T.O.P., the former BIGBANG rapper and actor, is gearing up for a solo return to the music scene. The artist, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, is reportedly set to release a full-length album between October and December this year, marking his first solo music drop in nearly 12 years. His last solo release was the single “Doom Dada” in 2014.
A New Chapter in Production
Sources indicate T.O.P. has completed the recording for the album and is planning to shoot multiple music videos. The project is expected to have a striking visual aesthetic, as an industry source revealed that “An art director of Squid Game will oversee the production.”
This creative collaboration stems from T.O.P.’s recent acting role in the highly anticipated second season of the Netflix hit, Squid Game. The art director and production designer for the series is Chae Kyoung-sun, who has won multiple Art Directors Guild Awards and a Primetime Emmy for her work on the show.
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Finding Solace in the Studio
The rapper’s return follows a period of public controversy and self-reflection. T.O.P. faced legal issues in 2016 for marijuana use, leading him to announce his retirement from the entertainment industry, though he later reversed that decision to appear in Squid Game 2. He parted ways with YG Entertainment and left BIGBANG in 2021.
T.O.P. has been candid about his reasons for re-engaging with music, describing the studio as vital to his healing process. “In order to quite literally live, I turned to creating music,” he shared with NME earlier this year. “That’s when I learned that, only when I was in my music [or] standing in front of the mic, I was able to breathe.”
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He acknowledged his past while discussing his commitment to his comeback material. “Over the years, I spent a lot of time really thinking about and regretting what I have done, and I spent a lot of time on self-reflection as well,” he explained.
T.O.P. believes the time is right to share his work with the world. “Whenever I’m in the studio, I feel alive. I’ve been working constantly and created a lot of music, and I believe the time has come to share it with the world,” he added.
Rumors have surfaced that the artist is in talks to sign a solo deal with local entertainment giant Kakao Entertainment, although the company has denied the claim. Further details and formal announcements about the album’s release date remain pending.
