No Limit is the tenth extended play of the South Korean boy group Monsta X. It was released by Starship Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment on November 19, 2021.
Background and release The EP was announced on October 24. The tracklist was announced on November 5, with the EP having seven tracks, including the title track "Rush Hour". Joohoney was a co-producer for "Rush Hour", including writing lyrics for the title track alongside I.M, and as a co-writer and a co-producer for the tracks "Autobahn" and "Just Love", while Hyungwon was a co-writer and a co-producer for the track "Mercy". The EP did not feature Shownu, due to him serving his mandatory military enlistment.
Monsta X held a comeback showcase on Universe to introduce the EP alongside its title track on November 18. On November 23, they appeared on Kim Young-chul's SBS Power FM. On that same day, Monsta X showed up on MBC's Idol Radio hosted by members Hyungwon and Joohoney. On November 25, they appeared on SBS' MMTG's Civilization Express hosted by Jaejae. On December 1, Monsta X wrapped up their official activities for the comeback on Naver Now's Midnight Idol hosted by members Kihyun and I.M.
The physical EP was released in four standard versions, with the addition of jewel cases version and KiT version.
Composition No Limit contains Monsta X's determination to go straight for the world with spirit and confidence, while shining brighter in the age of infinite competition, and also proving the infinite possibilities of "limitless" in any situation.
"Rush Hour" is a hip hop-EDM song expressing the plethoric nature of the K-pop industry as heavy traffic, "Autobahn" is a song with club-ready electronic beat, "Ride with U" is trap beats meet the faintest trace of funk song, "Got Me in Chains" is a song with striking layers of techno and R&B, "Just Love" is a gentle meld of pop and R&B song, "Mercy" is a dark and foreboding song with gothic sonic elements, and "I Got Love" is a generic blend of trap and hip hop song.
Critical reception
Reviewing the EP for NME, Carmen Chin showed that it upholds the group's ambition "to unashamedly evolve into musicians who break barriers" and it delivers "quality music shaped by the very hands of Monsta X", with all the tracks "flaunt[ing] either writing or production credits from two or more members of the group at a time".
Divyansha Dongre, writing for Rolling Stone India, wrote that "Rush Hour" captures the group's "vocal prowess and mastery in the hip hop-EDM sphere", adding that its confidence-inspiring lyrical arrangement "effortlessly encapsulates the group's strengths that contributed to their dynamic growth since their debut in 2015".
Listicles + Name of critic or publication, name of listicle, name of work and rank Critic/Publication List Work Rank Album South China Morning Post 25 Best K-pop Albums of 2021 No Limit 25
Commercial performance The EP debuted at number four on the monthly Gaon Album Chart and sold more than 400,000 copies in its first month of release in South Korea. Monsta X also received their first Hanteo Chart Silver Certification Plaque for achieving more than 280,000 copies in Initial Chodong sales with No Limit and surpassing their previous record of 197,841 copies with One of a Kind in its first week of release in South Korea.
"Rush Hour" peaked at number 75 on the weekly Gaon Digital Chart, while it debuted at number 142 on the monthly Gaon Digital Chart, making it the group's first entry on the monthly chart for digitals. The track also debuted at number 11 on the weekly Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart, and at number 69 on the weekly Billboard K-pop Hot 100. All the other tracks on the EP did not appear on the Gaon Digital Chart, but did appear on its component, the Gaon Download Chart, with "Autobahn" peaking at 55, "Ride with U" at 59, "Just Love" at 62, "Mercy" at 64, "I Got Love" at 65, and "Got Me in Chains" at 67. It is a career high for Monsta X for number of music program wins, achieving a total of five trophies upon the group's two weeks of promotions, two from The Show, two from Show Champion, and one from Music Bank.
Track listing
Charts Album
Weekly charts + Chart performance for No Limit Chart (2021) Peakposition Japanese Albums (Oricon) 34 South Korean Albums (Gaon) 1
Monthly chart + Chart performance for No Limit Chart (2021) Peakposition South Korean Albums (Gaon) 4
Year-end chart + Chart performance for No Limit Chart (2021) Position South Korean Albums (Gaon) 30
Songs
Weekly charts + Chart performance for "Rush Hour" Chart (2021) Peakposition South Korea (Gaon) 75 South Korea (K-pop Hot 100) 69 US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard) 11
Monthly chart + Chart performance for "Rush Hour" Chart (2021) Peakposition South Korea (Gaon) 142
Certification and sales + Certification and sales for No Limit Region Certification Certified units/Sales South Korea (KMCA) Platinum 456,266Cumulative sales for No Limit (Kit + CD): Japan — 2,651
Accolades + Music program award for "Rush Hour" Program Date (5 total) Music Bank November 26, 2021 Show Champion November 24, 2021 December 1, 2021 The Show November 23, 2021 November 30, 2021
Release history + Release history and formats for No LimitRegionDateFormatLabel South Korea November 19, 2021 Various
See also Now Project List of certified albums in South Korea List of Gaon Album Chart number ones of 2021 List of K-pop songs on the Billboard charts List of K-pop songs on the World Digital Song Sales chart
References