Explore popular quotes and sayings by a South Korean musician G-Dragon.
Last updated on November 22, 2024.
Kwon Ji-yong, also known by his stage name G-Dragon, is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer, known as the "King of K-pop". G-Dragon is the recipient of numerous awards, including seven Mnet Asian Music Awards, six Melon Music Awards, two Korean Music Awards, two Golden Disc Awards, two MBC Entertainment Awards, among several other awards. Additionally, he is the first and only solo artist to receive the Mnet Asian Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2013.
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.
I study my fans all the time, and what I learn from them will definitely be reflected in my future work.
My mom is in charge of my earnings.
Whether it's music or fashion, the older I get, I realize what's comfortable lasts longer.
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.
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.
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.
I'm the type of person who commits to the fullest to whatever I'm doing.
Korean people, including me, want to go faster and faster - in music, in fashion, in art, too.
I wasn't trying to be famous when I started making music. I mean, that wasn't the first thing I wanted.
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.
I want to have freedom with everything I do.
When I perform as a solo, I think a lot about what I always wanted to do but have not done yet.
I want to continuously instigate, whatever it may be.
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 have daughter, and if I do, I want to make sure she learns ballet.
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.
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.
'Storm' was the first song I did as a member of YG. The record gave me a lot of pressure. I didn't think I was prepared at the time.
I want a daughter no matter what.
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.
When I was younger, Big Bang didn't go on many variety programs, so we used to try and plan many fun events for our concert, like drama parodies, which Korean fans enjoyed.
I'm not even sure who I really am sometimes.
Carpe diem, you know.
It doesn't matter what kind of clothes you put on: if you're a stylish individual, you're going to preserve that.
In order to keep my creativity alive, I just try to enjoy life to the fullest.
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.
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.
Kwon Ji Yong is searching for the comfort and reliable people that G-Dragon doesn't have offstage.
I think Taeyang developed this image as a dancing singer, mostly because of records like 'Only Look At Me,' and 'Where U At.' To me, personally, I think Taeyang tried to make a change on 'I Need a Girl.' It gets a little mellower.
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.
I would only create clothes myself if I felt I could do something really different - create a new style subculture for my generation - and that is very ambitious.
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.
Stony Skunk, when they were with our company, had a song which I personally like called 'Red Light District.'
Every Chanel show I've been to is very conceptual. Even down to the music and smells, the whole thing is connected.
I love listening to people talking about their love, and it always gives me great energy.
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.
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.
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.
When I was young and didn't know any English, I was drawn by the energy and power of foreign songs and their melodies.
When I don't look cool enough or when I cannot make good music anymore, I will retire.
I hope that, even when I'm simply just Kwon Ji-yong, I can be someone who still shines even without all these 'flashy' costumes on.
I stand on stage hoping to give good energy to the audience, but if I cannot give good energy anymore, I will have to leave right away.
I always think today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow is better than today.
I now know that inspirations must come from everywhere.
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.
You can't explain Chanel. It's a verb.
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.
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.
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.
Before I was physically there in different countries to meet my fans in person, I didn't really realize how famous I was.
It would be ridiculous for anyone to consider me the face of Korean art.
I have a very small physique, so it's a little hard to find suits that really fit me well. I have to wear sizes that are really skinny.
We make our own music, and the songs appeal to the public well, and the public likes them.
I just try to look good always.
You have to believe in yourself, challenge yourself, and push yourself until the very end; that's the only way you'll succeed.
When I wear Chanel, I feel like I'm not just wearing clothes: I'm wearing Chanel.
I've come to realize ways of making music without being excessive.
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.
Just like anyone else, I want privacy at times, but I understand that I am a celebrity.