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Kwon Ji-yong (Korean: 권지용; born August 18, 1988),[1] best known as G-Dragon (지드래곤), is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, known as the "King of K-pop".[2][3][4][5] Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, G-Dragon made his debut in 2006 and rose to prominence as the leader of the South Korean bo... |
In 2009, he released his first solo album Heartbreaker; the album and its title track of the same name were commercially successful, becoming the best-selling album by a Korean soloist at the time and earning him Album of the Year at the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards. This was followed by a collaboration with bandmate T... |
In 2013, he embarked on his first worldwide tour as a solo artist, making him the first Korean soloist to tour Japanese dome arenas.[8] His 2017 EP, Kwon Ji Yong, yielded the number one single "Untitled, 2014", and the supporting concert tour Act III: M.O.T.T.E became the largest tour ever conducted by a Korean soloist... |
Widely recognized for his influence on youth culture, fashion trends, and music in South Korea,[11] G-Dragon was included in Forbes list of the 2030 Power Leaders List for three consecutive years, Ilgan Sports's list of the most influential entities in K-pop in 2013, and was named amongst the best boy band members of a... |
Life and career |
1988–2008: Career beginnings |
Main article: BigBang (South Korean band) |
G-Dragon was born on August 18, 1988, in Seoul, South Korea.[1] G-Dragon began his career at age six as part of the group Little Roo'Ra.[15] Following the release of the group's Christmas album, the group's contract was terminated by their record company, which shocked G-Dragon. Although he vowed to his mother that he ... |
During his third grade year, a friend introduced G-Dragon to the American rap group Wu-Tang Clan. Having been influenced by their music, he developed interest in rapping and began taking classes.[15] After attending a summer school hosted by the South Korean hiphop group People Crew which he joined after begging his mo... |
G-Dragon at MTV Fast Forward, Thailand, 2007 |
He chose the stage name G-Dragon ("Ji" is pronounced like "G", and Yong is Korean for "dragon").[16] He featured on other artists' albums and even released several singles with Dong under the name "GDYB." After YG Entertainment scrapped the plan and opted for a boy band instead, G-Dragon contacted Choi, who auditioned ... |
The formation of the group was documented on television,[22] but prior to their official debut, Jang was dropped.[16] The now-quintet's debut was a moderate success, with their first album selling over 100,000 copies,[23] and included G-Dragon's first solo recording, a cover of the American alternative rock group Maroo... |
2009–2011: Solo debut and commercial popularity |
"Heartbreaker" (2009) |
Duration: 19 seconds.0:19 |
His first official solo single, "Heartbreaker" drew controversy over similarities to the song "Right Round" by Flo Rida |
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In 2009, G-Dragon was featured on singer Lexy's song "Super Fly" for her album Rush alongside Taeyang and T.O.P. He later collaborated with the Japanese boy band W-inds. for their single, "Rain Is Fallin'/Hybrid Dream".[27][28] His first solo album, Heartbreaker, was initially scheduled to be released in April that yea... |
On March 6, 2010, YG Entertainment announced that they personally contacted Flo Rida's representatives requesting that he feature in G-Dragon's live album, Shine a Light, to which Flo Rida accepted.[37] In support of his album, G-Dragon staged his first solo concert at Olympic Gymnastics Arena in December 2009. The nam... |
In November 2010, G-Dragon and T.O.P released their collaboration album GD & TOP.[44] Preceding the release of the album, the duo held a worldwide premiere showcase for their album at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo of Seoul,[45] which was also broadcast live on YouTube.[46] To promote their album, the duo released three ... |
G-Dragon performing with T.O.P. in 2011 |
G-Dragon also formed a duo with Park Myung Soo for the Infinite Challenge Seohae Ahn Highway Song Festival 2011. They released their song "Having an Affair" featuring Park Bom from 2NE1 on June 2, 2011. The song later became the second most downloaded song on the Gaon Music Chart for the year 2011.[52] |
Promotional activities halted after G-Dragon tested positive for marijuana.[53] Though a urine test back in August came back negative, a weak positive for marijuana was detected from testing the content of his hair in October. Since it was his first recorded offense with a minuscule amount of the drug, it resulted in a... |
2012–2013: Breakthrough years and comeback with Big Bang |
G-Dragon performing at the Alive Galaxy Tour on September 28, 2012. |
While working on new solo materials, G-Dragon made an appearance in the Japanese version of Pixie Lott's album Young Foolish Happy, along with T.O.P.[56] His first extended play One of a Kind was released on September 15, 2012,[57][58] drawing positive reviews, placing first on the Billboard World Album Chart and enter... |
In August 2013, G-Dragon performed "Shake The World" as an intro to "One Of A Kind," "Feat. Missy Elliott" (Missy Elliott Ver.) and "Crayon" at the KCON 2013 concert in Los Angeles.[68] |
After touring extensively, G-Dragon went back into the studio to record his second studio album. YG Entertainment later announced that Grammy Award-winning musician Missy Elliott will be featured on the album.[69] Coup d'Etat (2013) was released in two parts online, with the full album released physically on September ... |
G-Dragon participated in the Infinite Challenge music festival again for the second time on October 17, 2013, in Imjingak, composing and performing the song "Going to Try" with comedian Jeong Hyeong-don.[77] |
2014–2016: New albums and rising success |
G-Dragon became a face of Airbnb for Asia in 2015. |
In 2014, G-Dragon wrote and produced for other YG artists. He wrote the track "Good to You" from 2NE1's album Crush. He also worked on Taeyang's second album Rise, writing and producing the lead single "Ringa Linga" and "Stay With Me", and was a featured artist on the latter track.[78] In November 2014, G-Dragon and Ta... |
G-Dragon spent the majority of 2015 and 2016 touring with his band for their third Korean album, performing for over 3.6 million fans in two years.[86][87][88][89][90] In 2015, he participated in the Infinite Challenge music festival for the third consecutive time, and for the first time with bandmate Taeyang. The duo ... |
2017–2018: Kwon Ji Yong, record-breaking tour, and military service |
On February 1, 2017, G-Dragon featured on Zion.T's song "Complex"[97] which peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart.[98] He also served as a guest rapper for IU's lead single "Palette," off her album of the same name[99] which topped the Gaon Chart for two consecutive weeks.[100] After the promotional activities... |
The single "Bullshit" was set to serve as the lead single to precede the release of his second self-titled EP.[102] Due to bandmate T.O.P's marijuana scandal, and the single's provocative name, "Untitled, 2014" was released to radio instead to avoid further controversy for the artist's record label.[103] Forgoing the t... |
G-Dragon began his two-year mandatory military service on February 27, 2018, by entering the 3rd Infantry Division's boot camp in Gangwon province as an active duty soldier, where he was set to be discharged on October 26, 2019, after completing the requirements.[117] |
2020–present: Return from military and departure from YG Entertainment |
On October 26, 2019, G-Dragon was officially discharged from the military.[118] Shortly after his discharge, G-Dragon became the first Korean musician to collaborate with Nike in November 2019 for the Nike Air Force 1 Para-Noise.[119] |
On May 4, 2020, G-Dragon signed a contract to model for a famous beverage brand Chapai in China's Nongpushan.[120] On April 4, 2022, G-Dragon made a comeback with BigBang when they released their first song in four years, "Still Life".[121] |
On January 1, 2023, G-Dragon announced he would be preparing a comeback album.[122] In June of that year, YG commented that G-Dragon's contract had expired, though would be collaborating with him for activities such as advertising while discussing his renewal further.[123][124] On December 20, it was announced that G-D... |
Artistry |
Music |
G-Dragon in September 2012 |
Inspired by the music of Wu-Tang Clan and citing American rapper and singer Pharrell Williams as his "musical hero",[128] G-Dragon's production discography is predominately hip hop.[129] He has also listed Jinusean, Fabolous and Kanye West as influences.[130] At the age of 12, he participated in the annual hip hop Flex... |
His first album Heartbreaker was a mix of dance, hip-hop, and R&B[133] while acoustic, hip hop and electronic music influenced GD & TOP.[46] The song "Crayon" from the EP One of a Kind is a mix between hip-hop and electronic music[134] whereas "One of a Kind" is hip hop and pop-rap song.[135] G-Dragon's second album, C... |
Kwon Ji Yong continues to feature songs under the hip-hop and R&B genre, with the exception of its lead single, "Untitled, 2014", which is a ballad. Despite primarily being a rapper, the latter also has G-Dragon only singing over a "single piano accompaniment,"[143] with Jeff Benjamin of Fuse comparing the song to Adel... |
Lyrics and themes |
G-Dragon writes the majority of his lyrics, explaining that "each feeling [in creating the music] is different",[147] using his emotions to direct the lyrical content and the composition of his songs.[148] Preferring to pen lyrics that "sound like an actual story,"[35] G-Dragon has said he injects throughout his songwr... |
"I have this disease-like need to try to create something new. When you're kind of being chased, and everything you do goes so well, you develop this sickness and a sense of need to constantly do something different." |
— G-Dragon[130] |
The Guardian noted that his songs stand out for "more in-depth themes including self-destruction and narcissism."[150] The lyrics in his song "A Boy" was in response to the negative criticisms surrounding his 2009 plagiarism controversy, with the artist refusing to give up on his career despite the setbacks.[151] "Croo... |
He also explored other themes as a producer for BigBang: "If You" was inspired during a time when the artist was in love,[155] "Bae Bae" was inspired by the work of British artist Francis Bacon and the eroticism in his paintings,[156] while "Loser" was written in an attempt to humanize the group.[157] To distinguish hi... |
Stage and alter ego |
G-Dragon in stage outfit on Big Bang's Alive Tour in 2012 |
G-Dragon's stage presence and performances have been well received.[163] In a review for his One of a Kind World Tour, Billboard claimed that G-Dragon was a "highly-energetic performer" and was pushing boundaries with this tour, which was described as "vibrant" and a "Michael Jackson-level affair".[164] MWave stated th... |
Billboard K-Town describes his productions as large-scale, dramatic and infused with his personality,[169] often incorporating a live band alongside professional dancers, various costumes changes, manipulation of stage lights, and the use of pyrotechnics.[4][170] The singer-rapper's stage outfits have also garnered att... |
While promoting his EP Kwon Ji Yong, G-Dragon revealed that he originally created the alter ego G-Dragon to keep his stage persona separated from who he really is. Seoul Beats have described G-Dragon as "glamorous, cocky, [and] energetic", compared to his real-life "humble [and] understated" personality.[172] In a 2017... |
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