EXO

South Korean K-pop boy band EXO perform melodic, dance-oriented pop music influenced by hip-hop and R&B. The group broke through to worldwide success, topping both the South Korean Circle Albums chart and Billboard World Albums chart with their 2013 debut, XOXO, and spawning the hit “Growl.” They have consistently topped the Circle charts with albums like 2015′s Exodus, 2016′s EX'ACT, 2017′s The War, and 2018′s Don't Mess Up My Tempo, the latter of which also hit 23 on the Billboard 200. They again reached number one on both the Circle and Billboard World charts with 2018′s Obsession and returned in 2023 with their seventh album, Exist.
Formed in 2011 by the Seoul-based S.M. Entertainment producer Lee Soo-Man, EXO originally consisted of 12 members divided into two subgroups, EXO-K and EXO-M. Although they record the same music, EXO-K focus on playing in South Korea and feature the members Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. Meanwhile, EXO-M specialize in performing in China for a largely Mandarin-speaking audience and feature Xiumin, Lay, and Chen (founding members Luhan, Kris, and Tao departed in 2014 and 2015). The group’s first official subgroup, EXO-CBX, was formed in 2016 by the trio of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin. In 2019, a second subgroup, EXO-SC, was formed with Sehun and Chanyeol at the helm.
EXO released several singles in 2012, including “What Is Love,” “History,” and the Mama EP. In May of 2013, EXO released their full-length debut album, XOXO. Included on the album was the single “Growl,” which hit number two on the South Korean chart and three on the Billboard World chart. Both the Korean-language “Kiss” and Mandarin “Hug” versions peaked at the top of the Billboard World Albums chart upon release. The album sold over a million copies, and EXO followed that success later that year with the mini-album Miracles in December. Their third EP, Overdose, arrived in 2014. The effort broke into the Billboard 200, making EXO the highest-charting male K-pop group to date. That same year, Kris and Luhan of EXO-M parted ways with the group, leaving EXO with ten members.
The band issued Exodus in 2015. The award-winning album topped the charts in Korea and the U.S., while also entering the Canadian charts, the first time a K-pop group had done so. Around this time, Tao became the third member to part with EXO. The group continued its Exodus promotion and released its first Japanese single, a re-recorded version of “Love Me Right” and the Japanese original “Drop That.” Before the end of the year, EXO released their fourth EP, Sing for You. They extended album promotion to North America, with a brief tour of the U.S. and Canada in February 2016. EX'ACT, their third full-length, arrived that summer, with their fifth EP, For Life, released in December. The War, EXO’s fourth LP, was released in the summer of 2017, topping Korean and U.S. World Albums charts once again.
The group made its Japanese debut in early 2018 with Countdown, comprising previously released tracks and new songs like “Electric Kiss.” A month later, EXO performed at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics held in PyeongChang. By year’s end, the group scored its first hit on the U.S. charts, as fifth album Don't Mess Up My Tempo debuted just outside the Top 20 on the Billboard 200. They kicked off 2019 with a live set, Exo Planet 4: Elyxion Dot, and rounded out the year with their sixth album, Obsession. Yet another chart-topper in Korea, the LP became their fourth to place on the Billboard 200.
Following the group’s support duties for Obsession, members Chen and Suho went on hiatus to serve out their mandatory military service. In their place, two previous members, Xiumin and D.O., returned to the group after completing their own military service. In 2021, EXO again reached the top of the Goan charts with the EP Don't Fight the Feeling, which also featured vocals by former member Lay.
In July 2023, they delivered their seventh studio album, Exist, which featured the R&B-heavy singles “Let Me In” and “Hear Me Out,” as well as the dance anthem “Cream Soda.” While all nine EXO members contributed to the recording, the group promoted the album as a nine-piece (Kai was completing his military service and Lay was working on solo material). Exist topped the South Korean Circle Albums chart and cracked the Top 20 in Japan. ~ Matt Collar & Neil Z. Yeung