Lee Taeyong, better known as Taeyong, is a rapper, singer, dancer, and songwriter who debuted in NCT (Neo Culture Technology), in July of 2016 where he became the leader of its first sub-unit NCT U. That same year, he was able to become the leader of its second sub-unit, NCT 127, making him the leader of both NCT U and NCT 127. Besides NCT, Taeyong is a member of SuperM, a group made up of members from groups like: SHINee, EXO, NCT 127 and WayV, the Chinese sub-unit of NCT.
His first solo album, Shalala – The 1st Mini Album, released June of 2023, was able to land him a #1 spot on the iTunes chart in 27 different countries and top 5 in the U.S., as well as its title track “Shalala” being able to win him 1st place on Inkigayo Hot Stage and also ranking #1 in 13 different countries on the iTunes chart. Taeyong is finally back with the release of his second album, TAP – The 2nd Mini Album.
TAP, Taeyong’s 2nd mini album and his last solo album before his enlistment in the South Korean Military, released on February 26, 2024. The album consists of 6 tracks total, “TAP”, “Moon Tour”, “Run Away”, “APE”, “나에게 했던 것과 같이 (Ups & Downs)”, and “404 Loading”. All tracks featured on the album have a combination of both English and Korean lyrics.
This album was made to show Taeyong’s sensibility and unmatched ability as a musician since just like in his previous album, he’s credited as a songwriter and composer on all tracks. The album itself is about confidence and self- reflection, and he focused on pop, hip-hop, and alternative R&B.
Out of all six tracks, my top three are, “TAP”, “Run Away”, and “APE”. All three songs have catchy lyrics and are addicting to listen to. They’re also the most upbeat songs on the album, while the other three are more relaxed and slower songs. I found myself replaying these three songs the most; however, I would still argue that the other three songs are just as great.
“TAP”: This is the title track of the album and the reason for the album’s name. “TAP” is a hip-hop song with an overall upbeat and lively feel to it. It’s addicting to listen to once you get into it because of its easy to follow rap. The song has a lot of 808 bass tracks which in general makes it feel happy and cheerful. The overall meaning of the song is to live life as confidently as you want. The lyrics, “Yeah, I’m saucin’, yeah I’m saucin’ on you, sweet and K-spicy like bibim noodles, you addicted, I addicted, I’m swaggin on you”, can suggest the confidence one can feel within themselves. Also, the lyrics, “Tap, tap, tap, tapping on me” can suggest the feeling of being watched/ judged but being able to remain cool and unbothered, which goes back to the meaning of the song.
“Moon Tour”: It’s an alternative R&B song with piano playing in the background. The song opens up with an astronaut speaking and though his words are unclear, it plays into the theme of the song, space. It is also one of the more emotional songs on the album. When Taeyong sings the lyrics “you and I” he uses a dreamy tone that makes you feel a sense of peace and calmness. The song is about setting out on a journey with a special someone while also living in the moment and valuing the time and special moments spent together. It focuses on the timeless feeling one can experience in the company of a special person, “a minute feels like hours, you got solar power, we shower in starlight, it’s my golden hour”.
“Run Away”: This is one that has the potential to be played at Hot Topic due to it being the loudest on the album. It’s a rock song that starts off slow before jumping straight into the drums and electric guitar playing. The song talks about self-awareness while also feeling lonely and weak with the desire to leave a problematic relationship, “Yeah I will run away from you again”.
Before the second verse starts there is a moment where the guitar is played which adds to the song since it makes the excitement build up. The lyrics, “Hey, you’re so beautiful, your visual is out of this world, yeah bad attitude, even that is perfect”, can imply the complicated emotions, such as feeling attraction to the other person but also being aware of their issues.
“APE”: I enjoyed this song way more than I expected as it quickly became my favorite track. “APE” is a hip-hop song where Taeyong uses various vocal tones to sound frustrated yet unbothered at the same time. Throughout the song, the bass is played in many different ways which makes it an easy song to vibe to. The lyrics behind the song give out a meaning of frustration, “Oh my god, time killing, where is my time?”, personal growth and the impact on one’s identity, “I’m insecure, amazing, Ten years changed me so much”. The song also focuses on the confident side of Taeyong, “I don’t care what you want, what you want is the vibe that is focused on me” and “everything will be mine (mine), stir my lemonade, lemonade, yeah, I don’t follow the paper, chasing dreams all night it’s different from you, I’m not a celebrity or a businessman, I don’t sell my soul even if it’s getting boring I can’t give up”. It’s a song I could listen to at any time, a great B-side track that is definitely worth listening to.
“나에게 했던 것과 같이 (Ups & Downs)”: Continuing the the theme of relationships, it’s a song about the highs and lows of a relationship. It’s an alternative R&B song that opens up the guitar playing and Taeyong singing the lyrics: “I keep feeling low, you know why I do this, you know what the problem is, you know why I’m dying, yeah”, implying his uncertainty in the relationship. The lyrics, “Trust issues, loving you was dumb, trust issues, loving you was cheap”, can suggest self- reflection and realization after a relationship. Taeyongs way of singing this song is one that will get stuck in your head for the rest of the day. It’s the calmest song on the album and one where you are able to hear all of Taeyongs vocal abilities. Taeyong is usually a rapper, but with this song you are able to hear a different side of him which makes the song 10x better.
“404 Loading”: If you need a song about overcoming loneliness and sadness, “404 Loading” is the one for you. The song is a continuation to “404 File Not Found” from Taeyongs previous album, Shalala. My favorite part of the song is the intro. It’s difficult to describe, it sounds like a memory, almost like an echo but not quite that. It has a subtle guitar playing throughout the background. The combination of both of these effects add to the song as it makes you want to continue listening to the song, or in my case, it has me replaying that part over and over again. The song talks about the desire to be with the person you love, “You and me together, we shine on this planet”. It’s a song that is heavily influenced by the feeling of love and feeling motivated by the presence of a loved one, “you’re everything, I can feel it in the center of this universe you are standing, you always motivate me, loading me, baby meet me in a 404”. At the end of the song, Taeyong’s voice slowly starts fading into a dreamy tone before fading back into a memory type of sound. Unfortunately, this song marks the end of the album leaving you with a big impression of emotion and love.
This is an album that definitely deserves a listen. Its only downfall is that it’s WAY too short, therefore I am giving this album a 9/10. Although some of the songs are of the same genre, they all sound completely different. I seriously enjoyed the different types of sounds produced and all the various vocal tones used by Taeyong. Taeyongs music might not be for everyone as it sometimes doesn’t sound like the “traditional” K-pop music, but that only makes his music more unique and worth listening to. Though he is expected to begin his enlistment in the Military in April, I – along with NCTzens [N-Citizen] or Czennie [Seasony], NCT fandom – are excited for any project he might come up with, whether it is before or after his enlistment, with or without the rest of NCT. If you like groups like SHINee, EXO, or Ateez, you should definitely consider listening to this album.
