G-DRAGON (지드래곤)

G-Dragon, born Kwon Ji-yong in Seoul in 1988, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter and producer widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern K-pop. He rose to fame as the leader and main rapper of BIGBANG, one of the genre's most commercially successful and internationally recognized boy bands, before launching a highly acclaimed solo career with the 2009 album Heartbreaker.

Known for writing and producing much of his own material as well as significant portions of BIGBANG's catalogue, G-Dragon has been credited with shaping the direction of Korean hip-hop and pop through his genre-blending approach, incorporating rap, electronic, rock and avant-garde pop elements. His conceptual solo works, including the Kwon Ji Yong EP and the Übermensch era, showcase experimental production alongside a distinctive fashion-forward visual identity that has made him a recognized style icon well beyond music.

Beyond BIGBANG and his solo output, he has collaborated with a wide range of Korean and international artists and is frequently cited as a key architect of K-pop's global crossover appeal, influencing a generation of artists through both his music and his fashion sensibility.