GD & TOP

GD&TOP
Studio album by G-Dragon and T.O.P
Released December 24, 2010; February 23, 2011 (Japan Edition)
Recorded 2010
Genre Pop, alternative hip hop, hip hop, electro-hop, pop rap
Language Korean
Label YG Entertainment
Producer Yang Hyun Suk, Masta Wu, G-Dragon, T.O.P
G-Dragon chronology

Shine a Light
(2010)		 GD&TOP
(2010)		 One of a Kind
(2012)
Singles from GD&TOP
  1. "High High"
    Released: 15 December 2010
  2. "Oh Yeah!"
    Released: 15 December 2010
  3. "Knock Out"
    Released: 3 January 2011

GD&TOP is the debut album of South Korean artists G-Dragon & T.O.P, members of Big Bang. Released on December 24, 2010, the album marks the first collaboration between the two away from their group. The duo promoted the album extensively, including a world-wide premiere showcase and numerous performances. Three singles were released for promotion: "High High," "Oh Yeah," and "Knockout."[1] While "High High" went on to become a chart-topper,[2] the latter two singles charted in at #2 and #3 respectively.[3][4] GD & TOP were featured in British singer Pixie Lott’s song ‘Dancing On My Own’ on the Japanese Edition of Young Foolish Happy which was released on March 21st, 2012.[5]

The album is listed, by Gaon Album Chart as the fifth best-selling album of 2010 in South Korea, with 130,000 copies sold.[6]

Background

While working on materials with their bandmates for their next album, G-Dragon and T.O.P began to experiment with different styles.[7] According to G-Dragon, the members were trying new "combination" with their music, in which the vocalists — Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri — were to record their own music as a trio while G-Dragon and T.O.P were to branch off as a duo since they "hadn't been with our fans for the past two years."[7] Although the division of the group was initially for Big Bang's materials only, G-Dragon and T.O.P saw positive response to their materials from the fans and went to Yang Hyun-seok, the CEO of YG Entertainment, to allow the duo to release an album.[7] After receiving Yang's approval, news of their collaboration was announced in November 2010.[8]

G-Dragon and T.O.P co-wrote majority of the lyrics to the album, noting that as "rappers [...] we'd like to tell more stories for our fans to listen."[7] In an attempt to create their own style away from their band, the duo opted for a more hip-hop genre to contrast the group's current genre of electronic music, though G-Dragon does acknowledged the influence of R&B, acoustic, and electronic music. The two have admit to becoming "much more diverse [in their] attempts" to create their own style, as well as "how the music develops and the images that the melody and rap portray[s]." They later went on to say that "the reason we mixed such a variety of genres is because we wanted to bring out more of our character that we don't get to show when we're Big Bang."[7] When recordings were done, 11 tracks were recorded, including a collaboration with singer Park Bom.[8] The duo would later mention that after recording the album, they became "attached" to all of their songs as they "worked on each and every one of the songs in...[the]...album by staying up many nights."[7] T.O.P's solo song, "Turn It Up" was also included in the album as a bonus track.

Promotion and release

G-Dragon and TOP during the shooting of High High

Preceding the release of the album, the duo held a world-wide premiere showcase for their album at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo of Seoul, South Korea,[9] which was also broadcast live on YouTube.[7] While hosting it, the duo sampled parts of their tracks to their fans and explained its lyrical contents and background.[7] The duo also showcased a changed in their physical appearances. Their constant use of the "peace sign" for their promotional activities (such as the cover design for their album) also gained attention, with the duo explaining that since the mark is similar to the Playboy logo, their attractive, sexy, and fun sides have come out while promoting the album.[7] The peace sign was later retracted after YG entertainment was asked by Playboy to remove the image for its similarities to its own logo. It was replaced by a typographic image of a heart composed of GD&TOP. This also led to the action of removing all of the music videos on the official BIGBANG YouTube channel except for "Baby Goodnight".

In support of their album, the duo released three singles: "High High", "Oh Yeah", and "Knock out".[1] All three singles preceded the release of the album and were commercial successes: "High High" was a chartopper[2] while "Oh Yeah" and "Knock Out" peaked at #2 and #3 respectively.[3][4] They also performed at a Christmas party hosted at a club in Kangnam of Seoul for SK Telecom's "Christmas T Social Party"[10] in addition to the SBS music show "Inkigayo".[11] Pictures of the two on the set of their music videos were also released online.[12] The album was released on Christmas Eve, and debuted at number one[13] with pre-orders of 200,000 copies.[14]

GD & TOP announced that they would make Japanese debut in November by releasing a single album "Oh Yeah" under YGEX. "Oh Yeah” is a song off of their Korean album released in December last year with a featuring by 2NE1's Bom. A Japanese version of “High High” will also be included in the release.[15] Although their promotions were put on hold due to the breakout of G-Dragon‘s marijuana case, they eventually pushed back the release of the single to January 7. A short version of the "Oh Yeah" MV was released on December 12[16] and the full version was released 8 days later, on December 20.[17] GD&TOP also featured in English artist Pixie Lott's Japanese album, the song titled "Dancing On My Own".

Album sales and awards

The album has sold 130,000 in 2010 and an additional 33,276 copies in 2011. Additionally, GD&TOP won the "Best Rap and Hip-Hop" performance award in the 2011 Melon Music Awards. As of November 2014, the album has sold over 200,000 copies.

Music videos

For this album, G.Dragon and T.O.P released 3 MVs for the tracks, "High High", "Knock Out", and "Baby Goodnight". "High High" was released first, then "Baby Goodnight." However, due to the song being banned twice for being too explicit , the release of the music video for their song "Don't Go Home" was postponed till late June 2011.

Year Music video Length Album Official MV on YouTube Note
2010 "KNOCK OUT" 3:29 Studio 1st Album "GD&TOP"
"HIGH HIGH" 3:09
"BABY GOOD NIGHT" 3:33 BIGBANG on YouTube
"DON'T GO HOME " 3:32
"OH YEAH" 2:52 BIGBANG on YouTube Japanese Official Trailer

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusicArrangement Length
1. "Intro"  G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, T.O.P, e.knocke.knock 2:08
2. "High High"  G-Dragon, T.O.P, TeddyTeddyTeddy 3:08
3. "Oh Yeah (featuring Park Bom)"  G-Dragon, T.O.P, TeddyTeddy, Sunwoo JungahTeddy, Sunwoo Jungah 3:17
4. "Don't Go Home" (집에 가지마; Jibe Gajima)G-DragonG-Dragon, Teddy, e.knockTeddy, e.knock 3:18
5. "Baby Good Night"  G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, T.O.P, e.knock, 1 ONe.knock 3:32
6. "Knock Out" (뻑이가요; Ppeogigayo)G-Dragon, T.O.PDiplo, G-Dragon, T.O.PDiplo 3:27
7. "Oh Mom" (T.O.P solo)T.O.PT.O.P, e.knock, 1 ONe.knock 4:32
8. "Obsession" (악몽; Angmong (G-Dragon solo))G-DragonG-Dragon, e.knocke.knock 5:17
9. "Of All Days" (오늘따라; Oneulttara (T.O.P solo))T.O.PT.O.P, Choice37Choice37 3:25
10. "What Do You Want?" (어쩌란 말이냐?; Eojjeoran Marinya? (G-Dragon solo))G-DragonG-Dragon, e.knockSunwoo Jungah, 1 ON 3:25
11. "Turn it Up" (T.O.P solo (Bonus Track))T.O.PT.O.P, TeddyTeddy 3:32
Total length:
 38:46
Sample credits

Charts

Chart Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Chart[13] 1
South Korea Gaon Chart monthly 1

Sales

Chart Amount
Gaon physical sales[18]
  • 130,000(2010)
  • 34,703(2011)
  • 16,518(2012)
  • 10,190(2013)
  • 686 (2014)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kim, Jessica (2010-12-24). "Big Bang unit G-Dragon and T.O.P release third title track". 10asia. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Big Bang duo on TV today". Korea JoongAng Daily. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kim, Heidi. "IU "Good Day" stays atop Gaon chart for 4th week". 10asia. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kim, Heidi. "IU's "Good Day" takes charge of Mnet chart for 4th week". 10asia. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  5. ↑ "GD&TOP to feature in English singer Pixie Lott’s new Japanese release". Allkpop.com. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  6. ↑ "2010년 가온차트 부문별 Top 100위" [Gaon Chart 2010 Top 100 Charts]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Kim, Jessica (2010-12-15). "G-Dragon and T.O.P hold world premiere showcase for duo unit". 10asia. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "G-Dragon and Top to Release Duet Album in December". KBS Global. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  9. ↑ Kim, Jessica (2010-12-15). "Big Bang T.O.P, G-Dragon pose at album showcase". 10asia. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  10. ↑ Kim, Jessica (2010-12-07). "G-Dragon, T.O.P and LeeSSang to perform at Xmas party". 10asia. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  11. ↑ Kim, Jessica (2010-12-12). "Big Bang G-Dragon & T.O.P unit to give comeback performance Dec 19". 10asia. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  12. ↑ Kim, Jessica (2010-12-21). "G-Dragon and T.O.P take pictures on set of music video". 10asia. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Gaon Chart Search: GD & TOP". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  14. ↑ "'발매 D-2' GD·탑 유닛 첫앨범, 선주문만 '20만장' (GD&TOP’s album receives 200,000 pre-orders)". Daum (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  15. ↑ "GD&TOP to make Japanese debut this November with "Oh Yeah"". Allkpop.com. 2011-09-13. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  16. ↑ "Short version (teaser) of GD&TOP’s Japanese "Oh Yeah" released". Allkpop.com. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  17. ↑ "GD&TOP release the full Japanese version of "Oh Yeah" featuring Park Bom". Allkpop.com. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  18. ↑ "Gaon album chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved August 9, 2012.

External links