Seventeen continues to reinvent the way its 13 members connect musically, beyond the group’s official vocal, hip-hop, and performance units. In recent years, new duos and sub-units have emerged. On September 29th, S.Coups and Mingyu shine as CxM with the release of their mini-album ‘HYPE VIBES’.

With six tracks spanning hip-hop, pop, rock, and EDM, the album not only showcases the chemistry the duo has built over years on stage but also reveals personal sides that might go unnoticed in a 13-member group.

The essence of the album is grounded in a simple principle: live fully in the present.

Mingyu sees life as a series of moments, each with its own soundtrack. “The music I listen to changes depending on the moment—whether I’m working out, feeling down, feeling good, drinking wine, or having a beer. Every moment creates its own vibe, and in that moment, music lets us connect and relate to one another on a deeper level.”

This philosophy also shapes how they approach daily life. Mingyu prefers to show the human side behind his positive image: “I think I’m someone who really stays in touch with my emotions. I’ve heard that I come across as very positive, but honestly, I just try to stay true to how I feel. I have my ups and downs—there are days when I feel a bit off or extra sensitive too. But I try not to let it get to me or the people around me, and keep the energy on the brighter side,” he says.

Mingyu recalls the duo’s dedication: “We worked on so many details and couldn’t let go of even a single sound or lyric. We listened to the tracks thousands of times, making countless revisions. Sometimes the main theme came to us spontaneously, and other times it developed as we listened to the track—it was a mix of different inspirations.”

Among the tracks, some carry special memories. Mingyu draws inspiration from a moment with Green Day in Mexico: “There’s a song called ‘Young again’ among the tracks. When I was watching Green Day perform in Mexico, the vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong, said something that really stuck with me: ‘Put down your phones for just one moment and enjoy the stage—this moment won’t come again.’ That left a really strong impression, and that’s how the first lyrics of the song came about.”

The single ‘5, 4, 3 (Pretty Woman)’, featuring artist Lay Bankz, interpolates the timeless classic ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ by Roy Orbison, reimagining its romantic melody with a vibrant disco sound. The track channels magnetic feelings of irresistible attraction with a direct, modern delivery, expanding its reach to a global audience. Beyond the lead single, the album highlights CxM’s versatility with five other tracks: the hip-hop tracks ‘Fiesta’ and ‘Worth it’, the pop ‘For you’, the rock-based ‘Young again,’ and the EDM ‘Earth.” On all tracks, S.Coups and Mingyu co-wrote and composed the songs, creating a work that reflects their tastes, moods, and creative vision. “A mixture of genres wasn’t a big concern for us. I just wanted to capture and share everything I love. Life is full of many different moments, and for each moment, you need different kinds of music to listen to and connect with in your daily life. That’s how we naturally incorporated a range of different genres,” explains Mingyu.

Fan relationships also run throughout ‘HYPE VIBES’, particularly in ‘For you’. For Mingyu, the track is pure affection: “It’s an uplifting song that expresses the affection and appreciation we feel for our fans—they’re adorable and lovable. I really liked the word ‘homies,’ as it represents the bond between S.Coups and Mingyu, as well as our connection with our fans.”

More than a side project, ‘HYPE VIBES’ reflects new paths in Seventeen’s career. Mingyu concludes with a promise: “This is just the beginning! Through this album and the process of creating it, I realized that we can do so much more. I experienced so many different aspects of creating music, and as we worked on everything—from the songs to the visuals—I found myself wanting to try different things and put even more into it. So now, I just want to keep exploring and creating.”

In the end, the message is simple and universal: anyone can join this vibe. (source)