As a solo rapper, he has released two digital singles, “Turn It Up” (2010) and “Doom Dada” (2013), that have peaked at number two and four, respectively, on the Gaon Digital Chart. On March 20, 2026, he announced his comeback through his social media and https://mcw-facai88.com/ his agency, TOPSPOT PICTURES, released his first full-length album, Another Dimension on various online music sites on April 3. On January 1, 2026, T.O.P announced that he will release his first solo album Another Dimension. Despite being a rapper, he sang on the single “Hi Haruka” as part of the drama’s soundtrack.
He also recorded the song “Hallelujah” for the drama’s soundtrack with Taeyang and G-Dragon. He became the first member of BigBang to venture into acting, starring in the KBS2 drama I Am Sam, portraying the school’s top fighter, Chae Musin. Later that summer, he appeared as an actor in Red Roc’s “Hello” music video. In April 2007, he was featured with fellow BigBang members Taeyang and G-Dragon on singer Lexy’s single “Super Fly” for her album Rush. The group achieved mainstream success with the release of the song “Lies” (거짓말; Geojitmal) from the extended play Always (2007), which topped several charts upon its release.
Awards and nominations
The singles, “Last Farewell” (마지막 인사; Majimak Insa) from Hot Issue (2008) and “Day by Day” (하루하루; Haru Haru) from Stand Up (2008), became chart-toppers as well. Given the stage name of T.O.P. (탑) by senior YG artist Seven, he became one of two rappers alongside G-Dragon (Kwon’s stage name) in BigBang. By then, Choi had already performed on many underground stages at hip hop clubs and established a reputation as an underground rapper with the stage name Tempo. In 2024, T.O.P portrayed Thanos in the second season of the Netflix dystopian survival thriller series Squid Game. The group became one of the best-selling groups of all time in Asia and one of the best-selling boy bands in the world. He performed as an underground rapper before joining the record label YG Entertainment and debuted as the lead rapper of the boy band BigBang in 2006.
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- He also recorded the song “Hallelujah” for the drama’s soundtrack with Taeyang and G-Dragon.
- After release, his acting was criticized by those in South Korea, particularly that his vocal and facial performance was out of place, with the quality of his rap having mixed reception.
- Prior to the release of the album, the duo held a worldwide premiere showcase for their album at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo of Seoul, South Korea, which was also broadcast live on YouTube.
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- The following year, T.O.P. portrayed the assassin Vick in the critically acclaimed Korean television drama Iris (2009).
- In 2010, while the group was on hiatus, T.O.P and G-Dragon collaborated to release the album, GD & TOP.
- ] Later that year, he starred in CJ E&M’s web drama The Secret Message alongside Japanese actress Juri Ueno.
- He also believed that his character may prove popular with younger viewers in Korea.
- Following Iris, T.O.P. starred in the suspense film 19-Nineteen along with fellow member Seungri.
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- On December 4, 2024, T.O.P was revealed as a cast member for the second season of the Netflix series Squid Game.
- Yim later said that they stopped filming but T.O.P wanted to continue, so they resumed.
- In April 2007, he was featured with fellow BigBang members Taeyang and G-Dragon on singer Lexy’s single “Super Fly” for her album Rush.
- On June 29, at his first trial for the marijuana usage charges at the Seoul Central District Court, T.O.P pleaded guilty, admitting that he did smoke marijuana in four instances in early October 2016 and received two years of probation.
- After group activities wrapped up, he focused his attention back to acting, starring in the film Commitment (2013), playing the son of a North Korean spy who is falsely accused.unreliable source?
- For his role, he won the Rookie Award at the Asia Star Awards, held during the Busan International Film Festival.unreliable source?
- The group became one of the best-selling groups of all time in Asia and one of the best-selling boy bands in the world.
- T.O.P. continued promoting Squid Game in 2025 during FYC events for Primetime Emmy Award consideration, as he was submitted under the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category.
- On February 7, 2022, YG Entertainment announced that BigBang would make their comeback with a new song on April 5.
2019: Military service, personal and legal issues with marijuana usage
He would later announce on February 12 that the lead single will be entitled “Studio 54”. T.O.P. continued promoting Squid Game in 2025 during FYC events for Primetime Emmy Award consideration, as he was submitted under the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category. He also believed that his character may prove popular with younger viewers in Korea. Netflix and Hwang received criticism for this casting for possibly setting a bad precedent.
] On February 7, 2022, YG Entertainment announced that BigBang would make their comeback with a new song on April 5. On June 29, at his first trial for the marijuana usage charges at the Seoul Central District Court, T.O.P pleaded guilty, admitting that he did smoke marijuana in four instances in early October 2016 and received two years of probation. ] A few days after the announcement, T.O.P was found unconscious in police barracks due to a suspected anti-anxiety medicine overdose of prescribed benzodiazepine,unreliable source? T.O.P was subsequently transferred to a different police division to await notice of prosecution, and was suspended from police duty pending verdict on his case.unreliable source? After news broke in June that he would be prosecuted without detention for use of marijuana,unreliable source?
He played Thanos, a former rapper who had fallen from grace due to a crypto scam. On December 4, 2024, T.O.P was revealed as a cast member for the second season of the Netflix series Squid Game. YG announced at the time that he would continue with group activities.
While internationally, BigBang is often referred to as a “K-pop” group, T.O.P has expressed distaste with the label noting how “you don’t divide pop music by who’s doing it. We don’t say, for instance, ‘white pop’ when white people make music.” He also notes how his role as a musician influenced his acting to be more emotional. Both his solo releases – “Turn It Up” and “Doom Dada” – are hip hop influenced, with the latter drawing critical acclaim for its “lyrical rhythms that are both inviting and alienating” from Dazed magazine, that declared T.O.P was leading the evolution of K-Pop. Adrienne Stanley of Kpop Starz also praised the rapper for his “speed and accuracy” when delivering bars. After release, his acting was criticized by those in South Korea, particularly that his vocal and facial performance was out of place, with the quality of his rap having mixed reception. The casting of T.O.P received controversy in South Korea, and his face was blurred on the Korean morning show Live This Morning when airing a segment about the series.
Later that year, he starred in CJ E&M’s web drama The Secret Message alongside Japanese actress Juri Ueno. After debuting as a furniture designer in 2015 in collaboration with Vitra, he was awarded the Visual Culture Award at the Prudential Eye Awards.unreliable source? For his role, he won the Rookie Award at the Asia Star Awards, held during the Busan International Film Festival.unreliable source? While filming a combat scene for the movie, he injured the back of his hand on a glass fragment and was later admitted to the hospital for surgery. T.O.P first became attached to the role because he “felt sympathy for the main character, Lee Myung Hoon.”
