G-DRAGON Returns Stateside and Reclaims his Crown as the “King of K-Pop” in New Jersey

All Photos: GALAXY CORPORATION

Though some artists take a career break, few take an eight year hiatus only to pick up where they left off. But not everyone is G-DRAGON. G-DRAGON, also known as GD and his given name Kwon Jiyong, performed last stateside in 2017 at his Act III: M.O.T.T.E World Tour before his mandated military service. Apart from a single BIGBANG release, which topped Korean charts for months with no promotion, musically, GD was silent. But the leader of BIGBANG, designer, international style icon, art collector and entrepreneur made waves wherever he went regardless of his break. Last Friday in New Jersey, at the first domestic stop of his Übermensch World Tour, the icon considered by many as the “King of K-Pop” was back, donning a crown and jacket of red roses, putting on a performance that was as moving, dramatic and introspective as it was fun and invigorating. Filled with songs from the start of his solo career to his most recent releases, they represented the theme of duality reflecting in the title and image of this tour and his recent album release. As his lyrics state in “Home Sweet Home,” “I said I would be back, And I'd never let you go,” he’s definitely back and he’s not letting anyone go.

As the screens displayed the text, “Become who you are,” the song chosen to restart his solo career, “POWER,” opened the night. In shades and filled with the swag that he’s known for, he rose above his dancers to deafening cheers that filled the venue as bursts of fire lit around the stage. The “who you are” in this moment was the “King,” the “GOAT,” who was literally lighting up the stage. Moving smoothly into “HOME SWEET HOME” from the same album, the opening was a declaration and a reminder that he was back as promised, ready to reclaim his throne. “What’s Up! Finally! It’s your boy. G to the Motherf*ing D is back!” Building on the hype, it was time to turn the clock back a decade or so to “GO” and “One Of A Kind.” The songs built up the energy and you could hear the VIPs singing, “Yes sir, one of a kind,” lyrics that they had waited almost a decade to sing with him again.

Breaking into his first real ment of the night, he let everyone know that this was the first stateside stop of the tour. Asking everyone, “If you don’t mind, show me how much you love me,” breaking the space into deafening screams. Cuing the next song, he asked everyone, “When I say “swag,” you say “check,” a mark that everyone knew would lead to “Crayon.” Soon after rushing down to the end of the extended stage, an insane confetti spray engulfed the air while everyone hummed “eh, eh, eh.” The concert was now a club and the party was on.

VCRs, or video intermissions, became more of a means to a message than something to fill time. The first was full of meaningful quotes and symbolic imagery. Words such as,”find the real meaning of life for you,” and “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” put a crack in the regal image, which in itself is part of the essence of GD. As a man who is not afraid to expose weaknesses and whose weaknesses only strengthen his persona.

As blue lights engulfed the center stage, GD arose in a pearl studded bolero jacket and jeans. The style maven never failed to impress and as the rhythmic ticking of guitar strings began, it was clear that “BONAMANA” was next. A song that hits both the deeper recesses of GD’s vocals in its hypnotic rap, and higher registers in the chorus, the performance was as magnetic. GD’s purposefully unbalanced gait slowly rose along the risers, as if each step bore the weight of the song. As a counterbalance, “Butterfly” followed. A long time favorite of many, it was a pleasure to finally hear this one in person after so long. 

At about the halfway point, after another short break and wardrobe change, he was back for “I LOVE IT,” “WHO YOU,” and “Today.”  The songs flowed effortlessly after each other and with “Today,” to the excitement of everyone in the pit, he walked down to greet all the fans around him. Taking moments to be cooled off by a fan’s, take a phone, GD did what he loves to do, connect with his fans directly. An artist known to like fan posts on Instagram, he made the floor experience worth the price tag for those closest to the stage. But the energy was still high and prepped for one of his most popular solo hits. “CROOKED” has been at the top of this fans’ playlist since its release, and the raw energy of the song had everyone jumping and pumping their arms while he meandered to farthest edges of stage to connect with those seated while sprayed by almost never-ending sprays of confetti. 

As mentioned, the VCR’s were more integral to a show here than in many others. With the band playing a version of his “A Boy,” the video showed a montage of GD’s childhood. A child actor from the age of six, most of his youth can be accessed online through the different phases of his career. It was apt that the next segment would also begin there with another song from this time, the title of the album and song, "Heartbreaker." His zoot suit fit the vibe of this time travel, but not before a virtual opening by WING. The beatbox master, who performed live in Seoul, merged his “Dopamine” beats feeding into the song.” Moving slowly back to present via 2017’s “BULLSHIT,” then to present via “TAKE ME” and a rather vaudevillian performance into “TOO BAD.” Prior to the final song of the night, GD gave some insight into his return. Born in 1988, the number eight has always held a significance and it’s not a coincidence the return was eight years later, nor that it was in the eight month of the year. Thoughtful and meticulous, he also spoke about the theme and imagery for his album and tour. The tone fit the final song of the night, “DRAMA.” Though a rapper at heart, some of GD’s best songs are his ballads. The moving song was an epic way to end the formal part of the concert.

The VCR that followed was a deep insight into who GD is now and where his mindset has been over the last eight years. He notes that he needed the time to get back to where he is now. Coming back to the encore stages, his love for being on the stage and the love he had for his fans was most evident. Starting with “This Love,” “1 Year,” and “IBELONGIIU,” the energy in the encore was alive. Ahead of the second to last song of the encore, “Gyro Drop,” he came out in a turquoise robe along the floor taking time to connect with fans directly one last time. The concert ended like M.O.T.T.E in 2017, with “Untitled, 2014.” The sad, gorgeous melancholy track both as a lookback as much as a plea to return. But as GD noted in his final ment, that wait might be shorter than this one, with BIGBANG’s 20th Anniversary around the corner. Whether that will be a reunion of three, or maybe four, of the original members, the hints that BIGBANG will be back along with GD, means that we’ll soon see the King of K-Pop stateside soon again.

Thank you to GALAXY CORPORATION, Prudential Center and most of all to G-DRAGON for giving us the opportunity to review this show.