NCT #127 is the debut extended play by NCT 127, the multi-national and Seoul-based sub unit of the unlimited boy band NCT. Following the debut announcement by SM Entertainment on July 1, the eponymous extended play was released digitally on July 10, 2016, and physically on July 11, 2016 by the label, with KT Music serving as the South Korea distributor. A heavily hip-hop and EDM influenced release, NCT #127 saw the participation of production teamLDN Noise, Tay Jasper, Ylva Dimberg, Chris Wahle, Andreas Öberg, Timothy 'Bos' Bullock, Adrian McKinnon, MZMC, The Colleagues, Double Dragon, and others for both lyrics and production, while SM founder Lee Soo-man served as the EP's executive producer. With the eponymous release, NCT 127 became the first sub-unit to receive a major release. It was also the first, and currently the only release to feature the group as a septet. Upon its release, the extended play was a commercial success for the unit, topping the Gaon Album Chart on the third week while being their first entry on the Billboard World Albums Chart, peaking at number two. Two singles were released to promote the extended play, including the lead single "Firetruck" and "Switch", with the former achieving minor success on the Gaon Digital Chart, barely missing out the top 100 in its first charting week.
Background and release
Following the presentation and introduction of NCT by SM Entertainment's founder Lee Soo-man during January 2016, the unlimited boy group then debuted NCT U, a rotational sub-unit which saw the debut of Taeil, Taeyong, Jaehyun, and Mark at the time, on April 9 with "The 7th Sense" and "Without You" on April 10. The latter four members participated in "The 7th Sense", while "Without You" saw the participation from member Taeil and Jaehyun. On June 30, 2016, it was announced that NCT would debut their second sub-unit NCT 127, a multi-national and fixed unit with the number 127 referring to the longitude of Seoul, where the unit is based. The initial line-up consisted of four aforementioned members from the previous sub-unit NCT U, and three new members: Yuta, Haechan, and Winwin, with the latter having appeared appeared as a dancer for the live performance of NCT U's "The 7th Sense" during their first live performance at the 16th Music Feng Yun Bang Awards in China. The extended play was digitally released on July 10, and physically released on July 11.
Composition
NCT #127 is a seven-track extended play that incorporates mainly hip-hop and EDM genres. The album's lead single "Firetruck" was described as “a perfect summer tune under the Moombahton genre", featuring elements from hip-hop and trap music by the label. Meanwhile, "Once Again" is a retro-pop track, while "Wake Up" and "Another World" showcase the group's EDM venture. The sixth track "Mad City" is an urban hip-hop track with the participation of member Taeyong, Mark and Jaehyun, The three members also had their writing credits for "Firetruck", while Taeyong and Mark had their second lyrical participation for "Mad City". The last track "Switch" is a tropical house song performed by the members in the SM Rookies Show previously in 2015. It was recorded in 2015, and was belatedly released on December 20, 2016.
Promotion
Following the announcement of their debut, the group unveiled the music video for the lead single "Firetruck" on July 8, 2016. A day before the music video release, NCT 127 had their debut stage on Mnet's M! Countdown, where they performed both "Fire Truck" and the album track "Once Again". The group then continued to promote on other television music shows, such as Music Bank, Show Champion and Inkigayo. A music video for the track "Switch" was released later on December 2016, featuring footage recorded in 2015 and featured all confirmed SM Rookies trainees at the time.
Commercial performance
NCT #127 entered at number two on the Gaon Album Chart on the chart issue dated July 16, 2016. In its third week, the extended play topped the chart for one week, giving the unit their first number one on the album chart. It ended up being the third best-selling release on the July 2016 issue of the Gaon Monthly Album Chart, having sold a total of 60,118 copies. It was the thirty-second best-selling album in 2016, with a total of 83,272 physical copies sold. The extended play went on to experience several overseas success, peaking at number two on the Billboard World Album Chart while being their first entry on the French Digital Albums Chart and Oricon Albums Chart.
