NOEASY

NOEASY Images • Videos

NOEASY
Information
Type	Studio album
Released	Aug. 23, 2021
Format	CD, download, streaming
Genre	EDM, trap, hip-hop, house
Length	46:34
Credits
Artist(s)	Stray Kids
Label	JYP Entertainment
Distributor	Dreamus
Release Chronology
◄ Previous	Mixtape : OH
Next ►	Scars / Thunderous (Japanese ver.)

NOEASY is the second studio album by South Korean boy group Stray Kids. It was released on August 23, 2021, with "Thunderous" serving as the title track.

Background

After winning the competition show Kingdom: Legendary War on June 3, 2021, Stray Kids got their own reality show produced by Mnet, KINGDOM WEEK : NO+. The last episode on August 23, the day of release, served as a comeback show where they performed "Thunderous" and "The View" for the first time.

In the meantime, the web series SKZ SONG CAMP, uploaded from July 7 to August 8 documented the process to make three unit songs, "Red Lights", "Surfin'" and "Gone Away" which were to be included on the album. The album also features previously released digital singles "WOLFGANG" and "Mixtape : OH", released on May 28 and June 26 respectively.

The album was promoted on music shows with the title track "Thunderous" from August 26 to September 12, along the song "The View" for five performances, and the song "Secret Secret" for one performance. The song "DOMINO" was used for follow-up promotions from September 24 to 26.

Composition

“	After winning the final round of Mnet's "Kingdom: Legendary War" ("Kingdom"), which ended in June, Stray Kids will be releasing their first album this year, "NOEASY," to solidify their place in the K-pop mainstream. Having showcased the essence of the 'malataste genre' that is unforgettable once tasted, such as the title track 'God's Menu' from their first full-length album 'GO LIVE' and the title track 'Back Door' from their first full-length repackaged album 'IN LIFE', the group will be drawing a higher rise in popularity and growth with their second full-length album that doubles the flavor. 'NOEASY' is an album that continues Stray Kids' unique way of communicating with the world with new words beyond the framework of existing grammar. Boasting witty language play and verbal dexterity, they deliver words of confidence to those who are different, in true Generation MZ fashion. The title track, "Thunderous," uses the dual meanings of "naggers" who make noise and "yellers" who make music in one word, expressing the message that they will never give in to the nagging of others and will say what they need to say and stand their ground. The contrast between the naggers, who are constantly nagging, and Stray Kids, who yell what they have to say and are determined to make their own music, is stark. The visual identity of Stray Kids, who has earned a reputation of a 'concept restaurant' for their bold and fresh style, is also worth noting. The eight members - Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, HAN, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. - bring an unbridled energy, wit, and laid-back vibe to the song, and visually embody its charm. The music video for "Thunderous" captures the dynamic beauty of traditional colors such as court music, festivals, and the Beocheong Sazatal, and uses animated transitions and visual special effects to create a sense of scale. The new album features the intro track "CHEESE," followed by the title track, "Thunderous," "DOMINO," "SSICK," "The View," "Sorry, I Love You," "Silent Cry," "Secret Secret," and "Star Lost". The album contains 14 songs in total, including unit songs "Red Lights" (Bang Chan, Hyunjin), "Surfin'" (Lee Know, Changbin, Felix), and "Gone Away" (HAN, Seungmin, I.N), as well as "WOLFGANG", which was featured on the final round of Mnet's "Kingdom," and the digital single "OH," which was released on June 26 and debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart on July 10. Stray Kids solidified their status as a 'self-producing group' with all members, including 3RACHA, appearing in the credits of the new album. In addition, they collaborated with leading domestic and international writers such as VERSACHOI, Krysta Youngs, HotSauce, and Hong Ji Sang to enhance the album's completeness. With their previous album "IN LIFE," Stray Kids achieved their highest ever performance on the Hanteo Chart for the first week of release, and were recently ranked as the No. 1 artist within the first four years of their debut with the highest increase in social metrics for the first half of the year in Hanteo's Global K-Pop Report, proving their explosive growth in popularity at home and abroad. Their second album "NOEASY" is a major milestone that drives a powerful wedge into the group's identity and rise, allowing Stray Kids to satisfy the five senses of K-pop fans around the world and solidify their status as a "representative group of the fourth generation.	”
― Official Introduction

Tracklist

1. CHEESE
2. 소리꾼 Thunderous ^{Title track}
3. DOMINO
4. 씩 SSICK
5. The View
6. 좋아해서 미안 Sorry, I Love You
7. Silent Cry
8. 말할 수 없는 비밀 Secret Secret
9. Star Lost
10. 강박 Red Lights ^{Bang Chan & Hyunjin}
11. Surfin' ^{Lee Know & Changbin & Felix}
12. Gone Away ^{HAN & Seungmin & I.N}
13. WOLFGANG
14. 애 Mixtape : OH

Editions

• A / B : CD + Photobook + Lyrics Book + Sticker (1 out 2) + Unit Folded Poster (1 out of 4) + Photocards (2 out 32) + Double Sided Photocard (1 out 8) + Poster (1 out of 4) (pre-order only) + Frame Photocard (1 out of 8) (pre-order only) + Special Mini Photobook (1 out of 2) (pre-order only)
• Limited : CD + Photobook + Lyrics Book + Sticker (1 out 2) + Unit Folded Poster (1 out of 4) + Photocards (2 out 32) + Double Sided Photocard (1 out 8) + NOEASY Pop-Up Card (1 out 8) + Photocard Set + Poster (1 out of 4) (pre-order only) + Frame Photocard (1 out of 8) (pre-order only) + Special Mini Photobook (1 out of 2) (pre-order only)
• JEWEL CASE : CD + Photobook + Sticker + Photocards (1 out of 8) + Poster (1 out of 4) (pre-order only) + Frame Photocard (1 out of 8) (pre-order only) + Special Mini Photobook (1 out of 2) (pre-order only)

Achievements

For achievements specific to the title track, see Thunderous.

• NOEASY sold 641,589 copies in the first week on Hanteo Chart, and 1,127,800 copies in the first month on Circle Chart. In October 2021, it earned a Million (1,000,000+ sales) certification from KMCA. Thus, it became both Stray Kids' and JYP Entertainment's first million-selling release.
• On June 10, 2024, it surpassed 1 billon streams on Spotify, their second album to do so.

Images

To see the image gallery for NOEASY, click here.

Videos

To see the video gallery for NOEASY, click here.

Reviews

“	Stray Kids' latest full-length album is a response to those who criticize the group's music—best known for hard-hitting rap verses and bombastic electronic production—for being too loud. Titled with a wordplay on “noisy,” No Easy makes it clear that the eight member-act has no plans to lower the volume. Instead, they intend to ramp things up a few notches. “So they call me ‘the one shouting' oh/ It's Changbin, I choose my own path,” the rapper spits out in the opening lines of lead single “Thunderous.” It's a booming track that hurtles brass instrumentals, car honks and metallic clangs at the listener as the members bulldoze their way from beginning to end. Elsewhere on the album, it's often the sounds that could be dismissed as mere noise that are the main attraction of songs. The most striking example: ascending and descending scales of shrill xylophone-like dings in “Domino” reminiscent of a row of the rectangular tiles falling.	”
― TIME: The Best K-Pop Songs and Albums of 2021

Trivia

• The title on the cover hides the A and part of the E in NOEASY, spelling out NOISY, refering to the theme of the album.
• It is the first Stray Kids release to have member-specific versions.
• At the end of "INTRO NOEASY", there is a message in tribute to Jay, Stray Kids' hair and makeup director since debut who passed away before the release of the album.