Mark’s solo debut album is notable in that it is not actually the first album he wrote. He had a draft he presented to SM’s A&R, but after the release of “200,” he scrapped it and started over for his music to be more vulnerable and reflective of his identity. The resulting work, The Firstfruit, is sincere and personal, rewarding multiple listens.
The album is arranged by city, with the tracks “Toronto‘s Window”, “Flight to NYC”, “Raincouver”, “+82 Pressin’” delineating each section. The sequence reflects the place Mark has lived throughout his life, beginning with Toronto and ending in Seoul (with “+82 Pressin’” referring to South Korea’s country code). With this structure, The Firstfruit ostensibly tells an autobiographical journey from birth to adulthood. In the album opener “Toronto’s Window,” Mark delivers spoken word English over acoustic guitar, “Now that I can see the past with a new set of eyes / My life makes so much more sense now.”
The expectation for a straight autobiography does not hold up, however, as becomes clear from the New York section, with pre-release single “Fraktsiya” (featuring Lee Young-ji) boasting, “Name somebody who can juggle three teams / Still come up with the best solo album”. The narrative of the album is less of Mark’s chronological life story than various musings about his life and career. Each location represents a different sentiment, with the brash confidence associated with New York City reflected in the heavy bass and lyrical bravado in “Righteous” and “Fraktsiya.” In contrast, the Vancouver section, with “Raincouver,’ “Loser,” and “Watching TV,” feel softer, more acoustically driven, and more introspective, fitting a rainy day.
Meanwhile, the funky title track “1999,” the sole full song from the opening Toronto section, feels like a celebration. In the chorus, Mark states, “Today, I feel so new, feels like ninety nine” — the year of his birth. The full instrumentation, particularly the strings in the intro, bridge, and outro, underscore Mark’s renewed drive and conviction. He also makes bold vocal choices, including singing the chorus in falsetto, that he has rarely displayed as one of NCT’s main rappers. Starting anew as a soloist, Mark asserts, “Let me show you I was born to be.” Branching into a different direction in vocals and production, “1999” fulfills the promise for a new version of Mark.
It is then a bit perplexing that he immediately returns to rap and familiar styles in the next full track, “Righteous.” With an opening chant similar to the chorus of NCT 127’s “2 Baddies,” the song feels the most “Neo” out of the album. Sonically, the track arrangement on The Firstfruit can feel haphazard, as in the genre change-ups from “Watching TV” (R&B) to “+82 Pressin’” (hip hop) to “200” (rock). Mark may have faced the challenge of incorporating already released singles (“200”) and previously written songs into this more personal project, making the album less musically cohesive.
The fragmented listening experience of the album, however, seems intentional to an extent. In the ambient interlude “Flight to NYC,” Mark rasps, “I think I need a circle,” suggesting a desire for wholeness. Later, in “Journey Mercies,” he laments, “My life is in pieces.” In light of this thematic through line, the shifts in the album seem to replicate Mark’s experience.
At times, Mark feels wholly satisfied with and immersed in his career, as shown in the infectious baseline and synergy with Haechan in “+82 Pressin’.” At other times, he grapples with insecurity and loneliness. In “Loser,” Mark croons over acoustic guitar and spare instrumentals, playing off the similar sounding “loser” and “lose her” as he reflects on a fading relationship. The repetition of “I don’t want a loser” initially feels like a defensive stance, and by the end, as his vocals grow more intense, Mark questions exactly who the loser is in the relationship.
Other songs In the Vancouver and Seoul sections of the album also reflect a longing for connection. “Watching TV,” featuring Crush, refers to fictional pairs like Thelma and Louise and Bonnie and Clyde out of desire for companionship and adventure. With its layered vocals and combination of tinkling piano and garage beats, the song is immersive like the experience of watching a compelling show. Mark then brings airy vocals to the tender “Journey Mercies,” which declares to the object of his affection, “I want you to be my everything.”
Mark discusses romantic relationships, but The Firstfruit is also overtly Christian, both in references and sound (closing track “Too Much,” for example, calls his life a “blessing” and resembles a gospel song, even culminating with a choir). The album title not only refers to the first results of Mark’s solo endeavors, but also to the offering of the first harvest in Christian practice. He ties both together in “Toronto’s Window”:
But to actually dream in detail
For something that’s bigger than my own life
And then to put that dream and drive
And reason as the base of everything that I do
That’s life, no?
The firstfruits of all your crops
For Mark, his faith underpins his personal drive, and is fundamental to who he is as a person.
Mark’s various influences coalesce at the end of the album. “Mom’s Interlude” overlays a conversation between Mark and his mother over soft piano. Mark’s mother commented about The Firstfruit, “I was thankful that I didn’t have to worry about you anymore…it feels like your identity is just set for you.” In “Too Much,” Mark expresses his gratitude for others’ love and support, whether from the people in his life, or God, or both. Incorporating piano, electric guitar and synths, and alternating between rap and emotive vocals, ”Too Much” strives to be all-encompassing, reflecting what Mark has received in abundance.
The realizations in “Too Much” seem to connect back to the first track “Toronto’s Window,” in which Mark declares he sees the world with a new set of eyes. Mark created the circle he had been seeking in “Flight to NYC,” and his journey is complete.
With The Firstfruit, Mark has delivered an affecting solo debut that maps his personal evolution. Though sometimes fragmented, his thoughtful album construction effectively mirrors Mark’s own journey of self-discovery. Mark had framed the album as a way to get to know him better, and it is fascinating to trace how he learns more about himself too.
(YouTube [1][2]. The Hollywood Reporter. Lyrics via Genius [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Images via SM Entertainment.)
English (US) · 