NCT's Mark unveils '+82 Pressin' featuring Haechan ahead of solo debut

By Pyo Kyung-min

NCT's Mark is setting the stage for his solo debut with the release of "+82 Pressin (Feat. Haechan)," a prerelease duet that serves as the long-awaited collaboration with fellow member Haechan.

Mark's agency, SM Entertainment, announced that the Canadian rapper's solo debut album would include "+82 Pressin," a duet with NCT vocalist Haechan. The track and its accompanying music video are set for early release on Wednesday at 6 p.m. through the agency's official social media channels.

SM Entertainment described "+82 Pressin" as a hip-hop track featuring a repetitive whistle riff and vox samples. The lyrics, written by Mark himself, incorporate Korea's country code "+82," playfully conveying his confidence as a Seoul-based K-pop act.

The music video portrays both Mark and Haechan as agents injecting color into a gray, love-starved version of Seoul. Paying homage to the 2005 film "Sin City," SM noted that the video features "a visual style reminiscent of a graphic novel."

The collaboration between Mark and Haechan has drawn considerable attention, as they have long been a fan-favorite pair within the band. Having trained together under SM since their early years, many have waited for the two to collaborate on a musical level.

Meanwhile, Mark's first solo album, "The Firstfruit," is slated for release on April 7.

The album is structured around key locations that have shaped the singer's life — Toronto, his hometown; Vancouver, where he went to school; New York, where he first moved; and Seoul, where he achieved his K-pop dream.

The album was initially set to drop in February but its release date was postponed to "enhance its quality," according to SM.

The album will feature 13 tracks, including the title track "1999," as well as previously released singles "200" and "Fraktsiya (feat. Lee Young-ji)," which was released last year.