T.O.P Returns On The Big Screen With A Bang

BigBang's T.O.P has been on a music and acting hiatus for nearly seven years, but 2024 appears to be a lucky year for V.I.Ps. Following G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung's reunion on the MAMA stage with "Home Sweet Home," T.O.P officially ended his hiatus with an acting comeback in "Squid Game" Season 2.

warning: spoilers for “Squid Game” season 2 ahead!

T.O.P took on the role of Thanos, a retired rapper and avid drug user who relies on substances to calm his nerves and lost his life savings (approximately 500 million won) in a crypto scam.

The most intriguing aspect of T.O.P's return is his choice of character and its striking parallels with his real life. In 2016, he faced controversy for using marijuana on three occasions, a scandal that might seem trivial to readers in 2024 but sparked significant backlash at the time, ultimately leading to his hiatus.

The courage required to confront an issue that silenced him for years is nothing short of remarkable. And unsurprisingly, T.O.P's performance in the series was top-notch (no pun intended).

Hopefully, we will get to see him more in 2025.

Asia Artist Awards 2024 Winner List

• Potential Award - Music: NCT WISH

• Popularity Award - Music: Lim Young Woong and NiziU

• Asia Celebrity Award - Music: Jang Wonyoung

• Rookie of the Year - Music: TWS, QWER

• Best Artist Award - Music: BIBI, WayV, BUS (Because of you I shine), TWS, LE SSERAFIM, Suho, KISS OF LIFE, IVE, ZEROBASEONE, DAY6, NCT 127, NewJeans, aespa

• Best K-pop Record: Stray Kids, Jungkook (BTS)

• Best Music Video: “Crazy” by LE SSERAFIM

• Best Musician Solo: BIBI, Jimin (BTS)

• Best Musician: KISS OF LIFE, ZEROBASEONE

• Best Performance: NewJeans for “How Sweet”

• Best Band: DAY6

• Best Choice Award - Music: Doyoung, Ten

• New Wave Award: BIBI

• Icon Award: &TEAM

• Song of the Year: BLACKPINK's Rose and Bruno Mars for “APT.”

• Album of the Year: “Fourever” by DAY6

• Stage of the Year: NCT 127

• Performance of the Year: LE SSERAFIM

• Artist of the Year - Music: NewJeans

Upcoming Tours, Events, & Performances

• GOT7 will hold an OT7 concert in Seoul on February 1 and 2 to celebrate their 11th anniversary.

• BOYNEXTDOOR, ZEROBASEONE, SHINee Taemin and ENHYPEN Ni-ki, NCT Mark, and Lee Young Ji are scheduled to perform a collaborative stage at the 2024 MBC Music Festival.

• SHINee Onew has released four dates, cities, and venues for his 2025 concert "ONEW THE LIVE: CONNECTION."

• SHINee Onew, Cravity, and Rain have been added to the lineup for the 2024 SUPERSOUND Festival in Macau.

• DAY6 has added six additional dates to their 3rd World Tour "FOREVER YOUNG."

• GHOST9 has announced six European and nine U.S. and LATAM dates for their 2025 tour "THE NEW MIDNIGHT."

• SM Entertainment has announced the first lineup for the 2025 SMTOWN FAMILY LIVE in Seoul, including Tony An of H.O.T, Bada of S.E.S, and Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky.

ICYMI:

• IU's concert film "IU Concert: The Winning" is scheduled to premiere in January.

• SEVENTEEN's Hoshi and Woozi are planning to debut as a subunit.

• ATEEZ's eight-part documentary "ATEEZ 8 Face" will air on BS-TBS in Japan, starting January 7, 2025.

• Stray Kids have scored their sixth No. 1 on BILLBOARD 200 with their latest release "HOP."

Our Favorite Music From This Week

fromis_9 released "from," a special song for their fans, Flovers, ahead of their contract termination with Pledis Entertainment. The song's melancholic yet hopeful sound gave fans one last memory to cherish for the future.

VIXX's Ken surprised fans with his latest album, "PUZZLE", a delightful late Christmas gift. The five-track mini-album once again showcased the artist's impressive vocal range — featuring the pop-rock track "Gradually" and the mellow ballad "We Are Forever,” that could easily fit into a K-Drama winter landscape — is there anything Ken cannot do?

Next Week’s Comeback Schedule

Sunday, December 29, 2024

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Monday, December 30, 2024

• n.SSign: 3rd Mini Album "Love Potion"

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

• JUST B: Digital Single "Still I Luv You"

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

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Thursday, January 2, 2025

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Friday, January 3, 2025

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Saturday, January 4, 2025

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— Javeria Yousuf

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