G-Dragon

Kwon Ji-yong (born August 18, 1988), best known as G-Dragon, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, known as the "King of K-pop".

G-Dragon is the recipient of numerous awards, including seven Mnet Asian Music Awards, six Melon Music Awards, two Korean Music Awards, two Golden Disc Awards, two MBC Entertainment Awards, among several other awards.

G-Dragon was born on August 18, 1988, in Seoul, South Korea.

G-Dragon began his career at age six as part of the group Little Roo'Ra.

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 "wouldn't [try to become a singer] again," he was scouted by SM Entertainment on a ski trip with his family.

He was a trainee under the record label SM Entertainment for five years (from 8–13 years old), specializing in dance before he left.

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.

After attending a summer school hosted by the South Korean hiphop group People Crew which he joined after begging his mom, he was introduced to Lee Hee sung, who was member of another South Korean hip hop group X-teen, who tried to make G-dragon into Korea's Bow Wow.

Under People Crew's tutelage, he participated in the release of the Korean hip-hop album Korean hiphop Flex(대한민국 힙합플렉스 2001) in 2001, becoming the youngest Korean rapper at 13 years old.

Although he wrote his own lyrics, he admitted that his English was weak and the story behind the lyrics was just another typical "I'm young, but I'm the best" story.

Additionally, he and future fellow BigBang member Choi Seung-hyun were "neighborhood friend[s] from middle school" and would often dance and rap together before G-Dragon moved away.

Catching the interest of Sean of the hip-hop duo Jinusean from YG Entertainment, he recommended G-Dragon to Sean's record label's CEO Yang Hyun Suk.

After signing a contract with the record label, G-Dragon spent the first year cleaning the studio for the other artists in the record label and fetching water bottles during dance practice.

He chose the stage name G-Dragon ("Ji" is pronounced like "G", and Yong is Korean for "dragon").

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 in.

G-Dragon, Dong (who chose the stage name Taeyang), and Choi (who chose the stage name T.O.P), were paired with three other members (Jang Hyun-seung, Daesung, and Seungri).

The formation of the group was documented on television, but prior to their official debut, Jang was dropped.

The now-quintet's debut was a moderate success, with their first album selling over 100,000 copies, and included G-Dragon's first solo recording, a cover of the American alternative rock group Maroon 5's single "This Love".

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, G-Dragon officially debuted in 2006 and rose to prominence as the leader of the South Korean boy band BigBang, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands in the world.

The release of the EP Always in 2007 was a musical departure from their previous materials and saw G-Dragon's increased involvement in its production.

Several songs were composed by him, including the lead-single "Lies", which became the group's first number one hit.

Their following EPs followed its predecessor's footsteps: Hot Issue yielded "Last Farewell" while Stand Up spawned "Haru Haru"; both singles, composed by him, were chart-toppers.

Having produced the majority of BigBang's materials, G-Dragon became involved with the production of Taeyang's debut extended play Hot (2008), after which he subsequently recorded a "Part Two" to the EP's lead single "Only Look at Me".

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.

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".

His first solo album, Heartbreaker, was initially scheduled to be released in April that year, but was pushed back to August.

Featuring collaborations with several artists, including Teddy of 1TYM, Taeyang, Kush, CL and Sandara Park of 2NE1.

Propelled by its lead-single of the same name, an electronic pop song that sold nearly five million downloads, the album surpassed 300,000 copies sold and went on to win Album of the Year from the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

This was followed by a collaboration with bandmate T.O.P for the album GD & T.O.P in 2010.

His first EP One of a Kind (2012), spawned three singles: "One of a Kind", "Crayon", and the chart-topper "That XX".

Additionally, he is the first and only solo artist to receive the Mnet Asian Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2013.

The EP earned Best Album at the 2013 Seoul Music Awards.

In 2013, he embarked on his first worldwide tour as a solo artist, making him the first Korean soloist to tour Japanese dome arenas.

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.

In 2023, G-Dragon officially departed YG Entertainment after 20 years of activities, signing to Galaxy Corporation under his real name.

Widely recognized for his influence on youth culture, fashion trends, and music in South Korea, 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 all time by The Guardian.

G-Dragon has written or co-written 23 number one songs on the Gaon Digital Chart most of which he has also co-produced.