The Playlist: NCT’s Taeyong on Musical Inspirations, Songs That Defined His Youth and His Love for NCT

“ Music has no limits,” says K-pop star Taeyong . The 31-year-old rapper, a member of the megagroup NCT and the leader of its subgroup NCT 127 , has seemingly always been fascinated by merging different genres to create a new song.

It’s evident in NCT 127, who, under Taeyong’s leadership, has forged a path as one of the most experimental boy groups globally. But it’s perhaps most evident in his solo work, including his latest album WYLD , released in May.

His debut studio album, and his first release in two years following the completion of his mandatory military enlistment, WYLD features 10 tracks showcasing just the type of artist he is. Up next, he and his fellow NCT 127 members will release their first album in two years, Blingy . Related Stories Music Rod Stewart Cancels Farewell Tour Dates After Coronary Stent Procedure Music Why Gen-Z Is Embracing Old Tech: Fighting the Algorithm With Analog

Taeyong, as both an artist and music lover, has varied taste. He shuffles between Muse, My Chemical Romance, Post Malone and Drunken Tiger. Looking at his own music, Taeyong feels that NCT has greatly inspired him. He credits “Cherry Bomb” as being a song that helped define the group.

“‘Cherry Bomb’ was one of the songs we released very early in our career, so I feel especially attached to it,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter . “I think that was also when I started to feel that ‘our’ sound may have really begun with ‘Cherry Bomb.’”

In a new episode of The Playlist , Taeyong takes THR through some of his favorite songs that remind him of his youth, his thought process behind making music for himself and NCT and more.