G-Dragon
There was this hip-hop collective called People Crew. And at the time in Korea, there was no real place to access rap music. So People Crew used to host this summer school program, which taught rapping and dancing. I begged my mom to attend that school to learn how to rap.Collection: Mom
I started out as a child actor. Back then, I didn't have a manager or company, and I couldn't even dream of having a stylist. My mom made and bought the clothes I would wear. I think that was probably when I first got into fashion.Collection: Mom
I think the confidence that I have right now is something that was created by the fans who love me.Collection: Love
I'm not sure if they do this in the States, but in Korea, until high school, on your graduation diploma there's a line that states your future goal. Kids write 'president' or 'astronaut,' or whatever. I always wrote 'singer.'Collection: Graduation
I am usually positive and optimistic. If I get stressed or some results are not so good, I let it go by thinking, 'Oh well, it can be better next time.' I don't worry a lot, and I'm not too serious about anything.Collection: Positive
I always think today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow is better than today.
You have to believe in yourself, challenge yourself, and push yourself until the very end; that's the only way you'll succeed.
In order to keep my creativity alive, I just try to enjoy life to the fullest.
Whatever I like, even after a long time, I still like it. And I reminisce about the moment when I first heard it. That's what I love. Just remembering those moments.
Carpe diem, you know.
I want to have daughter, and if I do, I want to make sure she learns ballet.
There are times even I am a bit embarrassed by my look.
We are Korean, so obviously they call our music K-pop. But we never thought of our music as K-pop. Our music is just our music.
Musical success depends on how much you enjoy it and how much you are willing to put in. Luck must follow, too.
My mom is in charge of my earnings.
Kwon Ji Yong is searching for the comfort and reliable people that G-Dragon doesn't have offstage.
Stony Skunk, when they were with our company, had a song which I personally like called 'Red Light District.'
As a rapper, I was heavily influenced by American rap albums. But for songs that are more melody-driven, I get my inspiration from Korean albums.
When you have a girlfriend, there are many things that are irritating every day, every night. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but when you fight, it gets really annoying.
The most important thing is knowing what you are good at.
People may see me as a luxurious star, but I am always thinking I can be represented by my psychological world that is fraught with vanity, loneliness, and always feels inadequate.
Unfortunately, in Korea, I feel like some people are just seeing the dollar signs and sending out artists into the foreign markets who aren't fully prepared.
Whether it's music or fashion, the older I get, I realize what's comfortable lasts longer.
I want a daughter no matter what.
We always focus on the quality of music because as long as the content is good, then the interest will be there.
I want to do something that can support all the people in Korea and the world who see us and are inspired to do their own thing.
There are albums that I like because of specific songs, but then there are albums that I like as a complete body of work. 'Ghetto Fabolous' is an album I lived with daily.
I would write down the lyrics to 'C.R.E.A.M.' in Korean - not translating it, but phonetically writing out each word. I didn't know what they were saying, so I would just write everything down as I heard it. I would recite it and imitate it like that. That's how I started to write my own raps.
Americans might not understand, but within Korea, Big Bang was one of the first artists to make their own production. We have our own interpretation of our own songs. We do our own thing.
It would be better to be recognized first for music, but people go with what they like. If I'm here because I'm recognized more so as a style icon, then, if I'm smart enough, I will use this opportunity to share more insight about my music.
When I was still a student, I came out of a performing arts high school, and the female students who were doing traditional dance and ballet were so beautiful. They were beautiful, starting from their postures.
When I was young and didn't know any English, I was drawn by the energy and power of foreign songs and their melodies.
It would be ridiculous for anyone to consider me the face of Korean art.
You can't explain Chanel. It's a verb.
We make our own music, and the songs appeal to the public well, and the public likes them.
As a musician myself, I wouldn't be confident if I received some other composers' song, because I choose to express myself through the music that I make.
G-Dragon is a fancy person. People don't expect the upright image of G-Dragon. Kwon Ji Yong is an introvert and has lots of things going on in his head.
When I perform as a solo, I think a lot about what I always wanted to do but have not done yet.
I was about nine years old when I first heard Wu-Tang's 'C.R.E.A.M.' Before that, I didn't know anything about rap or hip-hop. I was just into Korean pop.
I just listened to regular commercial music from Korea. I would just follow the choreographed dance routines. I didn't have any ambitions of pursuing rapping. I liked dancing, so I did that.
I occasionally rapped along to some homegrown Korean rap. And then a friend introduced me to Wu-Tang and played me 'Enter the 36th Chambers.' It was very shocking. And then I started to look for different albums. This was pre-Internet, so it's hard to find the music, and it was even harder to find music videos.
I wasn't trying to be famous when I started making music. I mean, that wasn't the first thing I wanted.
Korean people, including me, want to go faster and faster - in music, in fashion, in art, too.
Just like anyone else, I want privacy at times, but I understand that I am a celebrity.
I am a songwriter and producer, and though you have to be personal in everything you do, you always having to look at things from another's perspective.
I don't know what I would have been doing if I was not in YG, but I think I would be doing something artistic.
Before I was physically there in different countries to meet my fans in person, I didn't really realize how famous I was.
I study my fans all the time, and what I learn from them will definitely be reflected in my future work.
I just try to look good always.
I've come to realize ways of making music without being excessive.