K-pop rookies BOYNEXTDOOR returned with a coming-of-age EP, ‘19.99’ — signifies the transitory phase just before turning 20.
Coming-of-age stories
The seven-track release documents their personal stories and emotions as they reach their twenties. WOONHAK, the youngest member, is 19 years old, while the oldest members, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, and SUNGHO, are 21.
‘19.99’ features the pre-release track ‘Dangerous’ and Korean and English versions of ‘Nice Guy,’ a laid-back pop track that embodies the confidence of a 19.99-year-old who wants to look cool.
Establishing themselves as a self-producing boy band, the members penned the album themselves while bringing in their signature wit, and authenticity and reliability.
ZICO, rapper and producer, and head of the band’s agency KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, produced ‘Nice Guy’ and ‘Pop Time.’
The EP comes five months after its second EP ‘How?’ and a year after its debut album ‘Why..’ last September.
Career-high achievements
BOYNEXTDOOR’s versatile and relatable music has garnered a local and global appeal. It achieved more than one career high on the Billboard charts with its new release. The rising rookies debuted at No. 40 on this week’s Billboard 200 albums chart and No. 1 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
KOZ ENTERTAINMENT’s act set a new career record in Korea. During the week of its release, the EP recorded 759,156 album sales on the Hanteo Chart, compared to 531,911 copies sold from its previous record ‘HOW?’ The Circle Album Chart also revealed that it sold 752,084 copies during the September 8 – 14 period.
The self-producing band’s EP was also a hit in Japan. According to Oricon, the country’s premier music chart, ‘19.99’ sold 134,000 copies in the week of September 9 – 15, grabbing the top spot on the chart and making it the six-member group’s best performance to date.
About BOYNEXTDOOR
BOYNEXTDOOR is the first boy group to debut from KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, a HYBE subsidiary founded by ZICO, the leader of the veteran boy group Block B. It launched into the K-pop scene in May 2023 with members SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK.
What to watch out for
The boys are set to embark on their first tour ‘KNOCK ON Vol.1,’ which will kick off with two concerts in Incheon in December.