By Kim Jae-heun
BIGBANG rapper T.O.P's recent drug scandal is causing a negative impact on his band-mate G-Dragon's return as a soloist after four years. G-Dragon will release the single "Bullshit" today.
The scandal broke unexpectedly through a local cable TV's exclusive report on Thursday, a week prior to G-Dragon's new song debut.
The title of G-Dragon's new album is "Kwon Ji Yong," which is his real name and the track "Bullshit" has a powerful hip hop sound as can be gathered from the song's title.
The singer became Korea's cultural icon, exercising his influence in the K-pop industry by holding art exhibitions and launching his own fashion label. His latest album received as much attention as his last album "COUP D'ETAT" was released in 2013.
However, G-Dragon had to apologize on behalf of T.O.P first last week, even before he began his solo activities.
"We are sorry to have caused you so much anxiety. We will make sure nothing like this will happen again. Please keep supporting us," said G-Dragon during the fan meeting in Osaka, Japan, Saturday.
G-Dragon was also questioned by the prosecution in the past when he was caught smoking marijuana when he was in Japan for a concert in May 2011 while on a BIGBANG tour.
G-Dragon was released without indictment, considering he smoked a small amount of the drug and that it was his first time committing the crime.
It took six years for him to rebuild his reputation and T.O.P has crushed it by making the same mistake that brought their fans down.
Analyst Lee Ki-hoon said T.O.P's scandal has resurfaced G-Dragon's incident as G-Dragon was charged with the same crime but he was freed.
"The fall in YG's stock price is not due to T.O.P, but because of G-Dragon," said Lee in an interview with a local press. "G-Dragon had the same marijuana issue in the past and T.O.P admitted his crime a week before G-Dragon's comeback.
"The scandal has caused G-Dragon's case to resurface and people want to find out the truth on G-Dragon's scandal too," added Lee.
T.O.P was taken to the hospital yesterday after losing consciousness. Police said that the rapper had overdosed on drugs he had been taking and is asleep because of their tranquilizing effects; while his family alleges that T.O.P is in critical condition. He is currently admitted to the intensive care unit.
BIGBANG rapper T.O.P's recent drug scandal is causing a negative impact on his band-mate G-Dragon's return as a soloist after four years. G-Dragon will release the single "Bullshit" today.
The scandal broke unexpectedly through a local cable TV's exclusive report on Thursday, a week prior to G-Dragon's new song debut.
The title of G-Dragon's new album is "Kwon Ji Yong," which is his real name and the track "Bullshit" has a powerful hip hop sound as can be gathered from the song's title.
The singer became Korea's cultural icon, exercising his influence in the K-pop industry by holding art exhibitions and launching his own fashion label. His latest album received as much attention as his last album "COUP D'ETAT" was released in 2013.
However, G-Dragon had to apologize on behalf of T.O.P first last week, even before he began his solo activities.
"We are sorry to have caused you so much anxiety. We will make sure nothing like this will happen again. Please keep supporting us," said G-Dragon during the fan meeting in Osaka, Japan, Saturday.
G-Dragon was also questioned by the prosecution in the past when he was caught smoking marijuana when he was in Japan for a concert in May 2011 while on a BIGBANG tour.
G-Dragon was released without indictment, considering he smoked a small amount of the drug and that it was his first time committing the crime.
It took six years for him to rebuild his reputation and T.O.P has crushed it by making the same mistake that brought their fans down.
Analyst Lee Ki-hoon said T.O.P's scandal has resurfaced G-Dragon's incident as G-Dragon was charged with the same crime but he was freed.
"The fall in YG's stock price is not due to T.O.P, but because of G-Dragon," said Lee in an interview with a local press. "G-Dragon had the same marijuana issue in the past and T.O.P admitted his crime a week before G-Dragon's comeback.
"The scandal has caused G-Dragon's case to resurface and people want to find out the truth on G-Dragon's scandal too," added Lee.
T.O.P was taken to the hospital yesterday after losing consciousness. Police said that the rapper had overdosed on drugs he had been taking and is asleep because of their tranquilizing effects; while his family alleges that T.O.P is in critical condition. He is currently admitted to the intensive care unit.
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