[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] With their seventh full-length album “BLINGY,” released to mark the 10th anniversary of their debut, the group NCT 127 is demonstrating that their musical identity remains as strong as ever. Even as they resume activities as a five-member group following lineup changes and members’ military service, they have chosen to expand upon the unique sound they’ve cultivated over the past decade rather than simply repeating their familiar “NEO” style.

According to their agency, SM Entertainment, “BLINGY,” released on the 24th, is NCT 127’s first full-length album in about two years. With Doyoung and Jungwoo currently serving in the military, the group is promoting as a five-member lineup consisting of Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, and Haechan. It holds special significance as it is their first full-length album released since Mark left the group last April.
The British music magazine NME also highlighted this point. NME praised “Blingi” as an album that reaffirms NCT 127’s identity and presence, noting that despite changes in the lineup, the group’s story is still an ongoing one. In particular, regarding the title track “Blingi,” NME noted that NCT 127 has a precise understanding of their musical universe and is continuing to develop it.
At the heart of the album lies the intense sound that NCT 127 has built over the past decade. The title track “Blingi” is a hip-hop song that combines elements of rage and dubstep, centered around distorted synthesizers, heavy drums, and chanting. The pre-release track “Pinata” blends rock and hip-hop, driving the song forward with guitar riffs, a funky bassline, and breakbeats. Their confidence in turning the stage into a festival aligns with NCT 127’s signature performance-oriented music.
The album takes it a step further. “Legacy” conveys the message of expanding NCT 127’s energy—which originated in Seoul—to the world, while “Step Up” embodies their determination to push past their limits and move forward. In tracks like “IKR,” “Getaway,” and “Day After Day,” they’ve broadened their genre range to include pop, rock, and indie pop. The fact that they didn’t fill the entire album with just high-energy tracks but instead arranged songs with diverse textures is another sign of the evolution shown by NCT 127, now in their tenth year.

As the album progresses, its focus shifts toward the keywords “10 years” and “together.” “127 Million Miles” is a pop-rock ballad conveying the message that they remain connected even when physically apart; all seven members—including Do-young and Jung-woo, who are currently serving in the military—participated in the track. “I Mean, It’s About Time,” co-written by Taeyong and Johnny, reflects on the past 10 years and conveys the message that the members will support one another and move forward together despite the changes they’ve undergone.
“Blingi” is distinct from a typical 10th-anniversary album. While “Blingi,” “Piñata,” and “Legacy” showcase the current state of the intense music NCT 127 has always excelled at, “127 Million Miles” and “I Mean, It’s About Time” bridge the past 10 years with the future. Amid changes in the group’s lineup, this album is less about what to let go of and how to start anew, and more about reaffirming “what it means to be NCT 127.”
Success has followed suit. Since its release, “Blingi” has topped the digital album sales and full-length album sales charts on China’s QQ Music, as well as the digital album sales chart on KuGou Music, and it also reached the top of Japan’s AWA Real-Time Rising Chart. On the iTunes Top Albums chart, it entered the Top 10 in 26 regions worldwide.
Above all, the significance of this album cannot be explained by numbers alone. NCT 127 has established a unique position within K-pop by turning even songs that stray from mainstream conventions—such as “Cherry Bomb,” “Hero” (Kick It), and “Sticker”—into their signature tracks. Rather than safely replicating that formula, “Blingi” centers on powerful hip-hop while expanding into rock, pop, and ballads, thereby redefining the musical style they’ve cultivated over the past decade.
Ultimately, what NCT 127—now celebrating their 10th anniversary—demonstrates with “Blingi” is not that they “haven’t changed,” but rather that they “remain true to themselves even as they evolve.” Although the members and their approach to promotions have changed, the core identity of the group—“Neo”—remains clearly defined. This is precisely why we view their story as a “work in progress.”