NCT Mark Lee’s ‘The Firstfruit’ tops Billboard Best K-pop Albums of 2025

This year has unmistakably marked a turning point for K-pop, as more idol group members confidently step into the spotlight as solo artists. 

From global superstars like BTS and BLACKPINK to members of large-scale collectives such as NCT, individuality has become the defining theme of this new era. Each release reflects a more personal, self-driven artistry.

Among these solo ventures, NCT member Mark Lee has emerged to the top. His first solo album, “The Firstfruit,” released in April, claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s “The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2025: Staff Picks.”

‘The Firstfruit’

“The Firstfruit” is a 13-track album that maps Mark’s personal journey across the cities that shaped him in Toronto, New York, Vancouver and Seoul. The project reads like a musical travelogue, tracing not just geography but emotional growth, identity and belonging.

Billboard described the work a “deeply personal album,” noting that the Toronto-born rapper draws heavily from his own experiences ranging from constant flights to feelings of homesickness and missing his mother.

The publication highlighted “1999” as the record’s lead single, calling it a strong, upbeat pop track driven by funky guitar riffs and Mark’s distinct falsetto vocals.

At the same time, Billboard pointed out how the album shifts sonically and emotionally. It contrasts the bright energy of the lead single with more reflective tracks, such as the sincere and nostalgic “Toronto’s Window,” arranged by Code Kunst, and the piano-heavy “Mom’s Interlude.”

Rounding out Billboard’s Top 5 are NMIXX’s long-awaited full album at No. 2, BLACKPINK Jennie’s Ruby at No. 3, K-Pop Demon Hunters at No. 4, and Lee Chanhyuk’s Eros at No. 5.

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