Kwon Ji-yong.
An idol that is larger than life.
But how did he become the G-Dragon we know now?
And now that he's back from the military service, what will be his next step?
Can he be YG Entertainment's saving grace?
Today we'll cover that and more, as we learn what happened to G-Dragon.
But before looking forward, I always like to look back.
If you think idols today are young, imagine being only 6 years old.
In 1998, a little G-Dragon debuted in a group called "Little Roora".
A copy of the already successful co-ed reggae inspired group "Roora" but just littler.
Little Roora all wouldn't last long, as the whole group's contract was terminated by their company almost out of the blue.
Leaving a young GD a little disheartened with the saddened news.
He then made a vow to his mother that he would not try to become a singer again.
But that really isn't how it played out.
When GD was on a ski trip with his family, he was scouted by none other than SM Entertainment.
Where he trained for five years from 8 to 13 years old focusing on dance.
So why didn't GD debut under SM?
It was actually G-Dragon's choice this time.
He quit, and left SM on his own. Probably due to him finding a new passion.
Heavily inspired by hearing Wu-Tang Clan for the first time, he trained in rapping and writing lyrics.
Making his own mixtape at only 13 years old.
Around that time, GD teamed up with one of his old childhood friends from his hometown.
Who would also be in Big Bang, later known as T.O.P.
Both of them took on the underground Korean rap scene.
G-Dragon seemed like he wouldn't have much of a future in K-Pop.
Until being scouted once again.
This time by the rap duo Jinusean, representing the up-and-coming label YG entertainment.
After recommending G-Dragon to YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk, he auditioned and became a trainee.
YG entertainment originally planned to continue with their duo strategy.
Having G-Dragon, and another trainee Young-bae or Taeyang debut together as GDYB.
GDYB did release music but didn't debut.
Instead, Yang Hyun-suk wanted to try a full-fledged group.
Through process shown on a TV show, YG had 6 trainees, that would become 5.
The group known as "Big Bang" was formed with GD leading them to debut with the song "We Belong Together" in 2006.
From there, we would see Big Bang rise to become the biggest boy group Korea has ever seen.
The first to be named kings of K-Pop.
If you want to see what happened to Big Bang, I suggest watching my video here.
In 2009 BIGBANG was going strong, but it was time for G-Dragon as he debuted with the single "Heartbreaker".
[You're my heart, heart, heart, heart, heartbreaker]
I mean, yeah, this is what the early 2000s was like.
It was auto-tuned to the max.
In the rest of the album, though the YG family came together.
Featured in the album was Teddy the producer, Taeyang, and CL and Dara from 2NE1.
Debut album was met by tons of sales with over a quarter of a million copies sold.
But there was a controversy.
Heartbreaker was claimed to be a copy of Flo Rida's "Right Round".
While they are similar in structure, it was deemed there was no plagiarism on YG Entertainment or G-Dragon's part.
Funny enough, YG did get in contact with Flo Rida's representatives to set up a collaboration which actually happened.
Still with his first-ever solo debut, G-Dragon pulled off a win at the 2009 M-Net Asian Music Awards for the best album of the year.
Next year in 2010, GD would come back, but not alone.
Teaming up with his group mate and old friend T.O.P In the album "GD&TOP".
[Baby good night I don't wanna say good bye]
[I don't wanna say good bye] [Good night]
[I don't wanna say good bye]
[Good night]
"Oh Yeah", "High High" and "Knock Out" all coming from the same album
So at the top three charts in Gaon and was another commercial success.
GD would take a break and lay low for a bit, until rejoining his group again for the 2011 MTV EMA's.
Once 2012 came around, so did G-Dragon.
He really came into his own with the come back "One of a Kind".
[Hello]
[Yes sir I'm one of a kind]
난 재수없는 놈 (Wuh) [I'm a douche (Wuh)]
좀 비싼 몸 (Get out) [I'm an expensive person (Get out)]
GD said it himself, he really is one of a kind.
There is no idol that holds a light to G-Dragon.
He just emits a different aura that is..
..Honestly..
..Pretty scary.
Back to the story though.
"One of a Kind" helped make G-Dragon's first appearance on Billboard's World Album chart at number one.
And cracking Billboard 200 at 161.
This album also gave birth to classic hits "That XX", featuring a young, pre-BLACKPINK Jenny.
그 **보다 내가 못한 게 뭐야 [What does that ******* have that I don’t?]
도대체 왜 나는 가질 수 없는 거야 [Exactly why can’t I have you?]
And "Crayon".
Why so serious?
Get your crayon (x2)
Each crazy-good in their own right, G-Dragon also broke a record for the highest selling solo album in Korea.
The previous record was set by g-dragon himself.
Winning best male solo artist and record of the year, G-Dragon then went on his first solo world tour, and it made him millions.
The "One of a Kind Tour" landed in eight countries and put on a show for half a million fans.
Coming back from a long exhausting tour, G-dragon didn't take a break.
He went back to work on his next comeback.
[This is my coup d'etat]
입에서 입으로 도는 부메랑 [Boomerang going from mouth to mouth]
Numerous international artists came to collaborate with G-Dragon on his new album "Coup D'Etat".
Eeven rapper Missy Elliott, who also performed live with GD at KCON 2013 in Los Angeles.
영원한 건 절대 없어 [Nothing ever lasts forever]
Taking a look at the song "Crooked" it dominated.
With over 1.8 million downloads and 100 million video views on YouTube.
This album is a cornerstone in G-dragon's career.
Entering billboard again, G-Dragon walked away with even more hardware with 4 total awards at MAMA 2013 and the grand prize of Artist of the Year.
The next couple years, G-Dragon would ease off the gas pedal by producing songs.
G-Dragon helped in the production of his labelmates 2NE1's album and Taeyang's solo "Rise" album.
Speaking of Taeyang, remember when I said GDYB was planning to debut but it never happened?
Well now in 2014, it did.
[I am a good boy]
"Good Boy" was the hottest thing to come out of YG and K-Pop.
It had mass appeal with his new age hip hop sound that made "Good Boy" a hit around the world.
Hitting number one in billboard Digital Songs chart and a MAMA that year, G-Dragon even went on to diss M-Net for their award giving process.
Yeah, just because he can.
G-dragon was in a Skrillex song called "Dirty Vibe", along with CL, and even wrote and produced for YG entertainment's new boy group iKON's debut album.
I don't lie when I say G-Dragon doesn't take a break.
He then returned with Big Bang in the monumental "Made" world tour that lasted two years.
The "Made" tour was insanity, and something K-Pop has never seen before.
After the craziness that was 2016.
In 2017, G-Dragon linked up with an old friend featuring an IU song "Palette".
This was around the time that I would call the "sleeping dragon era" due to the quietness from GD and YG Entertainment.
But that sleeping dragon would be awakened.
[Bow wow wow]
[Yepi-yo yepi-ye]
"Bull****" was the lead single until T.O.P had his own marijuana scandal.
So G-Dragon promoted another release, "Untitled, 2014".
제발 단 한 번이라도 [Please, just once more]
너를 볼 수 있다면 [If I could see you again]
GD doesn't play by the rules.
In fact, his new album named after himself, "Kwon Ji-Yong", was first not considered a real album because he released it in USB form instead of CD.
But Gaon would accept this format later on.
The "Kwon Ji-Yong" album crashed top charts in Korea, China, Europe and the United States.
Setting records for any Korean act ever.
Becoming the fastest to sell 1 million copies, top and stay on top of Billboard charts and European charts, and g-dragon topped it off with a solo tour leading the way for Korean artists in the US.
Having the biggest tour by a single Korean artist ever.
The following year, 2018, G-Dragon went to fulfill his duty as a Korean.
Enlisting into the military on February 27.
While in the military, Korean news outlets started rumors of special treatment G-Dragon was receiving with no real facts.
This isn't new, as all throughout his career, news outlets can't help but talk about him.
It didn't really affect him, and on October 26th, only days ago, G-Dragon was released from the military after 21 months.
He was met with thousands of fans.
No one forgot about him.
How can you? It was a touching moment that struck G-Dragon.
And, now that he's out, what's next?
I expect GD to take it easy.
But if his history is any indication, he doesn't take breaks, and we could see a comeback sooner than you think.
I really want to see how he deals with the catastrophe that happened to Big Bang and YG Entertainment.
But, anything G-Dragon produces would be good news for anyone.
At the end of the day, I'm glad to see GD back.
And while he may not be back in action, he's back.
I can't wait for him to show new K-Pop fans what he's capable of, and remind everyone what a legend is capable of.
Welcome back, G-Dragon.
That's it for me, and that's it for this video.
If you enjoyed, please give this video a like, hit that subscribe button and that bell so you can join the Wave and not miss a new video.
G-Dragon's back baby.
Okay.
Let me know what you think about GD coming back, and do you think he's gonna come back this year or next year?
I'm thinking possibly 2020 sometime, and soon Taeyang and Daesung too.
So, there's definitely stuff to look forward to.
Also I got this little thing in the mail, you know, just..
..Just a little award from YouTube. This is my first ever award that I ever got for any academics, or sports, or anything..
I'm a real underachiever, you know what I'm saying?
thank you guys so much for 100k, and we're gonna keep climbing. We're gonna keep soaring and we're gonna get that million.
And also, remember I still have Wave merch available. They are gonna go away cause they're limited edition. I haven't decided the date yet.
I will let you know once I do on my Twitter and Instagram.
But get yours while you can, and it helps support this channel big-time.
You can also support on Patreon like these wonderful people, and make more of these videos possible.
You get a say in the "What Happened" video if I haven't already made my mind up of what to cover for the week.
Maybe I'll take your suggestion.
And if you want to check out more on my "What Happened" series, click over here to see what Happened to LOONA and what happened to--
-I'm gonna put a random one.
Thank you guys so much for watching, hope you have a great weekend, and I'll catch you guys in the next one.
안녕 [Goodbye]