S.Coups & Mingyu Launch Duo Unit CxM with Mini-Album HYPE VIBES
A candid conversation about collaboration, creative intent and the new six-track record released September 29, 2025.
Since debuting in May 2015, SEVENTEEN has grown into one of K-pop’s most resilient and inventive acts. The group’s three-unit system — Vocal Team (Woozi, Jeonghan, Joshua, DK, Seungkwan), Hip-Hop Team (S.Coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, Vernon) and Performance Team (Hoshi, Jun, The8, Dino) — was designed so each member’s strengths could be highlighted while the whole remained tightly knit.
Beyond full-group releases, SEVENTEEN has pursued side projects and subunits that let members explore different textures and moods. BSS released two single albums, and Hoshi x Woozi issued the single album BEAM earlier this year before completing a fan concert tour. On September 29, 2025, S.Coups and Mingyu introduced their new unit CxM and unveiled their debut mini-album, HYPE VIBES — a six-track collection meant to capture the pair’s unvarnished energy.
“The process itself was a lot of fun,” S.Coups says of the album. “We didn’t try to embellish anything; we aimed to present the music the two of us naturally make.” Mingyu echoes that sentiment: “We wanted to show our tastes honestly and straightforwardly, and I think that authenticity came through.”
The title track, “5, 4, 3 (Pretty Woman) (feat. Lay Bankz),” features Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter Lay Bankz and riffs on Roy Orbison’s 1964 pop standard “Oh, Pretty Woman.” The single blends nostalgic pop elements with the duo’s contemporary sensibility — a deliberate choice intended to bridge generations rather than chase any specific market. “We weren’t trying to target overseas listeners,” Mingyu notes. “We just wanted to make music that anyone can enjoy.”
SEVENTEEN’s global momentum has only accelerated in recent years. After entering the Billboard 200 with their eighth mini-album Your Choice in 2021, they continued to amass milestones: they won Top K-pop Touring Artist at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, performed on the main stages at Glastonbury and Lollapalooza Berlin in 2024, and saw releases like their tenth-anniversary record HAPPY BURSTDAY and the 2023 mini-album FML attract massive commercial success.
S.COUPS — In His Own Words
You and Mingyu released your first mini-album as a duo on September 29, 2025. What strengths do you feel you two bring out in each other musically?
Mingyu and I share a lot of tastes — from music to style and even fitness — so collaborating felt like a natural next step. When we built this album, we chose songs that fit our vibe and flowed together, which made the whole process feel personal. Our hope is that listeners pick up on that chemistry and enjoy the energy we tried to convey.
Which song on HYPE VIBES was the easiest to make, and which posed the biggest challenge?
Every track carries its own memory, so it’s hard to rank them. If I had to single one out, the title track “5, 4, 3 (Pretty Woman) (feat. Lay Bankz)” holds particular meaning for me — it represents what we wanted this unit to sound like.
Why reinterpret a classic like “Oh, Pretty Woman” for the title track?
We wanted a sound that could resonate across ages. Reimagining something familiar through a contemporary lens felt like a way to connect listeners of different generations — honoring the original while giving it our own energy.
What does the album title HYPE VIBES mean to you?
For us it’s simple: it’s about sharing the excitement and positive energy we felt while making the record. We didn’t overproduce the concept — we tried to stay true to what felt natural and fun in the moment.
The track “Young Again” sounds reflective. What’s something you never want to lose?
Youth — not as an age but as an attitude. I believe the freedom to live fully and savor moments can stay with you through decades if you nurture it. I want to keep that spirit, and to keep sharing it with the other SEVENTEEN members.
You debuted your solo track “Jungle (S.COUPS Solo)” on the 10th-anniversary album HAPPY BURSTDAY. Did recording a solo reveal anything new to you?
It reaffirmed how much I love performing. While preparing the track I kept imagining how I’d bring it to life onstage. When the live performance matched that vision, it was an incredibly rewarding moment.
Your first performance of “Jungle” was on September 13–14, 2025, during the SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [NEW_] with nine members onstage. What was that experience like?
Performing as nine felt different at first, and of course there was pressure. But once we began preparing, the audience energy took over. The emotions from the crowd push us to give our best every time.
If the album’s characters Kuute and Mante visited Seoul, where would you take them?
To a SEVENTEEN concert — that’s where they’d recharge through music and interaction, and where the album’s world truly comes alive.
MINGYU — Reflections on CxM
This is your first full mini-album as a duo. What kind of interplay do you and S.Coups create?
Our partnership centers on shared tastes but also on contrast. We’re similar enough to connect immediately, yet our differences add color and depth. That combination lets listeners discover both familiar and unexpected moments in the record.
How would you describe your current ‘vibe’?
There’s a balance between enjoying the present and pushing forward. This album reflects who we are now — the ideas and feelings we wanted to capture — while also inspiring us to try new things moving ahead.
Which song on HYPE VIBES feels most special to you?
“Young Again” is especially meaningful. It grew from the idea that past moments can’t be relived exactly the same way — each performance has its own irreplicable atmosphere, and I wanted to capture that ephemeral quality.
You recorded much of the album in Los Angeles. Any memorable moments while filming the trailer or video?
The shoot felt like a brief vacation: bright skies and relaxed energy. When your schedule is full, it’s easy to miss small moments like glancing up at the sky, but on that set everything felt light and joyful — and I think it comes through in the visuals.
The chorus line “Never never be this young again” is poignant. When did you last feel that connection to your audience?
On the NEW_ tour stages. Every night, the audience and we become one unit — that shared exchange is the most powerful reminder of why we perform.
Where would you bring Kuute and Mante if they visited Seoul?
Probably to our practice room or studio, so they could see the teamwork behind a single song and how many people contribute to making music happen.
Album Trailer
