* En anglais uniquement
Performing in both Japanese and Korean,
EXO-CBX is the first official subunit of the South Korean K-pop boy band
EXO. While the main group was formed in 2011,
EXO-CBX made their debut in 2016. Comprising founding
EXO members -- Xiumin and Chen from EXO-M and
Baekhyun from EXO-K -- the trio issued its first EP,
Hey Mama!, in late 2016 on parent label S.M. Entertainment. Topping the Billboard World Albums chart and the Korean Gaon chart, the five-song set remained close to
EXO's original sound that incorporated elements of R&B, hip-hop, and electronic pop. A year before
EXO would take their first steps into the territory,
EXO-CBX broke into the Japanese market with the EP Girls (Avex Trax), which arrived in May 2017. A promotional Japanese tour followed in early 2018 (just as
EXO debuted in Japan with Countdown).
EXO-CBX briefly dipped back into the Korean market in April with Blooming Days before issuing their first Japanese full-length, Magic, in May. Magic featured the single "Horololo" and topped the Japanese chart upon release. ~ Neil Z. Yeung