2 Baddies
A photo from above of a blue sports car with the band members stood around it looking up at the camera
Digital cover
Studio album by
NCT 127
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2022 (2022-09-16)
Genre
Length42:22
LanguageKorean
LabelSM
Producer
NCT 127 chronology
Sticker
(2021)		 2 Baddies
(2022)		 Fact Check
(2023)
NCT chronology
Glitch Mode
(2022)		 2 Baddies
(2022)		 Candy
(2022)
Singles from 2 Baddies
  1. "2 Baddies"
    Released: September 15, 2022
Repackage edition cover
Digital and A version cover
Singles from Ay-Yo
  1. "Ay-Yo"
    Released: January 30, 2023
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
NME[4]

2 Baddies (Korean: 질주; RR: Jilju; lit. Speeding) is the fourth Korean-language studio album (fifth overall) by South Korean boy band NCT 127. It was released on September 16, 2022, by SM Entertainment, and contains 12 tracks in a variety of genres, including the lead single of the same name. The album received positive reviews from critics, who praised the versatility of the tracks that range from hip hop to R&B.[5] On January 30, 2023, the group released a repackaged version of 2 Baddies, titled Ay-Yo, which features three new tracks, including the lead single of the same name. The album has sold a total of 3.2 million copies, becoming NCT 127's second triple million-selling album following Sticker (2021).[6]

Background and release

On August 8, 2022, NCT 127 announced that they would release a new album in September.[7][8] On August 18, 2022, SM Entertainment confirmed that the release date of NCT 127's new album would be September 16.[1] 2 Baddies was later confirmed to contain 12 tracks, including the lead single of the same name.[9] On September 15, 2022, the music video for "2 Baddies" was pre-released. On September 16, 2022, the album was released physically and digitally worldwide.

A repackaged version of the album titled Ay-Yo was released on January 30, 2023.[10]

Composition

The opening track, "Faster", is a hip-hop dance song with strong bass and a minimal hook.[11] The eponymous lead single, "2 Baddies", is an intense hip-hop dance song. With lyrics describing achieving success by running toward one's goal regardless of the judgment of others, the song combines vocal chants with an addictive synths.[12] "Time Lapse" is a mid-tempo R&B song whose lyrics express feelings of longing for a lover who alternates between reality and dreams.[13] "Crash Landing" is a UK drill-style hip-hop and R&B track depicting someone crash landing into their own love story.[14] "Designer", a hip-hop and R&B song, describes a lover's desire to become a designer in order to make their partner look even more beautiful.[13]

In the middle of the album is a three-part love story: "Gold Dust", "Black Cloud" and "Playback".[15] "Gold Dust" is an emotional R&B song that features a vocoder and lyrics comparing one's feelings toward a lover to a golden ray of light. "Black Clouds" is a mid-tempo R&B song with sad vocal and guitar melodies. Its lyrics express the moment two lovers accidentally reunite in an achromatic landscape of dark clouds on a rainy day, like the protagonist of a black-and-white film. Rounding off the love story, "Playback" is an uptempo pop song with a trap beat, 808 bass and an edgy keyboard sound. Its lyrics depict a tug-of-war of the heart between the narrator's lover and his ex.

"Tasty" is a hip-hop song that instills confidence with heavy synth bass and energetic singing about killing villains in nightmares effortlessly.[11] "Vitamin" is a 90s-style hip-hop song in which the narrator promises to be like a vitamin in another's life and stay by their side through hard times.[16] "LOL" is a neo soul pop song with jazz guitar riffs and 808 beats that create a bright atmosphere and convey a message of comfort, support and encouragement to laugh out loud when one feels tired. The final song of the album, "1, 2, 7 (Time Stops)" is a funky 90s groove-based up-tempo pop song.[14] The title and lyrics reference the group's name, NCT 127, and the song is dedicated to their fans with a message describing the sensation of time stopping when you are with the one you love.

Promotion

2 Baddies was teased with a concept trailer titled "Gear Up", released on August 18, 2022, depicting a car with the number 127 on its hood and the album title on its roof and the group members wearing glow-in-the-dark outfits.[9] NCT 127 held a comeback show to commemorate the album's release offline at KINTEX 7Hall and live-streamed via Beyond Live.[17] The group held concerts in Los Angeles and New York to promote the album in North America, as part of their Neo City – The Link tour.[1] Member Mark noted at the album release press conference that the tour setlist would be revised to include songs from 2 Baddies.[18]

Commercial performance

2 Baddies surpassed more than 1.5 million sales in its first week of release.[19] With only 2 days of tracking the album debuted at number two on the week 38 issue of the Circle Album Chart, for the period dated September 11–17, 2022.[20] In its debut month the album charted at number two in the monthly Circle Album Chart.[21] The album exceeded sales of 1.8 million copies by the end of 2022, achieving the sixth position on the yearly Circle Album Chart.[22]

In Croatia, 2 Baddies topped the Top 40 Foreign Albums Chart debuting at number one.[23] 2 Baddies also charted in many European territories, including Belgium, Germany, France, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. 2 Baddies also entered the TOP 50 Albums Chart of the ARIA Chart, Australia's official music chart at number three, increasing 13 spots compared to their previous album Sticker.

In the United States, 2 Baddies debuted at number three of the Billboard 200 chart on the first week of release, selling a total of 58,000 units making the album their third Top 10 entry.[24] As of January 2023, 2 Baddies has sold 148,000 copies making it the tenth most-sold 2022 CD album in the United States.[25]

Track listing

2 Baddies track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Faster"
  • Lee Song (VERY GOODS)
  • Sahara (Joombas)
2:50
2."2 Baddies" (질주; Jilju; lit. Speeding)
3:49
3."Time Lapse"
Dem Jointz3:34
4."Crash Landing" (불시착; Bulsichak)Kenzie
  • Kenzie
  • IMLAY
  • Junny
  • Kenzie
  • IMLAY
3:24
5."Designer"
  • No Past No Future
  • Ryan Jhun
  • Dem Jointz[a]
3:56
6."Gold Dust" (윤슬; Yunseul)Lee Chae-young
  • Stuart Crichton
  • Paul Blanco
4:08
7."Black Clouds" (흑백 영화; Heukbaek Yeonghwa; lit. Black and White Film)Oh Hyun-seon (Lalala Studio)
  • Rokman (The Hello Group)
  • Lauren Dyson (The Hello Group)
  • Sean Fischer (Honua)
  • Rokman
  • Sean Fischer
3:38
8."Playback"Lee Chang-hyuk
  • Oneye
  • Johan Gustafsson
3:11
9."Tasty" (Hanja: 貘)Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Teodor Herrgårdh
  • Rebecca Sjöberg
  • Gustav Nilsson
3:34
10."Vitamin"Kim Ye-in
  • Jacob Attwooll
  • Jon Eyden
  • Eben
Jacob Attwooll3:04
11."LOL (Laugh-Out-Loud)"Lee Hye-yoom
  • Fabian Torsson
  • Harry Sommerdahl
  • Albin Nordqvist
  • Fabian Torsson
  • Harry Sommerdahl
  • Albin Nordqvist
3:38
12."1, 2, 7 (Time Stops)"Park Seong-hee
PhD3:36
Total length:42:22
Ay-Yo track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Ay-Yo"Kenzie
3:41
2."Faster"
  • Lee Song (VERY GOODS)
  • Sahara (Joombas)
2:50
3."2 Baddies" (질주; Jilju; lit. Speeding)
3:49
4."Time Lapse"
  • Dem Jointz
  • Young Chance
Dem Jointz3:34
5."DJ"
Simon Petrén3:19
6."Crash Landing" (불시착; Bulsichak)Kenzie
  • Kenzie
  • IMLAY
  • Junny
  • Kenzie
  • IMLAY
3:24
7."Designer"
  • No Past No Future
  • Ryan Jhun
  • Dem Jointz[a]
3:56
8."Gold Dust" (윤슬; Yunseul)Lee Chae-young
  • Stuart Crichton
  • Paul Blanco
4:08
9."Black Clouds" (흑백 영화; Heukbaek Yeonghwa; lit. Black and White Film)Oh Hyun-seon (Lalala Studio)
  • Rokman (The Hello Group)
  • Lauren Dyson (The Hello Group)
  • Sean Fischer (Honua)
  • Rokman
  • Sean Fischer
3:38
10."Playback"Lee Chang-hyuk
  • Oneye
  • Andreas Öberg
  • Johan Gustafsson
  • Oneye
  • Johan Gustafsson
3:11
11."Skyscraper" (Korean: 마천루; Hanja: 摩天樓; RR: Macheollu)
  • Ellie Suh (Joombas)
  • Taeyong
  • Mark
  • Dem Jointz
  • Young Chance
  • Xydo
  • Taeyong
  • Mark
Dem Jointz3:56
12."Tasty" (Hanja: 貘)Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Teodor Herrgårdh
  • Rebecca Sjöberg
  • Gustav Nilsson
3:34
13."Vitamin"Kim Ye-in
  • Jacob Attwooll
  • Jon Eyden
  • Eben
Jacob Attwooll3:04
14."LOL (Laugh-Out-Loud)"Lee Hye-yoom
  • Fabian Torsson
  • Harry Sommerdahl
  • Albin Nordqvist
  • Fabian Torsson
  • Harry Sommerdahl
  • Albin Nordqvist
3:38
15."1, 2, 7 (Time Stops)"Park Seong-hee
PhD3:36
Total length:53:31

Notes

  • ^[a] Additional arrangement

Charts

Sales and certifications

Sales and certifications for 2 Baddies & Ay-Yo
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan
2 Baddies 		— 137,414[51][63]
South Korea (KMCA)[64]
2 Baddies 		Million 2,011,337[65]
South Korea (KMCA)[66]
Ay-Yo 		Million 1,080,537[67]
United States
2 Baddies 		— 148,000[68]

Release history

Release formats for 2 Baddies
Region Date Format Distributor Ref.
Various September 16, 2022 Digital download SM Entertainment
South Korea
CD
United States

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chan, Anna (August 19, 2022). "NCT 127 Is Racing Back With a New Album: Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ Park, Seo-hyun (September 14, 2022). '컴백' NCT 127, 로맨틱 '불시착'+팬송 '1,2,7'까지..다양한 색깔 예고 ['Comeback' NCT 127, romantic 'Crash Landing on You' + fan song '1,2,7'..Various color notice]. HeraldPop (in Korean). Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Naver.
  3. ↑ Young, Neil Z. "NCT 127 - 2 Baddies Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ "NCT 127 – '질주 (2 Baddies)' review: genre experimentalists continue their chaotic streak". NME. September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Review: NCT 127's '2Baddies' is the Epitome of the Phrase 'Don't Judge a Book by its Cover'". Rolling Stone India. September 16, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ "NCT 127, 2연속 트리플 밀리언셀러 등극..정규 4집 누적 320만 장" [NCT 127 has become a triple million seller twice in a row. 3.2 million sales for the 4th full-length album.]. n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ Jung, Bit (August 8, 2022). [단독]NCT 127, 9월 컴백...'트리플 밀리언셀러' 영웅의 귀환 [[Exclusive] NCT 127, comeback in September... Return of the 'triple million seller' hero]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Naver.
  8. 1 2 Rowley, Glenn (August 8, 2022). "NCT 127's Next Album Is Arriving Sooner Than You Think". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Tan, Derrick (August 20, 2022). "NCT 127 officially announce fourth album '질주 (2 Baddies)' with video teaser". NME. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ "NCT 127, 내달 30일 'Ay-Yo' 컴백…2023년도 질주한다".
  11. 1 2 Park, Se-yeon (September 7, 2022). NCT 127, 더 없이 강렬한 '질주' [NCT 127, the most intense 'sprint']. Naver. Maeil Business Newspaper. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  12. ↑ Gwang, Hyun-su (September 5, 2022). NCT 127, 강렬한 힙합곡 '질주' 들고 컴백 [NCT 127, comeback with intense hip-hop song 'Run']. Naver. YTN. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Lee, Yu-na (September 6, 2022). NCT 127, 재현·정우·마크 티저 이미지 공개 [NCT 127 releases teaser images for Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Mark]. Naver. YTN. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Park, Seo-hyun (September 14, 2022). '컴백' NCT 127, 로맨틱 '불시착'+팬송 '1,2,7'까지..다양한 색깔 예고 ['Comeback' NCT 127, romantic 'Crash Landing on You' + fan song '1,2,7'.. Various color previews]. Naver. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  15. ↑ Park, Seol-yi (September 8, 2022). NCT127, 정규 4집 '질주'에 담을 3색 러브 스토리 [NCT127, a three-color love story to be included in the 4th regular album 'Fast']. Naver. YTN. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  16. ↑ Park, Seo-hyun (September 13, 2022). NCT127, 정규 4집 '비타민'·'LOL' 힐링송 예고..긍정 에너지 [NCT127, 4th regular album 'Vitamin' · 'LOL' healing song preview... Positive energy]. Naver. Herald Pop. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  17. ↑ Hwang, You-mee (September 2, 2022). "[Today's K-pop] NCT 127 to host showcase to mark return". The Korea Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  18. ↑ Cho, Jae-yong (September 16, 2022). "NCT 127 "월드투어, 세트리스트 변경·추가 무대 있을 것"" [NCT 127's world tour to change setlist and add new stages]. Single List (in Korean). Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  19. ↑ Won-jung, Yu (September 23, 2022). "NCT 127, 초동 154만 7천장 돌파…SM 역대 1위". No Cut News. 노컷뉴스. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Circle Album Chart - Week 38". Circle Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Circle Album Chart – September 2022". Circle Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Circle Album Chart - 2022". Circle Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  23. ↑ "2 Baddies – Week 40, 2022" (in Croatian). HDU. October 11, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  24. ↑ "BLACKPINK Returns to No. 1 on Artist 100 Chart, Thanks to 'Born Pink' Debut". Billboard. September 27, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (January 11, 2023). "Bad Bunny's 'Un Verano Sin Ti' Is Luminate's Top Album of 2022 in U.S." Billboard. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Ultratop.be – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  29. ↑ Peak positions in Croatian International Albums:
  30. ↑ "Lescharts.com – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 8. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2022-10-03" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  34. ↑ 週間 アルバムランキング — 2023年02月20日付 [Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-02-20]. Oricon. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2022-10-03" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-02-20" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2022/09/28 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2023/02/15 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Circle Album Chart – Week 39, 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Circle Album Chart – Week 5, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 40, 2022" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 6, 2023" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies - The 4th Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  47. ↑ "NCT 127 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  48. ↑ "NCT 127 Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  49. ↑ "NCT 127 Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  50. ↑ "NCT 127 Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  51. 1 2 月間 アルバムランキング 2022年09月度 [Monthly album ranking September 2022]. Oricon. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-02" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  53. ↑ "Circle Album Chart – September 2022". Circle Chart. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Circle Album Chart – January 2023". Circle Chart. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  55. ↑ 年間 アルバムランキング 2022年度 [Annual Album Ranking 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  56. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  57. ↑ "Album Chart 2022". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  58. ↑ "Year-End Charts Top Album Sales 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  59. ↑ 年間　アルバムランキング 2023年度 [Annual Album Ranking 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. p. 8. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  60. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2023". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Album Chart 2023". Circle Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  62. ↑ "Year-End Charts Top Album Sales 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  63. ↑ 月間 アルバムランキング 2022年10月度 [Monthly album ranking October 2022]. Oricon. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  64. ↑ "South Korean album certifications – NCT 127 – 2 Baddies" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  65. ↑ Cumulative sales of 2 Baddies on Circle charts:
  66. ↑ "South Korean album certifications – NCT 127 – Ay-Yo" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  67. ↑ Cumulative sales of 2 Baddies on Circle charts:
  68. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (January 11, 2023). "Bad Bunny's 'Un Verano Sin Ti' Is Luminate's Top Album of 2022 in U.S." Billboard. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  69. ↑ 앨범 정보 – 질주 (2 Baddies) - The 4th Album [Album Information – 질주 (2 Baddies) - The 4th Album]. Melon. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
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