TAEYONG has never approached music cautiously, but WYLD feels like the moment where every one of his artistic instincts fully collides at once. Released on May 19 through SM Entertainment, the NCT leader’s first full-length solo album pushes through hip-hop, hyperpop, house, jazz, electronic, and alt-R&B without ever sounding disconnected from his identity.
Across 10 tracks, WYLD operates less like a traditional K-pop solo album and more like a carefully controlled creative spiral.
The album opens with one of its strongest statements. “WYLD” immediately establishes the project’s aggressive artistic vision through heavy basslines, distorted textures, and explosive percussion that mirror the animalistic imagery driving the track. TAEYONG sounds fully locked into the chaos, delivering one of the most commanding performances of his solo career.
That same momentum carries directly into “Storm,” another standout that sharpens the album’s experimental edge even further. The track constantly mutates through different rap cadences and production shifts, recalling the unpredictable intensity that helped define NCT’s “Neo” sound over the past decade. Rather than chasing cohesion through simplicity, TAEYONG leans into maximalism.
WYLD becomes more divisive. “Hypnotic” and “I’m A Dancing Cactus” introduce dance and house influences that expand the project sonically, but both songs occasionally circle the same ideas longer than necessary. Even then, the production remains meticulously layered.
One of the album’s most surprising moments arrives with “404 Euphoria.” Built around introspective lyricism and atmospheric production, the song strips away much of the surrounding noise and allows TAEYONG’s vocals to take center stage. Following that quieter turn, “Skiii” restores the project’s explosive energy almost instantly.
What ultimately makes WYLD compelling is how intentional its experimentation feels. TAEYONG never sounds interested in fitting neatly into one genre or expectation. Instead, he builds an album that thrives on unpredictability while still maintaining a remarkably clear artistic identity from beginning to end.
Scroll down to see InMusic’s full ranking of every song on the project.
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