Taeyong Releases First Full-Length Album “WYLD,” Dominates Charts on Grand Return

Taeyong of group NCT released his first full-length album, “WYLD,” at 6 p.m. on the 18th. This marks his first full-length album in about two years since he was discharged from military service last December, and it features a total of 10 tracks in which Taeyong personally participated in writing, composing, and producing every song.

The title track “WYLD” is a hip-hop song inspired by the instinctive movements of wild animals. Intense basslines, heavy rhythmic instruments, and experimental sounds are meticulously layered to maximize a three-dimensional sense of space and raw energy. His impactful rapping and explosive vocals, combined with an addictive rhythm, leave a strong impression. The lyrics vividly express his artist identity that has accumulated over time in a wild manner, using phrases like “Break the frame once again” and “From the jungle to the throne” to convey his confidence and ambition to keep moving forward toward his goals.

The album includes tracks across various genres such as “Storm,” “Hypnotic,” “I’m a Dancing Cactus,” “Mermaid,” “404 Euphoria,” “Ski,” “Hot,” “Feeling Myself,” and “Run.” The music video artistically depicts human instincts through Taeyong’s energy, visuals, and performances, presenting moments where opposing elements like instinct and control intersect with a sophisticated cinematic style akin to a fashion film.

Immediately after release, Taeyong’s album dominated domestic and international charts. It topped the Circle Chart Retail Album Chart and the Bugs Real-Time Chart in South Korea, while all tracks on the album ranked consecutively from 1st to 10th on Japan’s AWA Real-Time Rising Chart. Additionally, it reached number one on the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 8 regions, including Chile, Poland, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, and entered the top 10 in over 15 regions such as Australia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, UAE, and Turkey. The title track “WYLD” also claimed the number one spot on the iTunes Top Songs Chart in 8 regions, including Argentina, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines.