Bobby (rapper)

Bobby
Bobby performing in 2018
Born
Kim Ji-won

(1995-12-21) December 21, 1995 (age 29)
Seoul, South Korea
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Children1
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2013–present
Labels
Member ofiKon
Formerly of
Korean name
Hangul
김지원
Hanja
金知元
Revised RomanizationGim Jiwon
McCune–ReischauerKim Chiwŏn

Kim Ji-won (Korean김지원; born December 21, 1995), known by his stage name Bobby (Korean바비) is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and member of iKon.[1] In 2016, he formed a sub-unit with Mino under the name MOBB. He is best known for finishing in first place on Mnet's survival show Show Me The Money 3.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Kim Ji-won was born on December 21, 1995, in Seoul, South Korea. In 2005, he and his family moved to Fairfax, Virginia,[3] where he auditioned for YG Entertainment and later met Kim Jin-woo of Jinusean in New York City. In January 2011, he was signed as a trainee under the label.[4][5]

Career

[edit]
Bobby at the Gaon Chart Music Awards in 2016

After over two years of training, Bobby participated in the 2013 survival show Win: Who Is Next? under Team B. He started using his stage name Bobby, named after his idol, Bob Marley.[6] Because Team A won the program, Bobby continued training under YG Entertainment. In November 2013, while still a trainee, Bobby appeared in the music video for "Ringa Linga" by label-mate Taeyang of Big Bang alongside B.I and Jinhwan from Team B, Winner's Mino and Taehyun, and Blackpink's Lisa.[citation needed]

In May 2014, together with B.I, Bobby competed on Mnet's Show Me The Money 3. He finished in first place under Team Illionaire, mentored by Dok2 and The Quiett.[2][7] Throughout the show, Bobby released the singles "Go", "L4L (Lookin' for Luv)", "YGGR#HipHop", and "Guard Up and Bounce". Following the show's conclusion, he participated in Mix & Match, where filming began in midst of appearance of Show Me The Money. The show resulted in the debut of Team B, alongside trainee Jung Chan-woo, under the group name iKon.[8][9]

In October 2014, Bobby featured in Epik High's single "Born Hater" alongside Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I, and Mino,[10] and in November 11, he featured in "I'm Different" by Hi Suhyun, a project unit composed of Lee Hi and Lee Su-hyun of Akdong Musician.[11] In the same month, he also featured with Dok2 in Masta Wu's track "Come Here".[12][full citation needed] He performed "Born Hater" with Epik High at the 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards, also performing "Come Here" and his single "YGGR" together with Dok2, The Quiett and Masta Wu.[13] He was featured on GQ Korea's 2014 Men of the Year list and on December 4, 2014, he appeared as a guest at GQ Party.[14][unreliable source?]

In September 2015, iKon released the warm-up single "My Type", followed by lead singles "Rhythm Ta" and "Airplane".[15] On October 4, the group attended their first music show, SBS' Inkigayo, receiving their third win for "My Type".[16] The group released their debut album on December 24, 2015.

In March 2016, Bobby featured on Lee Hi's single "Video" from her studio album Seoulite.[17] Bobby also made an appearance on the ninth episode of Show Me the Money 5, featuring in Reddy's song "Like This", which they performed onstage together.[citation needed] In September 2016, Bobby released the single "Holup!" (Korean꽐라) as part of a four-track extended play (EP), The MOBB, a collaboration between Bobby and Winner's Mino under the group name MOBB.[18][19] They released the lead singles "Full House" (Korean붐벼) and "Hit Me" (Korean빨리 전화해) on September 9 alongside the music videos.[20][non-primary source needed]

In March 2017, Bobby and B.I featured in Psy's single "Bomb" from his studio album 4x2=8.[citation needed] Bobby released his first solo studio album, Love and Fall, on September 14, 2017, for which he served producer and participated in writing and composing for all songs on the album.[21][22] Bandmate Donghyuk and Katie Kim featured on the track "Secret", and label-mate Mino featured in the track "Up". On November 29, Bobby released the Japanese version of his debut solo album.[citation needed] He released his second studio album, Lucky Man, on January 25, 2021.[23]

Bobby released his first solo single album S.i.R on March 21, 2023.[24]

Personal life

[edit]

On August 20, 2021, Bobby announced in his Instagram post his upcoming wedding to his fiancée, who was expecting their first child in September.[25] In September 2021, his fiancée gave birth to a son.[26]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions, and sales
Title Details Peak positions Sales
KOR
[27]
FRA
[28]
JPN
[29]
TW
[30]
US
World

[31]
Love and Fall 4 113 39 7 2
Lucky Man
  • Released: January 25, 2021
  • Label: YG Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
4
Sir.Robert
  • Released: February 28, 2024
  • Label: 143 Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. "Intro"
  2. "Beak" () (feat. Huh)
  3. "Why Stop Now" (feat. Jung Sang-soo)
  4. "Harmless" (무중력) (feat. Chanmina)
  5. "Hercules!" (feat. Justhis)
  6. "Moon" (feat. IHwak)
  7. "Cherry Blossom" (벚꽃)
  8. "I'll Do That" (너가 그러라한다면)
  9. "Drowning" (feat. Sole)
  10. "20s 30s" (2030 머릿속)
  11. "Help Me Out o Kill Me Not"
  12. "F"
31

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with selected details, chart positions, and sales
Title Details Peak positions Sales
KOR
[35]
Robert
  • Released: October 10, 2023
  • Label: 143 Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
26

Single albums

[edit]
List of single albums, with selected details, chart positions and sales
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[27]
S.i.R
  • Released: March 21, 2023
  • Labels: 143 Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
8

Collaborative albums

[edit]
List of collaboration albums, with selected details, chart positions, and sales
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[38]
JPN
[39]
US
Heat

[40]
US
Rap

[41]
US World
[42]
The Mobb
(with Mino)
  • Released: September 8, 2016
  • Label: YG Entertainment, YGEX
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2 7 7 20 1

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[45]
US World
[46]
"L4L (Lookin' For Luv)" (feat. Dok2 and The Quiett) 2014 7 Show Me the Money 3
""YGGR#hiphop" (연결고리#힙합) 4
"Go" () 16
"Raise Your Guard and Bounce" (가드올리고) 4
"Anthem" (이리오너라) (with B.I) 2015 6 Welcome Back
"Holup!" (꽐라!) 2016 9 3 The MOBB
"I Love You" (사랑해) 2017 24 Love and Fall
"Runaway" 63
"U Mad" 2021 150 Lucky Man
"Drowning" (feat. Sole) 2023 S.i.R
"Cherry Blossom" (벚꽃)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
[edit]
Title Year Peak positions Sales Album
KOR
[52]
US World
[46]
"Born Hater"
(Epik High feat. Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I, Mino, Bobby)
2014 3 5 Shoebox
"Come Here" (이리와봐)
(Masta Wu feat. Dok2 and Bobby)
8 4 Non-album singles
"I'm Different"
(Hi, Suhyun feat. Bobby)
1 3
"Video" (안봐도 비디)
(Lee Hi feat. Bobby)
2016 21 6 Seoulite
"Bomb"
(Psy feat. B.I and Bobby)
2017 14 4X2=8
"Rise (Remix)"
(Mako, The Word Alive & The Glitch Mob feat. Bobby)
Non-album singles
"Super Asia"
(TPA feat. VaVa and Bobby)
2019
"Ok Man"
(Mino feat Bobby)
2020 4 Take
"Lucky!" (개이득)
(Kim Jae-hwan feat. Bobby)
2023 152 J.A.M. (Journey Above Music)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Songwriting and production credits

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Ref.
2013 Win: Who Is Next Contestant
2014 Show Me the Money 3
Mix & Match [8]
2017 King of Mask Singer [59]
Living Together in Empty Room Cast Member [60]
2023 Boys Planet Guest Mentor

Awards and nominations

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Yeo, Gladys (January 3, 2023). "iKON sign with 143 Entertainment, to reportedly release new album in April". NME. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Jee Won, Jeong. "Bobby Wins ′SMTM3′ and Promises Not to Become Lazy". Mnet. eNewsWorld. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Q&A Part1.Jiun & JeeYoung". Youtube. Mentioned at 1:41 of the video. October 12, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ "Icon Bobby Casting Behind Story". Han-river Times (in Korean). 2015-11-16. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  5. ^ "Bobby, "my parents came to Korea."". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  6. ^ 아이콘 바비(iKON BOBBY), 아이돌 래퍼에 대한 편견을 깨버린 쇼미더머니 우승자[ENG/INDO], retrieved 2021-03-07
  7. ^ Kalka, Emma (5 September 2014). "YG trainee rapper Bobby wins 'Show Me the Money'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  8. ^ a b Jackson, Julie (3 September 2014). "YG to mix and match to create boy band iKON". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  9. ^ Lee, Yousun (7 November 2014). "Kim Dong-hyuk is the final member of iKON". The Asiatoday. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Epik High Explores Dark, Personal Struggles & Tells Off Haters on 'Shoebox' Album". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  11. ^ Benjamin, Jeff. "Lee Hi & Akdong Musician's Suhyun Say 'I'm Different' on Brassy Collaboration". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  12. ^ 마스타 우, 바비와 'YG 힙합프로젝트2' 참여… 나머지 한 명은? Masta Wu , Bobby and 'YG Hip Hop Project 2 "participation ... the rest one of them ?. Naver News. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  13. ^ Kramer, Kyle (7 January 2015). "Have You Guys Seen the Korean Migos?". Noisey Music By Vice. Vice Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  14. ^ "iKON's Bobby poses for the "GQ Korea" Men of the Year issue". Koreaboo. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  15. ^ "아이콘, 더블 타이틀곡 뮤비 이틀 만에 '260만뷰 돌파'". SBS funE. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  16. ^ '인기가요' 아이콘, '취향저격'으로 9월 마지막 주 1위 수상. TenAsia. 4 October 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Full track list of Lee Hi's album "Seoulite" unveiled". Kpop Herald. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  18. ^ "VIDEO: iKON's Bobby's solo debut MV 'HOLUP!' is here". SBS PopAsia. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  19. ^ Seon, Mi-kyeong (2016-09-06). 송민호X바비 MOBB, 유닛곡은 '빨리 전화해'..더블 타이틀 활동. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  20. ^ "MINO & BOBBY's MOBB to Release New Songs and Do a V App Show Today". YG Life. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  21. ^ "Ikon's Bobby reveals teaser photos for lead track of first solo album". Kpop Herald. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  22. ^ "iKONのBOBBY、ソロ新曲「RUNAWAY」予告ポスター2種を公開…優秀&苦悩が調和したイメージに"視線集中"". Kstyle (in Japanese). September 7, 2017.
  23. ^ Jeon, Hyojin (2021-01-19). "아이콘 바비, 'LUCKY MAN' 포스터 공개". Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  24. ^ Choi, Ji-won (March 21, 2023). "Bobby's 1st solo single 'S.i.R' marks start of year-long series". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Kim, Myungmi (August 20, 2021). 아이콘 바비, 갑작스러운 결혼 발표 "9월에 아빠 된다"[공식입장 전문] [iKon Bobby suddenly announces marriage, "I will become a father in September"]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  26. ^ Hwang Hye-jin (September 27, 2021). "YG 측 "바비, 최근 득남" 아이콘 최초 유부돌 탄생(공식)" [YG's "Bobby, recently gave birth" iKON's first married idol was born (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via Naver.
  27. ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart.
  28. ^ "Love and Fall - Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Téléchargés". SNEP. September 15, 2017. Archived from the original on November 4, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  29. ^ a b 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2017年09月18日~2017年09月24日 [CD album weekly ranking from September 18, 2017 to September 24, 2017]. oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  30. ^ "FIVE-MUSIC Korea-Japan Album Chart" (in Chinese). FIVE-MUSIC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
    • Love and Fall: "第39 週 統計時間:2017/9/22 – 2017/9/28"
  31. ^ "BOBBY – Chart history (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ Love and Fall Sales:
  33. ^ Lucky Man Sales (49,221(CD)+5000(Kit):
  34. ^ Cumulative Sales of Sir.Robert:
  35. ^ "2023 Week 41 Album Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  36. ^ "Circle Album Chart – October, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  37. ^ "Circle Album Chart – Week 12, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  38. ^ "Gaon Albums Chart: The Mobb". Gaon Chart. Gaon Chart. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  39. ^ "The Mobb (Japanese debut album)". 5 January 2017.
  40. ^ "Billboard's Heatseekers Albums Chart: The Mobb". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  41. ^ "Rap Albums: The Mobb". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
  42. ^ "Billboard's World Albums Chart: The Mobb". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  43. ^ "2016 Gaon Chart - September". Gaon Chart. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  44. ^ 1,418 (Korean edition) + 13,437 (Japanese Edition)
  45. ^ Gaon Digital Chart:
  46. ^ a b "Bobby Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  47. ^ a b c 2014년 Download Chart [2014 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). p. 2. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016.
  48. ^ Cumulative sales of "YGGR #hiphop":
  49. ^ Cumulative sales of "Anthem":
  50. ^ Cumulative sales of "Holup!":
  51. ^ a b Sales for "I Love You" & "Runaway":
  52. ^ Gaon Digital Chart:
  53. ^ Cumulative sales of "Born Hater":
  54. ^ Cumulative sales of "Come Here":
  55. ^ Cumulative sales of "I'm Different":
  56. ^ "2016 Gaon Download Chart – Half Year". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  57. ^ "2017 Download Chart – May". Gaon Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  58. ^ "2020 Gaon Download Chart – Half Year". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  59. ^ Ji Min-kyung (June 25, 2017). 장재인·바비·홍록기·서민정, '복면가왕' 찾은 반가운 얼굴들 [종합]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  60. ^ Park Seul-gi (July 6, 2017). '발칙한 동거' 아이콘 바비X진환, 홍진영 집 입성 '흥폭발'. TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
[edit]