B.I – The Multi-Talented Leader of iKON, Compared to G-Dragon for His Songwriting Abilities
B.I (real name Kim Han Bin), born in 1996, first gained attention when he appeared as a rapper on MC Mong’s song “Indian Boy” at just 13 years old. In January 2011, he officially became a trainee at YG Entertainment. He garnered further attention on “Show Me The Money 3”, where he performed the song “BE I,” which he composed himself, considered one of the best performances of the season.
After the survival show “Mix & Match”, B.I earned his debut spot as the leader of the 7-member group iKON in 2015. iKON’s debut song, “My Type,” was also composed by B.I. At that time, YG Entertainment hoped iKON would become a “Gen 3 monster,” following in the footsteps of senior groups like BIGBANG and WINNER.
At the 2018 MelOn Music Awards, B.I became the first K-pop idol to receive the title of “Songwriter of the Year” for his track “Love Scenario.” The song swept awards at various ceremonies and became a beloved tune across South Korea.
In addition to composing songs for iKON, B.I has also written hits for leading K-pop groups such as “Empty” (WINNER), “Born Hater” (Epik High), three songs for PSY including “Bomb,” “Last Scene,” and “Auto Reverse,” and notably co-wrote BLACKPINK’s debut hit “Whistle” with Teddy and Bekuh Boom. Thanks to his songwriting talent, B.I was often compared to G-Dragon, the leader of BIGBANG, as both held the creative “soul” of their groups’ music.
Departure from iKON and YG Entertainment Following Drug Scandal
B.I’s career with iKON seemed destined for great success, but he was soon embroiled in a drug scandal. In a letter to fans, B.I apologized to his supporters and fellow iKON members for disappointing them with his actions. On June 12, 2019, B.I announced his departure from iKON to reflect on his mistakes. YG Entertainment also confirmed B.I’s exit and terminated his contract.
Reclaiming Stardom After Scandal with a Solo Career
In 2021, B.I made his comeback after a period of silence following the scandal. He released the album “Midnight Blue”, donating its proceeds to support children in crisis globally. In May 2021, B.I returned with the MV “Got It Like That,” collaborating with Destiny Rogers and Tyla Yaweh.
He then continued his comeback with two albums, “Waterfall” and “Cosmos”. “Waterfall” topped iTunes charts in 18 countries and became one of the best-selling solo albums by a Korean artist in 2021.
In 2022, B.I further solidified his solo career with the single “BTBT”. The song earned him spots on Spotify’s Viral 51 chart in various countries and topped iTunes charts in 49 regions. In 2023, B.I released three tracks: “To Die”, “Die For Love”, and “Dare To Love”.
Despite his past controversies, B.I has retained a dedicated fanbase thanks to his undeniable talent since debuting as iKON’s leader. Currently, he is steadily rebuilding his solo career and preparing for a tour across 14 European countries. His appearance at the 8WONDER Moon Festival in Hanoi is highly anticipated and is sure to be one of the event’s most explosive highlights.
Source: K14