Mark Lee of NCT 127 Time-Travels in “1999” Music Video

Mark Lee, a star of NCT 127 and NCT Dream, has unveiled his album The Firstfruit alongside the music video for “1999.” In this vibrant visual, the artist leaps back to 1999, stepping in to rescue the world from chaos.

The turn of the millennium brought the infamous “Y2K bug,” a glitch where computers, programmed to recognize years with just two digits, stumbled into confusion. Naturally, the video features clunky old PCs, hinting that this very glitch sparked the turmoil Mark Lee arrives from 2025 to fix. Yet, far from a grim tale, the video radiates a lighthearted, playful energy.

For Mark Lee, 1999 carries personal weight—it’s the year he was born. Through the song, he channels his ambition to become a defining pop icon of the era. “1999” itself is an upbeat pop track laced with funky vibes. The album boasts 12 other songs, including collaborations like “Fraktsiya” with Lee Young Ji, “Watching TV” featuring South Korean hip-hop artist Crush, and “+82 Pressin’” with NCT bandmate Haechan. Fans will also spot the 2024 single “200” on the tracklist.

Drawing inspiration from four cities that shaped him—Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and Seoul—Mark Lee poured his experiences into The Firstfruit. Each place marks a chapter of his life. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he shared that the album became a journey of self-discovery, one he hopes resonates with listeners seeking their own truths. He credits the process with maturing him by “at least five years.” As for his current favorite, he points to “Mom’s Interlude”—less a song, more a heartfelt snippet of a conversation with his mother.