T.O.P.

T.O.P.

Stage Name : T.O.P

Real Name : Choi Seung Hyun [최승현]

Also Known As : Tempo

Position in Big Bang : Rapper

Birthdate : November 4, 1987

Height : 180cm Weight : 65kg

Blood-type : B

Education Background : Seoul Art College [Majoring

in Musical]

Specialty : Rap, Beat Box, Composing

Hobby : Reading & Swimming

Personality : He speaks well and he is extremely stubborn.He likes to be the leader of things and speaks his mind. Shy and he thinks he’s cute.

Likes : theatrical performances, Musicals, and fashion designing.

Musicians he admires: Usher, omarion, JAY-Z, and B2K

Underground career

Choi Seung Hyun was a well known underground rapper prior to his involvement in Big Bang. He initially used the name "Tempo" when he started rapping in middle school. At first, he performed in gigs located in a club in Gangnam from 2003 to 2005 and other underground clubs. He never signed a label or released an album. However, one of his songs, "Buckwild", was popular online. Choi won KBS Radio's "Rap Battle" in 2003.

2006—present: Debut with Big Bang and solo activities

T.O.P. joined Big Bang in 2006 as one of the two rappers (with G-Dragon being the other); the formation of the group was documented by the television network MTV Korea's ten-episode documentary of the band's trials and tribulations. He is the oldest of the five members in the group. Unlike the rest of Big Bang, T.O.P. did not train to be a singer and only rapped. The group's first album contained T.O.P.'s first solo song, titled "Big Boy."

In April of 2007, T.O.P. participated in a collaboration with fellow Big Bang members, Tae Yang and G-Dragon on singer Lexy's single "Super Fly". Later that summer, he was featured as an actor in Red Roc’s "Hello" music video and also starred in the KBS2 drama, I Am Sam, where he portrayed school's top fighter, Chae Musin, becoming the first of the Big Bang members to branch out into acting. Additionally, T.O.P became MBC's Music Core MC on November 10, 2007, only to resign the following year in April.

T.O.P. later worked with R&B artist Gummy on her album Comfort, being a featured artist on her single "Mianhaeyo" ("I'm Sorry"), and later on Uhm Jung Hwa's 2008 single "D.I.S.C.O.".

After a year of hiatus on acting, T.O.P returned with a role as the assassin Vick in the Korean television drama Iris.. The drama was well-received Although he was offered the lead role in upcoming Korean drama, Zeroplus YG Entertainment turned it down as the role did not suit T.O.P.

In November 12, 2009, T.O.P., alongside fellow Big Bang member Seungri appeared in the teenage suspense drama, My 19. It was revealed in late 2009 that T.O.P will have a role in Korean movie, Into the Gunfire, where filming has already taken place and the movie is set to be released around June next year.

T.O.P.'s record label YG Entertainment has announced that T.O.P, alongside Daesung will be releasing solo mini-albums and digital solos sometime in 2010.