T.O.P
Encyclopedia
Choi Seung-hyun better known by his stage name T.O.P (탑), is a South Korean recording artist 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 71: Into the Fire.
, another member of Big Bang. G-Dragon stated that the two were "neighborhood friend[s] from middle school" and would often dance and rap together. 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. The pair recorded several demos and sent them to Yang Hyun Suk
, CEO of YG Entertainment, who later asked Choi to audition. Choi was initially rejected by the record label, which deemed him too "chubby" to fit the "idealistic version" of an idol. Choi later stated that he "went home and exercised really hard because I wanted to join YG Entertainment." Six months later, he returned for another audition and was signed on. He reportedly lost 20 kg in 40 days.
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. So-1 was dropped by the record label, and Big Bang made its official debut with five members. Their first album, Since 2007
, was a fair success, 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: Geojitmal) 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.
's single "Super Fly" for her album Rush. Later that summer, he appeared as an actor in Red Roc’s "Hello" music video. He later became the first member of Big Bang to venture into acting, starring in the KBS2 drama, I Am Sam
,. 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." That same year, he was also admitted to Dankook University
, to the theater department.
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 Korean television drama Iris
. 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.
T.O.P appeared in the movie 71: Into the Fire which released in June 2010. He received many good critiques and praise for his acting; the movie hit 1 million views in a week, making it the first movie of 2010 to reach that number of views in South Korea. He is also in preparation for his solo debut. 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. He is also the first Korean artist to have his song release worldwide on iTunes. On 29 October 2010, he won the Hallyu Popularity Award in the 47th Grand Bell Film Awards.
In November 2010, YG Entertainment announced T.O.P and bandmate G-Dragon
would release a collaboration album. Preceding the release of the album, the duo held a world-wide premiere showcase for their album at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo of Seoul, South Korea, which was also broad-casted live on YouTube
. 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 were commercial successes: "High High" was a chart topper while "Oh Yeah" and "Knock Out" both peaked at #2 and #3 respectively. The album was released on Christmas Eve
, and debuted at number one with pre-orders of 200,000 copies.
In October 2011, it was announced that T.O.P. had been tapped as the male lead to star opposite Kim Ha Neul in Absolutely Him, the South Korean remake of Absolute Boyfriend
, a Japanese manga about a perfect robot boyfriend that has already been adapted into both a Japanese and Taiwanese live action drama. The show is set to air on MBC is March 2012.
Singles
Featured singles
I Am Sam (TV series)
I Am Sam is a 16-episode drama that started airing on August 6, 2007. Before it started its run, it became well-known online due to T.O.P's popularity from the popular hip-hop group, Big Bang. The drama was derived from a Japanese manga of the same title...
, Iris
Iris (TV series)
Iris is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2009. With a budget in excess of 20 billion won , it, along with its spin-off Athena: Goddess of War, share the record for the most expensive Korean dramas ever produced.Premiering in October 2009, the series was a...
and 71: Into the Fire.
2005–2006: Big Bang debut
Prior to his involvement with YG Entertainment, Choi was an underground rapper and a childhood friend of G-DragonG-Dragon
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" , titled as the part two version to the song. The single was released digitally...
, another member of Big Bang. G-Dragon stated that the two were "neighborhood friend[s] from middle school" and would often dance and rap together. 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. The pair recorded several demos and sent them to Yang Hyun Suk
Yang Hyun Suk
Yang Hyun-Seok is a South Korean singer, most notably a member of Seo Taiji & Boys. He is also the founder, owner, and chief executive officer of YG Entertainment.- Seo Taiji & Boys :...
, CEO of YG Entertainment, who later asked Choi to audition. Choi was initially rejected by the record label, which deemed him too "chubby" to fit the "idealistic version" of an idol. Choi later stated that he "went home and exercised really hard because I wanted to join YG Entertainment." Six months later, he returned for another audition and was signed on. He reportedly lost 20 kg in 40 days.
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
Taeyang
Dong Youngbae , better known by his stage name Taeyang or Sol, is a South Korean recording artist, entertainer. After appearing in Jinusean's music video "A-yo", Taeyang began training under YG Entertainment at the age of 12 alongside fellow member and leader G-Dragon...
, Daesung
Daesung
Kang Daesung is a member of K-Pop group Big Bang. Daesung was born in Itaewon, South Korea and attended high school but he dropped out and focused more on Big Bang. Then in late 2008, he focused on college entrance exams. He attended Kyunghee University in Seoul...
, Seungri
Seungri
- External links :* *...
and So-1; a documentation of their training was aired to promote them. So-1 was dropped by the record label, and Big Bang made its official debut with five members. Their first album, Since 2007
Since 2007
Bigbang Vol. 1 was the first Korean album by the South Korea boy band Big Bang, released by YG Entertainment. Some of the songs were written and composed by the members themselves, most notably G-Dragon...
, was a fair success, 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: Geojitmal) from their 2007 mini-album Always
Always (Big Bang album)
Always is the first Korean Mini-Album by South Korean boy band Big Bang, released under YG Entertainment The lead single is "Lies" and was a no...
, 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
Stand Up (Big Bang album)
Stand Up is the third Korean mini album by South Korean boy band Big Bang, released by YG Entertainment. The mini album sold over 100,000 copies and contained the hit song "하루하루" or "Day by Day" which managed to achieve as much success as Big Bang's latest hits, "Lies" and "Last Farewell".-Track...
, became chart-toppers as well.
2007–present: Solo development
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 LexyLexy
Lexy is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-External links:*...
's single "Super Fly" for her album Rush. Later that summer, he appeared as an actor in Red Roc’s "Hello" music video. He later became the first member of Big Bang to venture into acting, starring in the KBS2 drama, I Am Sam
I Am Sam (TV series)
I Am Sam is a 16-episode drama that started airing on August 6, 2007. Before it started its run, it became well-known online due to T.O.P's popularity from the popular hip-hop group, Big Bang. The drama was derived from a Japanese manga of the same title...
,. portraying the school's top fighter, Chae Musin. He also took the role of MC of MBC
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
'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
Gummy (singer)
Park Ji Yeon , better known by her stage name Gummy , is a South Korean recording artist under YG Entertainment.-2003-2009: Debut and Breakthrough Success:...
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." That same year, he was also admitted to Dankook University
Dankook University
Dankook University is a private university in South Korea. Dankook University has been constantly recognized as one of top universities in Asia ranked 148th in Asia by QS Asian Universities Ranking in 2010...
, to the theater department.
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 Korean television drama Iris
Iris (TV series)
Iris is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2009. With a budget in excess of 20 billion won , it, along with its spin-off Athena: Goddess of War, share the record for the most expensive Korean dramas ever produced.Premiering in October 2009, the series was a...
. 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.
T.O.P appeared in the movie 71: Into the Fire which released in June 2010. He received many good critiques and praise for his acting; the movie hit 1 million views in a week, making it the first movie of 2010 to reach that number of views in South Korea. He is also in preparation for his solo debut. During Big Bang's Big Show concert in January 2010, T.O.P. performed his new single "Turn It Up." YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment is a record label and talent agency founded by Korean band Seo Taiji & Boys member Yang Hyun Suk and based in Seoul, South Korea. It specializes in producing R&B and hip hop music. YG stands for Yang Goon and are also the initials of the chief executive officer, Yang Hyun Suk...
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
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The official music video was released at noon in South Korea, with over 1,000,000 views and comments in just a few minutes. He is also the first Korean artist to have his song release worldwide on iTunes. On 29 October 2010, he won the Hallyu Popularity Award in the 47th Grand Bell Film Awards.
In November 2010, YG Entertainment announced T.O.P and bandmate G-Dragon
G-Dragon
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" , titled as the part two version to the song. The single was released digitally...
would release a collaboration album. Preceding the release of the album, the duo held a world-wide premiere showcase for their album at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo of Seoul, South Korea, which was also broad-casted live on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. 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 were commercial successes: "High High" was a chart topper while "Oh Yeah" and "Knock Out" both peaked at #2 and #3 respectively. The album was released on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, and debuted at number one with pre-orders of 200,000 copies.
In October 2011, it was announced that T.O.P. had been tapped as the male lead to star opposite Kim Ha Neul in Absolutely Him, the South Korean remake of Absolute Boyfriend
Absolute Boyfriend
is a six volume manga series by Yuu Watase, first serialized in Shōjo Comic. Chuang Yi licensed it for an English language release in Singapore, with the first volume released in March 2005...
, a Japanese manga about a perfect robot boyfriend that has already been adapted into both a Japanese and Taiwanese live action drama. The show is set to air on MBC is March 2012.
Discography
Collaboration albums- GD & TOP with G-DragonG-DragonAside 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" , titled as the part two version to the song. The single was released digitally...
(2010)
Singles
- "Friend" (Korean: 친구; Revised Romanization: Chingu) (T.O.P featuring Tae Yang)
- "Act Like Nothing's Wrong" (Korean: 아무렇지 않은 척)
- "Hallelujah" (T.O.P featuring Tae Yang and G-DragonG-DragonAside 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" , titled as the part two version to the song. The single was released digitally...
) (theme song of the drama Iris) - "Turn It Up"
- "Because" T.O.P featuring Seungri (theme song for 19teen)
- Of All Days
Featured singles
- I'm Sorry (Japanese Ver.)Gummy (Feat. T.O.P)
- "Buckwild" NBK Gray featuring T.O.P.
- "Big Boy"
- "I'm Sorry" Gummy featuring T.O.P
- "All I See Is you" Zia featuring T.O.P
- "D.I.S.C.O " Uhm Jung Hwa featuring T.O.P
- "Digital Bounce" Se7enSe7enSeven is a 1995 American thriller film, which also contains horror and neo-noir elements, directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It was distributed by New Line Cinema and stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R...
featuring T.O.P
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Story of Men | Himself | Cameo role |
| 2009 | Nineteen | Seo Jeong-hun | |
| 2010 | 71: Into the Fire | Oh Jang-bum | * Won – 47th Daejong Film Awards Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea.... for Hallyu Popularity
|
| 2011 | Iris: The Last | Vick | Film adaption of Iris Iris (TV series) Iris is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2009. With a budget in excess of 20 billion won , it, along with its spin-off Athena: Goddess of War, share the record for the most expensive Korean dramas ever produced.Premiering in October 2009, the series was a... for Japan |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | I Am Sam I Am Sam (TV series) I Am Sam is a 16-episode drama that started airing on August 6, 2007. Before it started its run, it became well-known online due to T.O.P's popularity from the popular hip-hop group, Big Bang. The drama was derived from a Japanese manga of the same title... |
Chae Mu-sin | |
| 2009 | 2NE1 TV | Himself | 2009–2011 Reality show |
| Family Outing | Guest | Ep 34-35 (8 and 15 February) | |
| Iris Iris (TV series) Iris is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2009. With a budget in excess of 20 billion won , it, along with its spin-off Athena: Goddess of War, share the record for the most expensive Korean dramas ever produced.Premiering in October 2009, the series was a... |
Vick |
TV commercials / advertisements
- Calvin Klein- "Brooklyn Boy"
- North Face
- LG Cyon Suit
- LG Optimus ONE
- LG Cyon Clear
- Baskin Robbins
- Nikon
- FILA
- 2% Water
- Eversense
- G Market
- Lollipop
- Lotte Duty Free
- CJ Group CM TV
- Style M
- Bangs B-School
External links
- Big Bang's official website
- T.O.P's Me2day