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T.O.P

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T.O.P
Korean name
Hangul
최승현
Hanja
Revised RomanizationChoe Seung-hyeon
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Sŭnghyŏn

Choi Seung-hyun (최승현, born November 4, 1987), better known by his stage name T.O.P or TEMPO, is a South Korean rapper and actor. Best known as a member of the Korean boy band Big Bang, he has branched out to act in various dramas and films, including I Am Sam, Iris, and Into The Fire.

History

Big Bang debut: 2005—2006

Main article: Big Bang (band)

Prior to his involvement with YG Entertainment, Choi was an underground rapper and a childhood friend of G-Dragon, another member of Big Bang.[2] G-Dragon stated that the two were "neighborhood friend[s] from middle school" and would often dance and rap together.[3] Although G-Dragon later moved away and the two "became distant", he contacted Choi again when YG Entertainment was scouting for candidates to create a boy band.[3] The pair recorded several demos and sent them to Yang Hyun Suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, who later asked Choi to audition.[2] Choi was initially rejected by the record label, which deemed him too "chubby" to fit the "idealistic version" of an idol.[2] Choi later stated that he "went home and exercised really hard because I wanted to join YG Entertainment."[2] Six months later, he returned for another audition and was signed on.[2]

Choosing the stage name of T.O.P. (Korean: 탑), he became one of the two rappers in the group Big Bang, alongside G-Dragon. The two were paired with four others: Taeyang, Daesung, Seungri, and So-1; a documentation of their training was aired to promote them.[4] So-1 was dropped by the record label, and Big Bang made its official debut with five members.[5] Their first album, Since 2007, was a fair success,[6] and included T.O.P.'s first solo song "Big Boy." The group achieved mainstream success with the release of the song "Lie" (Korean: 거짓말; Revised Romanization: Geojinmal) from their 2007 mini-album Always, which topped several charts upon its release. The singles, "Last Farewell" (Korean: 마지막 인사; Revised Romanization: Majimak Insa) from the mini-album Hot Issue and "Day by Day" (Korean: 하루하루; Revised Romanization: Haru Haru) from Stand Up, became chart-toppers as well.[7][8]

Solo development: 2007—present

Following the release of the band's albums and singles, T.O.P. began working on his solo career. In April 2007, he was featured with fellow Big Bang members Taeyang and G-Dragon on singer Lexy's single "Super Fly" for her album Rush. Later that summer, he appeared as an actor in Red Roc’s "Hello" music video.[9] He later became the first member of Big Bang to venture into acting, starring in the KBS2 drama, I Am Sam,.[1] portraying the school's top fighter, Chae Musin. He also took the role of MC of MBC's Music Core on November 10, 2007, only to resign in April of the following year. In 2008, he collaborated with R&B artist Gummy on the song "I'm Sorry" for her album Comfort, and later with singer Uhm Jung Hwa for her single "D.I.S.C.O."

T.O.P later put his solo career on hold while he joined his group for their promotional activities. After more than a year of promoting Big Bang's materials, he returned to acting, playing the assassin Vick in the critically acclaimed[10] Korean television drama Iris.[11] T.O.P. also recorded the song "Hallelujah" for the drama's soundtrack with Taeyang and G-Dragon. Following Iris, T.O.P. and Seungri appeared in the teenage suspense drama, My 19.[12].

T.O.P filmed the movie Into the Gunfire which released in June 2010.[13] He is also in preparation for his solo debut.[14] During Big Bang's Big Show concert in January 2010, T.O.P. performed his new single "Turn It Up." YG Entertainment released a music video teaser for "Turn It Up" on June 14, 2010 which revealed the release date for the full music video to be June 21, 2010. The teaser itself received over 200,000 views within 48 hours of its original posting on YouTube. The official music video was released at noon in South Korea, with over 1,000,000 views and comments in just a few minutes.[15] He is also the first Korean artist to have his song release worldwide.

Discography

Main article: Big Bang discography

Digital singles

  • "Buckwild" NBK Gray featuring T.O.P.
  • "Big Boy"
  • "I'm Sorry" Gummy featuring T.O.P
  • "As If Nothing's Wrong" (Korean: 아무렇지 않은 척)
  • "D.I.S.C.O " (Uhm Jung Hwa featuring T.O.P)
  • "Friend" (Korean: 친구; Revised Romanization: Chingu) (T.O.P featuring Tae Yang)
  • "Hallelujah" (T.O.P featuring Tae Yang and G-Dragon) (theme song of the drama Iris)
  • "Turn It Up"

Filmography

TV series

Films

References

  1. ^ a b Template:Ko icon"Choi Seung Hyun YG Profile" (in Korean). YG Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e Template:Ko icon"新스타고백지드래곤⑥'빅뱅' 별명은 '어떡해'였죠". Asiae News. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  3. ^ a b Template:Ko icon"新스타고백지드래곤⑤아이돌그룹 활동, 망설였다". Asiae News. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  4. ^ "Big Bang". KBS World. Retrieved 15 January 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ Template:Ko icon "'준비된 그룹' 빅뱅, 대폭발 예고". Sports Chosun. 7 July 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Template:Ko icon "Album Sales For The Month of February 2007". Industry Association Of Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2008-02-15. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Template:Ko icon "빅뱅 쥬크온차트 8주 연속 1위 기염, JOO도 2주만에 7위 진입". Newsen (in Korean). 21 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ "Big Bang's 'Day by Day' Sweeps J-Pop Charts for Four Weeks". KBS Global. 8 September 2008. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |acc//www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Template:Ko icon"빅뱅 8월 신보 발매, 태양 솔로 데뷔는 미정". Newsen. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2010-02-04. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ Chung Kang, Hyun (November 26, 2009). "New drama finds a gripping formula for success". Joongang Daily. Retrieved December 3, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ Han Sang, Hee (May 24, 2009). "'Iris' to Bring Spy Story to Small Screen". Korea Times. Retrieved December 3, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "Big Bang duo star in murder movie". JoongAng Daily. May 22, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Yim, Seung-hye (2010-02-05). "Actor Kwon Sang-woo injured while filming fight". JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2010-02-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Template:Ko icon"탑-대성, 빅뱅 콘서트서 솔로곡 첫 공개". Osen. 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2010-02-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Template:Ko icon"빅뱅 탑 콘서트서 첫 솔로곡 뮤비 깜짝 공개 '올 상반기 활동'". Newsen. 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2010-02-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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