throwback 80s vibe with nods to early hip hop culture. The album features 15 songs, including 4 new ones from frequent producers LDN Noise and Kenzie, although neither worked on the title track: the title track "Beatbox," "To My First," "Sorry, Heart" and "On The Way."
Preorders reached 1.4M.
A few days after the album's release, multiple members of the group tested positive for COVID-19, requiring them to cancel large portions of their promotional schedule.
III. Tracklist
New tracks for the repackage are in bold.
| Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Beatbox" | Jeong Ha-ri (Joombas) | Brice Fox, Emily Kim, Jurek Reunamaki, Michael Jade | Brice Fox, Emily Kim, IMLAY, Jurek Reunamaki, Michael Jade | 3:25 |
| "Fire Alarm" | Lee Seu-ran, Rick Bridges | Bleu, Brooke Tomlinson Jesse St. John, Rick Bridges | Bleu | 3:12 |
| "Buffering (Glitch Mode)" |
Yoo Jae-eun, Mark | Benjamin 55, Alony 55, Sam SZND | Benjamin 55, Alony 55 | 3:27 |
| "Arcade" | Jung Ha-ri (Joombas) | Alexander Karlsson (JeL), Alexj Viktorovitch (JeL), Dwayne "Dem Jointz" Abernathy Jr, Harold "Alawn" Phillpon | JeL, Dem Jointz | 3:27 |
| "To My First" | Na Do-yeon | Aston Merrygold, Greg Bonnick, Hayden Chapman, Karen Poole | LDN Noise | 3:03 |
| "It's Yours" | Lee Jae-ni (Joombas), Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, Jisung |
HighSquad | HighSquad | 3:44 |
| "Teddy Bear" | Im Jung-yo, Mark | Kwon Deok-geun, Bikkyu, Xiso, Senji |
Kwon Deok-geun | 4:02 |
| "Sorry, Heart" | Kenzie | Kenzie, Matthew Tishler | Kenzie, Matthew Tishler | 3:33 |
| "Replay" | Hwang Yu-bin, Mark, Jeno, Jisung | Ludwig Lindell (Caesar & Loui), Gregory G Curtis II | Ludwig Lindell (Caesar & Loui) | 3:34 |
| "Saturday Drip" | Rick Bridges | samUIL (Decade +), Rick Bridges |
samUIL (Decade +) | 3:00 |
| "Better Than Gold" | Jang Yoon-mi, Yoo Eun-mi | Ryan S. Jhun, Kyler Niko, Scott Russell Stoddart | Ryan S. Jhun, Scott Russell Stoddart | 3:20 |
| "Drive" | Jo Yoon-kyung | Noak Hellsing, Robert Habolin, Markus Sepehrmanesh | Robert Habolin | 3:18 |
| "Never Goodbye" | Hwang Yu-bin, Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, Jisung | Zayson, Kim Ji-hoo | Zayson, Kim Ji-hoo | 3:32 |
| "Rewind" | minGtion, Junny | minGtion, Junny | minGtion | 3:04 |
| "On the way" | Fipi, Znee | David Arkwright, Russell Henson, Tom Peyton | David Arkwright, Russell Henson, Tom Peyton | 3:29 |
IV. Spotify Playlist
V. Videos
Beatbox MV Teaser:
Beatbox MV:
VI. Concept Photos
Sugar Pop Star
VII. Reception
Beatbox recorded 1.4 million preorders, becoming the most pre-ordered album in SM history and becoming a triple million seller. NCT Dream became the only act to reach 1M+ pre-orders on two albums in 2022.
The album recorded 840,000 copies sold in its first week, ranking second in all-time repackage album sales in K-pop history. It was certified a million seller by Hanteo within the first week of release for 1.4 million copies sold. It also was certified as Double Platinum by QQ Music in China. The album also debuted at #1 on the Korean Circle (Gaon) chart, #2 on the Japanese Hot 100 chart and #9 on the Billboard US World chart.
All of the new songs charted, with all of the Glitch Mode songs also re-entering the charts. Beatbox debuted at #46 on Melon, the third highest debut for NCT songs, behind "Glitch Mode" and "Hot Sauce." It also had the highest daily debut, daily peak and daily ULs.
Both the album and the song also charted on iTunes and Apple Music worldwide charts, as well as topping the iTunes charts in 11 regions. It also reached #1 on the Circle (formerly Gaon) charts in South Korea, #55 on the Japan Hot 100 and #9 on the U.S. Billboard World Songs chart.
