The9 (stylized as THE9 or THE NINE) was a Chinese girl group formed through the IQIYI survival show Youth With You 2. The group consisted of Liu Yuxin, Yu Shuxin, Xu Jiaqi, Yu Yan, Xie Keyin, An Qi, Zhao Xiaotang, Kong Xueer and Lu Keran.
The9 was formed on May 30, 2020, and officially debuted on August 10, 2020. It was managed by Idol Youth Entertainment of iQIYI. The group was supposed to disband on November 30, 2021, but they disbanded on December 5, 2021.
History Pre-debut: Youth With You 2
The9 was formed through the reality television show Youth with You 2, which aired from March 12 to May 30, 2020. It was the third season of the Idol Producer franchise. Out of 109 trainees from different companies, only the top 9 most voted trainees in the final episode got to debut in the final group.
On May 30, 2020, the final lineup was eventually announced. Liu Yuxin placed 1st, Esther Yu Shuxin came in 2nd, followed by Kiki Xu Jiaqi, Yu Yan, Shaking Chloe Xie Keyin, Babymonster An Qi, Zhao Xiaotang, Snow Kong Xue'er, and K Lu Keran in 9th place respectively. Since having earned 1st place, XIN Liu Yuxin was chosen as the center of the group.
2020: Beginning of promotions, debut with Sphinx X Mystery and MatriX On July 10, 2020, the group attended the "Current Business Conference" and announced their appointment as "Advance Officer for Edge Art."
The group released their first extended play, Sphinx X Mystery (斯芬克斯X谜), on August 10, 2020. The EP consists of the lead single "SphinX" (斯芬克斯) as well as another song titled "Not Me". The EP sold over 150,000 units in less than 45 minutes; it also won the "Double Platinum" rating. The music video for SphinX was released on August 15 via Weibo and YouTube. They promoted their EP through performances at variety shows and through music shows such as 818 Super Night. The group then announced their first variety show called "Let’s Party 2020" which would be released on iQIYI. The group released their debut studio album MatriX (虚实X境) on December 25, 2020 which features the lead single "Dumb Dumb Bomb" and nine solo tracks.
On December 31, The9 participated in the 2021 Jiangsu Satellite TV New Year's Eve concert.
2021: RefleXtion, THE NINE and disbandment From March 26–27, 2021, The9 held their first online concert titled "X-CITY," which garnered tens of thousands of viewers. The concert utilized XR technology to create realistic stage backgrounds.
On June 9, 2021, the group released their first anniversary EP entitled RefleXtion. The EP consists of two tracks: "Hello" and "Xenogeneic". The group officially disbanded on December 5, 2021.
2022–2023: Reunion concerts On August 19–20, 2022, The9 held their first reunion concert since disbandment at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center.
On October 27–28, 2023, the group held their second reunion concert at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park.
Members Liu Yuxin / XIN Liu (刘雨昕) - Center Yu Shuxin / Esther Yu (虞书欣) Xu Jiaqi / Kiki Xu (许佳琪) Yu Yan (喻言) Xie Keyin / Shaking (谢可寅) An Qi / Babymonster An (安崎) – leader Zhao Xiaotang (赵小棠) Kong Xue'er / Snow Kong (孔雪儿) Lu Keran / K Lu (陆柯燃)
Discography Studio albums Title Details Sales MatriX (虚实X境)Released: December 25, 2020 Label: ADQC, iQiyi Formats: Digital download, streamingCHN: 370,000+
Extended plays Title Details Sales Sphinx X Mystery (斯芬克斯X谜)Released: August 10, 2020 Label: ADQC, iQiyi Formats: Digital download, streamingCHN: 1,100,000+ RefleXtionReleased: May 22, 2021 Label: ADQC, iQiyi Formats: Digital download, streaming CHN: 210,000+ THE NINEReleased: December 5, 2021 Label: ADQC, iQiyi Formats: Digital download, streaming CHN: 92,000+
Songs Title YearPeak chart position Album CHN
"斯芬克斯" (SphinX) 2020 5 Sphinx X Mystery "Not Me"9 "Dumb Dumb Bomb"60MatriX "BiuBiu"26 "Gwalla"— "SKIN"57 "蔷薇之巅"39 "Comet"— "Yea"— "T.A.N.G"— "Call Me By My Name"75 "K'"— "Hello"202142RefleXtion "异兽" (Exotic Beast)33 "我们啊"80THE NINE "Devil's song"— "驭舞者"—
Promotional singles TitleRelease dateRemarks"Yes OK!"March 12, 2020Theme song of Youth With You 2"Super Shiny Summer" July 30, 2020Promotional song for the Oppo Reno 4; features XIN Liu, Esther Yu and Zhao Xiaotang
Videography Music videos TitleYearLength"SphinX"20203:42
Filmography Variety Shows YearTitleNetworkOriginally AiredNotes2020Youth With You 2iQiYiMarch 12 – May 30Contestants (final winners)Hunan TV 618 Super Pin Night + Hunan TV 818 Super Pin NightHunan TelevisionJulyPerformers ("Yes OK!", "Hunt", "SphinX")Go Fighting! Season 6Dragon TelevisionJuly 26The9 (finale guests, episode 12)Little Forest ()Mango TVAugust 1 – August 15Xu Jiaqi and Xie Keyin (guests, episodes 8–10)Summer Surf ShopiQiYiAugust 28 – September 5An Qi and Zhao Xiaotang (guests, episodes 9–10)Amazing DinneriQiYiAugust 6–7Xie Keyin and Zhao Xiaotang (guests, episode 8)Masked Dancing King Season 1YoukuAugust 16 – October 18Liu Yuxin and An Qi (contestants)Let's Party!iQiYiSeptember 4 – November 21The group's variety showHappy Camp (2020)Hunan TelevisionSeptember 19The9 (performance guest); Liu Yuxin, Yu Shuxin, Zhao Xiaotang (involved in guests’ activities with the show's MC)Go Fighting! Treasure Hunt, Season 1 ()Dragon TelevisionSeptember 29Yu Shuxin (guest, episode 9)Little Giant GamesMango TVXu Jiaqi (fixed cast); Kong Xue'er (guest), Yu Yan (unaired)Dimension Nova ()iQiYiOctober 21 – December 23Yu Shuxin (fixed cast, mentor)Field of Hope ()Mango TVAn Qi (fixed cast); Zhao Xiaotang (guest, episode 9)Sending 100 Girls Home Season 4SohuYu Shuxin (guest)Glory is Back! Dunhuang ()iQiYi2020 November 18 – 2021 January 21Xie Keyin (fixed cast); Lu Keran (guest, episode 3)Ladies' Talk ()iQiYi 2020 December 2 – 2021 February 17Zhao Xiaotang (fixed cast, host)Fourtry Season 2iQiYi2020 December 4 – 2021 February 19Liu Yuxin (fixed cast); Zhao Xiaotang and Kong Xue'er (guests, episodes 5–6)I Am the Actor Season 3Zhejiang TV2020 December 12 – 2021 March 6Xie Keyin (contestant)Treasured Village ()Zhejiang TV2020 December 20 – 2021 February 21Kong Xue'er (fixed cast)2021HAHAHAHAHA Season 1iQiYi and Tencent VideoJanuary 15–22Yu Shuxin (guest, episode 10), Kong Xue'er (guest, episodes 10.2–11)Youth With You 3iQiYiFebruary 18 – May 1Yu Shuxin (Youth Tutor); The9 (guests, episode 8); Yu Yan, An Qi, Lu Keran (senior mentor collaboration performance)
Concert YearNameDatePlatform/Venue 2021X-City26 & 27 March 2021iQiyi (Online)
Awards
+Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nominationAwardYearCategoryNominee / WorkResultCosmo Glam Night 20202020Artist of the YearThe9Madame Figaro Beauty StarBeauty Star2021 iQIYI Scream NightPopular Female Artist2020 Ifeng Fashion ChoiceFashion Energy Group of the Year2020 Sina Fashion Style AwardsIdol Group of the YearRayli Fashion GalaFavourite Group of the YearAsian Pop Music AwardsPopularity Award (Female Group)Sina Film and Television FestivalMusical Work of the Year斯芬克斯 (SphinX)Variety Show of the YearLet's Party! 20202020 Baidu Entertainment Awards2021Best Group of the Year The92020 Weibo NightWeibo's Hottest Group of the YearWeibo Starlight Awards 2020The Most Popular Artist Internationally
Notes
References
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