BIGBANG

BIGBANG debuted in 2006 as a five-member boy band under YG Entertainment, considered a "bang" success for the whole group and for the individual members.

The band debuted with a then-unorthodox hip-hop concept it kept throughout its career while switching between emotional R&B and upbeat dance that won the band popularity from audiences of diverse backgrounds. BIGBANG's earlier songs "La La La" (2006), "V.I.P" (2006) and "Dirty Cash" (2006) were more dead-on hip-hop, while its turn to the sentimental side with "Lie" (2007), "Last Farewell" (2007) and "Haru Haru" (2008) started the frenzy in Asian countries neighboring Korea.

A 2008 remake of Lee Moon-sae's famed folk track "Sunset Glow" (1988) into a trendy dance number expanded its audience range to older generations, setting it apart from boy bands that targeted only teenage and young adult women.

The band's ordeals began in 2011 when leader G-Dragon faced charges for smoking marijuana, but his indictment was suspended. Earlier that year, member Daesung was involved in a car accident that resulted in a man dying, even though he was found not guilty by prosecutors. The biggest blow came in 2019 when former member Seungri left the band due to the so-called Burning Sun scandal that spread like wildfire to the entire entertainment industry involving illicit drugs, sex and bribery.

Still, the bandmates got back together in 2022 after finishing their military duties and proved that BIGBANG still stands strong in the K-pop legacy.

Who is left in BIGBANG?

There are four members left: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang and Daesung. T.O.P is no longer signed to YG Entertainment, but the rest of the members are. Former member Seungri left the band and the agency in 2019.

What is BIGBANG’s last song?

BIGBANG's last song was "Still Life," a ballad-type R&B released in April 2022. The group also released "Flower Road" in 2018 and "Loser" in 2016. The group was active from 2006, the year of their debut, until 2016, after which bandmates started serving their mandatory military services. The last song in which five members are all included is "Flower Road," because former member Seungri quit the band in 2019. (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2018/03/14/etc/Big-Bangs-Flower-Road-tops-charts/3045604.html (2022.09.24)"

What took them so long to make “Flower Road”?

BIGBANG is one of the most popular and scandalous — perhaps even notorious — bands in K-pop. Four members have been mired in controversy, with the exception of Taeyang. Seungri quit after the Burning Sun scandal involving his illegal activities surrounding a club he owned. G-Dragon was involved in a drug scandal, and T.O.P was punished for smoking marijuana. Daesung turned out to be housing illegally operated bars inside a property he owned. Having been mired in such scandals, the band has been having trouble returning to the stage. (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/03/21/entertainment/kpop/bigbang-bigbangcomeback-april5bigbang/20220321110208975.html ) (2022.09.24)

Is BIGBANG disbanding?

No. Although member T.O.P left the group in early 2022 after his contract expired, he still took part in the latest song, "Still Life," and no one has ever mentioned BIGBANG disbanding altogether. Although the industry norm in the past has been to dissolve the band officially, groups now generally choose to keep the band while pursuing their solo careers.

(https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/02/07/entertainment/kpop/Big-Bang-return-4year-hiatus/20220207171136938.html) (2022.09.24)