Why BigBang rapper T.O.P is one of K-pop’s all-time greats
Choi Seung-hyun, better known as T.O.P of the bestselling K-pop boy band BigBang, celebrates his 32nd birthday November 4. While renowned for his bad boy swagger, as well as dabbling in acting and his good looks, T.O.P is best remembered for his rapping talent.
Read on to realise why T.O.P should be remembered as one of K-pop’s all-time greats.
Face of the team, face of idols
Since his debut in 2006 as part of his group BigBang, T.O.P has always been the most visible of the team. His outstanding appearance undeniably helped garner a solid fan base for BigBang. T.O.P also stands at six feet tall, distinguishing him as the tallest and oldest member of the band.
It’s no surprise then that media and fans alike have said that it’s all down to his family genes. His sister, the singer Choi Hye-yun, is also beloved for her good looks. There is a saying that T.O.P is the ugliest family member in the Choi family – evidence of his family members’ exceptional good looks.
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Choi Seung-hyun, the Korean actor
T.O.P is also well known for his acting career under his original name Choi Seung-hyun. There is a vast number of K-pop idols who jump into the field of acting, but not many have succeeded half as much as Choi has.
Choi’s acting talent has been widely recognised, especially for his starring role in the movie 71: Into the Fire (2010). Choi had the privilege of acting alongside two of the best Korean actors of all time, Cha Seung-won and Kwon Sang-woo. It was an extremely rare case for a Korean pop idol to appear in a historical war movie with such famous actors.
T.O.P’s talent in acting has garnered seven awards, including two wins at the 47th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2011, one of the most respected awards for artists in Korea.
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Unforgettable deep voice – T.O.P the rapper
As the lead rapper of his group Big-Bang, T.O.P has a uniquely deep voice that allures numerous fans. His deep voice tone is, without doubt, one of the best rapping voices in Korea.
Aside from his BigBang efforts, he has also published solo rap released showcasing his distinct style and delivery. His deep monotone voice has been widely recognised by others, and he has been invited to perform as a featured artist on plenty of hits for other artists.
These include Uhm Jung-Hwa’s Disco, featuring T.O.P.
T.O.P’s performance skills and his rapping skills are a great blend, easily captivating any live audience. Take a closer look at T.O.P’s solo single Doom Dada, which has caused a stir thanks to the music video’s mysterious aura, not to mention the star’s masculine rap skills and swagger.
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Unpredictable humour – T.O.P the comedian
Among his fans T.O.P is nicknamed “Bing-goo”, which means a person of a comical, nonsensical attitude. In contrast to his chic appearance and charismatic voice, T.O.P often presents such “Bing-goo” like behaviour.
Check out some of T.O.P’s funniest moments in the video below:
Endearing moments like this attract a vast number of his fans to fall in love with T.O.P. Among his most appealing qualities is his readiness to showcase the comical aspects of daily life, easily slipping into a comedic role as seen in various Korean variety shows, such as Running Man.
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While renowned for his bad boy swagger, acting in 71: Into the Fire and his unforgettable good looks, the K-pop star born Choi Seung-hyun deserves to be best remembered for his rapping talent