Biography
Taeyang, the South Korean singer, songwriter, and dancer, first gained notice as a founding member of the landmark K-pop group Big Bang. Shaped by Michael Jackson and American R&B/soul traditions, he supplied the act with distinctive vocal range while the band led the 2000s Korean Wave, securing worldwide audiences and shaping countless subsequent K-pop performers. His independent career began officially in 2008 with the EP Hot. Two years later came the full-length Solar, titled after his stage name that translates as “sun.” The 2014 album Rise set new marks on U.S. rankings and featured the ballad “Eyes, Nose, Lips,” which collected prizes throughout East Asia. After finishing promotion for White Night in 2017, he completed mandatory military service that ended in 2019. His return arrived in 2023 via the duet “Vibe” with BTS’s Jimin, a sleek ’90s R&B/pop homage.
Born Dong Young-Bae in Uijeongbu, he began dance and vocal training at age twelve, then joined Big Bang for its 2006 debut. The group’s rising profile opened doors for Taeyang in acting and modeling alongside his solo work. Early releases such as the 2008 EP Hot and the 2010 album Solar, with their sharp hip-hop-inflected pop, drew less notice than his band’s parallel material, yet Rise in 2014 reversed that pattern. It entered at number one on Billboard’s World Album and Heatseekers Album charts, crossed into the Billboard 200, and made him the highest-charting Korean male solo artist to that date. Lead single “Eyes, Nose, Lips” earned Song of the Year honors at multiple Asian ceremonies. Following tours and collaborations with bandmate G-Dragon, he issued White Night, which again topped the World Album chart and included the singles “Darling” and “Wake Me Up.” Military service commenced in March 2018 and concluded late in 2019.
After signing with YG Entertainment’s Black Label in 2022, Taeyang reunited with Jimin for “Vibe.” His first solo release since White Night, the track reached number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart and landed in the top ten across Asia, New Zealand, and Hungary.
Born Dong Young-Bae in Uijeongbu, he began dance and vocal training at age twelve, then joined Big Bang for its 2006 debut. The group’s rising profile opened doors for Taeyang in acting and modeling alongside his solo work. Early releases such as the 2008 EP Hot and the 2010 album Solar, with their sharp hip-hop-inflected pop, drew less notice than his band’s parallel material, yet Rise in 2014 reversed that pattern. It entered at number one on Billboard’s World Album and Heatseekers Album charts, crossed into the Billboard 200, and made him the highest-charting Korean male solo artist to that date. Lead single “Eyes, Nose, Lips” earned Song of the Year honors at multiple Asian ceremonies. Following tours and collaborations with bandmate G-Dragon, he issued White Night, which again topped the World Album chart and included the singles “Darling” and “Wake Me Up.” Military service commenced in March 2018 and concluded late in 2019.
After signing with YG Entertainment’s Black Label in 2022, Taeyang reunited with Jimin for “Vibe.” His first solo release since White Night, the track reached number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart and landed in the top ten across Asia, New Zealand, and Hungary.
Albums
Singles
