EXO member Baekhyun just hit a big milestone. His latest solo album entered Billboard’s main chart. This is the Billboard 200. It’s a huge deal. Baekhyun’s mini-album is called “Essence of Reverie”. It landed at number 121 on the chart dated July 7th. Billboard announced this on July 3rd (US time).
This marks his first solo entry on the prestigious Billboard 200 chart. It’s also a first for any Korean member of EXO as a solo artist. While EXO, the group, has been on the chart before, no Korean member has achieved this alone until now.
Former EXO member Lay (Zhang Yixing) previously charted as a soloist. His US debut album reached number 21 back in 2018. Lay achieved this while still part of EXO. Baekhyun’s EXO Baekhyun solo Billboard debut is distinct. He is the first Korean member to do it solo.
Essence of Reverie did great on other Billboard charts, too. It shot straight to number one on the Emerging Artists chart. It also claimed the top spot on the World Albums chart. The album reached number 35 on the Billboard Artists chart. It secured number 4 on both the Top Album Sales and Top Current Album Sales charts. Fans cheered loudly for this success.
The album itself explores deep themes. It talks about standing between reality and dreams. Fans clearly loved it. “Essence of Reverie” sold over one million copies incredibly fast. It hit that million mark in just three days. This amazing result makes it Baekhyun’s fourth consecutive million-selling album. That’s impressive consistency.
New Music Video Drops: “Lemonade”
Adding to the excitement, Baekhyun released a new music video. It’s for the track “Lemonade” from the album. His agency, INB100, shared it on their social media on June 2nd.
The “Lemonade” video connects to the earlier title track “Elevator”. It starts showing a love story with the fantasy character from “Elevator”. Things get complicated. The video shows the couple facing real-life problems and breaking up. The ending offers a surprising twist. Viewers didn’t see it coming!
“Lemonade” is a smooth R&B song. It features lovely string melodies. The lyrics sing beautifully about reuniting with a first love. Baekhyun performed it live recently. He wowed the crowd at the Seoul Jazz Festival 2025 on May 30th. He sang both the original version and a special band arrangement. People loved both performances.
Baekhyun has been busy since the album release on May 19th. He appeared on music shows. Baekhyun created fun YouTube content. He guested on entertainment programs. He even gifted fans with live clips for every song on the album. Releasing the “Lemonade” music video is another treat. It shows how much he appreciates his fans. This EXO Baekhyun solo Billboard debut celebration keeps giving.
What’s next for Baekhyun? He’s kicking off a big world tour! It’s called “Reverie”. The first concerts happen in Seoul. Fans can see him at the KSPO Dome on June 7th and 8th. It promises to be an amazing show. His EXO Baekhyun solo Billboard debut adds even more excitement to this tour start.
Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
