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What is NCT Lab? Mark Lee's solo debut 'Child' is 1st release from SM's newest project

NCT Lab will allow the members to release solo music, do sub-unit projects, drop mixtapes, experiment with self-composed songs and more

Mark Lee of NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream and SuperM is finally getting his solo debut. The Korean-Canadian K-pop idol is arguably one of the most popular NCT members and artists under SM Entertainment. Fans often joke that whenever SM plans a new sub-unit or project group they add Mark as a member. The all-rounder is known for his rapping, dancing, singing, as well as visuals and 4D personality. This is why his long-awaited solo debut announcement with ‘Child’ is now being celebrated with much pomp by fans everywhere.

For 2022, SM has a lot of plans. They had previously shared that they would be debuting the sub-unit NCT Hollywood and expanding the female project group Girls On Top. And with Mark Lee’s solo debut they have launched their latest project – NCT Lab. The label’s digital music division, SM Station, will be handling NCT Lab which allows the boys of the 23-member group to drop personal music projects. SM has shared that through NCT Lab, the NCT members can release solo music, do sub-unit projects by teaming up with other members, drop mixtapes, self-made songs and more.

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Mark lee to solo debut under NCT Lab

SM has often allowed the NCT members the creative freedom to release music that doesn’t often fit the concept of the group’s albums. We have had the likes of Ten, Taeyong, Kun and Yangyang dropping music with SM Station. With more and more NCT members showing an interest in working on their own music, it looks like the label has opened a personal archiving project just for the group. And its first release happens to be Mark Lee’s solo debut with the single ‘Child’.

On January 28, SM revealed that Mark would officially be dropping his first piece of solo music. While he has performed a solo song and dropped collaborations for other projects like survival shows and K-drama OSTs, ‘Child’ will be his first solo song to be recorded and released. It will drop on February 4 at 6 pm KST (4 am ET) on all major music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, MelOn and more. It is a hip hop song with heavy bass, synths and electric guitar. The NCT star has also participated in the making and writing of the song.

‘You did it’

Excited fans trended Mark as they made tweets like, “Y’all will NOT ruin this for me idk anyone else who’s more deserving of this solo more than mark lee. debuting at SIXTEEN f**king yrs old with such hectic schedules ever since this is actually long overdue but idc anymore this is finally mark’s moment and i’m SO EXCITED.” Another cheered him, “Having a solo album and debuting as a solo artist has always been a dream for me, even from the very start even when I was a trainee too MARK LEE YOU DID IT YOU MADE IT MARK!!” One happy NCTzen shared, “I love it here everyone is so supportive and looking out for him rnnn.”