Former NCT member Mark Lee is rumored to be preparing to relaunch his music career in the United States as a solo artist. After a month of leaving the group and SM Entertainment, Mark is rumored to be working with Def Jam Recordings according to the Korea Herald on Tuesday (May 12, 2026).
Speculation escalated after Tunji Balogun, Chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, followed Mark on social media shortly after the singer terminated his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment on April 8, 2026.
Balogun is considered one of the leading executives in the music industry, having previously worked at RCA Records, where he helped develop artists including Khalid, SZA, and Bryson Tiller before joining Def Jam Recordings.
Within the K-pop industry, executives from major labels following famous artists on social media is often seen as a signal of possible collaboration or future partnership discussions, rather than just casual interest.
Def Jam Recordings is widely known for its focus on hip-hop and R&B, genres that perfectly align with Mark's musical direction. As a Canadian artist and an English speaker, Mark is considered well-positioned to work in the North American market.
The singer hinted at a new direction in a handwritten letter posted to social media on April 3, in which he talked about starting a new chapter and reflected on his longtime interests of busking with an acoustic guitar and writing in English.
Mark was also seen in a video uploaded on April 23, 2026 by up-and-coming pop artist Genia. The singer captioned the clip, "Genia x Mark Lee!! When KPop & POP Meet," seemingly indicating the two were working together at an undisclosed recording studio.
Genia signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2024. He released the single "Doomsday" in April 2026. Mark launched his solo career under SM Entertainment with the full-length album “The Firstfruit” in April 2025.
The album recorded over 540,000 first-week sales, setting a first-week sales record among SM Entertainment solo artists and demonstrating his individual commercial potential.
Mark has yet to officially announce a new agency, and interest is growing regarding the possibility of him signing with a major US label for the next chapter of his career.
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