Bang Yong-guk

Biography

Bang Yong-guk (Korean: 방용국; born March 31, 1990), also known mononymously as Yongguk (용국), is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer, who served as the leader of boy group B.A.P up until his departure from TS Entertainment in August 2018.
He made his musical debut in 2008 as a member of an underground hip hop group called Soul Connection under the alias of "Jepp Blackman". In March 2011, he featured on Song Ji-eun's single "Going Crazy", which became a number one hit in South Korea. In July of that year he released his first solo digital single, "I Remember×I Remember12 August 2011 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I Remember3:392I Remember (instrumental)3:39", featuring Beast's Yoseob and in November he promoted in a sub-unit called Bang & Zelo with fellow B.A.P member Zelo, releasing the single "Never Give Up×Never Give Up2 December 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Look at Me0:442Never Give Up3:38". B.A.P released their first single in January 2012.

Biography

Bang Yong-guk was born in Seoul, South Korea, on March 31, 1990. He is the youngest out of two sons and one daughter in his family. He has an identical twin brother named Yongnam, who has also performed as an underground artist, and an older sister named Natasha, who works as a tattoo artist.
He moved with his family to the coastal Ijak islands of Incheon when he was young, living there for a short period of time before moving back to mainland Incheon. He studied at Gae Woong Elementary School and Gae Woong Middle School, and at 18 graduated from Yuhan High School. He was offered a scholarship for college, which he did not attend.

2008–2011: Career beginnings

Bang first began meeting with other members of Soul Connection when he was in his second year of middle school after posting his rap lyrics on an online forum and being recognized for his skill. Through meeting with seniors that were actually active in the music industry, watching them compose and produce, and learning from them, he was able to refine his own techniques and become better at making his style of music
In 2010, Bang was contacted by TS Entertainment to be part of a hip-hop idol group after the duo Untouchable recommended him. Though he was worried that the type of music he could make would be limited, TS Entertainment assured him of being able to live out his dreams. Thus, he joined.

2011: "Going Crazy", "I Remember" and Bang&Zelo

On March 3, 2011, Song Ji-eun's single "Going Crazy" was released, featuring Bang. The single was a commercial and critical success, with fans praising Bang's "husky and fiery delivery". It topped the Gaon Music Chart and Gaon Digital and Streaming Chart and gained attention for Bang as an artist; following the single's release, he trended on major portal search sites in South Korea and was requested for multiple broadcast appearances. However, his agency declined these appearances, stating that he was still a trainee and not ready to appear on broadcasts outside of promotional performances. The agency thanked fans for their interest nevertheless.
On August 11, TS Entertainment released Bang's single "I Remember×I Remember12 August 2011 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1I Remember3:392I Remember (instrumental)3:39", featuring Yoseob of Beast. The song was a moderate success, peaking in the Top 10 on real time charts in Korea and at #22 on the Gaon Chart. However, the single was deemed unfit for broadcast promotions by KBS because of multiple scenes of shooting and violence.
On December 11, Bang debuted with Zelo as part of the sub-unit rap duo Bang&Zelo with the song "Never Give Up×Never Give Up2 December 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Look at Me0:442Never Give Up3:38".

2012–2018: B.A.P

Bang was the first member to be announced as part of new TS Entertainment boy group B.A.P, of which he acts as the leader and main rapper. The group released its first single, "Warrior", in January 2012. They held their debut showcase in Seoul with over 3,000 attendees on January 28. The single met with critical acclaim, with media outlets describing the single as "powerful and charismatic".
The following year, Bang performed at the 2013 SBS Gayo Daejeon as part of a collaborative hip-hop stage featuring Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae, and Bizzy and also including Zico, RM and Eun Jiwon.
On November 27, 2014, it was reported that all B.A.P members had filed a lawsuit against their label to nullify their contracts, claiming unfair conditions and profit distribution. The group entered a hiatus
On 4 April 2015 during the hiatus, Bang released a solo song titled "AM 4:44×AM 4:443 April 2014 · Other · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1AM 4:444:24".
On August 1, 2015, it was revealed that B.A.P had reached an agreement with and returned to TS Entertainment. B.A.P made their comeback in November 2015 with the mini-album Matrix, produced and written by Bang.
On October 25, 2016, TS Entertainment revealed that Bang will not be participating in the promotions for B.A.P's upcoming full-length album, Noir, due to anxiety disorders.
In April 2017, B.A.P began their six city 'Party Baby- U.S. Boom' tour. Bang returned from his hiatus to join the rest of the boys for the single's promotion, "Wake Me Up".
On July 4, 2017, Bang released a solo track titled "Yamazaki×YAMAZAKI4 June 2017 · Single · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1YAMAZAKI3:43". The track featured lyrics in English, Japanese, and Korean. On April 25, 2018, Bang released the official music video of his solo instrumental track "Portrait×Portrait25 April 2018 · Other · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Portrait3:18", co-directed alongside Joe Brown. On May 25, 2018, Bang released the official music video of his solo track titled "Drunkenness×Drunkenness25 May 2018 · Other · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Drunkenness4:12." Which features falsetto vocals provided by fellow band-member Yoo Youngjae. He co-directed the music video alongside Joe Brown.
Following the expiration of Bang's contract on August 19, 2018, with TS Entertainment, he decided to leave the company; B.A.P would continue as 5 members until the expiration of all member contracts, after which all members declined to re-sign with TS Entertainment, going their separate ways.

2018–2020: Solo career, enlistment

Following his departure from TS Entertainment, Bang released the MV for single "Hikikomori×HIKIKOMORI20 January 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1HIKIKOMORI3:44", a study of his own anxiety and fears facing both the stage and the world itself, with the title taken from the Japanese slang for 'shut-ins' that refuse to go outside due to various stressors.
On February 26, 2019, Bang released "A Short Film About Bang Yongguk]", featuring pre-release track "Journey" to announce his upcoming self-titled solo album. The 13-track album, Bangyongguk×BANGYONGGUK15 March 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Diary2:322대화가 필요해3:203히키코모리3:444모조리 (Feat. Sogumm)3:525야해3:546Holiday (Feat. Paul Given)3:267여행3:348Portrait3:199Codex Gigas3:4710AM 4:444:2211Xie Xie2:5412See you later2:4213대화가 필요해 (Inst.)3:2014AM 4:44 (Inst.)4:2215Xie Xie Remix (Feat. Sway D, Liquor, LE)2:54, was released March 15, 2019, with lead track "Ya". A MV was filmed for "Ya", but Bang later posted that he had made the decision to "indefinitely postpone" the release due to various factors. Other tracks on "BANG YONGGUK" include re-masters of "AM 4:44×AM 4:443 April 2014 · Other · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1AM 4:444:24" and "Portrait×Portrait25 April 2018 · Other · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Portrait3:18", as well as "Xie Xie" and a remixed version featuring Sway D, Liquor, and rapper LE of girl group EXID.
On June 24, 2019, Bang released photo essay book "The Best Is Yet to Come", a best seller on Korean charts.
Following up, he released single "Orange Drive×Orange Drive31 July 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Orange Drive3:12" as a gift and message to fans prior to his mandatory enlistment period of 2 years.
Bang enlisted in the Korean military as a public service officer on August 1, 2019.
On September 2, 2019, Bang announced through Consent that "Something to Talk About", a documentary he had directed in conjunction with producer Kim Jinbeom, had been selected for screening at the 2019 DMZ International Film Festival. "Something to Talk About" was also nominated under the DMZ Open Cinema category. Covering Bang's experiences as a member of B.A.P as well as his creative process when recording "BANGYONGGUK" and featuring interviews with friends and family, "Something to Talk About" is the first documentary to be produced by an idol.

2021: CONSENT establishment, "Race"

He officially completed his military service on May 18, 2021.
On September 16, 2021, Bang established his one-man agency Consent.
On November 23, 2021, Bang released the new single "Race". It was his first comeback under his own one-man agency.

2022-2024: 2, new agency, "Green", The Colors of Love, 3

On March 2, 2022, Bang released his first EP, 2 and its lead single "Up".
On March 30, 2023, he signed a contract with YY Entertainment. On April 10, Bang will release a new mini album on May 2. On April 12, he announced his comeback with his first (labeled as second) mini album The Colors of Love×THE COLORS OF LOVE2 May 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Ride or Die3:212Breath3:163Green3:094Rain on Me2:515UFO2:386I Don't Care3:16, set to be released on May 2. A pre-release single, "Green×Green17 April 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Green3:092Green (instrumental)3:09", was released on April 17.
On February 26, 2024, YY Entertainment announced the EP 3, to be released on March 31.

2025-2026: Motion, Nanana, change agency

On May 17, 2025, Bang Yongguk announced "Motion×Motion26 May 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Motion3:222Motion (Instrumental)3:22", scheduled for May 26.
On December 23, 2025, Yongguk announced released single "nanana×nanana23 December 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1nanana2:39".
On June 6, 2026, he released the single "If Tomorrow Never Comes" ahead of his second full album.
On August 26, 2026, he announced on Fromm that he had signed with Pacific Music Group Korea following the expiration of his contract with YY Entertainment.

Artistry and influences

Bang is predominantly a hip-hop artist and cites 50 Cent, P. Diddy, and Pharrell as musical influences. Although his goal was not initially to become a K-pop artist, he was influenced by the roles that Supreme Team and Dynamic Duo played in popularizing the genre in South Korea. His voice type has been described as baritone.
Bang also pulls influence from jazz and blues as well as rock/metal and alt-rock.
As well as rapping, Bang also acts as a songwriter and producer for many of B.A.P's songs, including all the tracks from their debut EP Warrior as well as tracks on various albums including Noir, Carnival, and Matrix. Furthermore, Bang is the lyricist for all B.A.P's songs, and takes influence from his life as well as world events. Bang identifies as a pacifist, and is vocal about his own struggles with mental health as well as his concern for the state of the world. Many of his lyrics openly criticise society, government, companies, and those that take advantage of power or influence to discriminate against others.
Bang drew inspiration for his solo album Bang Yongguk from the contents of his own diary. A personal album, songs on the album range from rage to loss to confrontations on depression and anxiety, to his own loneliness. The track "See You Later" is taken from a draft will as written in his diary.
Bang is credited on his self-titled album as executive producer, lyricist, track producer, and art director, and self-directs videos for his solo work from conception to editing.

World tours, concerts

Bang Yongguk 1st Global Fan Meet-up [Bangstergram] (2022)
The Colors of Bang Japan 2023 (2023)
The Colors of Bang Yongguk The US Tour 2023 (2023)
The Colors of Bang Yongguk The Europe & Asia Tour 2023 (2023)
Bang Yongguk 'Ⅲ' The US Tour 2024 (2024)
2025 Bang Yong Guk Concert [Monologue] (2025)
Bang Yongguk 2026 World Tour "Haebang" (2026)