Former BigBang rapper, T.O.P. to drop first solo album in 12 years

It’s been a while since fans last heard from T.O.P. musically — 12 years, to be exact. The former BigBang rapper, who stepped away from the group in 2023, is now gearing up to return as a solo artist with a brand-new album.

The last time he was in the spotlight wasn’t for music but for acting. In 2024, T.O.P. surprised fans when he appeared in Squid Game’s season 2 as Player 230, a fallen rapper battling drug addiction who joins the deadly games to escape debt.

T.O.P., whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, was once one of K-pop’s brightest stars, performing alongside G-Dragon, Seungri, Daesung, and Taeyang under YG Entertainment. But his career hit turbulence in 2017 when he was convicted of marijuana use while serving as a conscripted police officer. He received a 10-month prison sentence (suspended for two years) and was reassigned to alternative social service duties. At the time, he publicly admitted the incident caused distress to both BigBang and his agency.

Following his military service, he announced retirement from entertainment altogether — a decision he later walked back with his Squid Game 2 role. Now, at 37 years old, it seems T.O.P. is ready for a full-fledged comeback.

According to industry insiders, he has already completed recording his upcoming studio album and plans to release it in or after October. This marks his first solo release since 2013’s digital single Doom Dada.

And he’s not doing it alone. For his new music videos, T.O.P. has tapped Chae Kyoung-sun, the art director and production designer behind Squid Game 2, to bring his vision to life.

“T.O.P’s studio album is scheduled for release sometime in or after October. He has completed recording and plans to shoot several music videos. An art director of Squid Game will oversee the production,” a source told The Korea Herald.

While the official release date remains under wraps, fans can expect fresh music and high-concept visuals from T.O.P. this October.