Idol & Rapper: Bang Yongguk’s Journey
While it may not be as obvious to newer K-Pop fans, Bang Yongguk was an essential part in the rise of songwriters and producers in the idol sphere. The former leader of B.A.P has been active in the K-Pop scene for over a decade, and now looks to return to the spotlight post-military enlistment.
Yongguk began his music career all the way back in middle school, joining his group Soul Connection and building a name for himself in the underground scene for his skill in writing rap lyrics. Beginning so early and being exposed to older and more seasoned artists, he was able to get a lot of experience under his belt by the time he joined TS Entertainment. In 2010, he was scouted by the agency to join and be part of a hip-hop group project, which was initially a concern given the nature of K-Pop and how often companies tend to limit their own artists’ personal creativity.
Despite any concerns, he ended up signing, and his first introduction to the general public came in the form of a feature on SECRET member Song Jieun’s single “Going Crazy.” He got a lot of attention for his particularly deep and husky voice, which got him trending on major search sites. “Going Crazy” topped the Gaon Music Chart, and as a result, he was requested for broadcast appearances, despite being a trainee.
He made his solo debut a few months later in 2011 with single “I Remember,” which also featured BEAST member Yoseob, but was deemed unfit for broadcast by KBS due to violence in the video—ironic, given how B.A.P music videos turned out later. At the very end of 2011 in December, he and maknae Zelo debuted as a unit with the track “Never Give Up.”
Yongguk was announced as the first member and leader of B.A.P, with the group debuting in January 2012. Their debut “Warrior” did very well and gained critical acclaim. Of course, we all know how B.A.P ended up in hard times almost immediately, with their lawsuit being filed in 2014. Amidst the difficult and confusing issues with the agency, he released a song here and there, including “AM 4:44,” “YAMAZAKI,” and “Portrait.”
While the next few years of turmoil saw Yongguk taking a hiatus due to anxiety disorder, as the drama with TS Entertainment began to die out, he began to explore his struggles in his music and produce songs that really resonated with many listeners. This more emotionally real and raw side of him wouldn’t be shown until he left the agency. His first single release “HIKIKOMORI” really showed this side of him.
In 2019, he continue to steadily release music, including his first full solo album. He started his military enlistment in August 2019, and officially completed in May 2021. Since then, he’s been reestablishing himself, launching his one-man agency in September and making his comeback in November with single “Race.” His first EP 2 was released just a few days ago.
So, what is so important about Bang Yongguk’s story? For one, it’s a case study in just how much mismanagement from an agency can affect a person’s career. He was a respected artist and was reluctant to go the idol route, but did so anyway because of reassurance from the agency that he would retain his creative freedom. With his obvious talent as an artist, he should be as revered as the likes of BTS’s Suga and RM, but because their agency mismanaged so much, these days many people aren’t as familiar with B.A.P.
Yongguk becoming an idol helped to push the shift we’ve seen in many idol groups where the artists themselves are given more creative freedom over their own work, which back in 2011 was not as common. Now that he has returned to the music scene after completing his military service, we look forward to seeing his career begin to flourish once again.