Minho’s New Mini Album ‘Make It Hot’ Releases on Sept. 7

Minho will return with his second mini album on Sept. 7, nearly four years after ‘CHASE’ and nine months after ‘TEMPO.’

SHINee’s Minho is turning up the heat with a new solo comeback.

Minho will release his second mini album, Make It Hot, on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. KST, according to SM Entertainment. The six-track record will include a title song of the same name and arrive across major music streaming platforms.

The comeback was also announced through SHINee’s official YouTube channel, while preorders have opened through the SMTOWN Global Shop.

Make It Hot arrives approximately nine months after Minho released the two-track single TEMPO in December 2025. The project included the title track “TEMPO” and “You’re Right,” according to the official SMTOWN release listing.

But the significance of the new album goes beyond the length of the break between releases. It is Minho’s first mini album since CHASE in 2022, making it a return to the format that formally established his identity as a solo artist.

Why ‘Make It Hot’ Is an Important Release for Minho

Minho has spent years building a solo catalog that does not simply reproduce SHINee’s group sound.

His early solo releases introduced a more restrained musical character. He released “I’m Home” in 2019, followed by “Heartbreak” in 2021. The latter was later included on his six-track debut mini album CHASE, which leaned into hip-hop and R&B while presenting a moodier side of the performer.

His musical range expanded further with his first full-length album, CALL BACK, in November 2024. The ten-track record moved across R&B pop, dance and hip-hop, giving Minho more space to define what his own music could sound like outside SHINee. The album reached No. 6 on Korea’s Circle Album Chart.

At the time, Minho said he wanted to demonstrate that he could handle R&B pop and gradually expand his musical world through different types of performances, according to The Korea Times.

That progression gives Make It Hot a clear position in his discography.

CHASE introduced Minho as a solo album artist. CALL BACK widened his musical range. TEMPO emphasized movement and performance. Now, Make It Hot appears ready to bring those elements together in a more concentrated six-track project.

SM Entertainment has described the album as carrying the “hot energy” suggested by its title. Full information about the songs, producers and musical genres has not yet been released, leaving the exact direction of the record open.

Still, the title points toward a more direct and energetic concept than the darker emotional atmosphere associated with CHASE.

A Solo Identity Built Around More Than Intensity

For longtime K-pop fans, Minho has always been closely associated with passion.

Since debuting with SHINee in 2008, he has become known for his competitive personality, physical performance style and intense stage presence. That image can make a title such as Make It Hot feel immediately suited to him.

His solo music, however, has gradually revealed something more nuanced.

Rather than relying entirely on the explosive energy seen in SHINee performances, Minho’s individual releases have often emphasized lower vocal tones, controlled delivery and R&B-centered production. Songs including “Chase,” “Call Back,” “Heartbreak” and “TEMPO” have explored different versions of that identity without separating him completely from the performance skills that shaped his career.

This balance may be the most interesting question surrounding the new album.

Will Make It Hot push Minho toward a brighter and more forceful sound, or will it reinterpret “heat” through the polished R&B style that has become central to his solo work?

Minho’s Solo Career Enters a More Consistent Phase

The release also reflects the growing consistency of Minho’s solo career.

He was the last SHINee member to release a solo mini album, but his catalog has expanded steadily since CHASE. In less than four years, he has followed that record with a full-length album, a physical single and now a second mini album.

That sequence suggests that his solo career is no longer being treated as an occasional extension of his group activities.

Minho has also developed as a live solo performer. Following the release of CALL BACK, he held his first solo concert, giving him an opportunity to build a performance identity around his own catalog rather than SHINee’s music alone.

At the same time, he has continued acting in television and film, adding another dimension to a career that now moves between group music, solo releases, concerts and screen roles.

Nearly Two Decades After Debut, Minho Is Still Expanding

Minho debuted with SHINee in 2008 and has participated in some of the group’s most recognizable songs, including “Replay,” “Ring Ding Dong,” “Lucifer,” “Sherlock” and “View.”

Reaching an established position within one of K-pop’s most influential groups could have made experimentation unnecessary. Instead, each SHINee member has developed a distinct solo identity alongside the group, and Minho’s path has become increasingly clear with every release.

Make It Hot will not need to introduce Minho to the public. Its challenge is more interesting: showing how an artist approaching two decades in the industry can continue refining who he is when he stands alone.

Minho’s second mini album Make It Hot will be released on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. KST.