Jump to content

NCT 2018 Empathy: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(46 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown)
Line 8: Line 8:
| recorded = 2016–2018
| recorded = 2016–2018
| studio = SM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
| studio = SM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
| genre = {{hlist|[[hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[Trap (music)|trap]]||[[Electronic dance music|EDM]]|[[electro-pop]]|[[dance-pop]]|[[future bass]]}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[Trap (music)|trap]]||[[Electronic dance music|EDM]]}}
| length = 44:39
| length = 44:39
| language = {{hlist|Korean|English|Mandarin}}
| language = {{hlist|Korean|English|Mandarin}}
Line 38: Line 38:
| title = NCT 2018 Empathy
| title = NCT 2018 Empathy
| year = 2018
| year = 2018
| next_title = [[Chain (EP)|Chain]]
| next_title = [[Chain (NCT 127 EP)|Chain]]
| next_year = 2018
| next_year = 2018
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = [[NCT (group)|NCT]] studio albums
| type = studio
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| title = NCT 2018 Empathy
| year = 2018
| next_title = [[NCT 2020 Resonance]]
| next_year = 2020
}}
}}
{{Singles
{{Singles
| name = NCT 2018 Empathy
| name = NCT 2018 Empathy
| type = studio
| type = studio
| single1 = Boss
| single1 = [[Boss (NCT U song)|Boss]]
| single1date = February 18, 2018
| single1date = February 18, 2018
| single2 = Baby Don't Stop
| single2 = [[Baby Don't Stop]]
| single2date = February 26, 2018
| single2date = February 26, 2018
| single3 = Go
| single3 = Go
Line 59: Line 69:
}}
}}


'''''NCT 2018 Empathy''''' (stylized in uppercase) is the debut studio album by [[South Korea]]n [[Boy band]] [[NCT (group)|NCT]], an unlimited group project under the management of [[SM Entertainment]]. Containing a total of fourteen tracks with twelve of which were released as singles from 2016 to 2018, the album marked the first group release with eighteen members from three different units participating at the time, while being the first release to officially introduce three new members [[Qian Kun|Kun]], Jungwoo and [[Lucas Wong|Lucas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|title=[SBS Star] NCT Unveils 3 New Members; JUNGWOO, KUN and LUCAS!|date=January 31, 2018|work=SBS NEWS|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005329/https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|url-status=live}}</ref> With the group's label founder Lee Soo-man serving as the [[executive producer]], composition and production for the album was contributed by [[Matt Schwartz]], Tommy $trate, [[The Stereotypes]], Timothy 'Bos' Bullock, Deez, [[Yoo Young-jin]], [[Ryan S. Jhun]], MZMC, Adrian McKinnon, Shin Hyuk, [[Josh Cumbee]], Andrew Choi, [[Sara Forsberg]], [[LDN Noise]], and others. It was released on March 14, 2018, by [[SM Entertainment]] and [[iriver Inc]] along with the album's fourth single "[[Touch (NCT 127 song)|Touch]]" by the Seoul-based unit [[NCT 127]] and "Black on Black", the first single featuring all eighteen members of the group at that time.<ref>{{Cite news|title=네이버 뮤직 :: NCT 2018 EMPATHY - NCT|language=ko|url=http://music.naver.com/album/index.nhn?albumId=2419777|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524082956/https://music.naver.com/album/index.nhn?albumId=2419777|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''''NCT 2018 Empathy''''' (stylized in uppercase) is the debut studio album by [[South Korea]]n [[Boy band]] [[NCT (group)|NCT]], an unlimited group project under the management of [[SM Entertainment]]. Containing a total of fourteen tracks with twelve of which were released as singles from 2016 to 2018, the album marked the first group release with eighteen members from three different units participating at the time, while being the first release to officially introduce three new members [[Qian Kun|Kun]], Jungwoo and [[Lucas (rapper)|Lucas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|title=[SBS Star] NCT Unveils 3 New Members; JUNGWOO, KUN and LUCAS!|date=January 31, 2018|work=SBS NEWS|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005329/https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|url-status=live}}</ref> With the group's label founder Lee Soo-man serving as the [[executive producer]], composition and production for the album was contributed by [[Matt Schwartz]], Tommy $trate, [[The Stereotypes]], Timothy 'Bos' Bullock, Deez, [[Yoo Young-jin]], [[Ryan S. Jhun]], MZMC, Adrian McKinnon, Shin Hyuk, [[Josh Cumbee]], Andrew Choi, [[Sara Forsberg]], [[LDN Noise]], and others. It was released on March 14, 2018, by [[SM Entertainment]] and [[iriver Inc]] along with the album's fourth single "[[Touch (NCT 127 song)|Touch]]" by the Seoul-based unit [[NCT 127]] and "Black on Black", the first single featuring all eighteen members of the group at that time.<ref>{{Cite news|title=네이버 뮤직 :: NCT 2018 EMPATHY - NCT|language=ko|url=http://music.naver.com/album/index.nhn?albumId=2419777|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524082956/https://music.naver.com/album/index.nhn?albumId=2419777|url-status=live}}</ref>


Upon its release, ''NCT 2018 Empathy'' received mixed to positive reviews from music critics over its "compiled" tracklist and the overall solidity. The album also attained commercial success domestically, peaking at number two on the [[Gaon Album Chart]] and became the group's first release to receive a Platinum KMCA certification following its introduction in 2018. It also experienced international success, peaking at number five on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' World Albums]] while becoming the first NCT release to appear on other European charts. As of August 2019, the album has achieved a cumulative sales of over 350,000 physical copies.
Upon its release, ''NCT 2018 Empathy'' received mixed to positive reviews from music critics over its "compiled" tracklist and the overall solidity. The album also attained commercial success domestically, peaking at number two on the [[Gaon Album Chart]] and became the group's first release to receive a Platinum KMCA certification following its introduction in 2018. It also experienced international success, peaking at number five on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' World Albums]] while becoming the first NCT release to appear on other European charts. As of 2022, the album has achieved a cumulative sales of over 636,055 physical copies.


== Background ==
== Background ==
Following the announcement and introduction to the group's debut earlier in January 2016 by founder Lee Soo-man, a total of three sub-units debuted subsequently in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S.M. Entertainment continues expansion with New Culture Technology|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201602231707438293945_2|website=kpopherald.koreaherald.com|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2020-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520070323/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201602231707438293945_2|url-status=live}}</ref> The first sub-unit was NCT U, a rotational sub-unit with different members participating accordingly to the unit's music release which, at the time, saw the first appearance from member Taeil, [[Lee Tae-yong|Taeyong]], Doyoung, [[Ten (singer)|Ten]], Jaehyun and [[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]. They eventually debuted with a double digital single, containing "The 7th Sense" with the latter five members and "Without You", which were performed by member Taeil, Doyoung and Jaehyun.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U confirms lineup, set to unveil singles ‘The 7th Sense, ‘Without You’|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201604061758581112853_2|website=kpopherald.koreaherald.com|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143554/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201604061758581112853_2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KPOP NEWS - NCT U′s Debut Performance to be Showcased in Korea and China {{!}} Mwave|url=http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/104324/nct-us-debut-performance-to-be-showcased-in-korea-and-china|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819004806/http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/104324/nct-us-debut-performance-to-be-showcased-in-korea-and-china|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-08-19|date=2016-08-19|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> The label then introduced [[NCT 127]], the Seoul-based unit with [[127th meridian east|number "127" representing the longitude coordinate]] of South Korea's capital on July 1 with seven members for its initial line-up: Taeil, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, and Haechan.<ref>{{cite web|title=(UPDATE) #NCT127: SM Entertainment Unveils Members Of New NCT Sub-Unit|url=https://hype.my/2016/113666/nct127-sm-entertainment-unveils-members-of-new-nct-sub-unit/|website=Hype|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212142102/https://hype.my/2016/113666/nct127-sm-entertainment-unveils-members-of-new-nct-sub-unit/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the label's announcement on December 27, 2016, member Doyoung and [[SM Rookies|then-SR15B]] member Johnny officially joined the unit, marking with the unit's [[Limitless (NCT 127 EP)|sophomore extended play]] later in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCT 127 to Make Comeback as 9 Member Group|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=111231&idxType=News|date=December 27, 2016|website=Mwave}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> On August 18, SM Entertainment announced that the third unit would be [[NCT Dream]], the teen-aged unit which consists of seven members: Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, [[Na Jae-min|Jaemin]], [[Zhong Chenle|Chenle]], and Jisung.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCT DREAM, 데뷔곡 '츄잉검' 25일 '엠카'서 첫선|url=http://entertain.naver.com/music/now/read?oid=108&aid=0002548916|date=August 19, 2016|website=Naver|publisher=Star Money|language=ko|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415123451/https://entertain.naver.com/music/now/read?oid=108&aid=0002548916|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of 2016, fifteen members were introduced officially as part of the unlimited NCT brand. NCT 127 and NCT Dream then continued to promote actively throughout the following year with further releases.
Following the announcement and introduction to the group's debut earlier in January 2016 by founder Lee Soo-man, a total of three sub-units debuted subsequently in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S.M. Entertainment continues expansion with New Culture Technology|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201602231707438293945_2|website=kpopherald.koreaherald.com|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2020-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520070323/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201602231707438293945_2|url-status=live}}</ref> The first sub-unit was NCT U, a rotational sub-unit with different members participating accordingly to the unit's music release which, at the time, saw the first appearance from member Taeil, [[Lee Tae-yong|Taeyong]], [[Doyoung (singer)|Doyoung]], [[Ten (singer)|Ten]], Jaehyun and [[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]. They eventually debuted with a double digital single, containing "The 7th Sense" with the latter five members and "Without You", which were performed by member Taeil, Doyoung and Jaehyun.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U confirms lineup, set to unveil singles 'The 7th Sense,' 'Without You'|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201604061758581112853_2|website=kpopherald.koreaherald.com|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143554/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201604061758581112853_2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KPOP NEWS - NCT U′s Debut Performance to be Showcased in Korea and China {{!}} Mwave|url=http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/104324/nct-us-debut-performance-to-be-showcased-in-korea-and-china|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819004806/http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/104324/nct-us-debut-performance-to-be-showcased-in-korea-and-china|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-08-19|date=2016-08-19|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> The label then introduced [[NCT 127]], the Seoul-based unit with [[127th meridian east|number "127" representing the longitude coordinate]] of South Korea's capital on July 1 with seven members for its initial line-up: Taeil, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, and [[Haechan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=(UPDATE) #NCT127: SM Entertainment Unveils Members Of New NCT Sub-Unit|url=https://hype.my/2016/113666/nct127-sm-entertainment-unveils-members-of-new-nct-sub-unit/|website=Hype|date=4 July 2016 |access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212142102/https://hype.my/2016/113666/nct127-sm-entertainment-unveils-members-of-new-nct-sub-unit/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the label's announcement on December 27, 2016, member Doyoung and [[SM Rookies|then-SR15B]] member Johnny officially joined the unit, marking with the unit's [[Limitless (NCT 127 EP)|sophomore extended play]] later in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCT 127 to Make Comeback as 9 Member Group|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=111231&idxType=News|date=December 27, 2016|website=Mwave}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> On August 18, SM Entertainment announced that the third unit would be [[NCT Dream]], the teen-aged unit which consists of seven members: Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, [[Na Jae-min|Jaemin]], [[Zhong Chenle|Chenle]], and [[Park Ji-sung (singer)|Jisung]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NCT DREAM, 데뷔곡 '츄잉검' 25일 '엠카'서 첫선|url=http://entertain.naver.com/music/now/read?oid=108&aid=0002548916|date=August 19, 2016|website=Naver|publisher=Star Money|language=ko|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415123451/https://entertain.naver.com/music/now/read?oid=108&aid=0002548916|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of 2016, fifteen members were introduced officially as part of the unlimited NCT brand. NCT 127 and NCT Dream then continued to promote actively throughout the following year with further releases.


In mid-January, SM Entertainment unveiled NCT 2018, a singular-year project involving all current members of NCT.<ref>{{cite web|title=[단독] NCT, 新 대형 프로젝트 컴백 시동…신곡 뮤비위해 출국|url=http://www.xportsnews.com/jenter/?ac=article_view&entry_id=933151&_REFERER=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.daum.net%2Fsearch%3Fw%3Dnews%26nil_search%3Dbtn%26DA%3DNTB%26enc%3Dutf8%26cluster%3Dy%26cluster_page%3D1%26q%3DNCT|date=January 15, 2018|website=Xports News|language=ko|access-date=May 12, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122072638/http://www.xportsnews.com/jenter/?ac=article_view&entry_id=933151&_REFERER=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.daum.net%2Fsearch%3Fw%3Dnews%26nil_search%3Dbtn%26DA%3DNTB%26enc%3Dutf8%26cluster%3Dy%26cluster_page%3D1%26q%3DNCT|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=March 23, 2018|title=Three NCT Teams Debut on World Digital Song Sales Chart: Your Guide to Each One|work=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8257671/nct-explained-empathy-album-world-digital-song-sales-chart-127-dream-u|access-date=May 12, 2020|archive-date=March 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324051936/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8257671/nct-explained-empathy-album-world-digital-song-sales-chart-127-dream-u|url-status=live}}</ref> Through the "NCT 2018 Yearbook #1" video on January 30, the label officially introduced new members Kun, Lucas, and Jungwoo to the current line-up of NCT.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCT Unveils 3 New Members; JUNGWOO, KUN and LUCAS!|url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|date=January 31, 2018|website=SBS News|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005329/https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|url-status=live}}</ref> Followed by a series of online documentary videos titled ''NCTmentary'' as part of the NCT 2018 project, the group shared "NCT Yearbook #2" video via their official YouTube channel on February 5.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179733&menuId=27040101|title=NCT Yearbook #1|website=Melon|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605063640/https://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179733&menuId=27040101|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179734&menuId=27040101|title=NCT Yearbook #2|website=Melon|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605063644/https://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179734&menuId=27040101|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to their official introduction, member Kun was featured on the Chinese version of "Without You" in April 2016, having performed live with NCT U. The label eventually revealed that the group would release their first large-scale project as a studio album the following day, with all eighteen members participated accordingly to their sub-unit and music project for NCT U.<ref>{{Cite web|title=[공식입장] "역대급 스케일"…NCT 2018, 14일 화정체육관 쇼케이스 개최|url=http://mosen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110849915|last=OSEN|date=2018-03-07|website=mosen.mt.co.kr|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=112&aid=0003000241|title=NCT, 초대형 프로젝트 '2018 NCT'로 컴백…3월 앨범 발매(공식)|date=February 6, 2018|website=Naver|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206101014/http://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid%3D112%26aid%3D0003000241|url-status=live}}</ref>
In mid-January, SM Entertainment unveiled NCT 2018, a singular-year project involving all current members of NCT.<ref>{{cite web|title=[단독] NCT, 新 대형 프로젝트 컴백 시동…신곡 뮤비위해 출국|url=http://www.xportsnews.com/jenter/?ac=article_view&entry_id=933151&_REFERER=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.daum.net%2Fsearch%3Fw%3Dnews%26nil_search%3Dbtn%26DA%3DNTB%26enc%3Dutf8%26cluster%3Dy%26cluster_page%3D1%26q%3DNCT|date=January 15, 2018|website=Xports News|language=ko|access-date=May 12, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122072638/http://www.xportsnews.com/jenter/?ac=article_view&entry_id=933151&_REFERER=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.daum.net%2Fsearch%3Fw%3Dnews%26nil_search%3Dbtn%26DA%3DNTB%26enc%3Dutf8%26cluster%3Dy%26cluster_page%3D1%26q%3DNCT|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|date=March 23, 2018|title=Three NCT Teams Debut on World Digital Song Sales Chart: Your Guide to Each One|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8257671/nct-explained-empathy-album-world-digital-song-sales-chart-127-dream-u|access-date=May 12, 2020|archive-date=March 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324051936/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8257671/nct-explained-empathy-album-world-digital-song-sales-chart-127-dream-u|url-status=live}}</ref> Through the "NCT 2018 Yearbook #1" video on January 30, the label officially introduced new members Kun, [[Lucas (rapper)|Lucas]], and Jungwoo to the current line-up of NCT.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCT Unveils 3 New Members; JUNGWOO, KUN and LUCAS!|url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|date=January 31, 2018|website=SBS News|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005329/https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004599958&plink=SEARCH&cooper=SBSNEWSSEARCH|url-status=live}}</ref> Followed by a series of online documentary videos titled ''NCTmentary'' as part of the NCT 2018 project, the group shared "NCT Yearbook #2" video via their official YouTube channel on February 5.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179733&menuId=27040101|title=NCT Yearbook #1|website=Melon|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605063640/https://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179733&menuId=27040101|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179734&menuId=27040101|title=NCT Yearbook #2|website=Melon|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605063644/https://vod.melon.com/video/detail2.htm?mvId=50179734&menuId=27040101|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to their official introduction, member Kun was featured on the Chinese version of "Without You" in April 2016, having performed live with NCT U. The label eventually revealed that the group would release their first large-scale project as a studio album the following day, with all eighteen members participated accordingly to their sub-unit and music project for NCT U.<ref>{{Cite web|title=[공식입장] "역대급 스케일"…NCT 2018, 14일 화정체육관 쇼케이스 개최|url=http://mosen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110849915|last=OSEN|date=2018-03-07|website=mosen.mt.co.kr|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=112&aid=0003000241|title=NCT, 초대형 프로젝트 '2018 NCT'로 컴백…3월 앨범 발매(공식)|date=February 6, 2018|website=Naver|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206101014/http://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid%3D112%26aid%3D0003000241|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Composition ==
== Composition ==
''NCT 2018 Empathy'' consists of fourteen tracks in total, including an [[instrumental]] intro and outro and one extended version of a new song. The album also includes five previously released songs for its latter half, namely "The 7th Sense", the Korean and Chinese versions of "Without You" and "Timeless" by NCT U, while "Dream in a Dream" is an English solo record by member Ten, which along with "Timeless" was originally part of the [[SM Station Season 1|SM Station]] project. The new recording material includes "Boss", a future-bass hip-hop track with "heavy bass riffs" which is produced by Mike Daley, Mitchell Owens, Tiffany Fred, [[Patrick "J. Que" Smith]] and [[Yoo Young-jin]]. With co-writing contribution by member Taeyong and Mark, the song contains the message of how the modern society "needs true empathy" and the unit's aspiration to bring out such empathy. Seven members participated in recording the song: Taeyong, Doyoung, Winwin, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Lucas and Mark.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U 태용·도영· 정우, 'BOSS' 티저 공개..매력 만점|url=https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2018021510301514397|date=2018-02-15|website=스타뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2020-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525033745/https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2018021510301514397|url-status=live}}</ref> It is followed by "Baby Don't Stop", an [[Hip house|electro-hop]], [[synth-pop]] track co-produced again by Yoo Young-jin with contribution from producer [[Matt Schwartz]] and [[Ryan S. Jhun]]. It possesses an "impressive" minimalist sonic composition with "addictive" drum and bass riff, expressing the sensation of an immediate love. It was also co-written by member Taeyong, whom performed the track along with member Ten as NCT U.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U, 태용x텐 Baby Dont Stop 뮤비, 27일 先공개 {{!}} 텐아시아|url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/topic/article/2018022457014|last=tenasia.hankyung.com|first=Digital|date=2018-02-24|website=텐아시아 연예뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> He also contributed lyrically to the third and final new NCT U record, titled "Yestoday". It was described as a "sorrowful" [[Old-school hip hop|old-school hip-hop]] influenced track, with member Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas and Mark rapping and singing about how "today will eventually become yesterday".<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U, ‘YESTODAY’ 뮤직비디오 4월 2일 공개... 어제가 될 오늘|url=http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=111987|date=2018-03-30|website=제니스글로벌뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2018-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401055536/http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=111987|url-status=live}}</ref>
''NCT 2018 Empathy'' consists of fourteen tracks in total, including an [[instrumental]] intro and outro and one extended version of a new song. The album also includes five previously released songs for its latter half, namely "The 7th Sense", the Korean and Chinese versions of "Without You" and "Timeless" by NCT U, while "Dream in a Dream" is an English solo record by member Ten, which along with "Timeless" was originally part of the [[SM Station Season 1|SM Station]] project. The new recording material includes "Boss", a future-bass hip-hop track with "heavy bass riffs" which is produced by Mike Daley, Mitchell Owens, Tiffany Fred, [[Patrick "J. Que" Smith]] and [[Yoo Young-jin]]. With co-writing contribution by member Taeyong and Mark, the song contains the message of how the modern society "needs true empathy" and the unit's aspiration to bring out such empathy. Seven members participated in recording the song: Taeyong, Doyoung, Winwin, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Lucas and Mark.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U 태용·도영· 정우, 'BOSS' 티저 공개..매력 만점|url=https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2018021510301514397|date=2018-02-15|website=스타뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2020-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525033745/https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2018021510301514397|url-status=live}}</ref> It is followed by "Baby Don't Stop", an [[Hip house|electro-hop]], [[synth-pop]] track co-produced again by Yoo Young-jin with contribution from producer [[Matt Schwartz]] and [[Ryan S. Jhun]]. It possesses an "impressive" minimalist sonic composition with "addictive" drum and bass riff, expressing the sensation of an immediate love. It was also co-written by member Taeyong, whom performed the track along with member Ten as NCT U.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U, 태용x텐 Baby Dont Stop 뮤비, 27일 先공개 {{!}} 텐아시아|url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/topic/article/2018022457014|last=tenasia.hankyung.com|first=Digital|date=2018-02-24|website=텐아시아 연예뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> He also contributed lyrically to the third and final new NCT U record, titled "Yestoday". It was described as a "sorrowful" [[Old-school hip hop|old-school hip-hop]] influenced track, with member Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas and Mark rapping and singing about how "today will eventually become yesterday".<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U, 'YESTODAY' 뮤직비디오 4월 2일 공개... 어제가 될 오늘|url=http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=111987|date=2018-03-30|website=제니스글로벌뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-11|archive-date=2018-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401055536/http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=111987|url-status=live}}</ref>


Other new material for the album includes the [[Tropical house|tropical-house]] influenced "Touch" by NCT 127. Produced by production team [[LDN Noise]], Deez and Adrian McKinnon, the song offers a "softer side" for the nine-member unit in comparison to their signature intense [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] style.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT 127's 'Touch' Video: Watch|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8244839/nct-127-touch-video|date=2018-03-13|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519042521/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8244839/nct-127-touch-video|url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast, the teen-aged sub-unit [[NCT Dream]] also offers their "rebellious" side with the electro-hop bombast of "Go", featuring heavy [[hi-hat]]s and [[Snare drum|snare]] lines that resembles more of a hip hop venture than the group's usual "youthful leanings" of their earlier discography.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=NCT Dream Show Their Rebellious Side With 'Go' Music Video|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8231620/nct-dream-rebellious-side-go-music-video|date=2018-03-05|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509223559/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8231620/nct-dream-rebellious-side-go-music-video|url-status=live}}</ref> The rap-centric "Black on Black" is a "booming" electro-dance production featuring roars and "highly distorted" vocals, which credited NCT 2018 as the performers though only the rap-line members (Taeyong, Mark, Lucas) participated in the recording of the song.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT 2018 Drops Beastly 'Black on Black' Performance Featuring All 18 Members|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|date=2018-04-18|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519000425/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|url-status=live}}</ref>
Other new material for the album includes the [[Tropical house|tropical-house]] influenced "Touch" by NCT 127. Produced by production team [[LDN Noise]], Deez and Adrian McKinnon, the song offers a "softer side" for the nine-member unit in comparison to their signature intense [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] style.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=NCT 127's 'Touch' Video: Watch|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8244839/nct-127-touch-video|date=2018-03-13|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519042521/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8244839/nct-127-touch-video|url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast, the teen-aged sub-unit [[NCT Dream]] also offers their "rebellious" side with the electro-hop bombast of "Go", featuring heavy [[hi-hat]]s and [[Snare drum|snare]] lines that resembles more of a hip hop venture than the group's usual "youthful leanings" of their earlier discography.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|title=NCT Dream Show Their Rebellious Side With 'Go' Music Video|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8231620/nct-dream-rebellious-side-go-music-video|date=2018-03-05|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509223559/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8231620/nct-dream-rebellious-side-go-music-video|url-status=live}}</ref> The rap-centric "Black on Black" is a "booming" electro-dance production featuring roars and "highly distorted" vocals, which credited NCT 2018 as the performers though only the rap-line members (Taeyong, Mark, Lucas) participated in the recording of the song.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=NCT 2018 Drops Beastly 'Black on Black' Performance Featuring All 18 Members|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|date=2018-04-18|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519000425/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Release and promotion ==
== Release and promotion ==


=== Distribution ===
=== Distribution ===
''NCT 2018'' ''Empathy'' was released on March 14, 2018 by their native label SM Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180315000244|title=Global boy band project NCT on attack as full group|date=March 15, 2018|website=The Korea Herald|access-date=August 22, 2018|archive-date=August 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822081126/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180315000244|url-status=live}}</ref> The release was done through many music portals, including [[Melon (online music service)|MelOn]] (South Korea) and [[ITunes Store|iTunes]] (internationally), with physical release provided on the same day as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10140200|title=NCT 2018 Empathy|date=March 14, 2018|website=Melon|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605063641/https://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10140200|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="itunes">{{Citation|title=NCT 2018 EMPATHY|date=March 14, 2018|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nct-2018-empathy/1358690306|website=itunes|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315153301/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nct-2018-empathy/1358690306|url-status=live}}</ref> The physical release contains two different versions, namely ''Reality'' and ''Dream'' with slightly difference on the package design and different group photo booklets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT - NCT 2018 Album [NCT 2018EMPATHY] (Random Ver.)|url=http://www.ktown4u.com/iteminfo?grp_no=231307&goods_no=32510#dt_wrap01|website=www.ktown4u.com|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524100600/http://www.ktown4u.com/iteminfo?grp_no=231307&goods_no=32510#dt_wrap01|url-status=live}}</ref> The digital release also contains an extended version of the album's fifth single "Yestoday" by NCT U.
''NCT 2018'' ''Empathy'' was released on March 14, 2018 by their native label SM Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180315000244|title=Global boy band project NCT on attack as full group|date=March 15, 2018|website=The Korea Herald|access-date=August 22, 2018|archive-date=August 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822081126/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180315000244|url-status=live}}</ref> The release was done through many music portals, including [[Melon (online music service)|MelOn]] (South Korea) and [[ITunes Store|iTunes]] (internationally), with physical release provided on the same day as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10140200|title=NCT 2018 Empathy|date=March 14, 2018|website=Melon|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605063641/https://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10140200|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="itunes">{{Citation|title=NCT 2018 EMPATHY|date=March 14, 2018|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nct-2018-empathy/1358690306|website=itunes|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315153301/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nct-2018-empathy/1358690306|url-status=live}}</ref> The physical release contains two different versions, namely ''Reality'' and ''Dream'' with slightly difference on the package design and different group photo booklets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT - NCT 2018 Album [NCT 2018EMPATHY] (Random Ver.)|url=https://peachkpop.co.kr/products/nct-nct-2018-empathy|website=www.peachkpop.com|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524100600/https://peachkpop.co.kr/products/nct-nct-2018-empathy|url-status=live}}</ref> The digital release also contains an extended version of the album's fifth single "Yestoday" by NCT U.


=== Singles ===
=== Singles ===
Featuring members Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, [[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]], Jungwoo and Lucas (with the latter two members being officially introduced for the first time), the NCT U-leading "Boss" was released as the album's lead single on February 18 with its music video.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 19, 2018|title=NCT U Shows the World Who Is 'Boss' in Charismatic New Video|work=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8205906/nct-u-boss-video|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316102500/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8205906/nct-u-boss-video|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the most successful release from the album, peaking at number 97 on the Gaon Digital Chart, number 80 on the [[K-pop Hot 100|''Billboard'' K-Pop Hot 100]] and number three on the ''Billboard'' World Digital Songs chart.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gaon Weekly Digital Chart - Week 11, 2018|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=11&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week|website=gaonchart.co.kr|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2018-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322082205/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=11&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Billboard Korea K-Pop 100 : Page 1 {{!}} Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-korea-k-pop-100/2018-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506200038/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-korea-k-pop-100/2018-04-07|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-05-06|date=2018-05-06|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=World Digital Song Sales Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-31|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126031144/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-31|url-status=live}}</ref> It was proceeded by the music video for "Baby Don't Stop", another NCT U single with member Taeyong and Ten on February 26, with both music videos sharing the same filming location at the [[Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine]] in [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 27, 2018|title=NCT U's Ten & Taeyong Enthrall With 'Baby Don't Stop' Music Video|work=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8221058/nct-us-ten-taeyong-baby-dont-stop-music-video|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705151003/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8221058/nct-us-ten-taeyong-baby-dont-stop-music-video|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=South Korean NCT band filmed clip in Kyiv’s Vernadsky library|url=https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/south-korean-nct-band-filmed-clip-in-kyivs-vernadsky-library-26026.html|website=112.international|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026032421/https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/south-korean-nct-band-filmed-clip-in-kyivs-vernadsky-library-26026.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The single peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' World Digital Songs chart, tying with their 2016's release "The 7th Sense" as the unit's highest peak on the chart. The third single "Go" by NCT Dream was released on March 4 to moderate success, peaking at number eighteen on the ''Billboard'' World Digital Songs and number twenty-five on the ''Billboard'' K-Pop Hot 100, becoming the highest charting release of ''NCT 2018 Empathy'' on the latter chart.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=World Digital Song Sales Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-24|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2019-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807093624/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
Featuring members Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, [[Mark (rapper)|Mark]], Jungwoo and Lucas (with the latter two members being officially introduced for the first time), the NCT U-leading "Boss" was released as the album's lead single on February 18 with its music video.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=February 19, 2018|title=NCT U Shows the World Who Is 'Boss' in Charismatic New Video|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8205906/nct-u-boss-video|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316102500/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8205906/nct-u-boss-video|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the most successful release from the album, peaking at number 97 on the Gaon Digital Chart, number 80 on the [[K-pop Hot 100|''Billboard'' K-Pop Hot 100]] and number three on the ''Billboard'' World Digital Songs chart.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gaon Weekly Digital Chart - Week 11, 2018|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=11&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week|website=gaonchart.co.kr|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2018-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322082205/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=11&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Korea K-Pop 100 : Page 1 {{!}} Billboard|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-korea-k-pop-100/2018-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506200038/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-korea-k-pop-100/2018-04-07|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-05-06|date=2018-05-06|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|title=World Digital Song Sales Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-31|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126031144/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-31|url-status=live}}</ref> It was proceeded by the music video for "Baby Don't Stop", another NCT U single with member Taeyong and Ten on February 26, with both music videos sharing the same filming location at the [[Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine]] in [[Kyiv]], [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=February 27, 2018|title=NCT U's Ten & Taeyong Enthrall With 'Baby Don't Stop' Music Video|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8221058/nct-us-ten-taeyong-baby-dont-stop-music-video|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705151003/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8221058/nct-us-ten-taeyong-baby-dont-stop-music-video|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=South Korean NCT band filmed clip in Kyiv's Vernadsky library|url=https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/south-korean-nct-band-filmed-clip-in-kyivs-vernadsky-library-26026.html|website=112.international|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2020-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026032421/https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/south-korean-nct-band-filmed-clip-in-kyivs-vernadsky-library-26026.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The single peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' World Digital Songs chart, tying with their 2016's release "The 7th Sense" as the unit's highest peak on the chart. The third single "Go" by NCT Dream was released on March 4 to moderate success, peaking at number eighteen on the ''Billboard'' World Digital Songs and number twenty-five on the ''Billboard'' K-Pop Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting release of ''NCT 2018 Empathy'' on the latter chart.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=World Digital Song Sales Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-24|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=2019-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807093624/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>


In conjunction with the album release on March 13, the NCT 127-leading "[[Touch (NCT 127 song)|Touch]]" was released as the fourth single on March 13.<ref>{{Cite web|title=엔시티 127(NCT 127) ‘TOUCH’, 美 빌보드에서도 집중 조명…"상큼한 매력과 비주얼로 대중 매료" - 장은진 기자|url=http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=376824|date=2018-03-15|website=톱스타뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> It also attained moderate success, peaking at number fifty-four on the ''Billboard'' K-Pop Hot 100 and number eleven on the World Digital Songs chart.<ref name=":1" /> Two further singles were released later, including the old school hip-hop influenced "Yestoday" on April 1 with participation from member Taeyong, Doyoung, Mark and Lucas as the fifth single, and "Black on Black", the performance-assisted single by the whole group as the sixth and final single on April 18. The latter became the only single to feature all eighteen members, and subsequently the first to officially introduce Chinese member Kun.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCT U Say 'Yestoday' in New Music Video: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8280656/nct-u-yestoday-new-music-video-watch-k-pop-sm-entertainment|date=April 1, 2018|website=Billboard|access-date=August 22, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705062309/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8280656/nct-u-yestoday-new-music-video-watch-k-pop-sm-entertainment|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NCT 2018 Drops Beastly 'Black on Black' Performance Video|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|date=April 18, 2018|website=Billboard|access-date=August 22, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705071119/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|url-status=live}}</ref> Neither of these singles charted in any native, nor the World Digital Songs component chart.
In conjunction with the album release on March 13, the NCT 127-leading "[[Touch (NCT 127 song)|Touch]]" was released as the fourth single on March 13.<ref>{{Cite web|title=엔시티 127(NCT 127) 'TOUCH', 美 빌보드에서도 집중 조명…"상큼한 매력과 비주얼로 대중 매료" - 장은진 기자|url=http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=376824|date=2018-03-15|website=톱스타뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> It also attained moderate success, peaking at number fifty-four on the ''Billboard'' K-Pop Hot 100 and number eleven on the World Digital Songs chart.<ref name=":1" /> Two further singles were released later, including the old school hip-hop influenced "Yestoday" on April 1 with participation from member Taeyong, Doyoung, Mark and Lucas as the fifth single, and "Black on Black", the performance-assisted single by the whole group as the sixth and final single on April 18. The latter became the only single to feature all eighteen members, and subsequently the first to officially introduce Chinese member Kun.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=NCT U Say 'Yestoday' in New Music Video: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8280656/nct-u-yestoday-new-music-video-watch-k-pop-sm-entertainment|date=April 1, 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 22, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705062309/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8280656/nct-u-yestoday-new-music-video-watch-k-pop-sm-entertainment|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=NCT 2018 Drops Beastly 'Black on Black' Performance Video|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|date=April 18, 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 22, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705071119/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8347521/nct-2018-black-on-black-video|url-status=live}}</ref> Neither of these singles charted in any native, nor the World Digital Songs component chart.


=== Live performances ===
=== Live performances ===
Promotion for the album started with NCT U's "Boss" first television performance at ''[[M Countdown]]'' on February 22, followed by performances on ''[[Show Champion]]'', ''[[Show! Music Core]]'' and ''[[Inkigayo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U, 'BOSS' 뮤직비디오 공개 화제… 무대 '엠카운트다운' 최초 공개|url=http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=108911|date=2018-02-19|website=제니스글로벌뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> Under the same unit, member Taeyong continued to promote with member Ten for "Baby Don't Stop" with live performances on ''M Countdown, [[Music Bank (TV series)|Music Bank]], Show! Music Core'' and ''Inkigayo'' starting from March 1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=美 빌보드, NCT U 태용X텐 'Baby Don’t Stop' MV 집중 조명|url=http://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1RWT7HWWLR/GL0301|date=2018-03-01|website=서울경제|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> NCT Dream then continued the pre-release promotion activities with "Go" from March 8 and "Touch" by NCT 127 starting from March 15.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT DREAM ‘GO’, 마크 랩 메이킹 참여 휩쓸리지 말자 {{!}} 텐아시아|url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/topic/article/2018030379654|last=tenasia.hankyung.com|first=Digital|date=2018-03-03|website=텐아시아 연예뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=‘NCT 2018’ 활동 바톤터치···NCT 127, 신곡 ‘TOUCH’로 출격|url=https://www.ajunews.com/view/20180309165436574|last=장윤정|date=2018-03-09|website=www.ajunews.com|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> "Touch" later won the unit their first music show trophy at ''[[The Show (South Korean TV series)|The Show]]'' on March 29, 2018, being the only release from the album to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT 127 재현, 훈훈함 가득한 셀카…‘시즈니들 고마워♥’ - 김은지 기자|url=http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=385459|date=2018-03-29|website=톱스타뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>
Promotion for the album started with NCT U's "Boss" first television performance at ''[[M Countdown]]'' on February 22, followed by performances on ''[[Show Champion]]'', ''[[Show! Music Core]]'' and ''[[Inkigayo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT U, 'BOSS' 뮤직비디오 공개 화제… 무대 '엠카운트다운' 최초 공개|url=http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=108911|date=2018-02-19|website=제니스글로벌뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> Under the same unit, member Taeyong continued to promote with member Ten for "Baby Don't Stop" with live performances on ''M Countdown, [[Music Bank (TV series)|Music Bank]], Show! Music Core'' and ''Inkigayo'' starting from March 1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=美 빌보드, NCT U 태용X텐 'Baby Don't Stop' MV 집중 조명|url=http://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1RWT7HWWLR/GL0301|date=2018-03-01|website=서울경제|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> NCT Dream then continued the pre-release promotion activities with "Go" from March 8 and "Touch" by NCT 127 starting from March 15.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT DREAM 'GO', 마크 랩 메이킹 참여 휩쓸리지 말자 {{!}} 텐아시아|url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/topic/article/2018030379654|last=tenasia.hankyung.com|first=Digital|date=2018-03-03|website=텐아시아 연예뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='NCT 2018' 활동 바톤터치···NCT 127, 신곡 'TOUCH'로 출격|url=https://www.ajunews.com/view/20180309165436574|last=장윤정|date=2018-03-09|website=www.ajunews.com|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> "Touch" later won the unit their first music show trophy at ''[[The Show (South Korean TV series)|The Show]]'' on March 29, 2018, being the only release from the album to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCT 127 재현, 훈훈함 가득한 셀카…'시즈니들 고마워♥' - 김은지 기자|url=http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=385459|date=2018-03-29|website=톱스타뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>


== Commercial performance ==
== Commercial performance ==
Line 92: Line 102:
Adapted from [[Naver Corporation|Naver]]
Adapted from [[Naver Corporation|Naver]]
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = NCT 2018 Empathy
| headline = NCT 2018 Empathy
| extra_column = Arrangement
| extra_column = Arrangement
| title1 = Intro: Neo Got My Back

| note1 = NCT U
| title1 = Intro: Neo Got My Back
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Tommy $trate}}
| note1 = NCT U
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Tommy $trate}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Dakshood|Tommy $trate}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Dakshood|Tommy $trate}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Dakshood|Rosangyoon}}
| length1 = 1:57
| extra1 = {{hlist|Dakshood|Rosangyoon}}
| title2 = [[Boss (NCT U song)|Boss]]
| length1 = 1:57
| note2 = NCT U) (sung by [[Taeyong]], [[Doyoung (singer)|Doyoung]], [[Jaehyun (singer)|Jaehyun]], [[Winwin]], [[NCT (group)#Members|Jungwoo]], [[Lucas (rapper)|Lucas]] and [[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Wutan|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]}}
| title2 = Boss
| music2 = {{hlist|Mike Daley|Mitchell Owens|[[Tiffany Red|Tiffany Fred]]|Patrick J. Que Smith|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| note2 = NCT U) (sung by [[Taeyong]], [[Doyoung (singer)|Doyoung]], [[Jaehyun (singer)|Jaehyun]], [[Winwin]], [[NCT (group)#Members|Jungwoo]], [[Lucas Wong|Lucas]], and [[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]
| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Wutan|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|Mike Daley}}
| length2 = 3:30
| music2 = {{hlist|Mike Daley|Mitchell Owens|[[Tiffany Red|Tiffany Fred]]|Patrick J. Que Smith}}
| title3 = [[Baby Don't Stop]]
| extra2 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|Mike Daley}}
| note3 = NCT U) (sung by Taeyong and [[Ten (singer)|Ten]]
| length2 = 3:30
| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Danke (lalala Studio)|Juno (Joombas)|[[Taeyong]]}}

| music3 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Dirty Vegas|Paul Harris]]|[[Nikki Ambers|Little Nikki]]|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|[[Ryan S. Jhun]]}}
| title3 = Baby Don't Stop
| extra3 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Dirty Vegas|Paul Harris]]|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|[[Ryan S. Jhun]]}}
| note3 = NCT U) (sung by Taeyong, and [[Ten (singer)|Ten]]
| length3 = 3:03
| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Danke (lalala Studio)|Juno (Joombas)|[[Taeyong]]}}
| title4 = Go
| music3 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Dirty Vegas|Paul Harris]]|[[Nikki Ambers|Little Nikki]]|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|[[Ryan S. Jhun]]}}
| note4 = [[NCT Dream]]
| extra3 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Dirty Vegas|Paul Harris]]|[[Yoo Young-jin]]|[[Ryan S. Jhun]]}}
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Hwang Yoo-bin|Ji Ye-won (Joombas)|[[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]}}
| length3 = 3:03
| music4 = {{hlist|[[The Stereotypes]]|[[Tiffany Red|Tiffany Fred]]|Sophiya Pae (Feeline Music)|Distract (Feeline Music)|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|[[The Stereotypes]]}}
| title4 = Go
| length4 = 3:27
| note4 = [[NCT Dream]]
| title5 = [[Touch (NCT 127 song)|Touch]]
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Hwang Yoo-bin|Ji Ye-won (Joombas)|[[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]}}
| note5 = [[NCT 127]]
| music4 = {{hlist|[[The Stereotypes]]|[[Tiffany Red|Tiffany Fred]]|Sophiya Pae (Feeline Music)|Distract (Feeline Music)|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| lyrics5 = {{hlist|[[Jo Yoon-kyung]]|[[Jam Factory (music publisher)|Kim Min-ji]]|[[Jam Factory (music publisher)#L Diary|Shin Jin-hye]]}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|[[The Stereotypes]]}}
| music5 = {{hlist|[[LDN Noise]]|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}|Adrian McKinnon}}
| length4 = 3:27
| extra5 = {{hlist|[[LDN Noise]]|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}}}

| length5 = 3:09
| title5 = [[Touch (NCT 127 song)|Touch]]
| title6 = Yestoday
| note5 = [[NCT 127]]
| note6 = NCT U) (sung by Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas and Mark
| lyrics5 = {{hlist|[[SM Entertainment artists#Studio artists|Jo Yoon-kyung]]|[[Jam Factory|Kim Min-ji]]|[[Jam Factory#L Diary|Shin Jin-hye]]}}
| lyrics6 = {{hlist|[[Jam Factory (music publisher)#L Diary|Jung Joo-hee]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]|Cho Jin-joo}}
| music5 = {{hlist|[[LDN Noise]]|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}|Adrian McKinnon}}
| music6 = {{hlist|[[Hyuk Shin|Hyuk Shin (Joombas)]]|RE:ONE (Joombas)|Delly Boi (Joombas)|Jarah Lafayette Gibson|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|[[LDN Noise]]|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Beat&Keys (Joombas)}}
| length5 = 3:09
| length6 = 3:16

| title7 = Black on Black
| title6 = Yestoday
| note6 = NCT U) (sung by Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas, and Mark
| note7 = NCT 2018) (sung by Taeyong, Lucas, [[NCT (group)#Members|Yuta]], [[NCT (group)#Members|Jeno]] and Mark
| lyrics6 = {{hlist|[[Jam Factory#L Diary|Jung Joo-hee]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]|Cho Jin-joo}}
| lyrics7 = {{hlist|[[Minos (rapper)|MINOS]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}}}
| music7 = {{hlist|Afshin Salmani (Nonfiction)|[[Josh Cumbee|Josh Cumbee (Nonfiction)]]|}}
| music6 = {{hlist|[[Hyuk Shin|Hyuk Shin (Joombas)]]|RE:ONE (Joombas)|Delly Boi (Joombas)|Jarah Lafayette Gibson|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Beat&Keys (Joombas)}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Nonfiction|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}}}
| length6 = 3:16
| length7 = 3:17
| title8 = [[SM Station discography#2017–2018: Season 2|Timeless]]

| note8 = {{Korean|hangul=텐데...|rr=Tende|lit=Would}}) (NCT U) (sung by [[NCT (group)#Members|Taeil]], Doyoung and Jaehyun
| title7 = Black on Black
| lyrics8 = {{hlist|Jeon Gan-di}}
| note7 = NCT 2018) (sung by Taeyong, Lucas, [[NCT (group)#Members|Yuta]], [[NCT (group)#Members|Jeno]], and Mark
| music8 = {{hlist|[[Andrew Choi]]|Joseph "220" Park (Iconic Sounds)}}
| lyrics7 = {{hlist|[[Minos (rapper)|MINOS]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}}}
| music7 = {{hlist|Afshin Salmani (Nonfiction)|[[Josh Cumbee|Josh Cumbee (Nonfiction)]]|}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Kim Yong-shin (Iconic Sounds)|Joseph "220" Park (Iconic Sounds)}}
| length8 = 4:10
| extra7 = {{hlist|Nonfiction|{{ill|Deez|ko|디즈}}}}
| title9 = [[The 7th Sense]]
| length7 = 3:17
| note9 = {{Korean|hangul=일곱 번째 감각|rr=Ilgop Beonjjae Gamgak|lit=}}) (NCT U) (Sung by Taeyong, Mark, Jaehyun, Doyoung and Ten

| lyrics9 = {{hlist|[[Jam Factory (music publisher)#L Diary|Jeon Ji-eun (January 8th (lalala Studio))]]|[[Jam Factory (music publisher)#L Diary|Hwang Seon-jeong (January 8th (lalala Studio))]]|[[Jam Factory (music publisher)#L Diary|Kim Jeong-mi (January 8th (lalala Studio))]]|{{ill|Kim Dong-hyun (songwriter)|lt=Kim Dong-hyun|ko|김심야}}|Cho Jin-joo|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]}}
| title8 = [[SM Station discography#2017–2018: Season 2|Timeless]]
| music9 = {{hlist|Timothy "BOS" Bullock|Jeremy "Tay" Jasper|Adrian McKinnon|[[Sara Forsberg]]|Michael Jiminez|[[Leven Kali]]|MZMC}}
| note8 = {{Korean|hangul=텐데...|rr=Tende|lit=Would}}) (NCT U) (sung by [[NCT (group)#Members|Taeil]], Doyoung, and Jaehyun
| lyrics8 = {{hlist|Jeon Gan-di}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Jeremy "Tay" Jasper|Timothy "BOS" Bullock}}
| length9 = 3:34
| music8 = {{hlist|[[Andrew Choi]]|Joseph "220" Park (Iconic Sounds)}}
| title10 = [[Without You (NCT U song)|Without You]]
| extra8 = {{hlist|Kim Yong-shin (Iconic Sounds)|Joseph "220" Park (Iconic Sounds)}}
| note10 = NCT U) (sung by Taeil, Doyoung and Jaehyun
| length8 = 4:10
| lyrics10 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}

| music10 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Ki Fitzgerald]]|John Reid|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| title9 = [[The 7th Sense]]
| extra10 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| note9 = {{Korean|hangul=일곱 번째 감각|rr=Ilgop Beonjjae Gamgak|lit=}}) (NCT U) (Sung by Taeyong, Mark, Jaehyun, Doyoung, and Ten
| length10 = 3:25
| lyrics9 = {{hlist|[[Jam Factory#L Diary|Jeon Ji-eun (January 8th (lalala Studio))]]|[[Jam Factory#L Diary|Hwang Seon-jeong (January 8th (lalala Studio))]]|[[Jam Factory#L Diary|Kim Jeong-mi (January 8th (lalala Studio))]]|{{ill|Kim Dong-hyun (songwriter)|lt=Kim Dong-hyun|ko|김심야}}|Cho Jin-joo|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]}}
| title11 = [[Without You (NCT U song)|Without You]]
| music9 = {{hlist|Timothy "BOS" Bullock|Jeremy "Tay" Jasper|Adrian McKinnon|[[Sara Forsberg]]|Michael Jiminez|Leven Kali|MZMC}}
| note11 = Chinese version) (NCT U) (sung by [[Qian Kun|Kun]], Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun
| extra9 = {{hlist|Jeremy "Tay" Jasper|Timothy "BOS" Bullock}}
| lyrics11 = {{hlist|{{ill|Lin Xinye|zh|林欣曄}}}}
| length9 = 3:34
| music11 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Ki Fitzgerald]]|John Reid|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| title10 = [[Without You (NCT U song)|Without You]]
| length11 = 3:25
| note10 = NCT U) (sung by Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun
| title12 = [[SM Station discography#2017–2018: Season 2|Dream in a Dream]]
| lyrics10 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| note12 = {{Korean|hangul=몽중몽|hanja=梦中梦|rr=Mongjungmong}}) (sung by Ten
| music10 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Ki Fitzgerald]]|John Reid|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| lyrics12 = {{hlist|Stephen Carl}}
| music12 = {{hlist|Stephen Carl|Dillon Pace|[[Brian Lee (songwriter)|Brian Lee]]}}
| length10 = 3:25
| extra12 = {{hlist|Dillon Pace}}

| length12 = 3:35
| title11 = [[Without You (NCT U song)|Without You]]
| title13 = Outro: Vision
| note11 = Chinese version) (NCT U) (sung by [[Qian Kun|Kun]], Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun
| note13 =
| lyrics11 = {{hlist|{{ill|Lin Xinye|zh|林欣曄}}}}
| music11 = {{hlist|[[Matt Schwartz]]|[[Ki Fitzgerald]]|John Reid|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| lyrics13 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| music13 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| length11 = 3:25
| length13 = 0:57

| title14 = Yestoday
| title12 = [[SM Station discography#2017–2018: Season 2|Dream in a Dream]]
| note14 = Extended version) (NCT U) (Bonus Track
| note12 = {{Korean|hangul=몽중몽|hanja=梦中梦|rr=Mongjungmong}}) (sung by Ten
| lyrics14 = {{hlist|[[Jam Factory (music publisher)|Jung Joo-hee]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark (rapper)|Mark]]|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]|Cho Jin-joo}}
| lyrics12 = {{hlist|Stephen Carl}}
| music12 = {{hlist|Stephen Carl|Dillon Pace|[[Brian Lee (songwriter)|Brian Lee]]}}
| music14 = {{hlist|[[Hyuk Shin|Hyuk Shin (Joombas)]]|RE:ONE (Joombas)|Delly Boi (Joombas)|Jarah Lafayette Gibson|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|Dillon Pace}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|Beat&Keys (Joombas)}}
| length12 = 3:35
| length14 = 3:47
| total_length = 44:39

| title13 = Outro: Vision
| note13 =
| lyrics13 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| music13 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|[[Yoo Young-jin]]}}
| length13 = 0:57

| title14 = Yestoday
| note14 = Extended version) (NCT U) (Bonus Track
| lyrics14 = {{hlist|[[Jam Factory|Jung Joo-hee]]|[[Taeyong]]|[[Mark Lee (singer)|Mark]]|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]|Cho Jin-joo}}
| music14 = {{hlist|[[Hyuk Shin|Hyuk Shin (Joombas)]]|RE:ONE (Joombas)|Delly Boi (Joombas)|Jarah Lafayette Gibson|[[Steven Lee (music producer)|Steven Lee]]}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|Beat&Keys (Joombas)}}
| length14 = 3:47

| total_length = 44:39
}}
}}


Line 218: Line 213:
** Renjun – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 7)
** Renjun – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 7)
** Jeno – vocals (tracks 4, 7)
** Jeno – vocals (tracks 4, 7)
** Haechan – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 5, 7)
** [[Haechan]] – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 5, 7)
** Jaemin – vocals (tracks 4, 7)
** Jaemin – vocals (tracks 4, 7)
** Chenle – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 7)
** Chenle – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 7)
Line 253: Line 248:
|68
|68
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US [[Top Heatseekers]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2018-03-24|title=Billboard's Heatseekers Albums|date=March 24, 2018|website=Billboard|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=May 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516012721/https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US [[Top Heatseekers]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2018-03-24|title=Billboard's Heatseekers Albums|date=March 24, 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=May 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516012721/https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
|9
|9
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US Independent Albums ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2018-03-24|title=Billboard's Independent Albums|date=March 24, 2018|website=Billboard|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515102127/https://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US Independent Albums ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2018-03-24|title=Billboard's Independent Albums|date=March 24, 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515102127/https://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
|29
|29
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US World Albums ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2018-03-24|title=US World Albums - Billboard|website=Billboard|date=March 24, 2018|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=April 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429035214/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US World Albums ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2018-03-24|title=US World Albums - Billboard|magazine=Billboard|date=March 24, 2018|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=April 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429035214/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2018-03-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
|5
|5
|}
|}
Line 278: Line 273:
! scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|title=2019년 Album Chart|website=Gaon|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203005818/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|title=2019년 Album Chart|website=Gaon|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203005818/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 93
| 93
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| South Korean Albums ([[Gaon Album Chart|Gaon]])<ref name="Gaon2021">{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2021&targetTime=2021&nationGbn=T&year_time=3|title=2021 Gaon Album Chart|website=[[Gaon Music Chart]]|language=ko|access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>
| 55
|}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
Line 291: Line 292:
|-
|-
!scope="row"|South Korea ([[Gaon Chart|Gaon]])
!scope="row"|South Korea ([[Gaon Chart|Gaon]])
|507,483<ref>Cumulative sales of ''NCT 2018 Empathy'' on Gaon Chart:
|636,055<!-- 330,335 (2018) + 52,981 (2019) + 199,062 (2021) + 53,677 (June 2022)--><ref>Cumulative sales of ''NCT 2018 Empathy'' on Gaon Chart:
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2018&hitYear=2018&termGbn=year|title=Gaon Album Chart – Year-End 2018 (Album)|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=July 29, 2019|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322041459/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2018&hitYear=2018&termGbn=year|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2018&hitYear=2018&termGbn=year|title=Gaon Album Chart – Year-End 2018 (Album)|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=July 29, 2019|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322041459/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2018&hitYear=2018&termGbn=year|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|title=Gaon Album Chart – Year-End 2019 (Album)|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203005818/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|title=Gaon Album Chart – Year-End 2019 (Album)|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203005818/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&amp;serviceGbn=&amp;targetTime=01&amp;hitYear=2020&amp;termGbn=month|script-title=ko:2020년 01월 Album Chart|trans-title=January 2020 Album Chart|website=Gaon Music Chart|access-date=February 6, 2020|language=ko|archive-date=March 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310035312/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=01&hitYear=2020&termGbn=month|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2021&termGbn=year|title=Gaon Album Chart – Year-End 2021 (Album)|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107022522/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2021&hitYear=2021&termGbn=year&year_time=3|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=02&hitYear=2021&termGbn=month|script-title=ko:2021년 02월 Album Chart|trans-title=February 2021 Album Chart|website=Gaon Music Chart|access-date=March 11, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311075548/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=02&hitYear=2021&termGbn=month|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=06&hitYear=2022&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart - June 2022 (Album)|website=Circle Chart|date=July 7, 2022|access-date=July 7, 2022|archive-date=July 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707021227/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=06&hitYear=2022&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|url-status=live}}
</ref>
|-
|-
!scope="row"|United States (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')
!scope="row"|United States (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')
|1,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8283629/bts-exo-nct-k-pop-social-50-charts|title=BTS, EXO & NCT Become First K-Pop Acts to Sweep Social 50 Chart's Top Three|date=March 4, 2018|website=Billboard|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404011755/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8283629/bts-exo-nct-k-pop-social-50-charts|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1,000<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8283629/bts-exo-nct-k-pop-social-50-charts|title=BTS, EXO & NCT Become First K-Pop Acts to Sweep Social 50 Chart's Top Three|date=March 4, 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404011755/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8283629/bts-exo-nct-k-pop-social-50-charts|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
|}


==Certifications==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|type=album|title=NCT 2018 Empathy|artist=NCT|award=2x Platinum|salesamount=500,000|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|certmonth=3|accessdate=March 11, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|type=album|title=NCT 2018 Empathy|artist=NCT|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|certmonth=3|accessdate=March 11, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}


== Accolades ==
==Accolades==
=== Music program awards ===
===Music program awards===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
! style="width:150px;"| Song
! style="width:150px;"| Song
Line 317: Line 319:
|[[The Show (South Korean TV series)|''The Show'']] ([[SBS MTV]])
|[[The Show (South Korean TV series)|''The Show'']] ([[SBS MTV]])
|March 27, 2018
|March 27, 2018
|}

===Listicles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end lists
! scope="col" | Critic/Publication
! scope="col" | List
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Idolator (website)|Idolator]]''
| The 10 Best K-Pop Albums Of 2018
| 10
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |title=From SHINee To BTS, The 10 Best K-Pop Albums Of 2018 |url=https://www.idolator.com/7690216/10-best-k-pop-albums-of-2018?adblock=1&chrome=1 |website=[[Idolator (website)|Idolator]] |access-date=January 3, 2022 |date=December 31, 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Refinery29]]''
| The 12 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018
| 9
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/12/219244/best-k-pop-albums-2018#slide-4|title=The 12 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018|last=Morin|first=Natalie|date=December 19, 2018|website=[[Refinery 29]]|access-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/12/219244/best-k-pop-albums-2018|archive-date=June 28, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Rolling Stone India''
| 10 Best K-pop Albums of 2018
| 9
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/10-best-k-pop-albums-2018/|title=10 Best K-pop Albums of 2018|last=Chakraborty|first=Riddhi|date=December 29, 2018|website=Rolling Stone India|access-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102183408/https://rollingstoneindia.com/10-best-k-pop-albums-2018/|archive-date=November 2, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 347: Line 373:


[[Category:2018 debut albums]]
[[Category:2018 debut albums]]
[[Category:NCT (band) albums]]
[[Category:NCT (group) albums]]
[[Category:SM Entertainment albums]]
[[Category:SM Entertainment albums]]
[[Category:Korean-language albums]]
[[Category:2010s Korean-language albums]]
[[Category:IRIVER albums]]
[[Category:IRiver albums]]

Latest revision as of 06:19, 1 October 2024

NCT 2018 Empathy
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 14, 2018 (2018-03-14)
Recorded2016–2018
StudioSM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
Genre
Length44:39
Language
  • Korean
  • English
  • Mandarin
Label
Producer
NCT chronology
We Young
(2017)
NCT 2018 Empathy
(2018)
Chain
(2018)
NCT studio albums chronology
NCT 2018 Empathy
(2018)
NCT 2020 Resonance
(2020)
Singles from NCT 2018 Empathy
  1. "Boss"
    Released: February 18, 2018
  2. "Baby Don't Stop"
    Released: February 26, 2018
  3. "Go"
    Released: March 4, 2018
  4. "Touch"
    Released: March 13, 2018
  5. "Yestoday (Extended version)"
    Released: April 1, 2018
  6. "Black On Black"
    Released: April 18, 2018

NCT 2018 Empathy (stylized in uppercase) is the debut studio album by South Korean Boy band NCT, an unlimited group project under the management of SM Entertainment. Containing a total of fourteen tracks with twelve of which were released as singles from 2016 to 2018, the album marked the first group release with eighteen members from three different units participating at the time, while being the first release to officially introduce three new members Kun, Jungwoo and Lucas.[1] With the group's label founder Lee Soo-man serving as the executive producer, composition and production for the album was contributed by Matt Schwartz, Tommy $trate, The Stereotypes, Timothy 'Bos' Bullock, Deez, Yoo Young-jin, Ryan S. Jhun, MZMC, Adrian McKinnon, Shin Hyuk, Josh Cumbee, Andrew Choi, Sara Forsberg, LDN Noise, and others. It was released on March 14, 2018, by SM Entertainment and iriver Inc along with the album's fourth single "Touch" by the Seoul-based unit NCT 127 and "Black on Black", the first single featuring all eighteen members of the group at that time.[2]

Upon its release, NCT 2018 Empathy received mixed to positive reviews from music critics over its "compiled" tracklist and the overall solidity. The album also attained commercial success domestically, peaking at number two on the Gaon Album Chart and became the group's first release to receive a Platinum KMCA certification following its introduction in 2018. It also experienced international success, peaking at number five on the Billboard World Albums while becoming the first NCT release to appear on other European charts. As of 2022, the album has achieved a cumulative sales of over 636,055 physical copies.

Background

[edit]

Following the announcement and introduction to the group's debut earlier in January 2016 by founder Lee Soo-man, a total of three sub-units debuted subsequently in the same year.[3] The first sub-unit was NCT U, a rotational sub-unit with different members participating accordingly to the unit's music release which, at the time, saw the first appearance from member Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun and Mark. They eventually debuted with a double digital single, containing "The 7th Sense" with the latter five members and "Without You", which were performed by member Taeil, Doyoung and Jaehyun.[4][5] The label then introduced NCT 127, the Seoul-based unit with number "127" representing the longitude coordinate of South Korea's capital on July 1 with seven members for its initial line-up: Taeil, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, and Haechan.[6] Following the label's announcement on December 27, 2016, member Doyoung and then-SR15B member Johnny officially joined the unit, marking with the unit's sophomore extended play later in January 2017.[7] On August 18, SM Entertainment announced that the third unit would be NCT Dream, the teen-aged unit which consists of seven members: Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung.[8] By the end of 2016, fifteen members were introduced officially as part of the unlimited NCT brand. NCT 127 and NCT Dream then continued to promote actively throughout the following year with further releases.

In mid-January, SM Entertainment unveiled NCT 2018, a singular-year project involving all current members of NCT.[9][10] Through the "NCT 2018 Yearbook #1" video on January 30, the label officially introduced new members Kun, Lucas, and Jungwoo to the current line-up of NCT.[11] Followed by a series of online documentary videos titled NCTmentary as part of the NCT 2018 project, the group shared "NCT Yearbook #2" video via their official YouTube channel on February 5.[12][13] Prior to their official introduction, member Kun was featured on the Chinese version of "Without You" in April 2016, having performed live with NCT U. The label eventually revealed that the group would release their first large-scale project as a studio album the following day, with all eighteen members participated accordingly to their sub-unit and music project for NCT U.[14][15]

Composition

[edit]

NCT 2018 Empathy consists of fourteen tracks in total, including an instrumental intro and outro and one extended version of a new song. The album also includes five previously released songs for its latter half, namely "The 7th Sense", the Korean and Chinese versions of "Without You" and "Timeless" by NCT U, while "Dream in a Dream" is an English solo record by member Ten, which along with "Timeless" was originally part of the SM Station project. The new recording material includes "Boss", a future-bass hip-hop track with "heavy bass riffs" which is produced by Mike Daley, Mitchell Owens, Tiffany Fred, Patrick "J. Que" Smith and Yoo Young-jin. With co-writing contribution by member Taeyong and Mark, the song contains the message of how the modern society "needs true empathy" and the unit's aspiration to bring out such empathy. Seven members participated in recording the song: Taeyong, Doyoung, Winwin, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Lucas and Mark.[16] It is followed by "Baby Don't Stop", an electro-hop, synth-pop track co-produced again by Yoo Young-jin with contribution from producer Matt Schwartz and Ryan S. Jhun. It possesses an "impressive" minimalist sonic composition with "addictive" drum and bass riff, expressing the sensation of an immediate love. It was also co-written by member Taeyong, whom performed the track along with member Ten as NCT U.[17] He also contributed lyrically to the third and final new NCT U record, titled "Yestoday". It was described as a "sorrowful" old-school hip-hop influenced track, with member Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas and Mark rapping and singing about how "today will eventually become yesterday".[18]

Other new material for the album includes the tropical-house influenced "Touch" by NCT 127. Produced by production team LDN Noise, Deez and Adrian McKinnon, the song offers a "softer side" for the nine-member unit in comparison to their signature intense hip hop style.[19] In contrast, the teen-aged sub-unit NCT Dream also offers their "rebellious" side with the electro-hop bombast of "Go", featuring heavy hi-hats and snare lines that resembles more of a hip hop venture than the group's usual "youthful leanings" of their earlier discography.[20] The rap-centric "Black on Black" is a "booming" electro-dance production featuring roars and "highly distorted" vocals, which credited NCT 2018 as the performers though only the rap-line members (Taeyong, Mark, Lucas) participated in the recording of the song.[21]

Release and promotion

[edit]

Distribution

[edit]

NCT 2018 Empathy was released on March 14, 2018 by their native label SM Entertainment.[22] The release was done through many music portals, including MelOn (South Korea) and iTunes (internationally), with physical release provided on the same day as well.[23][24] The physical release contains two different versions, namely Reality and Dream with slightly difference on the package design and different group photo booklets.[25] The digital release also contains an extended version of the album's fifth single "Yestoday" by NCT U.

Singles

[edit]

Featuring members Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, Jungwoo and Lucas (with the latter two members being officially introduced for the first time), the NCT U-leading "Boss" was released as the album's lead single on February 18 with its music video.[26] It was the most successful release from the album, peaking at number 97 on the Gaon Digital Chart, number 80 on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 and number three on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.[27][28][29] It was proceeded by the music video for "Baby Don't Stop", another NCT U single with member Taeyong and Ten on February 26, with both music videos sharing the same filming location at the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine.[30][31] The single peaked at number two on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart, tying with their 2016's release "The 7th Sense" as the unit's highest peak on the chart. The third single "Go" by NCT Dream was released on March 4 to moderate success, peaking at number eighteen on the Billboard World Digital Songs and number twenty-five on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting release of NCT 2018 Empathy on the latter chart.[20][32]

In conjunction with the album release on March 13, the NCT 127-leading "Touch" was released as the fourth single on March 13.[33] It also attained moderate success, peaking at number fifty-four on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 and number eleven on the World Digital Songs chart.[29] Two further singles were released later, including the old school hip-hop influenced "Yestoday" on April 1 with participation from member Taeyong, Doyoung, Mark and Lucas as the fifth single, and "Black on Black", the performance-assisted single by the whole group as the sixth and final single on April 18. The latter became the only single to feature all eighteen members, and subsequently the first to officially introduce Chinese member Kun.[34][35] Neither of these singles charted in any native, nor the World Digital Songs component chart.

Live performances

[edit]

Promotion for the album started with NCT U's "Boss" first television performance at M Countdown on February 22, followed by performances on Show Champion, Show! Music Core and Inkigayo.[36] Under the same unit, member Taeyong continued to promote with member Ten for "Baby Don't Stop" with live performances on M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core and Inkigayo starting from March 1.[37] NCT Dream then continued the pre-release promotion activities with "Go" from March 8 and "Touch" by NCT 127 starting from March 15.[38][39] "Touch" later won the unit their first music show trophy at The Show on March 29, 2018, being the only release from the album to do so.[40]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Prior to the album's release, NCT 2018 Empathy already achieved 203,000 pre-orders, eventually topped several iTunes country charts upon its release.[41][42] The album then entered and peaked at number two on the Gaon Album Chart on the week of March 17, 2018, being held off the top position by Got7's Eyes on You.[43] It was the third best-selling album on the March 2018 issue of the monthly album chart, and subsequently the thirteen best-selling album on the year-end album chart, having sold a total of 330,335 physical copies.[44][45] It was the first album by NCT to receive a Platinum certificate by KMCA since its introduction in the same year, which granted a Platinum certificate for every album release that achieved a cumulative sales of over 250,000 copies.[46]

Track listing

[edit]

Adapted from Naver

NCT 2018 Empathy
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Intro: Neo Got My Back" (NCT U)
  • Tommy $trate
  • Dakshood
  • Tommy $trate
  • Dakshood
  • Rosangyoon
1:57
2."Boss" (NCT U) (sung by Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, Lucas and Mark)
3:30
3."Baby Don't Stop" (NCT U) (sung by Taeyong and Ten)
  • Danke (lalala Studio)
  • Juno (Joombas)
  • Taeyong
3:03
4."Go" (NCT Dream)
  • Hwang Yoo-bin
  • Ji Ye-won (Joombas)
  • Mark
3:27
5."Touch" (NCT 127)
3:09
6."Yestoday" (NCT U) (sung by Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas and Mark)
  • Beat&Keys (Joombas)
3:16
7."Black on Black" (NCT 2018) (sung by Taeyong, Lucas, Yuta, Jeno and Mark)
3:17
8."Timeless" (Korean텐데...; RRTende; lit. Would) (NCT U) (sung by Taeil, Doyoung and Jaehyun)
  • Jeon Gan-di
  • Kim Yong-shin (Iconic Sounds)
  • Joseph "220" Park (Iconic Sounds)
4:10
9."The 7th Sense" (Korean일곱 번째 감각; RRIlgop Beonjjae Gamgak) (NCT U) (Sung by Taeyong, Mark, Jaehyun, Doyoung and Ten)
  • Jeremy "Tay" Jasper
  • Timothy "BOS" Bullock
3:34
10."Without You" (NCT U) (sung by Taeil, Doyoung and Jaehyun)3:25
11."Without You" (Chinese version) (NCT U) (sung by Kun, Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun)3:25
12."Dream in a Dream" (Korean몽중몽; Hanja梦中梦; RRMongjungmong) (sung by Ten)
  • Stephen Carl
  • Dillon Pace
3:35
13."Outro: Vision"0:57
14."Yestoday" (Extended version) (NCT U) (Bonus Track)
  • Beat&Keys (Joombas)
3:47
Total length:44:39

Notes

Intro & Outro Songs

  • "Intro: Neo Got My Back" features vocals from Taeyong, Johnny, and music producer Tommy $trate
  • "Outro: Vision" features vocals from Yoo Young Jin

Credits

[edit]
  • NCT (vocals, background vocals)
    • Taeil – vocals, background vocals (tracks 5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
    • Johnny – vocals (tracks 1, 5, 7)
    • Taeyong – vocals, background vocals, songwriting (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9)
    • Yuta – vocals (tracks 5, 7)
    • Kun – vocals (tracks 7, 11)
    • Doyoung – vocals, background vocals (tracks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
    • Ten – vocals (tracks 3, 7, 9, 12)
    • Jaehyun – vocals, background vocals (tracks 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
    • Winwin – vocals (tracks 2, 5, 7)
    • Jungwoo – vocals, background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
    • Lucas – vocals (tracks 2, 6, 7)
    • Mark – vocals, background vocals, songwriting (tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
    • Renjun – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 7)
    • Jeno – vocals (tracks 4, 7)
    • Haechan – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 5, 7)
    • Jaemin – vocals (tracks 4, 7)
    • Chenle – vocals, background vocals (tracks 4, 7)
    • Jisung – vocals (tracks 4, 7)
  • Yoo Young-jin – songwriting, background vocals, music production (tracks 2, 3, 10, 11, 13), vocals (track 13)
  • Lee Soo-man – executive production

Charts

[edit]

Sales

[edit]
Region Sales
Japan (Oricon) 13,554[59]
South Korea (Gaon) 636,055[60]
United States (Billboard) 1,000[61]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[62] 2× Platinum 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

[edit]

Music program awards

[edit]
Song Program Date
"Touch" The Show (SBS MTV) March 27, 2018

Listicles

[edit]
Year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Idolator The 10 Best K-Pop Albums Of 2018 10 [63]
Refinery29 The 12 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018 9 [64]
Rolling Stone India 10 Best K-pop Albums of 2018 9 [65]

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label
South Korea March 14, 2018
  • CD
  • digital download
  • streaming
Various S.M. Entertainment
Japan March 16, 2018

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "[SBS Star] NCT Unveils 3 New Members; JUNGWOO, KUN and LUCAS!". SBS NEWS. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "네이버 뮤직 :: NCT 2018 EMPATHY - NCT" (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  3. ^ "S.M. Entertainment continues expansion with New Culture Technology". kpopherald.koreaherald.com. Archived from the original on 2020-05-20. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  4. ^ "NCT U confirms lineup, set to unveil singles 'The 7th Sense,' 'Without You'". kpopherald.koreaherald.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  5. ^ "KPOP NEWS - NCT U′s Debut Performance to be Showcased in Korea and China | Mwave". 2016-08-19. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  6. ^ "(UPDATE) #NCT127: SM Entertainment Unveils Members Of New NCT Sub-Unit". Hype. 4 July 2016. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "NCT 127 to Make Comeback as 9 Member Group". Mwave. December 27, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "NCT DREAM, 데뷔곡 '츄잉검' 25일 '엠카'서 첫선". Naver (in Korean). Star Money. August 19, 2016. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "[단독] NCT, 新 대형 프로젝트 컴백 시동…신곡 뮤비위해 출국". Xports News (in Korean). January 15, 2018. Archived from the original on January 22, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Three NCT Teams Debut on World Digital Song Sales Chart: Your Guide to Each One". Billboard. March 23, 2018. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "NCT Unveils 3 New Members; JUNGWOO, KUN and LUCAS!". SBS News. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  12. ^ "NCT Yearbook #1". Melon. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  13. ^ "NCT Yearbook #2". Melon. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  14. ^ OSEN (2018-03-07). "[공식입장] "역대급 스케일"…NCT 2018, 14일 화정체육관 쇼케이스 개최". mosen.mt.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  15. ^ "NCT, 초대형 프로젝트 '2018 NCT'로 컴백…3월 앨범 발매(공식)". Naver. February 6, 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "NCT U 태용·도영· 정우, 'BOSS' 티저 공개..매력 만점". 스타뉴스 (in Korean). 2018-02-15. Archived from the original on 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  17. ^ tenasia.hankyung.com, Digital (2018-02-24). "NCT U, 태용x텐 Baby Dont Stop 뮤비, 27일 先공개 | 텐아시아". 텐아시아 연예뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  18. ^ "NCT U, 'YESTODAY' 뮤직비디오 4월 2일 공개... 어제가 될 오늘". 제니스글로벌뉴스 (in Korean). 2018-03-30. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  19. ^ "NCT 127's 'Touch' Video: Watch". Billboard. 2018-03-13. Archived from the original on 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  20. ^ a b "NCT Dream Show Their Rebellious Side With 'Go' Music Video". Billboard. 2018-03-05. Archived from the original on 2020-05-09. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  21. ^ "NCT 2018 Drops Beastly 'Black on Black' Performance Featuring All 18 Members". Billboard. 2018-04-18. Archived from the original on 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  22. ^ "Global boy band project NCT on attack as full group". The Korea Herald. March 15, 2018. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  23. ^ "NCT 2018 Empathy". Melon. March 14, 2018. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "NCT 2018 EMPATHY", itunes, March 14, 2018, archived from the original on March 15, 2018, retrieved March 14, 2018
  25. ^ "NCT - NCT 2018 Album [NCT 2018EMPATHY] (Random Ver.)". www.peachkpop.com. Archived from the original on 2020-05-24. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  26. ^ "NCT U Shows the World Who Is 'Boss' in Charismatic New Video". Billboard. February 19, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  27. ^ "Gaon Weekly Digital Chart - Week 11, 2018". gaonchart.co.kr. Archived from the original on 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  28. ^ "Billboard Korea K-Pop 100 : Page 1 | Billboard". Billboard. 2018-05-06. Archived from the original on 2018-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  29. ^ a b "World Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  30. ^ "NCT U's Ten & Taeyong Enthrall With 'Baby Don't Stop' Music Video". Billboard. February 27, 2018. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  31. ^ "South Korean NCT band filmed clip in Kyiv's Vernadsky library". 112.international. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  32. ^ "World Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  33. ^ "엔시티 127(NCT 127) 'TOUCH', 美 빌보드에서도 집중 조명…"상큼한 매력과 비주얼로 대중 매료" - 장은진 기자". 톱스타뉴스 (in Korean). 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  34. ^ "NCT U Say 'Yestoday' in New Music Video: Watch". Billboard. April 1, 2018. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  35. ^ "NCT 2018 Drops Beastly 'Black on Black' Performance Video". Billboard. April 18, 2018. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  36. ^ "NCT U, 'BOSS' 뮤직비디오 공개 화제… 무대 '엠카운트다운' 최초 공개". 제니스글로벌뉴스 (in Korean). 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  37. ^ "美 빌보드, NCT U 태용X텐 'Baby Don't Stop' MV 집중 조명". 서울경제 (in Korean). 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  38. ^ tenasia.hankyung.com, Digital (2018-03-03). "NCT DREAM 'GO', 마크 랩 메이킹 참여 휩쓸리지 말자 | 텐아시아". 텐아시아 연예뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  39. ^ 장윤정 (2018-03-09). "'NCT 2018' 활동 바톤터치···NCT 127, 신곡 'TOUCH'로 출격". www.ajunews.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  40. ^ "NCT 127 재현, 훈훈함 가득한 셀카…'시즈니들 고마워♥' - 김은지 기자". 톱스타뉴스 (in Korean). 2018-03-29. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  41. ^ "Boy band NCT tops 18 Apple iTunes charts with new album". Kpop Herald. March 15, 2018. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  42. ^ "NCT 마크 "모든 유닛 참여, 감사한 마음으로 임했다"" (in Korean). March 14, 2018. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  43. ^ "2018 Week 11 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  44. ^ "2018 March Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on June 5, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  45. ^ "2018's Gaon Year-end Album Chart". gaonchart.co.kr. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  46. ^ "Gaon's KMCA Album Certificate". gaonchart.co.kr. Archived from the original on 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  47. ^ *"Dutch MegaCharts". March 24, 2018. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  48. ^ "Top Albums Téléchargés". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  49. ^ "Oricon Weekly Chart - March 26, 2018". March 12–18, 2018. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  50. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan. March 26, 2018. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  51. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 11, 2018". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  52. ^ "UK Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. March 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  53. ^ "Billboard's Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. March 24, 2018. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  54. ^ "Billboard's Independent Albums". Billboard. March 24, 2018. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  55. ^ "US World Albums - Billboard". Billboard. March 24, 2018. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  56. ^ "2018년 Album Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  57. ^ "2019년 Album Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  58. ^ "2021 Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  59. ^ "NCT 2018 Empathy sales on Oricon Chart". theqoo.net (in Korean). April 24, 2018. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  60. ^ Cumulative sales of NCT 2018 Empathy on Gaon Chart:
  61. ^ "BTS, EXO & NCT Become First K-Pop Acts to Sweep Social 50 Chart's Top Three". Billboard. March 4, 2018. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  62. ^ "South Korean album certifications – NCT – NCT 2018 Empathy" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  63. ^ "From SHINee To BTS, The 10 Best K-Pop Albums Of 2018". Idolator. December 31, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  64. ^ Morin, Natalie (December 19, 2018). "The 12 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018". Refinery 29. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  65. ^ Chakraborty, Riddhi (December 29, 2018). "10 Best K-pop Albums of 2018". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2021.