Celebrating their tenth anniversary as a group, K-Pop icons NCT 127 have released their seventh album BLINGY. The project consists of nine tracks, and they’re all filled with classic “neo” traits that fans (known as NCTzens) adore. Boisterous and experimental sounds, lyrics referencing the group’s number/name, imagery that’s drenched in their official neon green; the message is clear, they love what they do and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Earlier this year founding member Mark Lee departed from the group, leaving a lot of room for uncertainty regarding NCT 127’s future. In the face of disbandment rumors, military enlistments, and sudden lineup changes the remaining seven (Taeyong, Johnny, Doyoung, Yuta, Jaehyun, Jungwoo and Haechan) decided to lock in and stick together.
For a decade now this group has been the face of “noisy” K-Pop, putting their all into some of the most interesting and controversial songs ever created within the genre. It takes a lot of resilience and passion to endure ten years of constant negative criticism and grueling schedules, then decide to run it back and keep creating anyway. BLINGY is an unapologetic reminder that NCT 127 is one of the most influential groups of their time, and it seems to have lit a fire within both the members and NCTzens.
Title track “BLINGY” is packed with hip hop and dubstep elements, and falls right into place alongside their other hits like “Cherry Bomb” and “Kick It”. Pop punk was a genre that the group hadn’t really explored yet, but the overall concept behind this album was almost begging for some sort of rock-inspired sound. “Piñata” was a pre-release single that gave NCTzens an electrifying preview of the era to come: bold energy and a music video full of reminders that they’re proud of what they’ve built together as a team. Yuta’s performance on that track is particularly stunning (which is unsurprising to anyone who’s heard his solo work).
“Legacy” is a banger all about the group spreading their influence from their home in Seoul to every corner of the world. As usual, an NCT 127 project isn’t complete without a beat that’s cartoonish yet catchy. This time “IKR” checks that box; it’s fitting for the lyrical theme (and general “neo” attitude) about doing what they want regardless of what the public expects, though. “Step Up” packs a punch and uses a 90s hip hop style to deliver a message about facing challenges head-on.
The latter half of the record moves away from the hard-hitting attitude while keeping the positive momentum going. “Getaway” is a light and groovy track about escaping from everyday life. “Day After Day” carries an uplifting message about staying true to oneself and moving forward. The group’s vocal performance is one of the most beautiful arrangements they’ve done so far, and it’s only heightened by the bubbly and dreamlike instrumental. To the surprise of the fans, Doyoung and Jungwoo recorded lines for both “127 Million Miles” and “I mean, It’s about time” before they left for the military. Members Taeyong and Johnny also contributed as lyricists for the album’s closer. BLINGY wraps up with a sense of gratitude for their journey so far, and hope for their future.
Very few K-Pop groups are bestowed with the privilege of surviving for more than a decade in the industry, and there was a sense of dread in the air as NCT 127’s contract expiration started approaching. When all seven members re-signed and made it clear they were committed to the team, it kicked off an era all about celebrating their resilience and uniqueness. BLINGY has all the musical elements that feel essential to the group (minus everyone’s favorite producer Dem Jointz). It’s noisy, confident, and radiating pride for the “127” brand and everything they’ve achieved in their first decade as a unit. Everything about this era has been exciting to watch, and the album is basically an NCTzen’s dream come true.
Listen to BLINGY by NCT 127 here!
