South Korean singer, songwriter, and dancer Taeyang is best known as a founding member of the iconic K-pop act Big Bang. Influenced by Michael Jackson and American R&B/soul music, he brought a vocal depth to the group, which was at the forefront of the 2000s Korean Wave, finding international success and helping to influence a generation of K-pop artists. Officially kicking off a solo career in 2008, he issued his debut EP, Hot. His first full-length, Solar -- a nod to his stage name, which means "sun" -- landed in 2010. 2014's sophomore follow-up, Rise, broke records on the U.S. charts and yielded the ballad "Eyes, Nose, Lips," which won awards across East Asia. Following the release and promotion of his third album, White Night (2017), Taeyang began his mandatory military service, which lasted until 2019. He made his big solo comeback in 2023 alongside Jimin of BTS with the smooth, '90s R&B/pop throwback track "Vibe."

Born Dong Young-Bae in Uijeongbu, the budding superstar began training in dance, vocal coaching, and other elements of performance at age 12 before making his debut as part of boy band Big Bang in 2006. The group would grow to enormous acclaim, and Taeyang would eventually branch out into acting, modeling, and a fruitful solo career. His debut solo EP, Hot, appeared in 2008, paving the way for the full-length Solar in 2010.

Initially, Taeyang's smart, hip-hop-flavored pop material didn't turn as many heads as the similarly minded boy band sounds of his better-known parent band, but his 2014 sophomore outing, Rise, bested their chart stats. Debuting at number one on Billboard's World Album and Heatseekers Album charts, the set also broke onto the Billboard 200, making Taeyang the highest-charting Korean male artist of his time. The lead single from the album, "Eyes, Nose, Lips," was a smash hit, taking home awards for Song of the Year at multiple events across Asia. After two years of touring and collaborating with bandmate G-Dragon, Taeyang returned with his third full-length, White Night. The record topped the Billboard World Album chart once again and featured the singles "Darling" and "Wake Me Up." When the album's promotion cycle concluded, he started his mandatory military service in March 2018; his duties concluded in late 2019.

Signing with YG Entertainment's Black Label in 2022, Taeyang teamed with Jimin of BTS for the duet "Vibe." His first solo output since White Night, the comeback single shot to number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart and was a Top Ten hit across Asia, New Zealand, and even Hungary. ~ Neil Z. Yeung & Fred Thomas, Rovi