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B.A.P | |
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 B.A.P in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Bang & Jung & Yoo & Moon |
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels | |
| Spinoffs |
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| Past members | |
B.A.P (Korean: 비에이피; an acronym forBest Absolute Perfect), was a South Koreanboy band that was created byTS Entertainment. The group, originally consisting ofYongguk, Himchan,Daehyun,Youngjae,Jong-up, andZelo, debuted with the song "Warrior" in 2012.
B.A.P quietly disbanded on February 18, 2019, following the group's contract expiration with TS Entertainment.[3] In 2024, the group officially reunited under the nameBang & Jung & Yoo & Moon (Korean: 방용국&정대현&유영재&문종업) to release their next album,Curtain Call in August. Members Zelo and Himchan did not take part in the comeback as a result of Zelo's military service and Himchan's sexual assault convictions.[4]
Group leader[5]Yongguk was the first member to be introduced in 2011, featuring on labelmateSong Ji-eun's song "Going Crazy".[6] He also made a solo debut on August 12 with the single "I Remember", featuringBeast'sYang Yo-seob.[7] Himchan was the second member to be introduced to the public, as anMC for MTV Korea television programThe Show.[8] On November 23,Zelo was introduced as the third member of the group through a collaboration with Yongguk as the group Bang&Zelo.[9][unreliable source?] The duo released the single "Never Give Up".[10][unreliable source?]
In January 2012, the group starred in the reality programTa-Dah, It's B.A.P, which aired onSBS MTV.[11] The show focused on how the six members play the role of aliens from a different planet who worked together to debut as B.A.P and invade Earth to help save their dying planet, Planet Mato.[11] On January 25, the group's debut single "Warrior" was released, withMTV Korea describing it as "powerful and charismatic".[12][13] Nancy Lee of Enews World noted that the group had set out to differentiate themselves from the "pretty-boy" male idol archetype prevalent in the K-pop music industry with their "tough, bad boy image".[14] On February 3, 2012, the corresponding EPWarrior enteredBillboard's World Albums Chart at #10.[15] In South Korea,Warrior sold over 10,000 copies within just two days of release.[16]
In March, the group released a follow-up single, "Secret Love",[17] and in April they made a comeback with the single "Power" andEP of the same name.[18][unreliable source?][19] Upon its release, Power sold out its initial batch of 30,000 copies[20][unreliable source?] and entered at #10 on the Billboard World Albums Charts.
B.A.P's third EP,No Mercy, was released digitally on July 19 and physically on July 24. On August 30 the repackaged version of the EP, renamedCrash, was released.
On October 23, B.A.P released their fourth single and EP, titled "Stop It".
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In February 2013, the group began releasing material from their fifth EP,One Shot.[21][unreliable source?][22][unreliable source?] On February 21, the EP ranked No.1 onBillboard's World Albums chart.[23]
In May,King Records, the Japanese record label that once signedRain, signed B.A.P.[1] They released their first Japanese music video for "Warrior" on YouTube on September 13, and their album and single were officially released on October 9.[24]
The group's sixth EP,Badman, was released on August 6 with the promotional singles "Coffee Shop", "Hurricane" and "Badman".[25][unreliable source?]
On February 3, 2014, B.A.P released their first full-length studio albumFirst Sensibility, containing a total of thirteen tracks including the title track "1004 (Angel)".[26][unreliable source?] Upon its release, the album topped the Billboard World Albums Chart, proving the group's international popularity.[27] In Korea,First Sensibility also topped the Hanteo andGaon monthly charts for February.[28][unreliable source?][29][unreliable source?] The group took their first music show win onShow Champion with "1004 (Angel)"[30][unreliable source?] and went on to take two more wins with the single.
On April 3, B.A.P released their third Japanese single, "No Mercy", and ranked at #2 on Oricon's daily and weekly singles charts.[31][unreliable source?]
Following promotions of "1004 (Angel)", the group commenced theB.A.P Live On Earth 2014 Continent Tour with a two-day concert in Seoul, with an estimated audience of 20,000 attendees.[32][unreliable source?] This was their second solo concert in Korea. The group went on to hold a total of 23 concerts in cities throughout the United States,Asia, Australia, andEurope during the tour.[33] Through the tour, they released the EPB.A.P Unplugged 2014.
On August 11, they released their fourth Japanese single, "Excuse Me".[34][unreliable source?] On October 27, TS Entertainment announced that they had cancelled the South American portion of the concert tour, in order to give the group members time to rest.[35]
On November 27, it was reported that the group had filed a lawsuit against their label to nullify their contract, claiming unfair working conditions and profit distribution, including statements claiming that of the US$9 million the group had earned over the three years, each member had been paid a total of US$18,000.[36] However, the following day, TS Entertainment issued a press release refuting the claims made, stating that there were "neither such maltreatment to the artists nor unfair clauses in the contract".[37] Their statements were challenged when B.A.P released another statement claiming lack of accountability and saying that they were considering filing for defamation of character.[38]
On August 1, 2015, B.A.P. returned to TS Entertainment after both parties reached a settlement.[39][unreliable source?] They made their comeback with their eighth EP,Matrix, and the title track "Young, Wild & Free". The free showcase "BAP 151115" was held on November 15 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza[40][unreliable source?] and the music video for "Young, Wild & Free" was released the following day.[41][42][unreliable source?] On November 27, 2015, exactly one year after the lawsuit, they received a music show win for the single onMusic Bank.
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In February, they released their fifth extended play,Carnival, containing six songs. In March, they released their first Japanese studio album,Best. Absolute. Perfect. The album contained thirteen songs. Three of them ("New World", "Kingdom", and "Back in Time") were original Japanese songs. Between April–July, B.A.P performed on theirLive On Earth 2016 tour, including dates in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Italy, Finland, Germany, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and Russia.[43][44]
In August, they released the fifth single "Put 'Em Up". On October 25, 2016, TS Entertainment revealed that Yongguk will not be participating in the promotions for B.A.P's upcoming full-length album,Noir, due to anxiety disorders.
In November, B.A.P returned with their second studio album,Noir along with the music video for title song "Skydive". With Noir, B.A.P reclaimed their title as the K-Pop act with the most No.1 Albums on Billboard's World Album chart.[45] Noir included standout track "Confession", a duet by rappers Bang Yongguk and Zelo set to a symphonic chorus that directly addressed their feelings during the lawsuit and subsequent hiatus.
On November 18, the music video for their 6th Japanese single,Fly High was published on YouTube, while a physical release on December 7 included the song "Fire Flame" and a Japanese version of "With You".[citation needed]
In March 2017, B.A.P released their sixth single album,Rose. Yongguk returned from his four-month hiatus to join the rest of the group for promotions. The lead track, "Wake Me Up", was recognized by Billboard's Jeff Benjamin as the group's "most personal and accomplished single yet".[46] The EP focused on social issues, with the "Wake Me Up"[47] music video addressing mental health issues, whilst the first track "Dystopia" directly attacked the idea of living in any so-called utopias, disregarding them all as illusions.
On June 28, 2017, the group's second Japanese studio album,Unlimited, was released.
On September 5, 2017, B.A.P released their seventh single album,Blue, with "Honeymoon" serving as the title track.[48][unreliable source?]
On December 13, 2017, B.A.P released their eighth single album,Ego, with "Hands Up" serving as the title track.[49][unreliable source?]
On March 28, 2018, B.A.P released their third Japanese studio album,Massive.
In 2018, members Yongguk and Zelo left the group after their contract with TS Entertainment expired on August 19 and December 2, respectively. On February 18, 2019, the remaining four members also left TS Entertainment.[50] However, member Jongup confirmed the possibility of reunion in the future.[51]
On June 12, 2024, B.A.P announced a documentary titled "Man on the Moon". In the teaser, which included Bang Yong-guk, Moon Jong-up, Jung Dae-hyun and Yoo Young-jae, announced plans to reunite and release new music. It is unclear if Zelo will be involved in the comeback due to him undertaking hismandatory military service.[2] On July 2, MA Entertainment confirmed former B.A.P members Bang Yongguk, Jung Daehyun, Yoo Youngjae, and Moon Jongup would be returning as a team.[52] The album,Curtain Call, was released on August 8, with the group promoting under the name "Bang & Jung & Yoo & Moon."[53]
On November 28, MA Entertainment announced that the group would return with a winter album calledChristmas With You.[54]
On September 9, 2025, Daehyun stated in an interview that the members would go back to their own individual activities, and that a future reunion, while not impossible, would be difficult due to the members' separate contracts.[55]
During the group's debut, all of the members dyed their hair blonde.[56] The group's members have played a role in their image and musical direction, and commentators have noted a distinction between their "tough, bad-boy" image and other K-pop boy groups.[14]
The group's leaderYongguk has previously made comments on the influence that African American musicians have had on him, citing50 Cent,P. Diddy,Pharrell and other rappers as musical influences.[57] He played a role in the production of all the tracks on B.A.P's debut EPWarrior.[56][58][unreliable source?] In addition, group member Himchan is a multi-instrumentalist influenced byKorean traditional music.[59][60][unreliable source?] He plays a number of traditional instruments includingdaegeum,janggu,kkwaenggwari andjing in addition to more traditional instruments including guitar, piano, and violin.[60] All of the group's members are influenced by R&B musicians; Jongup has cited hip hop and dance music as influences and said thatChris Brown is one of his idols, while Zelo has said he looks up towill.i.am andKanye West.[61]Daehyun cites Shin Yong-jae among his musical influences whileYoungjae citesneo soul musicians as well asMusiq Soulchild andJay Park.[62]
B.A.P has been named a "versatile group" byMTV Korea,[13] with Yun Seong-yeol of Star News Korea lauding their charisma and on-stage performances, as well as Yongguk and Zelo's rapping and Daehyun and Youngjae's vocal abilities.[63]
Former
Korean[edit]
| Japanese[edit]
|
| Date | Show | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ta-Dah! It's B.A.P | 10 episodes |
| B.A.P Diary | 2 episodes | |
| B.A.P's Killing Camp | 3 episodes | |
| 2014 | B.A.P Attack! | 13 episodes (B.A.P Live On Earth 2014 Continent Tour) |
| 2016 | B.A.P's One Fine Day | 8 episodes (Began airing October 14, 2016) |
| 2018 | B.A.P 오지GO 지리GO (Untact Life) | 4 episodes (Began airing May 9, 2018) |
B.A.P has won 29 awards out of 38 nominations, including threeMTV Europe Music Awards, twoJapan Gold Disc Awards, threeGaon Chart Music Awards, and eight So-Loved Awards.
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Artist Awards | 2016 | Best Entertainer Award (Male Group Category) | B.A.P | Won | |
| Creative Brand Awards | 2013 | Entertainment Award | Won | ||
| Gaon Chart Music Awards | 2012 | Best Male Rookie | Won | ||
| 2013 | World Rookie | Won | |||
| 2015 | Hot Trend Award | Won | |||
| Golden Disc Awards | 2012 | Popularity Award | Nominated | ||
| New Artist Award (Digital) | Won | ||||
| Single Album Award | Nominated | ||||
| 2013 | Digital Bonsang | "Badman" | Nominated | ||
| Popularity Award | B.A.P | Nominated | |||
| Golden Disk Awards Taiwan | 2013 | Selling more than 5,000 copies | One Shot | Won | |
| Japan Gold Disc Awards | 2014 | Best New Artist | B.A.P | Won | |
| Best 3 New Artists | Won | ||||
| J-pop Asia Music Awards | 2012 | New Artist/Band of 2012 | Won | ||
| Most Promising Artist/Band | Won | ||||
| Korean Cultural Entertainment Grant Prize | 2017 | K-Pop Star Award | Won | ||
| Melon Music Awards | 2012 | Best New Male Artist | Won | ||
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2012 | Mnet PD's Choice Award | Won | ||
| Best New Male Artist | Nominated | ||||
| Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| MTV Europe Music Awards | 2013 | Best Korean Act | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Best Korean Act | Won | |||
| Best Japan and Korea Act | Won | ||||
| Best Worldwide Act | Nominated | ||||
| 2016 | Best Korean Act | Won | |||
| Seoul Music Awards | 2012 | Best New Artist | Won | ||
| 2013 | Bonsang Award | "One Shot" | Won | [65] | |
| Popularity Award | B.A.P | Nominated | |||
| So-Loved Awards[a] | 2012 | Best Male Rookie Artist | Won | [67] | |
| Best Choreography | "Warrior" | Won | |||
| 2013 | Best Male Group | B.A.P | Won | [68] | |
| Best Dance – Male Artist | "One Shot" | Won | |||
| Best Music Video | Won | ||||
| 2014 | Best Male Group | B.A.P | Won | [69] | |
| Album of the Year | First Sensibility | Won | |||
| Best Music Video | "1004" | Won | |||
| Soribada Best K-Music Awards | 2017 | Bonsang Award | B.A.P | Won | [70] |
| V Chart Awards | 2013 | Best New Artist | Won |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
