Choi Jun-hong (Korean : 최준홍;born October 15,1996),better known by his stage name Zelo,is a South Korean rapper and dancer best known as the former member of the South Korean boy group B.A.P. He made his recording debut with the single "Never Give Up" under B.A.P's sub-unit Bang&Zelo in November 2011. He departed TS Entertainment in December 2018.
Zelo was born on October 15,1996,in Mokpo,South Korea. [1] [2] He has one older brother. [3] He aspired to be a soccer player when he was young,but then changed his dreams to becoming a singer as he chanced upon music and grew interested in it. [4] He started practising beatboxing and dancing at home. [4] In 5th grade,Zelo was introduced by an acquaintance who recognized his talent to Joy Dance - Plug In Music Academy located in Gwangju,which is a well-known music academy. He auditioned for several recording companies but did not succeed generally because he was too young. He was finally accepted as a trainee at TS Entertainment. [3] He graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in 2015. [5]
Zelo first collaborated with Bang Yong-guk in the sub-unit Bang&Zelo. The pair released "Never Give Up" on December 2,2011. [6] Zelo was revealed as a member of idol sextet B.A.P on January 17,2012,where he served as the rapper. [7] [8] The group debuted nine days later with its single album Warrior . [9] In November 2014,the group filed a lawsuit against its agency. The members sought to nullify its contract with the company citing "unfair conditions and profit distribution". [10] In August of the following year,the two parties ultimately settled and B.A.P resumed its activities under TS Entertainment. [11] Following the expiration of his contract with TS Entertainment on December 2,2018,Zelo decided not to renew with the company. He officially departed from the group on December 24,after finishing the European leg of B.A.P's 2018 tour. [12] The remaining four members left the agency in February 2019,leading the dissolution of B.A.P. [13]
Zelo signed an exclusive contract with A Entertainment on January 11,2019. [14] He held a fan meeting in Japan two months later and began working on a solo record under the company. [15] He released his debut mini-album Distance and its lead single "Questions" on June 21. [16] On August 21,Zelo sent A Entertainment a contract termination letter citing unpaid wages,but the agency did not agree to the termination. In a lawsuit,the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff and certified the contract annulment one year later. [14]
Zelo released the collaborative single "Shower" with rappers Lil Oppa and Jvde on January 5,2020. [17] He released his second mini-album Day2Day and its lead single "She and Malibu" on April 18. [18]
In August 2022,Zelo signed with Uzurocks. [19]
Zelo was the second rapper of the group. [20] Zelo cites will.i.am and Kanye West as his role models. [21] He also named 50 Cent and other rappers as his musical influences. [22]
Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
KOR [23] | |||
Distance |
| 27 |
|
Day2Day |
| — | — |
Scarecrow |
| — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
KOR [25] | |||
"Never Give Up" (Bang&Zelo featuring Heritage) | 2011 | 65 | Non-album single |
"Howler" | 2018 | — | B.A.P Concert Special Solo 'The Recollection' |
"Questions" (알고싶어;Algosipeo) | 2019 | — | Distance |
"Shower" (샤워;Syawo) (with Lil Oppa and Jvde) | 2020 | — | Non-album single |
"She and Malibu" (그녀와는말리부;Geunyeowaneun Mallibu) | — | Day2Day | |
"Mi Amor" (미아모르;Mi Amoreu) | — | Scarecrow | |
"Fault" (티내줘;Ti Naejwo) | — | ||
"Why Am I So Lonely" | — | ||
"Blame" (featuring Jvde Milez) | — | Non-album singles | |
"On a Roll" | 2021 | — | |
"Back on the Road" | — | ||
"Deadline" | 2022 | — | |
"Smile" | — | ||
"Possessed" | 2023 | — | |
"Sunrise" | — | Enough | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
style="width:16em;"|Title | Year | Release |
---|---|---|
"R(x)play" (V-Hawk featuring Zelo) | 2015 | Non-album single |
"Shadow" (Jung Dae-hyun featuring Zelo) | 2017 | Dae Hyun X Jong Up Project Album 'Party Baby' |
"Stay with Me" (Youngjae featuring Zelo) | 2018 | B.A.P Concert Special Solo 'The Recollection' |
"Annoying" (짜증이나;Jjajeungi Na) (Jongup featuring Zelo) | ||
"You,Me and Us" (너와나우리;Neowa Na Uri) (Lee Ye-jun featuring Zelo of B.A.P) | 2019 | Municon Vol.2 |
Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Release | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Vintage" | 2013 | Song Ji-eun | Hope Torture |
TS Entertainment was a South Korean record label and entertainment agency founded in 2008 by Kim Tae‑song (김태송). It was located at Hannam-dong,Yongsan-gu,Seoul,South Korea. The company was responsible for managing idol groups such as Untouchable,Secret,B.A.P.,Sonamoo,and TRCNG.
Bang &Jung &Yoo &Moon (Korean: 방용국&정대현&유영재&문종업) is a South Korean boy band under MA Entertainment. The group,originally consisting of Yongguk,Himchan,Daehyun,Youngjae,Jong-up,and Zelo is best known for their 7 tenure as B.A.P,under TS Entertainment,debuting with the song "Warrior" in 2012.
"Going Crazy" is a solo debut single by South Korean singer Song Ji-eun. It is released as a digital single on March 3,2011 through TS Entertainment. The song's inspiration came from the producers who have felt they needed to showcase a darker side of Jieun,thus coming up with the idea of a stalking relationship. The song features BAP's Bang Yong-guk,who sings the rap parts of the song. The song's lyrics tells of a fallen relationship in which the protagonist couldn't stand the stalking of her obsessed ex-lover.
Moon Jong-up,also known mononymously as Jongup,is a South Korean singer,dancer,and actor. He debuted as an idol in the six-member group B.A.P under TS Entertainment,where he served as a sub-vocalist from 2012 to its dissolution in 2019. Following his departure from TS Entertainment,he released his debut single album Headache in May 2020.
Jung Dae-hyun,also known mononymously as Daehyun,is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as an idol in the six-member group B.A.P under TS Entertainment,where he served as the main vocalist from 2012 to its dissolution in 2019. Following his departure from TS Entertainment,he released his debut mini-album Chapter2 "27" in April 2019. Jung has ventured into musical theater since being cast for Napoleon in 2017.
Yoo Young-jae,also known mononymously as Youngjae,is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as an idol in the six-member group B.A.P under TS Entertainment,where he served as the main vocalist from 2012 to its dissolution in 2019. He released his debut mini-album Fancy in April 2019.
Bang Yong-guk,also known mononymously as Yongguk (용국),is a South Korean rapper,singer,songwriter,and record producer,who served as the leader of boy group B.A.P up until his departure from TS Entertainment in August 2018.
"Warrior" is a song recorded by the South Korean boy group B.A.P. It was released as a digital single on January 26,2012,by TS Entertainment. The song was B.A.P's first single and the first from their first EP,Warrior. "Warrior" was written and produced by Kang Ji-on and Kim Ki-bum,the same producers of Song Ji-eun's "Going Crazy" and Bang &Zelo's "Never Give Up". B.A.P's leader,Bang Yong-guk,co-wrote "Warrior". The song's lyrics describe the injustice of current society and the protagonist's desire to end it.
Warrior is the first single album by South Korean boy band B.A.P. The single album was released digitally on January 26,2012,and contains four tracks. The accompanying CD of Warrior was released on February 2,2012,when the album sold 10,000 copies in two days upon its release. The album also debuted on Billboard's World Albums Chart at number 10. The lead single,"Warrior",was released on January 26,2012 through various online digital stores. In March 2012,B.A.P released a follow-up single,"Secret Love". The single album peaked at number three on the Gaon Album Chart.
"Secret Love" is a song recorded by South Korean idol group B.A.P. It is released as a Digital single on March 3,2012,through TS Entertainment. The song was released as a promotional single for their mini-album,Warrior EP. The song was written by Bang Yong Guk and Kang Jiwon;and features vocals from Song Jieun. The music video for "Secret Love" contained behind the scenes footage of B.A.P's "Warrior" and Bang&Zelo's "Never Give Up",and it served as a tribute video for their fans.
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