G-Dragon whose name comes from his real name Ji Young where “Ji” is pronounced as G and “Young” means Dragon is the leader of the band.
Nickname : GD
Weight : 65 kg Religion : Christian Height : 177 cm Role : Main Rapper, Leader DOB : August 18, 1988 Blood group : A Officaial Website: http://www.ygfamily.com
Twitter ID: G-DRAGON(@IBGDRGN) Facebook page URL: http://www.m.facebook.com/gdragon Instagram ID: XXXIBIGDRGN Weibo ID: GDRAGON OFFICIAL |
1988–2009: Early life and debut with Big Bang
Before G-Dragon was the fearless leader of Big Bang, he was a superstar-in-training.
Most of his fans know that G-Dragon has been in front of the cameras since he was a tiny tot, and while he’s killing us with his charisma now, then, he was killing moms with the cute. |
|
|
Although G-Dragon is known as Big Bang’s leader, he was building up his resume way before the group’s debut, having rapped on various YG Family tracks.
Nothing says old school hip hop like baggy T-shirts and Air Force Ones, as seen in the music video for YG Family’s Hip Hop Gentleman. |
Although G-Dragon has contributed to various YG Family tracks like the one above, his musical career took off with Big Bang. G-Dragon may make being an idol star look easy, but it took a lot of training and hours in the YG practice room to make him the performer he is today. Pre-debut clips of the singer floating around on YouTube give fans a raw look at the oft flashy idol star to reveal that there’s actually incredible talent hidden beneath the glamorized surface. The clip below reminds us that before G-Dragon was rocking the designer duds, he was pounding the pavement in sweats and a T-shirt to get the moves just right. |
|
Education
He attended south korean traditional middle and high school and later Gyeong Hee University.
G DRAGON then took up majoring in post modern music at Kyung Hee University and graduated in 2011.
He attended south korean traditional middle and high school and later Gyeong Hee University.
G DRAGON then took up majoring in post modern music at Kyung Hee University and graduated in 2011.
Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Kwon Ji-yong began his career at age five as part of the group Little Roo'Ra.
After releasing a Christmas album, the group's contract was terminated by their record company, which Kwon described as "shock[ing]." Although he vowed to his mother that he "wouldn't [become a singer] again," he was scouted by SM Entertainment while on a ski trip with his family.
He was a trainee under the record label for five years (from 8–13 years old), specializing in dance before he left as he was unclear about what he wanted to do.
After releasing a Christmas album, the group's contract was terminated by their record company, which Kwon described as "shock[ing]." Although he vowed to his mother that he "wouldn't [become a singer] again," he was scouted by SM Entertainment while on a ski trip with his family.
He was a trainee under the record label for five years (from 8–13 years old), specializing in dance before he left as he was unclear about what he wanted to do.
In third grade, Kwon was introduced to the American rap group Wu-Tang Clan by a friend. Inspired by their music, he developed an interest in rapping and began taking class. Under People Crew's tutelage, he participated in the release of the Korean hip-hop Flex album in 2001, becoming the youngest Korean rapper at just 13 years old. Although he wrote his own lyrics for the song, 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." Kwon caught the interest of Sean of the hip-hop duo Jinusean from YG Entertainment, who later recommended him to CEO Yang Hyun Suk. After signing a contract with the record label, Kwon spent the first year cleaning the studio for the other artists in the record label and fetching them water bottles during dance practice. He and another trainee Dong Young-bae, originally planned to debut as the hip-hop duo GDYB, with him choosing the stage name of G-Dragon
After six years of training, Kwon made several featured appearances on other artists' albums and even released several singles with Dong under the name "GDYB." G-Dragon made his official debut as the leader of the group Big Bang in 2006, after six years of training under YG Entertainment, with Dong Young-bae (who chose the stage-name Taeyang) and three other members (T.O.P, Daesung, & Seungri).
2009—2011: Solo career development, Heartbreaker, and GD & TOP
Aside from Big Bang, G-Dragon also made several solo appearances. After helping produce Taeyang's debut album, he recorded his own version of the album's lead single "Only Look at Me" (Korean: 나만바라봐; Revised Romanization: Naman Barabwa), titled as the "Only Look At Me Part 2" to the song. The single was released digitally. Along with Taeyang and T.O.P, G-Dragon was featured on singer Lexy's song "Super Fly" for her album "'Rush'." In May 2009, he collaborated with the Japanese boy band W-inds. for their single, "Rain Is Fallin'/Hybrid Dream.
After Taeyang released his solo effort, G-Dragon released his debut solo album Heartbreaker, featuring collaborations with several artists, including Teddy of 1TYM, Taeyang, Kush, CL of 2NE1, and Sandara Park of 2NE1.
The album marked a change in G-Dragon's appearances as he dyed his hair blonde to match its concept. Propelled by its lead-single of the same name, an electronic pop song, the album sold over 200,000 copies and went on to win Album of the Year from the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
The album marked a change in G-Dragon's appearances as he dyed his hair blonde to match its concept. Propelled by its lead-single of the same name, an electronic pop song, the album sold over 200,000 copies and went on to win Album of the Year from the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
Shortly after Heartbreaker's release, G-Dragon was accused of plagiarism by Sony Music when his tracks "Heartbreaker" and "Butterfly" were alleged to be similar to Flo Rida's "Right Round" 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'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 the Olympic Park in December 2009. Entitled Shine a Light, the name of the concert was derived from the lyrics to his song "A Boy."[25] 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 support of his album, G-Dragon staged his first solo concert at the Olympic Park in December 2009. Entitled Shine a Light, the name of the concert was derived from the lyrics to his song "A Boy."[25] 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, YG Entertainment announced the collaboration album from G-Dragon and bandmate T.O.P.
To promote their album, the duo released three singles: "High High," "Oh Yeah", and "Knock Out.
All three singles preceded the release of the album. The singles attained commercial successes: "High High" was number one on several music programs while "Oh Yeah" peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart. The album was released on Christmas Eve, and debuted at number one on the Gaon Chart with pre-orders of 200,000 copies, eventually topping 130,000 copies sold.
On October 5, 2011, it was reported that G-Dragon was tested positive for marijuana. His urine test came back negative but a weak positive for marijuana was detected from testing the content of his hair. The tests were done in early June and the results came back in August. As it was a first offense with a minuscule amount, it resulted in an indictment and he was not charged. |
2012—2013: One of a Kind, world tour, and Coup D'Etat
G-Dragon released the music video for his song "One of a Kind" from the album of the same name on August 24, 2012, on YouTube.
The song earned him two "Best Hip Hop / Rap Song of the Year" awards from Korean Music Awards and Rhythmer Awards. He followed this up with "That XX". His EP One of a Kind was released in digital and physical format several days apart in September.
The album was received positively, placing first on the Billboard World Album Chart and entering the Billboard 200 Chart at 161 for the week. At of the end of 2012, the album netted in over 200,000 copies, making it the highest selling solo album in Korea since the release of his Heartbreaker in 2009. For his effort, he won the 'Best Male Solo Artist' award at the 14th Mnet Asian Music Awards and late Record of the Year award for One of a Kind at the 22nd Seoul Music Awards. In January 2013, in support of his album, G-Dragon embarked on his G-Dragon 2013 1st World Tour, becoming the first Korean solo artist to embark a 4-dome tour in Japan and the second Korean solo artist to have a world tour (the first being Bi Rain). After touring extensively, G-Dragon went back into the studio to record for his second full-length studio album. |
His second album, Coup D'état, was released in 2 parts online, with the full album being released September 13. The album featured collaborations with a star-studded list of artists and producers, including Missy Elliott, Diplo, Baauer, Boys Noize, Sky Ferreira, Siriusmo, Zion.T, Lydia Paek, and label-mate Jennie Kim. G-Dragon and Missy Elliott performed the song "Niliria" at the KCON 2013 in LA. Six tracks from Coup D'etat placed within the top 10 of the Gaon Singles Charts with "Who You?" being number one.
The music video for "Coup D'Etat" was released on YouTube on September 1 while the music video for "Crooked" was released shortly after, on September 4. The success of Coup D'état lead 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.
2014–present: Touring, collaborations and contemporary art
.On November 21, G-Dragon released a collaboration with Taeyang on the song "Good Boy". The song reached number one on Billboard's "World Digital Songs" chart, marking the third time a Korean act had topped the chart after PSY and 2NE1
The single had 1.1 million downloads in South Korea. On December 15 G-Dragon released another collaboration, "Dirty Vibe" with Skrillex and Diplo, featuring his label mate CL. The single charted at number 19 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.
In September 2014, G-Dragon partnered with Chow Tai Fook Enterprises jewelry and launched a new collection designed by himself.
G-Dragon started an art exhibition on 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.
G-Dragon said that he worked on the exhibition for over a year, with aim to bring the modern art and pop culture together, he said, "I would like to be the bridge to introduce domestic artists to the public, who are unfamiliar with art or who find art unapproachable.
G-Dragon said that he worked on the exhibition for over a year, with aim to bring the modern art and pop culture together, he said, "I would like to be the bridge to introduce domestic artists to the public, who are unfamiliar with art or who find art unapproachable.
He became the face of Airbnb in the Asian market in August 2015.
Personal life
In 2012, G-Dragon built a pension motel as a gift to his family; fans can also stay at this hotel which is now run as a business by his parents.
In October 20, 2015, G-Dragon opened officially his first cafe, under the name of "Monsant Cafe". The café is located on Jeju Island.
In October 20, 2015, G-Dragon opened officially his first cafe, under the name of "Monsant Cafe". The café is located on Jeju Island.
In 2016, he started his personal fashion brand called peaceminusone, and opened an online store.
G-Dragon was last reported to have 7 tattoos, though for all we know he could have more by now!