G-Dragon 2012 4.jpg
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Kwon Ji-yong (; born August 18, 1988), also known by his stage name G-Dragon (지드래곤), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer, known as the " King of K-pop". G-Dragon is the recipient of numerous awards, including seven
Mnet Asian Music Awards The MAMA Awards (formerly Mnet Asian Music Awards) is a major music awards ceremony presented annually by entertainment company CJ E&M. First held in South Korea, the majority of prizes has been won by K-pop artists, although there are other As ...
, six Melon Music Awards, two Korean Music Awards, two
Golden Disc Awards The Golden Disc Awards (, formerly spelled the Golden Disk Awards before 2015) is an annual South Korean major music awards ceremony that honors achievements in the local music industry. The awards ceremony was founded with the purpose to promo ...
, two
MBC Entertainment Awards The MBC Entertainment Awards () is a Korean awards ceremony held annually and sponsored by MBC. The awards ceremony is held at the end of each year and lasts approximately 140 minutes, being broadcast in two parts on MBC. Hosts History of w ...
, among several other awards. Additionally, he is the first and only solo artist to receive the Mnet Asian Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2013. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, G-Dragon officially debuted in 2006 and rose to prominence as the leader of the South Korean group
Big Bang The Big Bang event is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models of the Big Bang explain the evolution of the observable universe from the ...
, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands in the world. In 2009, he released his first solo album ''
Heartbreaker Heartbreaker(s) or The Heart Breaker(s) may refer to: Film and television *''The Heart Breakers'', a 1916 film starring Andrew Arbuckle *''The Heart Breaker'', a 1925 film directed by Benjamin Stoloff * ''Heartbreaker'' (1983 film), an American f ...
;'' 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 Album of the Year, often abbreviated to AOTY, may refer to: Awards * ARIA Award for Album of the Year, Australia * Brit Award for British Album of the Year, UK * Grammy Award for Album of the Year, US * Juno Award for Album of the Year, CA * Lati ...
at the
2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards The 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) was the eleventh of the annual music awards in Seoul, South Korea that took place on November 21, 2009, at the Seoul Sports Complex. Newcomer girl group 2NE1 lead the nominations with 4 counts, followed ...
. This was followed by a collaboration with fellow Big Bang member T.O.P for the album '' GD & TOP'' in 2010. His first EP '' One of a Kind'' (2012), spawned three singles: " One of a Kind", " Crayon", and the chart-topper " That XX". 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 "Untitled, 2014" () is a song recorded by South Korean singer-rapper G-Dragon, serving as the lead single for his second extended play and self-titled ''Kwon Ji Yong'' (2017). It was written by G-Dragon, who also co-produced the song with Choice37 ...
", 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, G-Dragon was named by '' Forbes'' in 2016 as the most influential person under 30 in Asia's entertainment and sports. G-Dragon has written or co-written 23 number one songs on the
Gaon Digital Chart The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based o ...
most of which he has also co-produced.


Life and career


1988–2008: Career beginnings

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 ry to become a singeragain," 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 Big Bang member
Choi Seung-hyun Choi Seung Hyun, also known as Shawn Choi, is a South Korean film score composer. He has composed music for movies such as '' Oldboy'', '' The Classic'', '' Windstruck'', ''My Girlfriend Is an Agent'', and many more. His works are well known to ...
were "neighborhood friend 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 Jang Hyun-seung (; born September 3, 1989) most often credited as Hyunseung, is a South Korean singer. He is best known as a former member of the boy group Beast. With Beast, he has released singles and albums in both Korean and Japanese. Be ...
,
Daesung Kang Dae-sung (Hangul: 강대성; born April 26, 1989), better known mononymously as Daesung and his Japanese stage name D-Lite, is a South Korean singer, actor and television personality who made his musical debut in 2006 as a member of the Sou ...
, 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 Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine (musician), James Valentine, drummer Matt ...
's single " This Love". The release of the EP ''
Always Always may refer to: Film and television * ''Always'', a 1985 film directed by Henry Jaglom * ''Always'' (1989 film), a 1989 romantic comedy-drama directed by Steven Spielberg * ''Always'' (2011 film), a 2011 South Korean film, also known as '' ...
'' 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 Stand Up may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Stand-up comedy, a comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience Film * ''Stand Up'' (2007 film), a film featuring Modi Rosenfeld * ''Stand Up'' (2008 film), a Brit ...
'' spawned " Day by Day"; both singles, composed by him, were chart-toppers. Having produced the majority of Big Bang'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".


2009–2011: Solo debut and commercial popularity

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. is a Japanese pop boy band managed by Vision Factory and signed to the Pony Canyon label since 2000. The group consists of Ryohei Chiba and Keita Tachibana; Ryuichi Ogata left the group in 2020. Tachibana is the lead singer of the group, whil ...
for their single, "
Rain Is Fallin'/Hybrid Dream Rain Is Fallin'/Hybrid Dream is the 26th single by Japanese pop group W-inds. Information The single was produced by Swedish producer Jakob Oloffson, Magnus Lidehäll from Swedish hip hop crew Afasi & Filthy, and Japanese hip hop producer and a ...
". His first solo album, ''
Heartbreaker Heartbreaker(s) or The Heart Breaker(s) may refer to: Film and television *''The Heart Breakers'', a 1916 film starring Andrew Arbuckle *''The Heart Breaker'', a 1925 film directed by Benjamin Stoloff * ''Heartbreaker'' (1983 film), an American f ...
'', was initially scheduled to be released in April that year, but was pushed back to August. Featuring collaborations with several artists, including
Teddy Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympic epee fencer * Tedd ...
of
1TYM 1TYM (Korean: 원타임, pronounced as "One Time") was a four-member South Korean group. They were Teddy Park (also known as Park Hong-jun), Oh Jinhwan, Song Baekyoung, and Danny Im (also known as Im Taebin). History In the late 1990s, YG CE ...
, Taeyang, Kush, CL and Sandara Park of
2NE1 2NE1 (, ) was a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, which was active between 2009 and 2016. The group was composed of four members: Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy. Known for breaking typical stereotypes of K-pop, musical experiment ...
, the album marked a change in G-Dragon's appearance as he dyed his hair blonde to match its concept. 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 The MAMA Awards (formerly Mnet Asian Music Awards) is a major music awards ceremony presented annually by entertainment company CJ E&M. First held in South Korea, the majority of prizes has been won by K-pop artists, although there are other As ...
. Shortly after ''Heartbreakers release, G-Dragon was accused of plagiarism by Sony Music when his tracks "
Heartbreaker Heartbreaker(s) or The Heart Breaker(s) may refer to: Film and television *''The Heart Breakers'', a 1916 film starring Andrew Arbuckle *''The Heart Breaker'', a 1925 film directed by Benjamin Stoloff * ''Heartbreaker'' (1983 film), an American f ...
" and " Butterfly" were alleged to be similar to
Flo Rida Tramar Lacel Dillard (born September 16, 1979), better known by his stage name Flo Rida (, ), is an American rapper and singer. His 2007 breakout single " Low" was number one for 10 weeks in the United States and broke the record for digital dow ...
's "
Right Round "Right Round" is a single performed by American rapper Flo Rida featuring guest vocals from American singer Kesha. It was released as the lead Single (music), single from his second studio album, ''R.O.O.T.S.'' (2009). It was released to radio ...
" and Oasis's " She's Electric", respectively. However, EMI, the record label that distributed "Right Round" said that they saw no similarities between these two songs. On March 6, 2010, YG Entertainment announced that they personally contacted
Flo Rida Tramar Lacel Dillard (born September 16, 1979), better known by his stage name Flo Rida (, ), is an American rapper and singer. His 2007 breakout single " Low" was number one for 10 weeks in the United States and broke the record for digital dow ...
's representatives requesting that he feature in G-Dragon's live album, '' Shine a Light'', to which Flo Rida accepted. In support of his album, G-Dragon staged his first solo concert at
Olympic Gymnastics Arena The Olympic Gymnastics Arena (), also known as the KSPO Dome since 2018, is an indoor arena located within the Olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea. It has a capacity of 15,000 and can be extended upto 20,000. It was constructed between 31 Aug ...
in December 2009. The name of the concert, Shine a Light'','' was derived from the lyrics to his song "
A Boy "A Boy" ( ko, 소년이여, ''Sonyeoniyeo'') is a song recorded by the South Korean singer G-Dragon. It was released as the fourth and final single from his debut album ''Heartbreaker''. G-Dragon stated that the song was released as an answer to ...
". The concert subsequently sparked controversy following complaints of obscenity and suggestive content. The Korean Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs later asked the government prosecutors to investigate if G-Dragon or YG Entertainment violated laws on obscene performances in his concert. He was found innocent and was cleared of all charges on March 15, 2010. In November 2010, G-Dragon and T.O.P released their
collaboration Collaboration (from Latin ''com-'' "with" + ''laborare'' "to labor", "to work") is the process of two or more people, entities or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is similar to cooperation. Most ...
album ''GD & TOP''. Preceding the release of the album, the duo held a worldwide premiere showcase for their album at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo of Seoul, which was also broadcast live on YouTube. To promote their album, the duo released three singles: "
High High "High High" is a song recorded by South Korean duo GD & TOP. It was released on December 15, 2010, by YG Entertainment, as the first single from their self-titled debut album ''GD & TOP'' (2010). It was written by the duo with Teddy, and produced b ...
", "Oh Yeah", and "Knock Out" (Korean: 뻑이가요; Revised Romanization: ''Ppeogigayo''). All three singles preceded the release of the album and achieved commercial success: "High High" scored number one on several music programs while "Oh Yeah" peaked at number two on the
Gaon Digital Chart The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based o ...
. The album was released on Christmas Eve, and debuted at number one on the
Gaon Album Chart The Circle Album Chart, previously known as the Gaon Album Chart, is a record chart ranking the 100 most popular albums, extended plays and single albums in South Korea based on their Record sales, pure sales. It is a part of the Circle Chart, pr ...
with pre-orders of 200,000 copies. G-Dragon also formed a duo with
Park Myung Soo Park Myung-soo (born August 27, 1970) is a South Korean DJ, comedian, MC, singer, and songwriter who debuted on television in 1993, appearing on MBC. He co-hosted the top-rated comic variety programme ''Infinite Challenge'' and also hosted t ...
for the
Infinite Challenge ''Infinite Challenge'' (; abbreviated as ''Mudo'') is a South Korean television entertainment program, distributed and syndicated by MBC, that ran from 2005 to 2018. As of January 2013, it had the largest market share for its timeslot; with ...
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 The Circle Chart (), previously known as the Gaon Music Chart or the Gaon Chart (), tabulates the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in South Korea. It is produced by the Korea Music Content Association and sponsored by South Korea's ...
for the year 2011. Promotional activities halted after G-Dragon tested positive for marijuana. 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 an indictment and he was not charged. He later claimed to have accepted a cigarette offered by a fan in Japan during a party back in May, but after realizing it was not a normal cigarette, threw it away. He made his first public appearance after the scandal at the 2011 MTV EMAs with his group.


2012–2013: Breakthrough years and comeback with Big Bang

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. His first extended play ''One of a Kind'' was released on September 15, 2012, drawing positive reviews, placing first on the ''Billboard'' World Album Chart and entering the ''Billboard'' 200 Chart at 161. Three singles were released to support the album: the top-five hit " One of a Kind," which earned him the Best Hip Hop and Rap Song of the Year awards from the Korean Music Awards and the Rhythmer Awards respectively; the number one " That XX" and the top-three hit " Crayon" that was ranked by '' Spin Magazine'' as the best K-Pop single of the year. The album sold over 200,000 copies, making it the highest selling solo album in Korea since the release of his debut album ''Heartbreaker'' in 2009. He won "Best Male Solo Artist" at the 14th Mnet Asian Music Awards and "Record of the Year" for ''One of a Kind'' at the 22nd Seoul Music Awards. G-Dragon also embarked on the
One of a Kind World Tour The One of a Kind World Tour was the first headlining concert tour by South Korean singer and rapper G-Dragon, in support of his first EP One of a Kind (G-Dragon EP), ''One of a Kind'' (2012). The tour visited 9 countries and 13 cities in 2013, ga ...
in 2013, becoming the first Korean solo artist to hold a four-dome tour in Japan and the second Korean solo artist to have a world tour (the first being Rain). The production of the tour cost $3.5 million, making it the largest scale in Korean history at the time. The tour was held in 8 countries, visited 13 cities for a total of 27 concerts gathering 570,000 fans. In August 2013, G-Dragon performed "Shake The World" as an intro to "One Of A Kind," "Feat. Missy Elliot" (Missy Eliott Ver.) and "Crayon" at the KCON 2013 concert in Los Angeles. 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 Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
will be featured on the album. '' Coup d'Etat'' (2013) was released in two parts online, with the full album released physically on September 13, featuring collaborations with
Diplo Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...
, Baauer, Boys Noize, Sky Ferreira,
Siriusmo Moritz Friedrich, better known by his stage name Siriusmo, is a Berlin-based German record producer. Initially influenced by Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Squarepusher, and Aphex Twin, his tracks can be broadly defined as electronic, and are fo ...
, Zion.T, Lydia Paek, and label-mate Jennie Kim. G-Dragon and Missy Elliott performed the song " Niliria" at the KCON 2013 in Los Angeles. Six tracks from ''Coup d'Etat'' placed within the top 10 of the
Gaon Digital Chart The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based o ...
, including the number one " Who You?". The best-performing single of the album was " Crooked", with over 1.8 million digital downloads, which was his first solo music video to surpass 100 million views on YouTube. The title track " Coup d'Etat" was chosen by ''Billboard'' as one of the game-changing
EDM EDM or E-DM may refer to: Music * Electronic dance music * Early Day Miners, American band Science and technology * Electric dipole moment * Electrical discharge machining * Electronic distance measurement *Entry, Descent, and landing demonstra ...
tracks of 2013. The album entered the ''Billboard'' 200, making G-Dragon the first Korean act to have multiples entries on the chart. The success of ''Coup d'Etat'' led to G-Dragon winning a total of four awards at the 15th Mnet Asian Music Awards: Best Male Solo Artist, Best Music Video for "Coup d'Etat", Best Dance Performance for "Crooked", and the highest award, Artist of The Year. He later took home the World's Best Entertainer and World's Best Album at the World Music Awards. G-Dragon participated in the
Infinite Challenge ''Infinite Challenge'' (; abbreviated as ''Mudo'') is a South Korean television entertainment program, distributed and syndicated by MBC, that ran from 2005 to 2018. As of January 2013, it had the largest market share for its timeslot; with ...
music festival again for the second time on October 17, 2013, in
Imjingak Imjingak (, pronounced Ihm-jin-gak), and sometimes in English called the Imjingak resort, is a park located on the banks of the Imjin River along the tracks of the former Gyeongui Train Line outside the city of Paju, South Korea. The park ha ...
, composing and performing the song "Going to Try" with comedian Jeong Hyeong-don.


2014–2016: New albums and rising success

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 Rise or RISE may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * '' Rise: The Vieneo Province'', an internet-based virtual world * Rise FM, a fictional radio station in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto 3'' * Rise Kujikawa, a video ...
'', writing and producing the lead single " Ringa Linga" and "Stay With Me", and was a featured artist on the latter track. In November 2014, G-Dragon and Taeyang formed a
duo Duo may refer to: Places *Duo, West Virginia, an unincorporated community and coal town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia *Duo, Tampere, a shopping centre in Hervanta, Tampere, Finland * DUO, a twin-tower development in Singapore Arts, enterta ...
to release the single " Good Boy", which debuted at  1 on ''Billboard'''s World Digital Songs chart, the third time a Korean act topped the chart after PSY and 2NE1. The single had over 1.2 million downloads in South Korea, while its music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube; this made Big Bang the first Korean male group to have three videos with this many YouTube views. In December of the same year, G-Dragon collaborated with Skrillex and
Diplo Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...
for the song " Dirty Vibe", which features labelmate CL. The single charted at No. 15 on ''Billboard'''s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and No. 21 on Dance/Electronic Digital Songs, making them the first Korean artists to land on the chart. In 2015, he wrote and produced a song for '' Welcome Back'', the debut album of YG's new rookie group iKon. 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. 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 teamed up with ZE:A's
Hwang Kwanghee Hwang Kwang-hee (Hangul: 황광희; Hanja: 黃光熙; born August 25, 1988), also known mononymously as Kwanghee, is South Korean singer, actor, and TV personality. He debuted in 2010 as a member of the boy band ZE:A. He is also known for his a ...
and released the single "Mapsosa", which peaked at No. 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart, and sold 1.1 million copies by the end of the year, making it one of the best-selling songs of 2015. He appeared on the same show again the following year, for the ''Muhan Company'' special, in which he acted for the first time. Additionally, he featured alongside British rapper M.I.A. in Baauer's song "Temple" from his debut album '' Aa''. The song charted at No. 36 on ''Billboard'''s Dance/Electronic Digital Songs and No. 26 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, making him the first Korean male artist to chart twice on both charts.


2017–present: Military service and return to work

On February 1, 2017, G-Dragon featured on Zion.T's song "Complex" which peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart. He also served as a guest rapper for IU's lead single "
Palette Palette may refer to: * Cosmetic palette, an archaeological form * Palette, another name for a color scheme * Palette (painting), a wooden board used for mixing colors for a painting ** Palette knife, an implement for painting * Palette (company), ...
," off her album of the same name which topped the Gaon Chart for two consecutive weeks. After the promotional activities with his band wrapped up, G-Dragon began preparing for the release of his new album, along with a solo concert tour. The single " Bullshit" was set to serve as the lead single to precede the release of his second self-titled EP. Due to bandmate T.O.P's marijuana scandal, and the single's provocative name, "
Untitled, 2014 "Untitled, 2014" () is a song recorded by South Korean singer-rapper G-Dragon, serving as the lead single for his second extended play and self-titled ''Kwon Ji Yong'' (2017). It was written by G-Dragon, who also co-produced the song with Choice37 ...
" was released to radio instead to avoid further controversy for the artist's record label. Forgoing the traditional method of releasing music on
CDs The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then released in Octo ...
, ''Kwon Ji Yong'' was released in USB flash drive format on June 8, drawing criticism from Gaon, which refused to regard it as an official album. Gaon reversed its decision later that year, acknowledging the unconventional format as legitimate. The release saw him topping iTunes charts in 46 countries, the most by any Korean album, including the US iTunes chart. ''Kwon Ji Yong'' also topped the iTunes worldwide album and European iTunes charts making him the first Korean soloist to do so. In the United States, ''Kwon Ji Yong'' became his best-selling album in just one day and his third entry on the ''Billboard'' 200 and first number one on the Heatseeksers Albums. Additionally, the EP became his third chart-topper and the first by a Korean soloist to spend multiple weeks atop the ''Billboard''
World Albums The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in '' Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
. In
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, the album surpassed 760,000 digital units sold in a day on
QQ Music QQ Music () is one of the three Chinese freemium music streaming services owned by Tencent Music, a joint venture between Tencent and Spotify. As of 2018, the service is set to reach over 700 million users with an estimated 120 million subscribe ...
, the biggest music site in the country. Six days after its release, it surpassed one million copies sold, becoming the fastest album to do so and the best-selling album of the year so far. His second world tour, Act III: M.O.T.T.E, began at Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 10, 2017 and visited 29 cities across Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania. The tour is the largest tour by a Korean artist in the United States and Europe, and is the largest concert tour ever conducted by a Korean solo artist, it was attended by 654,000 people worldwide. A behind-the-scenes documentary look at the tour was released by YouTube Premium in September 2018. G-Dragon began his two-year
mandatory military service Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...
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. On October 26, 2019, G-Dragon was officially discharged from the military. 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. On May 4, 2020, G-Dragon signed a contract to model for a famous beverage brand Chapai in China's Nongpushan. On April 4, 2022, G-Dragon made a comeback with
Big Bang The Big Bang event is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models of the Big Bang explain the evolution of the observable universe from the ...
when they released their first song in four years, "
Still Life A still life (plural: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly wikt:inanimate, inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or artificiality, m ...
".


Artistry


Music

Inspired by the music of Wu-Tang Clan and citing American singer
Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...
as his "musical hero", G-Dragon's production discography is predominately hip hop. He has also listed Jinusean, Fabolous and Kanye West as influences. At the age of 12, he participated in the annual hip hop ''Flex'' album in an attempt jumpstart his career as a hip hop artist. When Big Bang debuted, G-Dragon produced mainly hip hop songs for their albums before the quintet branched out and experimented with electronic music, setting it as the new music trend in Korea. While the band continues to incorporate a diverse range of genre into their materials, G-Dragon focuses mainly on hip hop for his solo efforts and the two sub-units he is a part of ( GD & TOP, GD X Taeyang) to contrast Big Bang's sound. His first album ''Heartbreaker'' was a mix of dance, hip-hop, and R&B while acoustic, hip hop and electronic music influenced ''GD & TOP''. The song " Crayon" from the EP ''One of a Kind'' is a mix between hip-hop and electronic music whereas "One of a Kind" is hip hop and pop-rap song. G-Dragon's second album, '' Coup d'Etat'', is noted for being an eclectic mix of hip-hop, dubstep, rock, electro, and pop, with Jessica Oak from ''Billboard magazine'' describing the album's title track, which was co-produced by American DJs Diplo and Baauer, as a slow tempo
trap A trap is a mechanical device used to capture or restrain an animal for purposes such as hunting, pest control, or ecological research. Trap or TRAP may also refer to: Art and entertainment Films and television * ''Trap'' (2015 film), Fil ...
influenced song. The song also samples
Gil Scott-Heron Gilbert Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was an American Jazz poetry, jazz poet, singer, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken-word performer in the 1970s and 1980s. His collaborative efforts with musician ...
's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Meanwhile, " Crooked" was described as a "synthed-up, deliriously catchy pop-punk" with a "neon-bright" sound, fusing "heavy drumbeats and
metal guitar Heavy metal guitar (or simply metal guitar) is the use of highly- amplified electric guitar in heavy metal. Heavy metal guitar playing is rooted in the guitar playing styles developed in 1960s-era blues rock and psychedelic rock, and folk harmo ...
riffs" and featuring a "heavy bass line and fully amplified sound at the chorus." In the track, G-Dragon also mixes rap with singing. " Niliria" was noted for sounding ethnic and surrealist. '' Kwon Ji Yong'' continues to feature songs under the hip-hop and R&B genre, with the exception of its lead single, "
Untitled, 2014 "Untitled, 2014" () is a song recorded by South Korean singer-rapper G-Dragon, serving as the lead single for his second extended play and self-titled ''Kwon Ji Yong'' (2017). It was written by G-Dragon, who also co-produced the song with Choice37 ...
", which is a ballad. Despite primarily being a rapper, the latter also has G-Dragon only singing over a "single piano accompaniment," with Jeff Benjamin of ''Fuse'' comparing the song to Adele's " Someone like You" for its simplicity. The intro, "Middle Fingers-Up", features a piano riff with an underlying trap beat. Act I. or "Bullshit" is a multi-layered hip-hop track characterized by a pulsating chorus and sudden beat and rhythm changes. Act II. or "Super Star" is a slow jam fused with trap, filled with brassy drums, Middle-Eastern horns, lilting synths, and a backing chorus. The outro, "Divina Commedia", is an experimental alt-R&B track which samples "Veridis Quo" from
Daft Punk Daft Punk were a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 in Paris by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. Widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in dance music history, they achieved popularity in the late 1990s as p ...
's 2001 album ''
Discovery Discovery may refer to: * Discovery (observation), observing or finding something unknown * Discovery (fiction), a character's learning something unknown * Discovery (law), a process in courts of law relating to evidence Discovery, The Discovery ...
''.


Lyrics and themes

G-Dragon writes the majority of his lyrics, explaining that "each feeling
n creating the music N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''. History ...
is different", using his emotions to direct the lyrical content and the composition of his songs. Preferring to pen lyrics that "sound like an actual story," G-Dragon has said he injects throughout his songwriting process "a sense of eeriness" writing songs that resemble horror films, like "She's Gone", "Window" and " That XX". ''
Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' magazine wrote that G-Dragon's music is "daring by K-pop standards, wildly innovative by any standard" and that the rapper seems "unafraid of constantly pushing forward." '' The Guardian'' noted that his songs stand out for "more in-depth themes including self-destruction and narcissism." The lyrics in his song "
A Boy "A Boy" ( ko, 소년이여, ''Sonyeoniyeo'') is a song recorded by the South Korean singer G-Dragon. It was released as the fourth and final single from his debut album ''Heartbreaker''. G-Dragon stated that the song was released as an answer to ...
" 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. "Crooked" was created to express his natural punk attitude by describing a man "full of angst and despair" that demands to be left alone as he spends the night "like a 'crooked-minded person,' because in the end, he's alone and doesn't need anyone's 'sugarcoated sympathy.'" His use of explicit languages in "That XX" drew controversy for the artist, and the song was deemed unsuitable for listeners below 19 years of age, and compromised words were replaced by beeps in the music video. Discussing "cheeky" themes such as money and fame, "One of a Kind" from the EP of the same name is often view as one of his best work, with ''Ize'' magazine listing it as one of the most memorable songs written by G-Dragon, commenting that it raised his status as a hip-hop musician. "Middle Fingers Up" from ''Kwon Ji-Yong'' discusses the diminishing number of his personal relationships and his ever-decreasing social circle while " Bullshit"'s lyrics are self-referential, referencing "Crayon" by name while the canine onomatopoeia recalls the title track to his last album '' Coup d'Etat''. He takes on a more remorseful approach in "Untitled, 2014", with the rapper apologizing for "his past actions, asking for forgiveness and the chance to see his ex again even if it's just one more time or in his dreams" in what has been described as "a letter to a past lover" He also explored other themes as a producer for Big Bang: " If You" was inspired during a time when the artist was in love, "
Bae Bae "Bae Bae" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Big Bang (band), Big Bang. It was released as a digital distribution, digital single on May 1, 2015 through YG Entertainment, serving as one of the eight lead singles from the band's third Kor ...
" was inspired by the work of British artist Francis Bacon and the eroticism in his paintings, while "
Loser Loser or Losers may refer to: *A person who experiences failure *The unsuccessful social class in winner and loser culture Film and television * ''Loser'', a 1996 film directed by Kirk Harris * ''Loser'' (film), a 2000 movie starring Jason B ...
" was written in an attempt to humanize the group. To distinguish himself from other artists and composers, G-Dragon admits to "giving twist and turn at every corner and evoking different story" with each part of his music, acknowledging that although the chorus is the catchiest part of the song, he wants all the parts to his song to be remembered. Aside from producing songs for his own band, G-Dragon has also produced for other artists, including bandmates Taeyang's, Seungri's and Daesung's solo careers, and YG Entertainment label-mates iKon and 2NE1. He is often described as a "perfectionist" who's very critical during recording sessions.


Stage and alter ego

G-Dragon's stage presence and performances have been well received. In a review for his
One of a Kind World Tour The One of a Kind World Tour was the first headlining concert tour by South Korean singer and rapper G-Dragon, in support of his first EP One of a Kind (G-Dragon EP), ''One of a Kind'' (2012). The tour visited 9 countries and 13 cities in 2013, ga ...
, ''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". ''MWave'' stated that G-Dragon showed that he's indeed one of a kind while "he burst forth in his own style and personality all throughout the concert." The critic concluded that the rapper "filled every corner of the stage perfectly with his solo presence." His second world tour, Act III: M.O.T.T.E, received rave reviews from critics and fans and was noted for being more intimate. In a review for one of his performances in Thailand, Riddhi Chakraborty from ''Rolling Stone India'' praised the singer-rapper for delivering "precise choreograph es with "unwavering enthusiasm ..and brutal honesty" while Kimberly Lim from ''The New Paper'' also noted how G-Dragon "performed gravity-defying and slick moves" at one of his concerts in Macau. ''Billboard'' K-Town describes his productions as large-scale, dramatic and infused with his personality, often incorporating a live band alongside professional dancers, various costumes changes, manipulation of stage lights, and the use of pyrotechnics. The singer-rapper's stage outfits have also garnered attention, with '' Dazed'' magazine noting that G-Dragon has the "rare ability to play loose and wild with his sartorial choices" to put together outfits that make the "ridiculous become sublime, ndthe impractical into the necessary." G-Dragon explains that while his " age outfits are loud, outspoken, glamorous, ndfancy", they are very different from his "normal day to day clothing", preferring to wear "loud and outspoken" clothes when performing compare to a more casual style off-stage. 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, ndenergetic", compared to his real-life "humble ndunderstated" personality. In a 2017 interview with '' Elle'', he described G-Dragon as someone who is "full of self-confidence" and is "a fancier and stronger person" while Kwon Ji-yong is an "introvert dguy" with "many thoughts in his mind." After the release of ''Kwon Ji Yong'' and while touring for Act III: M.O.T.T.E, G-Dragon expressed a desire to distance himself from his alter ego, explaining to his fans that for the past few years he has been "living as G-Dragon, but now I want to live as Kwon Ji Yong." ''Rolling Stone India'' noted how during the third act of the concerts, fans were able to witness "the rather menacing G-Dragon melt away into the shy Ji Yong."


Public image

G-Dragon maintains tight control over his career, publicly opposing the idea of singers as "products" of the entertainment industry and criticizing agencies who do not give their artists creative control. Known for reinventing his image and style throughout the years, the singer-rapper is often described as the "most fashionable" member in Big Bang. While promoting ''Heartbreaker'', his change in hairstyle by dyeing it blonde gained popularity among his fans and became one of the top hairstyles of the year. He has consistently altered his hair throughout the years, ranging from various shades of colors to different cuts. Additionally, his constant sporting of triangular scarves during promotions for Big Bang's EP ''Always'' became a trend among teenagers and were later nicknamed the "Big Bang scarves". G-Dragon is noted for his androgynous appearance, with the ''
Korea JoongAng Daily ''Korea JoongAng Daily'' is the English edition of the South Korean national daily newspaper ''JoongAng Ilbo''. The newspaper was first published on October 17, 2000, originally named as ''JoongAng Ilbo English Edition''. It mainly carries news a ...
'' calling him "a notable star fashioning genderless style", noting how his image deviates from the fixed gender type of men and women. ''Vogue Magazine'' stated how his androgynous or gender-bending appearance defies a "society that maintains traditional, patriarchal values and a noted adherence to manufactured beauty ideals." When he collaborated with Italian footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti to launch a limited-edition collection of men's and women's shoes, he stated that "it's not just girls or women who get excited and worked up over pretty shoes. .. ys can feel that way, too." G-Dragon's fashion has been described as "quirky and experimental" by Rushali Pawar of the ''
International Business Times The ''International Business Times'' is an American online news publication that publishes five national editions in four languages. The publication, sometimes called ''IBTimes'' or ''IBT'', offers news, opinion and editorial commentary on busi ...
'' while Taylor Glasby from the British Magazine ''Dazed and Confused'' characterized his style as "fluid and far-reaching," calling him a "natural style chameleon." Monica Kim from ''Vogue Magazine'' admired his "uncanny knack for larger-than-life style that remains wearably cool." Joe Coscarelli from '' The New York Times'' calls him "a style icon, a chameleon who often makes peak-era Lady Gaga seem staid". He has covered various issues of '' W'', '' Dazed'', ''Hypebeast'', '' Elle'', ''Vogue'', and landed editorials in ''
Harper’s Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. It was first published in New York City on November 2, 1867, as the weekly ''Harper's Bazar''. ''Harper's Bazaar'' is published by Hearst and considers itself to be the st ...
'', ''
Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
'', among other Asian magazines. G-Dragon stated that he was initially self-conscious of his role as a musician, noting how he had "changed many things including the tone of my voice because I was conscious about my job when I was in front of others." Aware that his public image is important when promoting his materials, G-Dragon notes that "what the public perceives of eis my doing so it's my fault if I give off the wrong intention." In recent years, he has become more relaxed, stating that now he doesn't "do music or dress up in order to impress people around me. I don't try to be conscious bout music and fashion. G-Dragon was chosen by '' The Chosun Ilbo'' as the Best Dressed Celebrity of 2012, while in 2014, he was chosen as one of the Best-Dressed
Street Style Street fashion is fashion that is considered to have emerged not from studios, but from the grassroots streetwear. Street fashion is generally associated with youth culture, and is most often seen in major urban centers. Magazines and Newspapers ...
Stars of the year by ''
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
''. G-Dragon was included in the 2015's and 2016's Business of Fashion's ''500 Global Fashion Leaders'' list, making him one of the five Koreans on the list, and the only K-Pop act to have made the cut. He was also the only Korean in ''Hypebeast's 100 Innovators'' list.


Other ventures


Business

In 2012, G-Dragon built a
pension hotel In the Philippines a pension hotel is somewhat different from pension lodging. A pension hotel is usually not a boarding house, but is a real hotel. A pension hotel provides rooms with no or few amenities. They usually have private bathrooms ...
as a gift to his family; fans can also stay at this hotel which is now run as a business by his parents. On October 20, 2015, G-Dragon officially opened his first cafe on Jeju Island, under the name of "Monsant Cafe". The South Korean indie band Hyukoh was the first artist to play at the café in September 2015. In 2017, his second cafe named "Untitled, 2017", inspired by the title of his most recent
single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...
, was built, along with a bowling alley both designed by G-Dragon. It is located within YG Entertainment's YG Republique building complex ''YG Town'' of Jeju Shinhwa World resort, for which he is an ambassador.


Endorsements and commercial activities

G-Dragon along with Big Bang are Korea's highest paid celebrities over endorsements, reportedly having an asking price of $1–1.5 million USD per endorsement in 2011. In August 2015, he became the face of Airbnb in the Asian market. In 2016, G-Dragon started endorsing Shinsegae, the largest retailer in South Korea and his merchandises were reported to take up over 49% of sales in the YG store. He also endorsed the Italian sportswear label
Kappa Kappa (uppercase Κ, lowercase κ or cursive ; el, κάππα, ''káppa'') is the 10th letter of the Greek alphabet, representing the voiceless velar plosive sound in Ancient and Modern Greek. In the system of Greek numerals, has a value o ...
as a part of their 100th anniversary and it was reported that he earned US$1.9 million from the brand. He was selected as the face of
Hyundai Hyundai is a South Korean industrial conglomerate ("chaebol"), which was restructured into the following groups: * Hyundai Group, parts of the former conglomerate which have not been divested ** Hyundai Mobis, Korean car parts company ** Hyundai ...
's Verna concept vehicle, appearing at an auto show in Beijing which saw 10,000 fans gather to see him in person. In 2017, G-Dragon endorsed Vidal Sassoon in China, he also joined Nike's Air Max Day global campaign and endorsed the Vapormax shoe, causing instant sell-outs across online stores in South Korea. The same year, he was announced as the official ambassador of luxury resort Jeju Shinhwa World, located on Jeju Island. In 2017, G-Dragon was chosen as the brand ambassador of Jeju Island's first premiere resort complex ''Jeju Shinhwa World'', G-Dragon directly participated in the development, designing and planning the concept of the resort complex.


Fashion and art

In 2013, G-Dragon partnered with Ambush for a special collaborative release which includes apparel and accessories. The collection highlights G-Dragon's signature crest by utilizing the design throughout the entire release. In 2014, G-Dragon partnered with
Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Chow Tai Fook group is a Hong Kong–based, privately-owned conglomerate with holdings in the jewellery, property development, hotel, department store, transportation, energy, telecommunications, port, casino, and other businesses. Despite the ...
jewelry and launched a collection designed by himself. G-Dragon opened an art exhibition in 2015 under the name ''Peaceminusone: Beyond the Stage''. The exhibition features 200 works of art from 12 domestic and international artists including Michael Scoggins, Sophie Clements and James Clar. Having worked on the exhibition for over a year, its aim is to bring the modern art and pop culture together in order to "introduce domestic artists to the public, who are unfamiliar with art or who find art unapproachable." The show was held at the
Seoul Museum of Art The Seoul Museum of Art is an art museum operated by Seoul City Council and located in central of Seoul, South Korea. History A girl named Jayla opened the museum first after getting the idea from another museum. It was opened in the Gyeonghuig ...
from June 6 to August 23. He also launched a collaboration with Giuseppe Zanotti and designed two unisex shoe styles. In 2016, he collaborated with the brand 8 Seconds, part of the Samsung C&T Fashion Group, designing his first street fashion collection. The collection featured innovative "genderless" designs, suitable for both men and women. In October the same year, G-Dragon launched his personal fashion brand,
Peaceminusone Peaceminusone (stylized as PEACEMINUSONE) is a Korean fashion line founded by G-Dragon and Gee Eun in October 2016. The label produces clothing items such as jackets, tops, hats and shoes, as well as accessories and headphones. The label has col ...
, with his long time stylist Gee Eun as an online store, with a collection that includes tees, caps, jewelry, and in-ear headphones. Later, the line was launched as a physical store at the Dover Street Market in London and in Seoul. His brand, Peaceminusone, collaborated with Ambush in November for a capsule collection of denim pieces, marking his third collaboration with the label. The same year, he starred in the official campaign for Seoul-based fashion label Juun.J's FW16 collection with Taeyang. He also became a brand ambassador for French fashion house
Chanel Chanel ( , ) is a French high-end luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel in Paris. Chanel specializes in women's ready-to-wear, luxury goods, and accessories and licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear. Chanel is ...
, and starred in the label’s Gabrielle bag campaign during 2017, alongside industry legend Pharrell. In 2017, G-Dragon began doing pop-up shops for his brand Peaceminusone which started in Seoul. He then teamed up with the boutique called Alchemist to launch a six-day pop-up in Miami. While on his second world tour (Act III: M.O.T.T.E) he continued to make pit stops, to do pop-up shops in places like Osaka and Hong Kong. Later that year he collaborated with Vogue to do another pop-up shop in Seoul, selling limited edition Peaceminusone X Vogue apparel. He also launched collaboration with French retailer Colette which was made available to purchase on his online store. In 2019, he collaborated with Nike to release his Peaceminusone Para-Noise
Air Force 1 Air Force One is the official air traffic control designated Aviation call signs, call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States. In common parlance, the term is used to denote U.S. Air Force aircr ...
shoes. A second version of Peaceminusone Para-Noise Air Force 1 shoes in white color was released in 2020. G-Dragon’s new PEACEMINUSONE x Nike Kwondo 1 “Panda” is expected to release in 2022.


Philanthropy

G-Dragon has shown support for numerous charity organizations over the years. Notably, the final concert of his world tour in 2013, a booth was erected where fans could donate to build a fishery in Haiti, as a collaboration with YG Entertainment's ''With'' Campaign, which he previously worked with to help build a school in Nepal. At the same event, he and his fans from 14 countries around the world donated 9.9 tons of rice, which was sent to help malnourished children, elderly living on their own, and other people in need. He's reportedly donated 81.8 million (US$80,000) every year on his birthday. G-Dragon donated ₩50 million (US$43,400) in 2011 (when fans donated under his name) and in 2012 (privately by himself) to Seoul National University Hospital to help children with diseases get treatment. This was revealed accidentally in 2017 as his name was engraved on a plaque honoring those who had contributed ₩100 million or more. G-Dragon has used his image to raise awareness for multiple causes, including the
UN Refugee Agency The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrat ...
and the
Red Campaign Product Red, stylized as (PRODUCT) or (PRODUCT)RED, is a licensed brand by the company Red, stylized as (RED), that seeks to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds to help eliminate HIV/AIDS in eight African countries, namely ...
to fight
AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
. Additionally, in May 2017, a citrus tree forest was officially opened in the city of Seogwipo on Jeju Island, named after G-Dragon's real name, Kwon Ji-yong. The fruit harvested from the forest will be donated to charity events.


Awards and achievements

G-Dragon has won seven
Mnet Asian Music Awards The MAMA Awards (formerly Mnet Asian Music Awards) is a major music awards ceremony presented annually by entertainment company CJ E&M. First held in South Korea, the majority of prizes has been won by K-pop artists, although there are other As ...
, six Melon Music Awards, four Style Icon Awards, two Korean Music Awards, two
Golden Disc Awards The Golden Disc Awards (, formerly spelled the Golden Disk Awards before 2015) is an annual South Korean major music awards ceremony that honors achievements in the local music industry. The awards ceremony was founded with the purpose to promo ...
, two
MBC Entertainment Awards The MBC Entertainment Awards () is a Korean awards ceremony held annually and sponsored by MBC. The awards ceremony is held at the end of each year and lasts approximately 140 minutes, being broadcast in two parts on MBC. Hosts History of w ...
, among several other awards. In 2013, at the Mnet Asian Music Awards, G-Dragon won the Daesang award for Artist of the Year, becoming the first, and only Korean soloist as of now, to win the award. In 2008, G-Dragon was honored with the award for Most Influential Men of the Year sponsored by ''Arena'' magazine, and in 2013, he was awarded the Style Icon of the Year award at the
Style Icon Asia Style Icon Asia (SIA, formerly known as Style Icon Awards) is an awards ceremony held annually in South Korea since 2008 to showcase Asian fashion designers and to honor individuals who have made the most outstanding contributions in setting new ...
, being the first solo singer to win the award undivided. He was chosen by '' GQ Korea'' as their Man of the Year in 2015. Additionally, G-Dragon was honored at the 2016 Pop Culture & Arts Awards, held by the Korean
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) is a central government agency responsible for the areas of tourism, culture, art, religion, and sports. It has two vice ministers, three assistant ministers, one commission, and ...
, being recognized for his influence and success in music and fashion.


Legacy

Described as a "genius singer-songwriter" by '' The Korea Times,'' G-Dragon's role in producing many of Big Bang's materials so early in their career was considered "unusual" at the time, as most K-pop bands are manufactured instead of self-produced. His involvement has shaped how new idol groups interact with their music, with '' The Korea Times'' acknowledging that his "unprecedented popularity" and recognition "has inspired many young idol-wannabes to become singer-songwriters." Artists that have cited his work as an influence include Zico, Be'O, Got7's
BamBam Kunpimook Bhuwakul ( th, กันต์พิมุกต์ ภูวกุล; ; ; born May 2, 1997), nicknamed BamBam (; ), is a Thai rapper and singer based in South Korea, and a member of the boy band Got7. Biography His name is derive ...
, BTS's Jungkook,
Astro Astro may refer to: Entertainment and media * Astro (South Korean band), a South Korean boy band * Astro (UB40) (1957–2021), member of the British reggae band UB40 * Astro (Chilean band), a Chilean indie rock band * Astro (Japanese band), ...
's Rocky,
Seventeen Seventeen or 17 may refer to: *17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18 * one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017 Literature Magazines * ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazine * ''Seventeen'' (Japanese m ...
's S.Coups, Jaden Smith, Younha,
One 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
, Lee Seung-hwan, Kim Eana, DinDin, and
Grimes Claire Elise Boucher (; born March 17, 1988), known professionally as Grimes, is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Her early work has been described as extending from "lo-fi R&B" to futuristic dance-pop, and has in ...
, who states that K-pop, in particular G-Dragon, has influenced her musical style "more visually than anything else." '' Mix Nine''s winner Woo Jin-young stated that G-Dragon's "This Love" inspired him to be a rapper. His music has gained appreciation from critics. The song " One of a Kind" is listed in Korean music critic Kim Bong-hyun's book of most influential Korean hip hop songs from 1989 to 2016, naming it one of the 28 tracks that shaped the genre. It was also the only song by a solo artist to be included in '' The Dong-a Ilbo''s 2016 list of the best male idol songs in the past 20 years. Meanwhile, ''
Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' named "Crayon" the best K-pop single of 2012, with David Bevan commenting that the track "almost felt too big for the occasion, too brash to have come from the leader of a boy band." In 2013, "Crooked" was voted as MTV Iggy's Song of the Year, with the website commenting that "G-Dragon made a big splash in the world of K-pop and beyond with his solo album ''Coup d'Etat.'' 'Crooked' from that album was the endlessly playable sound of him breaking big." In 2008, G-Dragon became the youngest person to be listed on The 10 Greatest Korean Composers at the age of 20. The Korea Music Copyright Association currently lists over 180 songs under G-Dragon's name. In 2015, G-Dragon's annual earnings from song royalties was estimated to be over $700,000 a year. He was the highest paid touring singer-songwriter in Korea, earning the most from songwriting royalties in 2012. In 2018, he tied with YG Entertainment producer Teddy Park for the most earned royalties for lyrics writing and song composition within the field of popular music from the Korean Music Copyright Association. They both received Daesang awards for it, making G-Dragon the first, and only idol as of now, to receive this type of award. G-Dragon was highlighted as one of the "50 Reasons Why Seoul is the Best City" by '' CNN'' in 2011 and topped the list of the "Most Influential Entities of K-Pop" by ''
Ilgan Sports ''Ilgan Sports'' ( ko, 일간스포츠; ''The Daily Sports'' or ''1S'' for short) is a South Korean daily sports and entertainment newspaper founded in 1969. Formerly under ''Hankook Ilbo'', it is now owned by the ''JoongAng Ilbo, JoongAng Media ...
'' in 2013. That same year, collaborator
Diplo Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...
declared that G-Dragon is a "phenom, e'sbigger than the K-pop scene." The rapper has made '' Forbes Korea's'' list of "Korea 2030 Power Leaders" for three consecutive years, most recently in 2014. In 2018, 35 executives from 35 companies in the South Korean music industry chose G-Dragon as the best soloist in Korea while '' ABS-CBN'' lists him as their favorite K-pop idol leader, citing his creativity, dedication, and hard-work. That same year, ''The Guardian'' ranked G-Dragon No. 11 on their list of "30 Best Boyband Members," becoming only one of two Korean artists to be listed. G-Dragon has been called the "King of K-Pop" by various media publications including '' Rolling Stone'', '' Dazed'' and ''Vogue''. His artistry, multi-hyphenate career, popularity and level of influence have drawn comparisons to American singer Michael Jackson by ''Billboard'', ''Vogue'', and ''
i-D ''i-D'' is a British bimonthly magazine published by Vice Media, dedicated to fashion, music, art and youth culture. ''i-D'' was founded by designer and former ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'' art director Terry Jones (i-D), Terry Jones in 1980. The ...
'', who hailed him as "the millennial Michael Jackson". Despite his success as a solo artist and leader of Big Bang, G-Dragon has admitted that he didn't realize how famous he was until he went on Big Bang's first world tour.


Personal life

G-Dragon enrolled at Kyung Hee University in 2008 to study post-modern music. He later dropped out due to his busy schedule, and instead majored in Leisure Sports Studies at
Gukje Cyber University Gukje Digital University is a private university located in Suwon, Paldal-gu, South Korea. Notable people * Choi Whee-sung, R&B singer, record producer, and musical theatre actor. * Kang Dae-sung, actor and vocalist of Kpop boy-group Bigbang *Ka ...
, obtaining a Bachelor's degree in 2013. G-Dragon graduated in 2016 with a Master's degree in content and retail distribution at Sejong University. Plans for a doctoral degree were delayed to accommodate his military enlistment. In 2018, ''The Gazette Review'' estimated that G-Dragon's net worth is
US$ The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
40 million. According to ''Cosmopolitan'' Philippines, the rapper is one of the most-followed K-pop idols on
Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
with over 21.2 million followers as of July 2022. G-Dragon began mandatory military service on February 27, 2018. After his basic training at South Korea’s 3rd Infantry 'White Skeleton' Division in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, he was assigned as a regular soldier. 3,000 VIP Big Bang fans awaited G-Dragon's return from his military service at the headquarters of South Korean Army's Ground Operations Command in Yongin, southeast of Seoul. G-Dragon was discharged on October 26, 2019.


Discography

* ''
Heartbreaker Heartbreaker(s) or The Heart Breaker(s) may refer to: Film and television *''The Heart Breakers'', a 1916 film starring Andrew Arbuckle *''The Heart Breaker'', a 1925 film directed by Benjamin Stoloff * ''Heartbreaker'' (1983 film), an American f ...
'' (2009) * '' Coup d'Etat'' (2013) * '' Coup d'Etat + One of a Kind & Heartbreaker'' (2013)


Videography


Filmography

* ''무한상사 (Muhan Company)'' as Executive Director Kwon (2016) * ''The Act III: Moment of Truth The End as himself'' (2018)


Tours

*
One of a Kind World Tour The One of a Kind World Tour was the first headlining concert tour by South Korean singer and rapper G-Dragon, in support of his first EP One of a Kind (G-Dragon EP), ''One of a Kind'' (2012). The tour visited 9 countries and 13 cities in 2013, ga ...
(2013) * Act III: M.O.T.T.E World Tour (2017)


References


External links

* {{Authority control 1988 births Living people Big Bang (South Korean band) members English-language singers from South Korea Japanese-language singers of South Korea Rappers from Seoul South Korean male idols South Korean male rappers South Korean hip hop singers South Korean pop singers South Korean rhythm and blues singers South Korean singer-songwriters YG Entertainment artists MAMA Award winners Korean Music Award winners 21st-century South Korean singers Melon Music Award winners South Korean male singer-songwriters South Korean record producers South Korean hip hop record producers