Exciting comeback after 11 years
King of Kpop G-Dragon has just returned with his third solo studio album Ubermensch, which is his first full-length album in nearly 11 and a half years since Coup dEtat in 2013.
The title track "Too Bad" featuring American artist who won Grammy, Anderson.Paak, quickly climbed to the Top 1 of 4 major domestic music charts - Melon, Genie, Bugs, Flo - reaffirmed the influence of the Big Bang leader as an artist who is always at the forefront of the industry.
According to the Korea Times, industry insiders G-Dragon's continued success is thanks to the incredible talent of a singer, music producer, and the global position of a "fashion icon".
"For an idol to have a long career, artistic development is necessary. This is not only true in Korea but also globally. Artists like Justin Timberlake and Madonna have proven that the ability to self-produc, shape their own musical identity and style is very important, commented music critic Kim Jakka.
From Kpop idol to global icon
G-Dragon debuted in 2006 as the leader of YG Entertainment's boy band Big Bang. Big Bang's music, with a mix of hip-hop, R&B and electronic music, quickly became popular between the 2000s and early 2010s.
As a solo artist, G-Dragon's first studio album "Heartbreaker," released in 2009, won Album of the Year at the MAMA music awards.
The 2013 album "Coup d'Etat" made G-Dragon one of the first K-pop artists to chart on the Billboard 200 multiple times. Meanwhile, the mini album "Kwon Ji Yong", released in 2017, topped Billboard's World Albums chart.
In addition to music, G-Dragon also affirms himself as a global fashion icon.
Known for his bold style and trend-leading, he became a Chanel ambassador in 2016. G-Dragon is one of the first Asian artists to represent a French luxury brand.
In the same year, he launched his own fashion brand, Peaceminusone, combining high-end fashion with street fashion, contributing to strengthening his influence.
"G-Dragon is the driving force behind Big Bang's art direction, and still stands out as a leader in fashion. That is why, after many years, he is still considered an artist, not just an outdated character. People are still curious about what he will do next," said critic Kim Jakka.
Controversy and challenges
Despite his successful career, G-Dragon has also faced many scandals.
In 2011, he tested positive for marijuana but was not officially charged. Most recently, in October 2023, the male singer was investigated for alleged drug use. However, in the end, all charges were dropped after 2 months, G-Dragon was innocent.
The future of Big Bang is still uncertain after the departure of 2 members - Seungri retired in 2019 due to the Burning Sun scandal, T.O.P announced his departure from the group in 2023.
The remaining 3 members - Daesung, Taeyang, G-Dragon - are no longer artists in the same company (YG Entertainment).
However, despite the challenges, G-Dragon has persevered in pursuing a solo career and expressed his intention to continue working as an independent artist.
A model for the next generation
Cultural critic Jung Deok Hyun noted that G-Dragon's career sustainability has always been a major topic of discussion in Kpop.
He said: "K-pop idols are often limited to the label of "idols", which makes them not considered true artists. G-Dragon broke that mold."
He also pointed out that G-Dragon has made the international change their perception of Kpop idols as " mass-produced" celebrities.
"In Korea, K-pop idols are often considered systematically trained artists, but G-Dragon has broken that prejudice. This is something that young artists should learn.
At last year's MAMA awards ceremony in Japan, you could see today's young idols expressing their passion for G-Dragon as if they were admiring their models," he added.
