GD, “Big Bang’s nickname was ‘What do we do’”

The first member of Big Bang aside from G-Dragon (Real name: Kwon Jiyong, 23) and Taeyang (Real name: Dong Youngbae, 23) to be mentioned was Top (Real name: Choi Seunghyun, 24). But YG Entertainment’s President Yang Hyun Seok thought his chubby demeanor made him unsuitable to join the group.

”Top hyung exercised like crazy for six months and returned after losing a lot of weight. I asked ‘Why have you lost so much weight?’ and he said ‘I exercised really hard because I wanted to join YG’. He redid his audition and of course he made it this time.”

Next came Seungri (Real name: Lee Seunghyun, 20) who was eliminated in the last round of an Mnet programme called ‘Battle Shinhwa’, then Daesung (Real name: Kang Daesung, 22) who was chosen for his bright smile.

”Hyunseung, who is currently a member of Beast was originally one of our members too. The 6 of us including Hyunseung practised together and lived together for a while. At first it was difficult at first to have six people who had led completely different lives to live in one house; our personalities clashed and there was a lot of intimidation. But during the happy times, it really felt like we’d become a family.. I think it took about a year and a half though. I think it’s thanks to those times that we can understand each other just by looking at each others’ eyes now.”

They overcame the bickering to build teamwork, and plans for Big Bang’s debut were launched. The company decided to create a ‘survival’ documentary showing the candidates for Big Bang. They planned to show the existence of the group and gain fans by airing ‘Real Docu BIGBANG’ through Gom TV.MTV Korea, which turned out to be a success.

”As well as the uncommon fact that YG was making an idol group, the survival-style documentary programme seemed to interest fans too. Since that was back when there weren’t any ‘real variety’ shows. It was before our debut so we all felt really pressured at the time. We were being watched by millions of people and we didn’t even have our own song or dance as a group! People at YG would always look at us and say ‘What do we do with them?’, and soon our group’s nickname became ‘What do we do’. (laughs)”

Hyunseung was eliminated in the end, and the remaining members received a huge shock. However they concentrated on making an album as fans watched and waited, and slowly created the image of Big Bang.

Trans Credits: sjay.x @ BBVIP.net
Source: asiae.co.kr

G-Dragon didn’t expect to be in a idol group

G-Dragon (Real Name: Kwon Ji Yong – 23) along with Taeyang (Real Name: Dong Young Bae – 23) as YG trainees dreamed of being a hip-hop duo. While training, they imagined of making that group.

“Around the second year of high school, I think. There was talk about creating this group called “Big Bang”. I signed and trained on thinking I was going to be a solo artist, with collaborations with Taeyang, but then I hear talk of “Big Bang” being an idol group. At the time, there was a slight prejudice of “idol” groups so I was thinking ‘from a company who focuses on hip hop, what is this talk of idols’.”

It was a huge shock for G-Dragon who wanted to debut “YG Family style” but instead was put into an idol group.

“I didn’t want to dance the same things as others. I thought, I wanted to dance a choreography that was my own. Although now I don’t have such prejudices of idol groups, back then along with Taeyang we thought, ‘We patiently worked this long so far, this isn’t what we wanted.’ I didn’t even like the thought of the same wardrobes, same dances. There were thoughts like ‘Should I just leave for another company’ or ‘is this the path we were meant for’ during that time.”

After talks of creating “Big Bang” started, the first member that came along was TOP (Real name: Choi Seung Hyun – 24) which was in large part because of G-dragon.

“TOP-hyung was originally my friend. He was my neighborhood friend from middle school. He was a friend that I danced and rapped with but when I moved we became distant but I contacted him again. TOP said during that time, ‘This is so good, this is my dream’. We created a demo CD together for him. He made it and mailed it to YG. That was one of many times we repeatedly made tapes for YG where YG then asked to see TOP.”

However, at the time with TOP’s chubby demeanor YG judged him to not fit the “idol” image so he was rejected. However six months later, TOP came back with a different image.

From this


to this..

Source : asiae.co.kr
Translation: cityscripts @ omona_prection
Post taken from: VIPACCESS

GD, “TaeYang was my pillar of support.”

G-Dragon (Real name Kwon Jiyong), along with current fellow Big Bang member Taeyang (Real name Dong Youngbae) came to play the role of the younger JinuSean for their music video for ‘A-Yo’. These two thirteen year old children with a common interest in music quickly became friends.

“When I first saw Youngbae, there was just something about him that made me think “Huh! Who’s he?”. We became friends just like that. We’ve never had a fight before, maybe because we have totally opposite personalities. When I was younger I was really withdrawn and came to gain confidence during puberty, but Youngbae was really out there when he was young and and has now become quiet and serious. The young Youngbae was so full of energy and confident, he said to President Yang Hyun Seok “I want to join YG” with no hesitation whatsoever.”

The next month, Taeyang went to the President’s office in the YG Entertainment building and said “I’m here because it’s been a month and you haven’t contacted me”. President YG liked how daring he was and took him in as a trainee. To G-Dragon, Taeyang joining YG meant the appearance of a friend who he could lean on during his tough trainee days. Though they were the same age, they became close friends, who could look each other for support rather than rivals.

“Even mopping is better when someone else is doing it with you. We had loads of fun back then. A lot of good memories. Even now, when we’re alone we laugh and cry as we talk about when we were little. It makes me happy.”

There were a lot of hard times during their trainee days. Their futures were not guaranteed and even the smallest hurts were agonising at times.

“Since we were the maknaes [youngest], there were a lot of hard times. We would go as guests to sunbaenims’ [senior] concerts or be ‘substitutes’ if anyone pulled out at the last minute. Once, Wheesung hyung was meant to be a guest at Se7en hyung’s concert but he couldn’t go because of his schedule so we were sent instead. We had to take our own clothes too. We would take a huge bag full of clothes and catch the subway along with people going to see the concert, then we’d perform and catch the subway back with the same people going home. We would hear them whisper “Hey, aren’t they those kids from the concert?”. It was kind of embarrassing cos although we looked cool while performing, we always looked so sloppy afterwards.”

One time, they had to wait at the Jamshil Station for the whole day with their huge bags. The manager who was supposed to pick them up from the station and take them to the concert (as dancers substitutes) had totally forgotten about them.

“Hyung said he’d come by 11am but it was 6pm and he still wasn’t here. We didn’t even know his phone number. But back then if we were told to wait, we had no choice but to wait. So we were waiting for ages but decided to go back home on the last train. The next day we met him and asked what happened, and he said “I forgot.” The dancers had come after all so he’d forgotten about us. We just said “Oh, I see” and went back to cleaning, but we were so sad.”

G-Dragon became angrily determined to be properly acknowledged within the company and debut.

Trans Credits: sjay.x @ BBVIP.net

post taken from: VIPACCESS

G-Dragon spent a year cleaning as a trainee

After discovering the Hip Hop group Wu-Tang Clan, G-Dragon got more interested in freestyle rapping that he joined a group called People Crew. He soon became really close with the other members.

“I was just a little kid who really wanted to learn hip hop so the other hyungs found me to be cute. I even appeared a view times on their TV program. I played around then joined the 2001 Korea Hip Hop Flex album.”

Taking part on an album with people whom been around hip hop for most of their live really helped G-Dragon out.

“For the album I even wrote the lyrics and recorded it. They said it was good but at that time I lacked English skills. Since I hadn’t gone overseas to study I knew little English. The lyrics went something like, I am young but I am the best. (Laughs)”

This was around the time where rapper Lil Bow Wow was becoming popular in the states and in Korea BoA and Ryang Hyun Ryang Ha were gaining popularity as well. This was around the first time that President Yang took notice of G-Dragon.

“Sean (JinuSean) saw me and had passed the word on to President Yang. Perry also really liked me and even wanted to produce songs for me. Back then I felt really nervous when meeting President Yang. He was my favorite back in SeoTaiJi. I thought he had a really good sense of fashion with his gloves and short sleeved t-shirts. His dancing skills were also to my liking. But then when I met him my impression was different. He was wearing slippers and talked in a weird accent. He asked me, “You’re here?” in that accent. He looked more like an uncle then anything.”

Yang HyunSuk went on telling G-Draogn’s mom his future plans for G-Dragon. Once his mother left the room Yang HyunSuk would whisper, “Tell your mother you want to join YG.”

“I cried and begged my parents and after words I ended up signing with YG. I was 13 at the time and that’s when JinuSean, 1Tym, and Lexy were still apart of YG. When I went to the office for the first time I saw Se7en wearing hip hop clothes and playing around with some of the nunas from the company. I thought they were beautiful.”

His trainee life started with him cleaning up the practice rooms. He cleaned the mirrors and floors basically everything he was told to do.

“For a whole year the only thing I remember doing was cleaning. I got water for those who were practicing and even prepared their food. My schedule was an hour of cleaning, 2 hours of training, and then another hour of cleaning.”

Before G-Dragon turned 14 he partook in Perry’s album, participated on music programs and even joined his hyungs in a concert. This was also the first time he met TaeYang.

Source: asiae.co.kr

Post taken from: VIPACCESS

G-Dragon use to be a trainee for SM

G-Dragon real name Kwon JiYong became popular when he was younger. At a young age G-Dargon started participating in kid shows like ‘Little Lulla’. Like the show ‘An Angel Without Wings’, ‘Little Lulla’ was a huge hit.

“I was also on MBC’s ‘Bbobbobbo’. I was seated next to Bbomee on the show and I danced really well. That’s when I was discovered by ‘Little Lulla’. Back then we even but on a concert tour and recorded a carol album.”

Even though the show ‘Little Lulla’ was super popular, after awhile the company decided to pull the plug on the show which was a huge shock to G-Dragon.

“At that age I was really shocked. I really thought I wouldn’t continue to be a singer. I even told my mother once that I would never do it again. I lived a normal live after that.”

It seemed like he was destined to become famous. When his family went on a ski trip, SM was conducting a dance competition and he joined. He soon enough was picked to be a trainee. He trained under SM for almost 5 years.

“When I was in SM, it wasn’t as big as it was today so practicing didn’t happen daily. I would only go once a month or once every three months. The workers there probably don’t even remember me. I use to dance a lot but the officials probably don’t remember me. I wasn’t handsome but I had a mischievous face and did what I was told really well. This one time I even got to sit on the lap of one of the Shinhwa members.”

Even as an SM trainee he didn’t have a clear vision of what he really wanted to do. Once he reached the 3rd grade, he discovered the Wu-tang Clang through a close friend. He then joined a group called People Crew and learned how to freestyle.

G-Dragon exposes his feelings on the concert issue

GDragon had many labels in the past, some good and some bad. Big Bang’s leader. The youngest boy who was participating in HipHop albums by the age of 13. One of the top 8 composers that shined in 2008. Placing first in all possible music charts with his solo album. 2009’s greatest selling record. Plagiarism issues. Known for interesting fashion. And the most recent one, concert issues.

There had been a set of associated words with GDragon. However, he was the boy that went on along his way without any rest in the music world, but there will always be the critics commenting on his actions. Through an interview, we learned about what kind of a path he kept on going from that one little boy to a star that is loved by many people.

People who are close to GDragon say that he is “very detailed and trustworthy.” So detailed that he would check daily on every single detail of his album and watch the concert stage from the 3rd floor to make sure that his fans wouldn’t miss out on a thing. A person like that was slammed down on his first concert. It was all because of the sexy performance he displayed during his own song, ‘Breathe.’

GDragon stated, “I believe that since I am a singer for the public, I know that it is right for the public to judge me. No matter what I was trying to show, it was my fault if it [the concert] was disturbing and high level. I was only trying to show a stronger appearance because it wasn’t a public show, but a concert performance. I’m really sad that the response was different from what I expected.” While he was preparing his first concert, he was excited. Since the age of 13 entering YG Entertainment, this was the stage he was dreaming about for 10 years. He pondered on the videos to show, and explored each section of the audience seats to view how the stage would look from there. Big Bang’s stages also made him excited, but this solo concert that had his own name on it as a single singer meant the world to him.

“Seriously, I don’t know even remember how hard I rose up to this level for my solo concert. I might be saying this because I’m still young, but really when this concert ended, I really thought to myself, ‘I would want nothing else more.’” But, when I turned on the internet the next day, my heart crashed to see only the parts of concert torn apart with the issues.” He confessed that he faced sadness as a singer when he realized that the performances that he worked hard on was torn apart and that one cut represented his whole concert. Was it to much for him to show different sides of him to the audience that couldn’t easily access the concert?

“Instead of tears, fake laugh came out as I thought, ‘will I be cursed so that anywhere I go, I get bashed at?’” I didn’t want it to go this far. I just wanted to show my fans the different sides. In the performances I showed cute sides, and handsome sides, but why did it only get cut into this part? All the news paper articles had that strong word in them, and I was embarrassed and sad that my parents might see these articles that only had one side to them.” He added on, “My thinking was short. However I just wish that people wouldn’t criticise me just for that one section. The song ‘Breathe’ in general is about not wanting to wake up from a dream because my ideal woman appears in them. Because of those lyrics I had a bed on stage and showed that I was searching my dreams. But the final product the public saw was, ”sex demonstration.” I was shocked and thought, ‘I’m not this, but I guess this is how I look to the people,’ realizing it then.”

He finally added, “Whether I get praised at, or slammed at, I think that is proof that the public is showing interests toward me. I have to understand the fact that telling me what part I did wrong helps me to improve in the future. The way I could he accepted and win praises is to do better on the next album. This once again reminded me that I have to do my best on the Big Bang album coming out this year.”

Credit: Asia Kyung Jae

Post taken from: K Bites

Making of FIRE 2NE1 and 2NE1 icons & wallpaper download

Download 2NE1 Wallies

[NEWS] 090512 “IRIS” Press Conference & Preview

©코코마탑횽

Post taken From: YG WORLD

Gu Hye Sun, the Actress-Turned-Writer, Reads Her Book in Tears

With her recent published novel, “Tango”, the actress turned writer, Gu Hye Sun will be on KBS1 TV “Reading Discovery” program. She’ll be reading a few scripts from “Tango” as a part of her book promotion.

According to her, writing a novel for the first time is like doing some fermentation for foods. It takes time, and for her, to be able to write a novel, she has learned over time about putting thoughts together in writing as well as knowing her own writing style. She said, “As an actress, as a human being, people can do a lot of things if they put their mind into it. However, I had my worry about this book when I first started.” This expressed how much work and effort she has put in to this novel.

As for the book cover itself, Gu Hye Sun used her own illustration, as well as a few other illustrations throughout the novel. And in some bulletins, her readers put all her book’s inspiring quotes and they made comments also about her own illustrations which are inserted throughout the novel.

During the recording for the show, Gu Hye Sun read a passage about a mother’s love, and the studio got very quiet. Everyone cried silently with her as she put her emotions into the passage. She then mentioned that most of the well-known stars now, they got a lot of misconceptions. They had to overcome a lot of difficult moments during their pre-debut time. “But I believe my parents were the ones who gave me strength as they believed in me all the time.” Gu Hye Sun said, as she showed how much gratitude and love she got from her parents.

This special program featuring Gu Hye Sun, reading her book, playing her own composed music on the piano will be broadcast on May 12 at 11:30pm

©Nina67 @ soompi

Post taken from: YG WORLD

[NEWS] 090512 Lieu of Press Conference for Drama ‘IRIS

A production announcement press conference was held on 12th May in Seoul GooRoDong 9th Avenue for the upcoming KBS drama ‘IRIS’.

The main cast Lee Byung Hun, Kim Tae Hee, Big Bang TOP, Kim So Yeon and Kim Seung Woo were present at the press conference.

‘IRIS’ is said to be the best anticipating drama of year 2009 with its famous cast.

Lee Byung Hun acts as Hyun Joon who is works for NSS investigating a great national conspiracy. Kim Tae Hee acts as SeungHee who also work for the NSS. Whie Kim So Yeon acts as Kim Seon Hwa who works as both a staff at NSS and also a operation agent in the drama.

Also Kim Seung Woo acts as a North Korea escort team leader while TOP plays a cruel killer in the show.

The show is set to be 20 billion KRW in the making, and its cast will bring the viewers through action and romance scenes with the backdrop of Asia and European countries.

The drama is set to air in the latter half of the year in September.

Translation on the interview with TOP:

TOP talks about the difficulty in acting for this drama.

He said during the press conference, “The truth is that I had a lot of pressure doing this drama. At first, it was a lot of pressure on me, but then now it is more like a great sense of responsibility. I take the role in the drama very seriously and I also learnt a lot from the senir actors. It is great that I can show a different side of me through this drama.”

This is the first adult role taken up by TOP since his drama on KBS ‘I am Sam’. He said, “I act as a teenager in the drama ‘I am Sam’ in 2007 but with this drama I’m acting as a killer. I did preparations myself and also learnt along the way from the seniors around. I’m very excited about being able to show a new image of myself to the Korean and Japanese fans.”

“Of course there are difficulties to this role too. From what I see, the character is very different from myself in actual. Hence it is tough acting as a cruel killer.”

Credit: sookyeong wordpress

Post taken: YG WORLd

Goo Hye Sun at “Tango” Fan Signing Event

Goo Hye-sun signed copies of her novel, Tango, on the afternoon of May 9 at the Jamsil Kyobo Book Centre. The actress was 30 minutes late to arrive on the scene that day.

Goo also recently filmed a segment for KBS’s read-aloud program 낭독의 발견 (literally “read-aloud discovery”), which will air on May 12. After the reading was over, she shed some tears over being misunderstood as merely an “uljjang star” back in her early days when she was, well, mostly an uljjang star. (Gu was discovered as an internet uljjang, after which she was taken into a management company and received training as both a singer and actor, although she was encouraged more to pursue acting.)

©dramabeans

Post taken from: YG WORLD

yay.. she's so beautiful. i really like her...

YG, Unaware of GD’s Cameo Appearance in 2NE1’s MV

YG, “We didn’t know of GDragon’s short cameo act in ‘Fire’ MV until fans pointed out”
With the release 2NE1’s ‘Fire’ MV, many fans pointed out the cameo appearance of Big Bang member GDragon.
There were 2 versions to the MV revealed on 6th May – space and street version, which got 1.5 and 1 million views on GomTV as of 9th May. While on other portal sites, the MVs were said to have attracted more than 2.5 milion views.
With that many netizens and fans caught the 2 seconds cameo apperance of Big Bang GDragon for the street version of the MV, doing his comical act behind member Gong MinJi.
But YG Entertainment said, “We did not know of GDragon’s cameo comic act behind member Gong MinJi for the street version of the MV as pointed out by Big Bang fans. It was because he was behind Gong MinJi and his appearance was so short.”
“But with the release of the MV online, Big Bang fans were fast to spot him in the MV. And it quickly became a topic amongst netizens and fans on the internet.”
The YG representative said, “GDragon went to the filming spot for the MV filming to give support to the 2NE1 members whom he is close to. And with no earlier plans for it, he went directly for a cameo appearance to show support to 2NE1.”.
Credit: sookyeong wordpress
Post taken from: YG WORLD

Sandara Park Goes Skiing

Post Taken: YG WORLD

Most Popular Singers, First Half of 2009: Big Bang & SNSD

Groups Big Bang and So Nyeo Shi Dae are the most popular singers for the first half of 2009.
A marketing research agency Leespr did a survey amongst 1,334 Koreans from age 13-65 for the whole month of March, and survey results showed that groups Big Bang and So Nyeo Shi Dae were the most popular singers for the first half of year 2009.
Male Singer Category
Big Bang who recently released their new book ‘Shouting To You In The World’ won the #1 position for the popularity in the category of male singers. They were voted as the representative male group in Korea.
The ranking:

1. Big Bang
2. Rain
3. Dong Bang Shin Ki
4. Super Junior
5. Lee Moon Sae

Others on Top 10: SS501, Jo Yong Pil, Lee Seung Chul, Kim Gun Mo, SG Wannabe.
Female Singer Category
For the female singers category, So Nyeo Shi Dae, who brought about the ‘Gee’ craz for the first half of this year, was voted #1 for top popularity.

1. So Nyeo Shi Dae
2. WonderGirls
3. Lee Hyori (She was #1 for the 2nd half of 2008)
4. Jang Yoon Jeong (Trot singer who won mostly the votes from people of age 50 and above surveyed)
5. Baek Ji Young (Her comeback song ‘Like Being Hit’ proves to be a popular hit)
6. KARA
7. Son DamBi
8. Davichi
9. BoA (‘Asia’s Star’, currently advancing into the American market)

Well, the 2nd half of 2009 will be more interesting than the first. We have newcomers like 2NE1, T-ara, IU; and comebacks like So Nyeo Shi Dae, Lee Hyori, SS501, Big Bang and Se7en.


Credit: Sookyeong wordpress
Post taken from: YG WORLD

2NE1’s “FIRE’ on Perez Hilton

Credit: YG WORLD

Big Bang Big Show CD + Photobook Promo

Credits: kithkithkith@youtube
post taken from: VIPACCESS

[News] 2NE1 proves to be a big hit - more than 500K views in just 2 hours after MV release

Group 2NE1 has proven to be a big hit. The MV to their debut song ‘Fire’ has been revealed on the 6th.

And in just 2 hours into the release of the MV, it has attracted more than 500,0oo views to GomTv site which was the first to reveal the MV.

A YG representative said, “The MV has attracted more than 500,000 views in just over 2 hours since its reveal on 6th May. We are in the state of bewilderment.”

2NE1 is YG’s new female group consisting of 4 member CL as the rapper leader, Sandara Park, Gong Min Ji and Park Bom. They also recently sang for the CM song for LG Lollipop phone with group Big Bang.

Credit:Kbites

Post taken: VIPACCES

[News / Video] G-Dragon apperance in 2NE1’s MV

Big Bang GDragon, who have been said to have slight depression and is currentlyon his Europe vacation, has a special appearance on 2NE1’s new MV.

2NE1 released the MV to their debut single ‘Fire’ on the 6th. In the MV, GDragon had a cameo appearance. He was seen swinging his head and moving comically to the lyrics ‘ChalRang ChalRang’ in the song.

It was previously mentioned in YG’s message on how GDragon has been having a hard time coping with work and had been down with slight depression a while back. Fans’ responses to his cameo appearance have been welcoming too.

His solo album will be released in August.

credit: elaisvipp@youtube || K Bites

Post taken from: VIPACCESS

G-Dragon Back to Korea This Weekend at the Earliest, Doing Well in Europe

Big Bang’s G-Dragon (Real Name Kwon JiYong), who left to vacation in Europe recently, is enjoying the vacation to the fullest and having a happy time.
YG Entertainment said in a phone call with Newsen on the 7th, “Starting from the UK and going around Europe, G-Dragon is taking a break. We have received word that he is doing very well. We have not set a precise date for him to come back to Korea, but at the earliest, he could come back this weekend.”
G-Dragon left for Europe a while ago. Yang Hyun Seok has recently revealed through the official homepage that G-Dragon had spent day-to-day being busy after Big Bang’s debut, and as a result of that, his mind was worn out, and the solo album which was projected to be in April was postponed. Yang was also worried because G-Dragon had symptoms that were similar to depression indicating that he was in a sort of slump.
However, YG Entertainment said, “He was back to his normal self before he went to Europe,” and “Although he may be somewhat fatigued, his mind and body has gotten better.”
On the internet, a picture of G-Dragon having a joyful time in Europe attracted a lot of attention.
Also, YG Entertainment asserts that “G-Dragon is keeping up his good condition to the point that fans will not have to worry,” and “In the future as well, we ask for lots of encouragement.”

Source: Newsen
Translation: BBJet @ ygworld.wordpress.com

Post taken from: YG WORLD

New NII Big Bang Pics

Source: 원스 & 맥스봉 @ bbvipz, NII Homepage
Post taken from: YG WORLD