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 mcw facai88 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.
During BigBang’s Big Show Concert in January 2010, T.O.P. performed his new single “Turn It Up”. Following Iris, T.O.P. starred in the suspense film 19-Nineteen along with fellow member Seungri. The following year, T.O.P. portrayed the assassin Vick in the critically acclaimed Korean television drama Iris (2009). Despite wanting to use his stage name when acting, believing it reflects his professional side more, he is often billed with his real name, with his stage name included in parentheses.
2010: Solo career development, move into acting, and GD & TOP
T.O.P holds several records in the art world, becoming the first K-pop singer to be named to a list of 200 artists in the art world at Growse Magazine.unreliable source? After spending the majority of 2015 touring and promoting BigBang’s materials for their album Made (2016), T.O.P was cast in the German-Chinese film Out of Control alongside Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung. 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. Later that year, T.O.P and bandmate G-Dragon formed a subunit to release the album GD & TOP (2010).
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?
T.O.P appeared one last time in the final episode, which sees a character briefly hallucinating Thanos. Yim later said that they stopped filming but T.O.P wanted to continue, so they resumed. Hwang explained that he wanted to cast someone who had stopped working due to drug-related issues, and T.O.P had retired from K-pop and left BigBang over a marijuana conviction. After auditioning, he won the role because series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk liked his “serious” approach.
Filmography
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 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.
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- } He also notes how his role as a musician influenced his acting to be more emotional.
- On March 20, 2026, he announced his comeback through his social media and his agency, TOPSPOT PICTURES, released his first full-length album, Another Dimension on various online music sites on April 3.
- 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.
- He also recorded the song “Hallelujah” for the drama’s soundtrack with Taeyang and G-Dragon.
- 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.
- Later that year, he starred in CJ E&M’s web drama The Secret Message alongside Japanese actress Juri Ueno.
- 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.
- During BigBang’s Big Show Concert in January 2010, T.O.P. performed his new single “Turn It Up”.
- In 2010, while the group was on hiatus, T.O.P and G-Dragon collaborated to release the album, GD & TOP.
- He also believed that his character may prove popular with younger viewers in Korea.
- The following year, T.O.P. portrayed the assassin Vick in the critically acclaimed Korean television drama Iris (2009).
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- 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.
- Following Iris, T.O.P. starred in the suspense film 19-Nineteen along with fellow member Seungri.
- Yim later said that they stopped filming but T.O.P wanted to continue, so they resumed.
- On December 4, 2024, T.O.P was revealed as a cast member for the second season of the Netflix series Squid Game.
- On March 17, 2026, T.O.P announced his second single titled “Desperado”.
- For his role, he won the Rookie Award at the Asia Star Awards, held during the Busan International Film Festival.unreliable source?
- } On February 7, 2022, YG Entertainment announced that BigBang would make their comeback with a new song on April 5.
- 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.
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