Maps of Music

NOEASY (2021)

Where the lyrics of NOEASY take you, and where it was really made.

The title pairs 'noisy' with 'no easy', and the group took the critics' label 'noise music' and turned it into their own weapon.

Key places

JYP Entertainment, Seoul (2021)

Recording site JYP Entertainment — The source lists JYP Entertainment in Seoul as the studio used for recording Noeasy. The album was also released through the same label. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Noeasy is the second studio album by South Korean boy group Stray Kids
• Released on August 23, 2021 through JYP Entertainment
• Released nine months after the Japanese-language EP All In (2020)
• Released eleven months after the Korean reissue In Life (2020)
• Fourteen tracks spanning hip hop, EDM, pop, R&B, and rock
• Lead single Thunderous; earlier releases Wolfgang and Mixtape: Oh
• The title is a wordplay on noisy and no easy, meant to convey the group making a loud impact on the world

Background

• On January 1, 2021, the group uploaded the video Step Out 2021, which covered their 2020 accomplishments and 2021 plans, including a second studio album
• Between April and June 2021, the group took part in the Mnet competition show Kingdom: Legendary War and emerged as the winner
• Wolfgang was released on May 28 from the EP Kingdom <Final: Who Is the King?> as part of the final performance competition
• The single Mixtape: Oh followed on June 26
• Hyunjin rejoined the group in July after a hiatus that had begun in late February
• On July 22, 2021, the group released the comeback trailer Thunderous and announced the album's release date

Recording

• The production team 3Racha (Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han), made up of members, produced all of the tracks
• Most tracks were written mainly by Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han
• Lee Know and Felix co-wrote Surfin', Hyunjin co-wrote Red Lights, and Seungmin and I.N co-wrote Gone Away
• Outside songwriter-producers such as Versachoi, HotSauce, Hong Ji-sang, and Krysta Youngs also contributed

Cover

• The jewel case version features a solo cover of one member
• The online cover artwork was released with the album on August 23

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Stray Kids is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment in 2017 through the reality show of the same name.
• Leader Bang Chan personally handpicked each member from JYPE trainees rather than the agency selecting them.
• The name was conceptualized by the members themselves, originally referring to a lost child chasing dreams.

Members

• The band has eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N.
• Former member Woojin left the band in 2019 for personal reasons.
• Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han form the in-house production team 3Racha and largely produce the group's music.

Career

• The group officially debuted on March 25, 2018 with the EP I Am Not, followed by the I Am series.
• The Clé trilogy was released in 2019; the Japanese debut came in 2020 with SKZ2020 via Epic Records Japan.
• The first studio album Go Live (2020) became the first platinum-certified album by KMCA; Noeasy (2021) was the first million-selling album.
• After signing with Republic Records in 2022, the Billboard 200 streak of consecutive No. 1 debuts reached eight by Do It (2025).
• As of May 2026 the group had sold over 40 million albums in Korean and Japanese releases.
• Stray Kids won Kingdom: Legendary War in 2021 and was recognized by TIME's Next Generation Leaders in 2023.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Upon release, the album received positive reviews from music critics
• Divyansha Dongre, writing for Rolling Stone India, said the group keeps their identity intact while reflecting on hate aimed at their artistry
• Tamar Herman of South China Morning Post said the album offers many styles and finds its strength in the group's creativity and storytelling
• Herman also wrote that Stray Kids have grown with each release
• Ayushi Agrawal, writing for Pinkvilla, considered the album a book that only Stray Kids could write
• Agrawal said the album reinstated the group's tag of self-producing idols beyond expectations
• Ruby C, writing for NME, rated the album four stars out of five and described it as filled with depth and creative substance
• Chu Seung-hyun of Seoul Economy Daily wrote the album is full of unique, bold, and energetic appearance
• Crystal Bell of Teen Vogue described the album as more than noise and praised the group for making even the quiet parts loud

Records

• Peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart
• Sold over 1.3 million copies in 2021
• Certified a million-seller by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) on October 7
• First million-selling album for the group and for JYP Entertainment
• Ranked number eight on the 2021 year-end Gaon Album Chart
• Won Best Album (Bonsang) at the 36th Golden Disc Awards
• Peaked at number two on the Oricon Albums Chart in Japan
• Pre-orders passed 930,000 on release day, breaking the group's previous record of 300,000 for In Life
• Sold 355,946 copies on the first day and 641,589 in the first week, according to Hanteo Chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Pre-orders for the album exceeded 930,000 on release day, breaking the group's previous record of 300,000 pre-orders for In Life
• Kingdom Week <No+> aired seven episodes from August 17 to 23, and its final episode, which aired on release day, showed the album
• The comeback trailer Thunderous was directed by Lee Hye-sung and produced by Sushivisual, with a superhero theme
• The group gave the debut performance of the unreleased-then song Silent Cry at their second fan meeting on February 12 and 13 at Olympic Hall
• Stray Kids appeared as ambassadors for the Korea Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, performing Thunderous on January 17, 2022

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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