NCT U

Created by SM Entertainment, K-pop group NCT ("Neo Culture Technology") boasts an unlimited number of members who populate multiple sub-units based in various international locales like Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok. The first spinoff, NCT U, was announced in April 2016. Upon formation, NCT U released a pair of singles -- "The 7th Sense" and "Without You" -- following in 2018 with "Timeless," "Boss," and "Baby Don't Stop." Those latter three tracks landed on NCT 2018 Empathy, which rejoined NCT U with other sub-units NCT 127 and NCT Dream for their full crew debut. The set was a global hit, rising into the Top Ten in South Korea and the U.S. The following year, with attention focused on newly formed China-based unit WayV, NCT U issued the single "Coming Home" that December. They kicked things back into gear with another full-band release, NCT 2020 Resonance, Pt. 1, a chart-topping smash that spawned the hit single "Make a Wish (Birthday Song)." The group expanded that effort a month later with NCT 2020 Resonance, Pt. 2, which tacked on an additional eight tracks to the original including the NCT U-centric "Misfit" and "Volcano." NCT's 2021 project Universe featured mostly NCT U tracks such as "New Axis," "Universe (Let's Play Ball)," and "Birthday Party." On 2023's full-crew album Golden Age, the unit responsible for "The 7th Sense" delivered the track "Baggy Jeans." ~ Neil Z. Yeung