Bang Yong Guk

Other Name: 방용국

Age: 34

Birthday: March 31, 1990

Nationality: South Korean

Gender: Male

Bang Yong Guk, often simply known as Yong Guk, Bang or Jepp Blackman, is a South Korean songwriter, rapper, singer and dancer. He was the leader and the main rapper of the South Korean group B.A.P. The group debuted in 2012. In November 2014, the group filed a lawsuit against its agency. The members sought to nullify its contract with the company citing "unfair conditions and profit distribution". In August 2015, the two parties ultimately settled and B.A.P resumed its activities under TS Entertainment. He left TS Entertainment in August 2018 after his contract expired. B.A.P. disbanded on February 18, 2019. In 2007, Yong Guk was part of an underground hip-hop group called Soul Connection under the alias of "Jepp Blackman". In March 2011, he was featured in Song Jieun's Going Crazy, and the single became a number one hit in South Korea. In July, Yong Guk released his first solo digital single "I Remember", featuring BEAST's Yoseob. He afterwards promoted in a sub-unit called Bang&Zelo with fellow B.A.P member Zelo. Bang&Zelo released their single "Never Give Up" in November 2011. In March 2019 he released his 1st solo full album, called ‘BANGYONGGUK.’ He enlisted on August 1, 2019 and was discharged on May 18, 2021. On September 16, 2021, he established his one-man agency Consent. On November 23, 2021, Bang released the new single "Race". It was his first comeback under his own one-man agency. On March 2, 2022, Bang released his first EP, 2 and its lead single "Up". On March 30, 2023 it was announced that he has signed with newly established agency YY Entertainment as their first recruited artist..