We Go Up is the second extended play by South Korean–Chinese boy bandNCT Dream, the third and teen-aged sub-unit of the South Korean boy groupNCT. Released by SM Entertainment on September 3, 2018 and distributed by iriver, the album contains five new Korean songs and a Mandarin version of the album's eponymous single, marking it their latest release to contain a Mandarin record. The extended play was the unit's first major release to feature member Jaemin since their debut single "Chewing Gum" in August 2016; following his medical hiatus since early 2017. SM founder Lee Soo-man served as the EP's executive producer, with songwriters and producers such as Kenzie, MZMC, Bazzi, Mike Woods, Kevin White, August Rigo, The Stereotypes, Deez, Erik Lidbom, Cazzi Opeia, Anton Ewald, Simon Johansson, Sebastian Thott, and others participating in making the album. It was also their last release with the original seven-member line up, marking the graduation of member Mark in December 2018 as he reached the age of adulthood in South Korea. Upon its release, We Go Up enjoyed commercial success in both NCT Dream's native country and several international component charts. It was the unit's second chart-topper on the Gaon Album Chart, following their 2017 release The First, and eventually their first charting entry in Japan and United Kingdom, peaking at number eleven and ninety-seven on the Oricon Albums Chart and the Album Downloads component chart, respectively. The extended play also attained success in the United States, becoming their second top-five entry on the Billboard World Albums chart, peaking at number five on its first charting week. The group went on to promote the extended play's eponymous lead single through various South Korean television music programs, and has since performed the title track on all of their headlining concerts, namely The Dream Show and their Beyond LIVE concert in May 2020.
Background and release
Originally debuted as a septet in August 2018 with the digital single "Chewing Gum", NCT Dream actively promoted as a sextet instead since February 1, 2017 due to member Jaemin's medical hiatus. Jaemin eventually rejoined the unit for their parental group's 2018 project Empathy single, titled "Go", which saw the group transitioning from their "youthful" image to a more "rebellious" and "defiant" approach in both music and image. SM Entertainment eventually announced the group would release a new extended play in September 2018, later revealed to be We Go Up. The label further stated that member Mark would "graduate" from the unit following the EP's release in December 2018, due to him turning 19 by the time, thus reaching the age of adulthood in South Korea. An accompanying music video for the eponymous lead single was released on August 30, 2018, four days prior to the extended play's release. The EP's package came in a singular version with a CD containing all six songs, a photo booklet and several collectibles for fans.
Composition
We Go Up contains five new songs recorded in Korean by the unit, while its eponymous track received a Mandarin version as the closing track. The lead single "We Go Up" is described as a "retro vibe", urban hip hop track that saw the members singing about team spirit, containing "tinny" percussion and "booming" bass line along with the group "serv up swaggering raps and harmonious vocals". It was written by SM songwriter Kenzie and member Mark, whom went on to co-write three additional tracks in the album, while the former also worked with producer MZMC, singer-songwriter Bazzi, Mike Woods, and Kevin White on the song's production. Along with Mark, member Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung also took part in writing the lyrics for "Dear Dream", a hip-hop and pop song that memorizes the graduation of Mark from the sub-unit. The unit also worked with American production team The Stereotypes and Canadian musician August Rigo on the track "1, 2, 3", a funky R&B and dance-pop track that sings about falling for a new crush.
Promotion
NCT Dream held a music variety concert, "NCT DREAM SHOW", at COEX Artium's SMTOWN Theatre three times between September 28 and 30.
Chart performance
The album entered Billboards World Albums chart at No. 5, and Heatseekers Albums chart at No.7; which marks NCT Dream's best sales week in America to date. This album also marks the unit's first No. 1 on a Korean realtime music chart.
