GD & TOP were a South Korean hip-hop/pop duo formed by G-Dragon and T.O.P, the rappers of the K-pop boy band BigBang in 2010. The release of their first album, GD & TOP (2010) was a commercial success becoming one of the best selling albums of the year in South Korea, and spawning the top-five hits "High High", "Oh Yeah", and "Knock Out" on the Gaon Digital Chart. After a five-year hiatus, they released the single "Zutter", which peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart.
History
2010–2011: Formation and first album YG Entertainment announced the a sub-unit between G-Dragon and T.O.P under the name "GD & TOP" in November 2010, and to release an album with the same name. The duo held a worldwide premiere showcase for their album at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo of Seoul, which was also broadcast live on YouTube. The album was released on Christmas Eve, and debuted at number one on the Gaon Chart with pre-orders of 200,000 copies. By the end of 2010 the album had surpassed 130,000 copies sold in a week, becoming the fifth best-selling album of the year. As of 2015 the album sold 200,000 copies.
To promote their album, G.Dragon and T.O.P released three music videos for the tracks "High High", "Knock Out", and "Baby Goodnight". "High High" was released first, then "Baby Goodnight." However, due to the song being banned twice for being too explicit, the release of the music video for their song "Don't Go Home" was postponed till late June 2011. The singles attained commercial successes, topping the online music charts in South Korea. In the Gaon Digital Chart, "Oh Yeah!" peaked at number two, "High High" at number three, while "Knock Out" and "Don't Go Home" peaked at number five and eleven, respectively.
2015: "Zutter" After a four-year hiatus, YG Entertainment announced that the duo will come back with a new single as a part of BigBang's Made Series E. The teasers were released on July 25, 2015, with the song name "Zutter". The song was a commercially success, selling 280,817 downloads in its first week on Gaon Chart peaked at number two in the Digital and Download charts. The single charted second on US Billboard World Digital Songs and in the Chinese QQ Music video chart. In the end of 2015, the song sold 982,710 copies in South Korea and 6,000 in USA.
Impact
In 2012, "Knock Out" and "High High" were both listed as one of the best K-Pop music videos of all time by Stereogum, ranking at seventh and fourth, respectively. That same year, "High High" was also named the seventh greatest K-Pop song of all time by Spin.
XXL listed the duo as one of "15 Korean Rappers You Should Know", stating that "if it wasn't for acts like these two, Korean rap probably wouldn't have amassed such international appeal that it’s garnering now." The magazine also wrote that "K-Pop's currently full of boy bands with designated rapper as a member, and nine out of ten times they're modeled after" GD & TOP. Korean magazine Ize wrote that GD & TOP inspired several idol groups to make "more extreme or extraordinary attempts" concept and music wise that their groups could not do through unit activities.
Discography
Albums Title Album details Peak chart positions SalesKORGaon Album Chart: JPNOricon Album Chart: TW USWorldBillboard US World Albums: GD & TOP: GD & TOP Released: December 24, 2010 Label: YG Entertainment Format: CD, digital download 1 8 10 11 KOR: 204,249Cumulative Sales for "GD&TOP"
Singles
As lead artist TitleYearPeak chart positions Sales AlbumKOR* "High High" 2010 3KOR: 1,390,163Cumulative sales for "High High"
GD & TOP "Oh Yeah" (featuring Park Bom) 2KOR: 1,380,732Cumulative sales for "Oh Yeah"
"Knock Out" 5KOR: 775,180 "Zutter"2015 2KOR: 1,015,028Cumulative sales for "Zutter": US: 6,000 E and Made
Other charted songs TitleYearPeak chart positionsSales AlbumKOR "Don't Go Home"2010 11KOR: 859,056GD & TOP "Baby Goodnight" 24rowspan="2" "Intro" 71
As featured artist TitleYearPeak chart positions SalesAlbumKOR Int.* "Dancing on My Own" (Pixie Lott ft. GD & TOP) 2012 2KOR: 342,113Young Foolish Happy "Bubble Butt" (Remix) (Major Lazer feat. Bruno Mars, G-Dragon, T.O.P, Tyga and Mystic) 2013 2KOR: 95,848Free the Universe
Music videos
Year Music video Album 2010 "Knock Out"GD & TOP "High High" "Baby Good Night" "Don't Go Home" "Oh Yeah" 2015 "Zutter"Made
Awards and nominations + List of awards and nominations Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Melon Music Awards 2011 Best Rap/Hip Hop Award "Oh Yeah" (feat. Park Bom)
Notes
References