Former NCT member Mark Lee may be getting ready for a new career beginning in the United States following his departure from SM Entertainment. Speculation about the Canadian singer’s plans started shortly after April 8, 2026, when he officially terminated his exclusive contract with the company, leaving NCT and its sub-units. On April 3, 2026, he shared a handwritten letter online discussing a “new chapter” in his life and his longtime interest in writing music in English.
After this, fans quickly noticed that Tunji Balogun, the chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, followed Mark on social media. This type of online interaction was seen as a sign of business talks or future collaborations. The rumors gained more attention because Def Jam Recordings is strongly connected to hip hop and R&B artists, two genres that are connected to Mark’s style. Before joining Def Jam, Balogun worked at RCA Records and helped the careers of stars such as SZA, Khalid, and Bryson Tiller. Mark’s background as a Canadian artist who speaks fluent English also makes him a strong candidate for a music career in North America.
Tunji Balogun, CEO of Def Jam Recordings (recording label for Justin Bieber) has followed #MARK on instagram. pic.twitter.com/4RVbNFqH7l
— MARK LEE BASE (@Marklee_base) April 19, 2026
Another clue appeared on April 23, 2026, when rising singer Genia uploaded a video featuring Mark inside a recording studio. She captioned the clip, “Genia x Mark Lee !! When KPop & POP Meet,” which makes fans believe new music is on the way. Genia signed with Def Jam in 2024 and recently released her single “Doomsday.” Meanwhile, Mark already proved his solo power with his April 2025 album “The Firstfruit,” which sold more than 540,000 copies during its first week. The album had R&B, hip-hop, and pop influences, proving Mark’s versatility as a soloist.
