Kim Hanbin (Hangul: 김한빈; born October 22, 1996),[1] better known by his stage name B.I (Hangul: 비아이), is a South Korean rapper, composer, producer, lyricist and member of iKON, signed under YG Entertainment.
As a trainee, B.I, as a member of a team called "Team B", participated in the 2013 Mnet reality-survival program WIN: Who Is Next, which formed the group Winner, which was "Team A". B.I was involved in the composition of Winner's debut single "Empty" before appearing in the 2014 reality-survival program Mix & Match, which formed iKON, alongside bandmates Jinhwan, Bobby, Junhoe, Donghyuk, Yunhyeong and Chanwoo. Prior to their debut, B.I featured on Epik High's "Born Hater" and competed in the third season of Show Me The Money, alongside Bobby.
As a member of iKON, he has been credited with a role in the production and songwriting of all of the tracks in their 2015 debut album Welcome Back.[2]
Career
1996-2011: Early life and appearances
B.I was born on October 22, 1996, in South Korea. He made his first musical appearance at the age of thirteen, featuring on MC Mong's 2009 single "Indian Boy", for which he appeared in the music video and live performances. He also had a cameo appearance in MC Mong's following music video, "Horror Show".
2011-2014: WIN: Who Is Next and Show Me The Money
He joined YG Entertainment in January 2011. Along with fellow trainees Bobby and Kim Jinhwan, he went on to form part of the six-member trainee group "Team B", participating in Mnet's 2013 reality-survival program WIN: Who Is Next. Teams A and B competed in the show for the chance to debut as a group under the name "Winner", with the losing team either disbanding or being rearranged. The show comprised three battle rounds consisting of song arrangement, dance performance, and song arrangement, after which the public voted for the winning team. B.I took the leading role over Team B and their choreography and arrangements, earning composition credits for the songs "Climax" and "Just Another Boy". Ultimately, Team B lost the competition, with Team A going on to debut as Winner.
In May 2014, YG Entertainment announced that B.I and Bobby would be competing in the third season of Mnet's rap survival program Show Me the Money. B.I joined the YG team under mentors Masta Wu and Tablo of Epik High and progressed to the top 8, releasing the self-composed single "Be I" to chart success before being eliminated in the seventh episode. In August, Winner debuted with the single "Empty", which was composed by B.I as a gift, and went on to top multiple music charts.
2014-present: Mix & Match and iKON
Following the end of "Show Me The Money 3", YG announced that the Team B members would be returning to compete in another reality survival show entitled "MIX & MATCH", which they had already begun filming at the same time as B.I. and Bobby are filming for Show Me the Money 3. While B.I, Bobby, and Jinhwan were confirmed for three of the seven spots available as official iKON members, the remaining three members of Team B competed with three new trainees, Jung Chanwoo, Yang Hongseok and Jung Jinhyeong, for the four remaining places on the team. During the airing of "MIX & MATCH", B.I earned production credits for two more songs: the Team B single "Wait for Me" as a composer and lyricist and the Epik High collaboration track "Born Hater". Along with being a featured rapper alongside Beenzino, Verbal Jint, Winner's Mino, and fellow iKON teammate Bobby, B.I was credited as a co-composer alongside DJ Tukutz.
Discography and filmography
Singles
| Year |
Title |
Peak chart positions |
Digital Sales |
Album |
|---|
KOR
Gaon |
| 2009 |
"Indian Boy" (MC Mong, Feat.장근이, B.I) |
- |
- |
Humanimal |
| 2014 |
"BE I" |
5 |
KOR: 409,985+[3] |
Show Me The Money 3 Part 1 |
| 2014 |
"Born Hater " (에픽하이, Feat. Beenzino, Verbal Jint, Mino, BOBBY & B.I) |
3 |
KOR: 852,352+[4] |
Shoebox |
|
Music videos
Production credits
| Year |
Artist |
Song |
Role |
Album |
|---|
| 2013 |
Team B |
"Climax" |
Co-Lyricist & Co-Composer |
Win Final Battle |
| "Just Another Boy" |
| 2014 |
Winner |
"공허해 (EMPTY)" |
Co-Lyricist & Co-Composer |
2014 S/S[6] |
| Himself |
"BE I" |
Lyricist & Co-Composer |
Show Me The Money 3[7] |
| Team B |
"기다려(Wait For Me)" |
Co-Lyricist & Co-Composer |
기다려 Wait For Me - Single |
| Epik High |
"Born Hater" |
Co-lyricist, Co-Composer, Melody Composition & Vocals |
Shoebox |
| iKON |
"Long Time No See" |
Co-Lyricist & Co-Composer |
MIX&MATCH |
| "시노시작(SINOSIJAK)" |
| 2015 |
"취향저격 (MY TYPE)’" |
Welcome Back - Half Album |
| "리듬 타(RHYTHM TA)" |
| "AIRPLANE" |
| "Welcome Back" |
| "Today" (오늘따라; Oneul Ddara)" |
| "M.U.P" (솔직하게; Soljighage)" |
| "이리오너라 (Anthem)" |
Welcome Back - Full Album |
| "지못미(APOLOGY)" |
Co-Lyricist |
| "아니라고(I MISS YOU SO BAD)" |
| "왜 또(WHAT'S WRONG?)" |
Co-Lyricist & Co-Composer |
| "덤앤더머(DUMB&DUMBER)" |
| "리듬 타 REMIX (RHYTHM TA) [Rock Version]" |
| 2016 |
"JUST GO" |
Lyricist & Co-Composer |
Welcome Back - Complete Edition |
|
Reality shows and appearances
References
|
|---|
| | | | Studio albums | |
|---|
| | Tours | |
|---|
| | Related topics | |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| | Executives | |
|---|
| | Artists | |
|---|
| | Actors | |
|---|
| | Related articles | |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| | Production Teams | | Season 1 | |
|---|
| | Season 2 | |
|---|
| | Season 3 | |
|---|
| | Season 4 | |
|---|
|
|---|
| | Notable contestants | |
|---|
| | Related articles | |
|---|
|
