Considered by a very passionate portion of fans as the superior NCT unit, this graduation-based unit consisting of teen, underage members (the lineup, in descending age order, currently consists of Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung) is distinctive for their very different style of music compared to the older members. Here are the NCT Dream essentials:
1. “My First and Last” (2017)
Known as the song that saw NCT as a whole win their first music show award, "My First and Last" is undeniably catchy, pleasant, and mainstream, even as it is sonically interesting (the production is truly something). The choreography is insane (keep in mind that the oldest member was only 17 years old when they promoted it), and the vocal performances are incredible (another fact to make you feel worse: the youngest member was around fifteen when they promoted this). It'll go down as one of NCT's milestone songs, and I think it's NCT Dream's best song.
2. “Go” (2018)
As a part of NCT's larger 2018 project, "Go" saw the Dreamies switch up their soft, bubblegum-pop image for something much more rebellious, mature, and experimental. As acknowledged by the members of NCT, it does seem like NCT 127 and NCT Dream switched concepts for their 2018 project. "Go" is an anthem, literally screamed by the members of Dream as they declare their teenage rebelliousness. This comeback also marks the return of member Jaemin, who went on hiatus due to health reasons for around 1.5 years after debuting with the group in 2016. It's refreshing to see Dream play a concept that's more in-line with their age, and the song is a bit of an earworm.
3. “My Page” (2017)
A B-side track from their first mini-album, "My Page" showcases Dream's exceptionally well-developed vocal talents. The chorus is infectious and bright, and the song is just extremely underrated. It's truly a hidden gem in NCT discography as a whole.
4. “We Young” (2017)
It is a very summer song, and Dream leans well into that concept with their nautical outfits. Like all NCT Dream songs, the song is catchy and has infectious hooks.
5. “Chewing Gum” (2016)
NCT Dream's iconic debut song, "Chewing Gum" is definitely not for everyone, but it is still incredibly addicting (the hook is catchy; you can't deny it). It secures NCT Dream's image well enough, and the choreography (with hover boards) is incredible. There's no denying that even as they play up their cutesy boy concept, NCT Dream is incredibly talented and only have room to grow.
One essential listening guide for 18-member group NCT would be long and be out-of-date really soon as the group continues to expand, so I chose to instead highlight the individual units of NCT for the sake of length, and I really want to spend my time with each unit, because each unit is so different and requires a more comprehensive guide.
NCT U's rotational concept (meaning members will change based on each song due to the fact that they are chosen to best represent the concept) means that the group is all over the place when it comes to any sort of musical identity. Rather than causing a hindrance to the group, it makes every new song exciting, different, and a thrill to listen to. Here are the NCT U essentials:
1. "Baby Don't Stop" (2018), performed by Taeyong and Ten
If you're unfamiliar with this blog, let it be known that the writer is OBSESSED with this song. I seriously cannot stop listening to it. I have new realizations every day about this song that make me love it even more. The production takes you on a journey of twists and turns. Ten's singing is stunning and such a surprise. The choreography is mesmerizing. Taeyong singing is such a delight and surprisingly soothing. The fact that the song's lyrics use gender-neutral nouns is low-key super progressive. The fact that Ten starts off the song and immediately draws you in, as opposed to Taeyong, who usually starts off NCT songs he's in. The whispered chorus is such an ear worm and really sexy. On paper, Ten and Taeyong’s voices shouldn’t sound so damn good together, but it does. Taeyong, known for his gravelly rapping tone, doesn’t overwhelm nor distract the listener from Ten’s smooth, effortless vocal delivery. Sonically, it’s just amazing. It’s so satisfying to listen to. Everything about this song is just perfect. It’s subversive, playful, experimental, unconventional, funky, and a complete delight.
2. "Yestoday - Extended Version" (2018), as performed by Taeyong, Doyoung, Mark, and Lucas
This song deviates quite far from every other NCT U song. While in the vein of a hip-hop track, nothing about this song is particularly aggressive. It's meditative, emotionally vulnerable, and soulful, backed by a gorgeous, shimmery, ethereal backtrack. Taeyong, Mark, and Lucas dominate the song with their disparate rap verses, with Doyoung's gorgeous voice weaving between those verses to act as a sort of narrator. Taeyong and Mark write and rap about very personal experiences in this song, something you don't really see much from an SM group.
3. "The 7th Sense" (2016), as performed by Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, and Mark
This remains NCT's most well-known song. NCT U's debut song is truly amazing. It's hard to concisely describe this song. Nothing about it is particularly melodic, but the haunting hook is undeniably catchy. NCT U is known for hard, dominant bass lines, and you can certainly credit "The 7th Sense" and its cult following for encouraging SM to continue using those bass lines. The choreography is incredible, and the lyrics are actually really deep, discussing the nature of dreams. It is a very confident debut, a song that makes a very timeless statement while still being incredibly experimental. Fans still consider this the superior NCT song, and it's hard to argue against that.
4. "Without You" (2016), as performed by Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun
This rock-infused song was a surprise, given I expected a somber ballad from NCT U's vocalists at the time of their debut (I mean, the title is "Without You"). As someone whose favorite member is main vocalist Doyoung, I fell in love with his voice even more, and it really shows how talented NCT's vocalists are in general.
5. "Boss" (2018), as performed by Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, WinWin, Jungwoo, Lucas, and Mark
The first song released for NCT's ambitious 2018 project, "Boss" certainly makes a statement about the kind of confident, unique, and experimental style that permeates NCT U's image. It's also a fantastic introduction to new members Jungwoo and Lucas, who both shine bright in the music video. As someone who didn't think much about NCT before the release of "Boss" (I watched "The 7th Sense" once in January 2018 and didn't think much of them until recently), it certainly was an excellent way to reintroduce myself to how much the group has evolved in the near two years since they've debuted.
I tried to make a post explaining why I like SM Entertainment's newest boy group NCT, but it just got really long, really redundant, and did a poor job of actually explaining anything well. So, I've decided to instead review their newest release, NCT 2018 Empathy, their first full-length studio album.
Fans (myself included) were a bit disappointed that the album consisted of pretty old tracks, but even though the album lacks any new content, it still sits as a very solid package. Let's dive into the album track-by-track.
1. Intro: Neo Got My Back
Recently, K-pop has been exploring with the concepts of intros and outros (i.e. BTS and Seventeen) in their albums, and I think they've done a pretty good job so far. Since K-pop albums are already pretty concept-heavy, it would make sense to set the scene for the album through an intro. This track is a bit... weird. I like it, for some reason, and you can hear the track as the background music for NCT 2018's yearbook video:
The track features NCT 127 leader Taeyong's vocals, and given that the group name stands for "Neo Culture Technology", the sound of the track is fitting. Fully relying on synths, it's moody, intriguing, and kind of catchy.
2. Boss
Performed by rotational unit NCT U, the "Boss" line-up features familiars Taeyong, Mark, Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Winwin while debuting new members Jungwoo and Lucas. The first pre-release track for the album's comeback, the song and music video certainly made a statement about the kind of sonic and visual aesthetic NCT 2018 was aiming for this year. I like the song, and it's a nice full-length track to introduce listeners to NCT. It's a bit of an earworm in the most surprising way.
3. Baby Don't Stop
I really love this song. I feel like this is the kind of song that NCT has always been aiming for with every track they've released, and they finally hit the mark. Performed by the group's best dancers Taeyong and Ten, the song is playful, subversive, and stunning. It doesn't take itself too seriously with its whispered chorus, Ten's smooth, higher-pitched vocals, and Taeyong's gravelly voice and bullet-quick flow (and surprising vocals). Coming straight after "Boss", the album continues with a similar-sounding bass backtrack before Ten's singing (the true standout of the track) quickly shapes the song into something completely different and, dare I say, better. And even though I should only be judging the song, the music video is a must-watch. The duo don't delve into high-level theatrics for the video. Instead, the camera is transfixed on their dancing, which is an exhilarating experience. People might want to discredit Ten and Taeyong as idols with their strong visuals as the only reason for their popularity, but it's hard to deny the magnetism of this deceivingly simple choreography. Ten and Taeyong complement each other perfectly, as if the two are extensions of each other in the way they move together, but also neither overwhelms the other, letting the other dancer show off their individual flair in the execution of the moves that creates something truly magical. It's as if the choreography was made for them, and only they can pull it off. If I had to choose a favorite track off this album, I think this (and another track) would take the cake.
4. Go
Performed by NCT Dream (members in descending age are Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung), the group's unit consisting of its teenage members (who have been known for putting out its cutest concepts), the song is a bit of surprise if you've been a fan for some time. Whether SM decides they want to continue with Dream's more mature sound or not, the song is epitome of teen angst, with deep meanings about anti-conformity and navigating the dark waters of teenage rebellion. I didn't like it upon first listen, but it's grown on me. If anything, SM is known for putting out catchy songs. The music video features the sprawling dark underbellies of L.A., focusing on the less-walked, more grounded areas of the city that fit with the song's concept.
5. Touch
Just when you think NCT 2018 was going to go full on aggressive with their concept for this album, especially given cutesy Dream was sounding like a NCT 127 song, the unit (containing leader Taeyong, Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, WinWin, Mark, and Haechan) known for tracks such as "Limitless" and "Cherry Bomb" come out with "Touch" with this comeback. Needless to say, it's a bit of a surprise:
I really like this song. While following a very basic pop structure, the song is interesting enough to keep you intrigued, though the verses are largely forgettable. It's fruitless to expect S.M. will make NCT 127's line distribution more fair, but it's still something to point out, given that members Yuta and Johnny are given the small opportunity to showcase their vocals in this song, and that only leaves me wanting more from them.
6. Yestoday
This song is surprising for how raw it is, and I love how well this song captures the essence of the album. Featuring NCT U again, it strips back any bells and whistles and focuses on rappers Taeyong, Mark, and Lucas as well as main vocalist Doyoung, who acts as the narrator of sorts in the song while Taeyong, Mark, and Lucas take the time to reveal some pretty personal lyrics about pain, loss, and identity. Given that NCT is under S.M., it is refreshing to see that the company has allowed Taeyong and Mark to contribute to their group's discography and allow them to reveal a very vulnerable side of themselves. It's evident that the song is appealing to listeners to empathize with the members, and I think this will be known as one of NCT's best songs.
7. Black on Black
This is really a performance track, meaning there really isn't much going on in the song, but makes for a great dance performance to witness. The dance features all 18 members in perfect sync, providing a display of power. The track isn't bad, but it needs support from the dance to really live properly. Once you witness the live performance, however, you can't help but envision it every time to listen to this song. It's that powerful of an impression, and I think makes a very confident statement about the type of group NCT plans to be in the future.
8. Timeless
I always feel like SM doesn't know how to properly utilize their strong vocalists in NCT, so it's always a relief to hear NCT U's vocalists Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun getting a track to just let them shine. Originally an OST for a Korean TV drama, the song is nevertheless really good. Taeil and Doyoung never disappoint with their strong vocals (seriously, I feel like K-pop in general always takes for granted how many talented vocalists they have), and Jaehyun's unique voice fits very well along with the older members. It's a nice track to signal the second half of the album, which consists of either old tracks or B-sides (basically, songs that won't get promoted).
9. The 7th Sense
People were introduced to NCT through NCT U's debut. This song made a strong statement about the kind of experimental direction NCT plans to follow. It is a strong debut track, so I guess it warrants to be featured on NCT 2018's album as the group evolves and expands in new directions.
10. Without U
This song was released as a double feature for NCT U's debut, and it could not be any more different stylistically from "The 7th Sense". I personally like this song better, mainly because I love the combination of Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun's vocals. I thought it would be a ballad, but it's actually low-key my jam.
11. Without U - Chinese Version
So I guess this is member Kun's "debut", or something... SM, just let the guy debut properly.
12. Dream In a Dream
This is also an old track, released as a solo project for member Ten a year ago. It's really instrumental, but I really like the production on this track, and Ten's vocals in this song would foreshadow his comeback in "Baby Don't Stop", which is one of the reasons why I love that track so much. Ten, who has been trapped by SM and unable to reach his full potential, performs the intricate and complicated choreography with grace and ease.
13. Outro: Vision
This track is a bit... confusing. It sounds like some sort of standard, orchestral track and then some guy says some sort of cringey "I see... the vision" line at the end before a fade out. The Chinese members of NCT have said on the record that the track is to hint at something NCT-related, and since only the Chinese members have talked about the track, I think this song is some sort of hint for the rumored NCT China unit, which is why I'm going to give this otherwise weird track a free pass, because I am very much looking forward to the debut of NCT China.
14. Yestoday (Extended Version) (Bonus Track)
This might be my favorite track off the album. Usually bonus tracks are throwaway tracks, meant to seem like they're exclusive offers to certain listeners (in this case, digital streamers) but aren't as good as the rest of the album. I'd beg to differ. I think the extended version of "Yestoday" is better, only because it peels back another layer of Taeyong's psyche and provides a more intimate understanding of the kind of person he is. "Yestoday (Extended Version)" is much looser and almost sounds like a stream of consciousness, given it a rougher edge that makes it more compelling. I commend NCT and SM for allowing fans to show a side of themselves that breaks away from SM's notoriously manufactured-idol, plastic image, and I think it's probably the best decision they can make as NCT is garnering global recognition. Surprisingly, SM used this track as the music video version. The music video provides an old-school, casual, dreamy aesthetic that fits with the jazzy and introspective sonic landscape of the track (I am also trash for a one-take, tracking shot, and this video does not disappoint):
In case you weren't aware, K-pop is such an amazing genre because of the intense choreography idols have to do along with being expected to sing live and in stable condition. I am a dancer by no means at all, so with an untrained eye, I have had my fair share of witnessing stunning choreography. Here are some K-pop choreography performances that literally made my jaw drop.
1. "Very Nice" by Seventeen
Seventeen is one of those formidably talented, well-rounded groups that can do everything so perfectly, making them one of the most exciting groups in the K-pop industry today. I fell for the group immediately while watching their dance practice video for their 2016 hit song "Very Nice", which features the members goofing off, being so mind-blowingly in-sync in the execution of their moves, and providing incredibly funky, playful vibes that make them impossible not to love.
2. "The 7th Sense" by NCT U
It's hard to describe the choreography for "The 7th Sense", the debut song for NCT U (and the world's introduction to the sprawling group of NCT). The choreography for "The 7th Sense" is both graceful and powerful, weird and experimental. I was intrigued by the group when I saw this video, and the choreography left me incredibly impressed.
3. "Cherry Bomb" by NCT 127
NCT 127 and NCT U dances have always been kind of weird (not surprising, considering that they're a boy group whose sole premise is built on the idea of experimental concepts and that they come from a company that emphasizes polished performances). Thus, the dance for "Cherry Bomb" is not surprising because of how weird the movements are (they can be questionable at times), but by how far they push the envelope in achieving something truly unnerving yet compelling to watch. Of special note are the background movements during WinWin's center position, Haechan's center position as well as the background for that, the drop onto the ground near the end, and of course the infamous spreading-V-formation-combined-with-a-descent-into-near-splits move that is just so insane on so many levels. A "Cherry Bomb" performance is truly an experience, even though the song is arguably a mess.
4. "Don't Wanna Cry" by Seventeen
A special shoutout to performance team leader Hoshi, who choreographed this stunning work. The performance is trademark Seventeen synchronicity, but it's also incredibly emotive, and attempts to emulate street lampposts during a pivotal section. Inspired by modern dance, this choreography is what makes the song superior to any EDM track out there.
5. "My First and Last" by NCT Dream
I mean, forming a human pinwheel? The entire chorus section? And they're how old?
6. "Blood Sweat and Tears" by BTS
This is just one of the most beautiful dances out there. The fluidity of BTS is beyond me, with every member an extension of the other. It's gorgeous, seductive, and iconic.
7. "Fire" by BTS
Talk about stamina to the max. "Fire" is intense all the way through, especially with that killer move near the end.
8. "DNA" by BTS
The song (and choreography) that converted many Americans to BTS fans, this song will remain iconic for that reason alone. Also, this dance is just... really good. Their level of synchronicity just astounds me.
9. "Baby Don't Stop" by NCT U
The choreography is so enchanting. Ten and Taeyong are, without argument, the best dancers in NCT. The two have their own distinct styles of dancing as well, which is beautifully showcased in the choreography. Taeyong’s small mannerisms and the way he just spices up somewhat basic choreography with his movements from microscopic details such as the placement of his fingers to the way his body moves is just simply mesmerizing. Ten is equally so, drawing you in with his graceful, artistic movements. Combine the two together, and you just have pure performance magic. It’s truly stunning in every way, and you can't help but think about it after you watch it.
10. "Boss" by NCT U
The beat change at the end of the song is just overwhelming. Combined that with weird crouch move thing that the members do, and it's enough to make your jaw drop because of how weird yet effective it is. Everything about the choreography is just unconventional. The chorus section and the end section are especially noteworthy. Plus, you can't go wrong with Taeyong (from a completely objective point-of-view, he's so talented; it's hard to believe that he had no dance training at all before he entered the company).
I'm obviously missing tons of other groups with amazing choreography, so feel free to let me know in the comments what I should check out!
April marks around the 3-month mark since I've gotten into K-pop (like, really get into it), and boy has it been a journey. Since this is my first post, you should probably have an understanding of where I'm at as you read future blog posts (and before I update you on what I learned in K-pop after this post). I've listened to so much K-pop at this point that I've managed to learn a lot about different groups, the culture, and the idols that I really love and the ones that I don't. Here is what I know about K-pop in a nutshell.
Groups that I stan:
Stan: Like, really deep into the fandom, knows too many inside jokes, knows random facts about all the members, and would buy their albums if I had the financial means to do so
Seventeen
Thirteen members (not seventeen)
Have four international members (two Americans and two Chinese members); one is biracial
Originally supposed to have seventeen members but PLANS CHANGE OKAY
Debuted in 2015
Came from a bankrupt company (Pledis Entertainment) and single-handedly brought the company out of financial ruin
Known in the K-pop industry as the "self-producing idol group", which means that they do EVERYTHING (write and produce their own music, choreograph songs, and have a lot of creative input in what they produce for their fans)
Their choreography is really hard and they've rightfully won awards for them; syncing 13 members w/ different styles and body types is extremely difficult and keep in mind that only three members have a background in dance and they self-direct themselves with the choreography
Their earlier concepts lean more towards "boy" concepts but they've matured with every comeback and I think that's very artistically healthy for a group with members that don't stay young forever
They really, really love their fans (called Carats) and their fans really love them; in general, I would say they are one of the chillest fandoms (can't say the same for EXO-Ls and ARMYs)
Three different sub-units (vocal, hip-hop, and performance) that release their own tracks but don't promote outside of the group's activities, instead operating under the Seventeen umbrella
Very recently, three of the members debuted as a unit called BooSeokSoon (a combination of the members' names) and their song "Just Do It" is a bop
Their music is some of the most consistent, most high-quality stuff I've listened to in general (which means it's not just limited to K-pop)
Seventeen never disappoints with their title tracks and their albums are always very good as cohesive units
They work really hard and it shows in the quality of their content
They honestly have a really fun time with each other no matter what they're doing and I get really strong family vibes from them
The members are really weird and just so hilarious the memes sort of generate themselves at this point
BTS
7 members
In Korean they're known as Bangtan Sonyeondan (which literally means bulletproof boyscouts)
Debuted in 2013
Came from a really small company called Big Hit Entertainment (Big Hit and BTS basically grew up together)
Their youngest member (or "maknae"), Jungkook, is known as the "Golden Maknae" in the K-pop industry because he's known for being good at basically everything
Their concepts are really well-thought out and between different concepts, there are connections, suggesting at a larger story that fans have worked to construct theories for
Their rap line is truly one of the best rap lines in K-pop
Their vocalists don't have very strong technique but their voices are quite distinct and very easy to differentiate, which is sometimes hard for K-pop groups to do
Always have a special place in my heart because they were the first group I stanned
They all work really hard and write and produce a lot of their music
They dance really well too considering only three of the members are professionally trained in dance
Everyone in that group is so weird and nothing like their on-stage personas
They're also known as one of the few K-pop acts with exclusively Korean-nationality members, meaning all members are ethnically Korean and born and raised in Korea
If you haven't heard of them by now I don't know where you've been
Pretty much taking over the world as you're reading this so might as well inform yourselves about them
NCT
18 members (and counting)
Debuted in 2016
NCT stands for "Neo Culture Technology", which their company CEO has stated to mean that the group plans to localize K-pop in various parts of the globe and try to modernize and expand the limits of what people understand to be K-pop; the group's concept is to have an unlimited amount of members: there is no limit to their expansion as a group
Honestly most fans don't really know what's going on we're just going with the flow
Under S.M. Entertainment (THE biggest K-pop company in South Korea)
They currently have three sub-units that pretty much promote separately (there are a handful of members in more than one sub-unit, with one member, Mark, in all three)
Their concept as a group isn't too hard to understand (people are just overreacting) I just think remembering all the members is kind of tough and new members coming in makes it a bit harder
I really didn't think I would get into them because I normally don't like S.M. groups (S.M. isn't known for really emphasizing quality music), but NCT releases have surprised me
NCT U (a rotational unit) has never failed me with music releases (all of their songs are SO good and are, in my opinion, the most consistent quality-wise)
While I don't dislike any of NCT U's songs, my favorite releases of theirs are probably "Baby Don't Stop" and "Yestoday", but their debut song "The 7th Sense" is really good; it's probably one of the best debut songs in all of K-pop (along with "Energetic" by Wanna One, but I digress)
NCT 127 (their fixed unit based in Seoul) is sort of hit or miss for me but they dance extremely well (if you want to be in awe check out the dance for their song "Cherry Bomb")
Some of NCT 127's lyrics are questionable (just read the lyrics from "Baby Don't Like It" and "Whiplash" and you'll get what I mean)
NCT Dream (their rotational, graduation-based unit of minors) hasn't really been my style but their songs are not bad (and their new song "Go" is definitely a departure from previous concepts and more up my alley)
Along with "Go", other good songs are "My First and Last", "We Young", and "My Page", but they are quite standard, bubblegum pop songs
Every member dances really well (along with BTS, I think this group has the most interesting choreography)
They have underutilized vocalists that deserve more attention from S.M.
Their line distribution is awful (Dream's line distribution isn't too bad) and there are some members who just get no appreciation from S.M. whatsoever (Yuta, Johnny, WinWin, Kun) and that is just really frustrating for fans
For such a new group they already have a lot of crazy fans (known as sasaengs, or privacy-invaders)
Two members (Taeyong, leader of NCT 127, and Mark, the dude in all three units) contribute lyrics to their songs, which is a rarity for idols under S.M. (and unheard of for new groups like NCT)
Their rapping is okay (considering S.M. rappers are not good) but I think they focus too much on rapping
In general, they're known to have very experimental sounds and influences, which is kind of fitting for a group called Neo Culture Technology
As of now, half of their members are international members (one Thai, one Japanese, one Canadian, one American, five Chinese)
The concept of NCT as the way they have envisioned it isn't fully realized, but I think there could be great potential in future success if S.M. doesn't screw up (and S.M. is known for screwing up groups in the past, soo....)
Groups I sort of like:
GOT7
7 members
Debuted in 2014
From JYP Entertainment (one of the "Big 3" K-pop companies in South Korea)
Title tracks have been hit ("Never Ever", "If You Do", "Look") or miss ("You Are") for me
Their B-sides are okay and sometimes better than title tracks but they kind of sound the same at times
I really only like them because I think the members have great personalities and they really enjoy their jobs
South Korea is sleeping on them but they get a healthy amount of love internationally
They have three international members (one American, one Chinese, one Thai)
Probably the fairest line distribution in all of K-pop right now
They're really friendly people who are very supportive of other idols and just get along with everyone (can't say the same for other groups *cough* S.M. *cough*)
EXO
9 members (but one member hasn't promoted with them in almost two years, so it's currently an 8-member group)
Basically the national boy band of South Korea (they performed at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony in 2018)
Debuted in 2012 w/ 12 members (of the three members that left, two had on-going lawsuits with S.M. before they were settled)
Under S.M. Entertainment
I don't think I like them as much because I think their music just isn't as good as BTS's (again, personal opinion), but I think they dance really well
They have very good vocalists (in terms of vocal technique, I think they have an upper hand against BTS)
Their rapping sucks lol no offense to Chanyeol (the main rapper of the group) but they're just not as authentic blame SM though
They do a lot of solo endeavors like acting
There's an official unit of EXO called EXO-CBX that consists of three members of EXO (the "CBX" is the compilation of initials from the three members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin)
My favorite tracks from them are "Monster" and "What U do?"
Their fans (EXO-Ls) are essentially engaged in a fandom war with ARMYs (BTS fans) even though the group itself actually gets along very well with BTS
There have been a lot of really awful incidences of sasaengs doing really creepy stuff that makes me feel bad for them
Random artists that I like at least one of their songs (I'm just not a fan of much else beyond that or haven't taken the time to get into them):
iKON
7 members
Under YG Entertainment (the other "Big Three" company)
Their song "Rubber Band" is really good
They dance well I guess
WINNER
4 members but debuted with five
Their song "Really Really" is good
ASTRO
6 members
Under Fantiago Entertainment
Their song "Crazy Sexy Cool" is very good
They are really weird and a mess 99% of the time
Red Velvet
5 members
Under S.M. Entertainment
I like their songs "Russian Roulette", "Red Flavor", and "Peek-a-Boo"
They dance very well considering they have to dance in stilettos most of the time
They move seamlessly between cutesy-girl concepts and mature concepts and I think that's really cool
One international member (Canadian)
The age range is pretty wide (oldest was born in 1991 and the youngest was born in 1999)
They are all very weird but that's cool keep it weird
Sunmi
She was part of the JYP girl group Wonder Girls before they disbanded
Her song "Gashina" was one of the biggest songs in South Korea in 2017 and it's such a good song
The dance for "Gashina" is also iconic
Suran
She collaborated with Suga of BTS for her track "Wine" (he produced it) and it's really good
Her voice is really good
I don't think she's characterized as an idol but she's a very good singer
BIGBANG
5 members
Literally one of the biggest K-pop groups of all time; they essentially defined modern K-pop
Under YG Entertainment
Their songs "Fantastic Baby" and "Bang Bang Bang" are iconic K-pop songs and are the epitome of K-pop
Currently on hiatus because all of the members are serving mandatory military service
Wanna One
11 members
Debuted in 2017 and will disband in 2018 (more on that later)
Their song "Energetic" is probably one of the greatest K-pop songs of all time (again, I know nothing about K-pop but even music critics agree soo...)
They were formed through a reality competition show called Produce 101 Season 2, which took 101 trainees from various entertainment companies and narrowed it down to 11, which debuted as Wanna One and would promote for 2.5 years before having to disband and go back to their respective companies
Their age range is pretty wide (10 years, with the oldest born in 1991 and the youngest born in 2001)
They dance very well as well
Their company overworks them but they continually have very positive attitudes about their job and are always grateful
