After taking a three-year-long hiatus from music, K-pop’s rap icon and former BIGBANG member T.O.P. (also known as Choi Seung-hyun) is set to make a return as a solo artist this year. In an exclusive report by The Korea Herald, it was revealed that industry sources cite that he is currently in talks to sign with Kakao Entertainment, and his forthcoming studio album is set for release sometime in October.
This would mark T.O.P.’s latest musical drop as a solo artist since his experimental rap piece, “DOOM DADA,” which was released 12 years ago. Following the announcement of his departure from the group in 2022, T.O.P. participated in the recording of BIGBANG’s 2022 ballad, “Still Life.”
In related news, BIGBANG are set to perform at the upcoming 2026 iteration of the famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival alongside KATSEYE, BINI, and more. Here, the group is set to commemorate their 20th anniversary, after having previously canceled their 2020 set due to the pandemic. Read more about Coachella 2026 here.
Choi Seung-hyun made his debut as the lead rapper of the 2nd generation K-pop boy group BIGBANG in 2006, which eventually became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. In 2018, T.O.P stepped away from the spotlight after being involved in a marijuana usage scandal in 2018, which also caused his eventual departure from BIGBANG. He made his return to entertainment, acting as Thanos in the second season of the Netflix series Squid Games.
In anticipation of T.O.P.’s solo album, listen to “DOOM DADA” here: