| Group name: | B.A.P (비에이피) |
| Agency: | TS Entertainment |
| Debut Date: | January 26, 2012 |
| Members: | Yongguk Himchan Daehyun Youngjae Jong-up Zelo |
| Facebook: | OFFICIALB.A.P |
| Twitter: | @BapJapanstaff |
About B.A.P
The name B.A.P stands for Best Absolute Perfect. In 2011, Yongguk became the first member of B.A.P after he was featured in the song ‘Going Crazy’ by Song Jieun followed by his solo single ‘I Remember’. Soon after, Himchan was added as the second member and an MC for The Show. Zelo was the third member to be added, he and Yongguk released the single ‘Never Give Up’.
In 2012, band members starred in the show Ta-Dah, it’s B.A.P, in which they played aliens from different planets who came together to form a band and take over Earth. Their debut single ‘Warrior’ dropped on January 25. In 2012 the EP of the same name (Warrior) was met with acclaim, hitting number 10 on the Billboard World Albums Chart and selling over 10,000 copies in the first two days of release.
Critics soon noted that this group had set out to separate themselves from other boy pop groups. Instead they wanted to be seen as bad boys and their musical style was more powerful.
Their follow-up EPs Power also hit the Billboard World Albums chart at number 10, the groups fifth EP One Shot finally hit number 1.
In May 2013 B.A.P made their Japanese debut when they were signed by King Records. The group rereleased their original hit ‘Warrior’ and dropped the new music video on YouTube.
B.A.P’s first and highly anticipated studio album First Sensibility was released on February 3, 2014. The album further proved the groups international success when it topped the Billboard World Music Chart as well as the Hanteo and Gaon February charts.
The single ‘1004 (Angel)’ from the First Sensibility album was also award winning and sparked their first world tour, hitting 23 cities throughout the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. While they embarked upon a successful tour, trouble was brewing with their label.
In late 2014 they filed suit against their label in order to void their contracts. The group claimed they suffered unfair working conditions under the label. The label refuted their claims and the group settled with the label, returning to their contracts in August 2015.
In March 2016 the group released their first Japanese studio album, Best, Absolute, Perfect. This was followed by their Live on Earth 2016 tour. Trouble strikes the group again in late 2016 when it is announced that Yangguk would not be participating in the promotion for their upcoming album, Noir, due to his anxiety disorder. He would take a four month hiatus from the group to work on his mental health.
In 2017, Yangguk rejoins the group in order to promote their sixth single album, Rose. This EP received critical acclaim as, once again, the group set themselves apart from other K-Pop artists at the time. Their song ‘Wake Me Up’ addressed the importance mental health and the entire EP was based around social issues.
Over the next few years the group would go on to release two more Japanese studio albums (Unlimited in 2017 and Massive in 2018). After the release of Massive, group members Yongguk and Zelo announced they would not renew their contracts, which had just expired. Shortly after, the remaining members of the group would make the same decision and the group officially disbanded in 2018.
Recently, Jongup perpetuated rumors of a possible future reunion, so B.A.P fandom still holds out hope they’ll see the group perform together again one day.
Yongguk
Birth Name:
Bang Yong Guk (방용국)
Stage Name:
Yongguk (용국)
Position:
Leader, Main Rapper
Birthday:
March 31, 1990
Zodiac Sign:
Aries
Height:
182 cm (6’0″)
Weight:
60 kg (132 lbs)
Blood Type:
O
Instagram:
@bangstergram
Born in Incheon, South Korea, Yongguk has an identical twin brother and an older sister. After attending Yuhan High School in Incheon, Yongguk was offered a scholarship to college which he turned down in favor of pursuing his career.
Before joining B.A.P, Yongguk collaborated with Soul Connection when he was just in middle school. He was recognized for his talented rap lyrics after posting to an online forum. He began to make his own music, learning from older students and working on his own unique style.
In 2010, TS Entertainment contacted him at the urging of the group Untouchable. He was hesitant at first, he liked the freedom he had in his musical expression as an independent artist. He was convinced to sign and soon joined Song Jieun on the single ‘Going Crazy’. Although he was still a trainee, he received multiple requests for appearances which the agency turned down on his behalf.
In August, Yongguk’s solo ‘I Remember’ peaked in the top 10 in Korea. Unfortunately, the music video featuring Yang Yaseob was not allowed to air on Korean television as it featured violence. Just before y in 2012, Yongguk and band mate Zelo’s sub unit released the single ‘Never Give Up’ under the name Bang&Zelo.
Yongguk was the first member to be officially announced as belonging to the new band B.A.P. He performed solo at the 2013 SBS Gayo Daejeon.
When the group went on hiatus in 2015, during their lawsuit with their agency, Yongguk released his solo song, ‘AM4:44’. When the group settled their lawsuit, he wrote and produced their comeback mini-album Matrix.
In 2017, after a break from the group to focus on his mental health after he revealed that he suffered from an anxiety disorder, Yongguk released the solo track ‘Yamazaki’ which had lyrics in Korean, Japanese and English. When his contract expired in August, he announced he would not renew and officially left the group.
Yongguk speaks English, Japanese and Korean and is learning Spanish (he likes to watch telenovelas). He has 5 tattoos and his favorite food is sushi.
Daehyun
Birth Name:
Jung Dae Hyun (정대현)
Stage Name:
Daehyun (대현)
Position:
Main Vocalist, Face of the Group
Birthday:
June 28, 1993
Zodiac Sign:
Cancer
Height:
179 cm (5’10″)
Weight:
63 kg (139 lbs)
Blood Type:
A
Instagram:
@dh_jung_bap
YouTube:
BabyHyun
Daehyun was the second son to be born to his wealthy, hardware store owner parents in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province. He had dreams of becoming a singer from early on, when he saw the Korean pop duo TVQX perform. Soon after beginning kindergarten, his family was hit hard by the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and his parents were driven into poverty, moving the family to Busan.
Daehyun was very much affected by this change and he decided he should focus on a more practical career. He decided against enrolling in the private arts school as it was too expensive and instead applied to a different institution where he continued taking music classes.
While he was a sophomore in high school, Daehyun practiced vocalized and b-boying at youth training center. While he intended to audition for TS Entertainment, he skipped the audition to take part in a competition where he took home the second place medal. The label allowed him to reschedule his audition and he was accepted.
Daehyun was announced as the sixth member of B.A.P and the lead vocalist on the group’s debut single album, Warrior.
When Daehyun’s contract with TS Entertainment ended in February, 2019, he decided not to renew. Instead, he started his solo career efforts by launching a crowd funding campaign for a new mini-album. He received criticism for participating in crowd funding and was compared to his band mate, Yongguk, who was also releasing a mini-album at the time but did so without crowd funding.
In June, he signed with STX Lion Heart, but he has said he no longer identifies as an idol, so fans can look forward to seeing what becomes of this partnership. He has indicated an interest in acting and has appeared a couple episodes of ‘Idol Battle Likes’.
Daehyun has two tattoos, enjoys watching movies and likes fluorescent colors.
Youngjae
Birth Name:
Yoo Young Jae (유영재 )
Stage Name:
Youngjae (영재)
Position:
Lead Vocalist
Birthday:
January 24, 1994
Zodiac Sign:
Aquarius
Height:
178 cm (5’10”)
Weight:
65 kg (143 lbs)
Blood Type:
AB
Instagram:
@yjaybaby
Youngjae was born in the Seocho District of Seoul. He has an older brother and his mother owned a fashion brand business. Like Daehyun, his wealthy family was hit by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. His father left for a time and he lived in a container home for a period of time before moving into a friend’s basement room.
A typical middle schooler, Youngjae loved playing video games and he dreamt of being a pro-gamer. He sang in a talent show at school and received such praise that he redirected his efforts and enrolled in a music institution.
As a high schooler, he auditioned with a few agencies. He was a trainee under JYP Entertainment and was even set to debut with a different group before he left the agency for personal reasons and signed with TS Entertainment shortly after.
During his time with B.A.P, he acted as the main vocalist. Now that the group has disbanded, he is beginning his solo career. On April 19, his debut mini-album debuted, called Fancy. He had previously created an independent record label to produce this album.
Youngjae was also cast as the lead in Kim Seul Gi Genius which will be available in November.
Youngjae’s favorite color is sky blue and he likes sleeping and listening to music. He once revealed that he is the leader of a gaming crew named The Strongest Idol along with several other K-Pop celebrities.
Zelo
Birth Name:
Choi Jun Hong (최준홍)
Stage Name:
Zelo (젤로)
Position:
Lead Rapper, Lead Dancer, Maknae
Birthday:
October 15, 1996
Zodiac Sign:
Libra
Height:
188.5cm (6’2″)
Weight:
63 kg (139 lbs)
Blood Type:
A
Instagram:
@byzelo
When Zelo was growing up in Mokpo, South Korea along with his older brother, he had dreams of becoming a soccer player. Eventually he changed his mind as he grew more interested in music, beat boxing and dancing.
In 5th grade, he attended the same music academy as Seungri from Big Bang (Joy Dance – Plug In in Gwangju). Although he was put forward for several recording companies, he was too young and didn’t get signed until later, when TS Entertainment took him on as a trainee.
Zelo was the youngest member of B.A.P and acted at the lead rapper. After the European leg of the 2018 B.A.P tour, he announced he would not renew his contract and left the group. He and Yongguk were the first members to leave.
In 2015 he graduated from the School of the Performing Arts Seoul and now, in 2019, his debut solo Distance has just been released. He lists Kanye West, Will.I.Am and 50 Cent as his influences and role models.
His hobby outside of music is skateboarding and his favorite food is kimchi. He has two tattoos and his nose pierced and he remains close to his group mate Jongup.
Himchan
Birth Name:
Kim Him Chan (김힘찬)
Stage Name:
Himchan (힘찬)
Position:
Sub-Vocal, Rapper, Visual
Birthday:
April 19, 1990
Zodiac Sign:
Aries
Height:
180 cm (5’11”)
Weight:
69 kg (152 lbs)
Blood Type:
O
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Himchan has one older sister. When he was young he attended the National School for Traditional Music, a government-funded national arts center with many prestigious attendees. There, he learned to play the traditional Korean musical instruments (like dae-geum and jing) as well as fostering a love of music.
He was announced as a member of B.A.P when he was an MC on MTV’s The Show and after training for a year and a half.
He was closest to Yongguk and claimed to be the mom of the group, he loves shopping for clothes and is very talkative.
In 2019 he was accused and charged with indecent assault against a woman in her 20s at a vacation home where others were present. TS Entertainment has released a statement saying that the alleged incident was a misunderstanding and Himchan has been cooperating with police. During a court hearing, Himchan went on the record denying his guilt in the alleged incident.
Jongup
Birth Name:
Moon Jongup (문종업)
Stage Name:
Jongup (종업)
Position:
Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist
Birthday:
February 6, 1995
Zodiac Sign:
Aquarius
Height:
174 cm (5’9″)
Weight:
66 kg (145 lbs)
Blood Type:
B
Instagram:
@moonjongyeup
Jongup and his two older brothers were born in Seoul, South Korea. Jongup attended Hanlim Arts High School in Songpa District in Seoul, South Korea which boasts a number of other famous alumni.
He was a trainee for a year and a half after signing with TS Entertainment. Prior to joining B.A.P he had also appeared in several music videos as a backup dancer.
A huge McDonald’s fan, Jongup loves hamburgers and also raw meat.
