YG Entertainment's boy group iKON originally had seven members. However, their leader B.I withdrew from the group back in 2019. Now that it is 2022, what has B.I been up to these past three years following his departure?
Keep on reading to know B.I's latest activities.
B.I's Activities Before Leaving iKON
As a member of iKON, B.I, also known as Kim Hanbin, debuted as the group's leader, main dancer, lead rapper, and sub vocalist on September 15, 2015, with their pre-single release "My Type" from their debut album "Welcome Back."
Following his debut with the group, B.I actively participated in iKON's activities and promotions, and was one of the main writers and composers of several of their hit songs, even before their official debut, such as "Rhythm Ta," "My Type," "Dumb & Dumber," "Anthem," "Apology," "Bling Bling," "Love Scenario," "Killing Me," "Goodbye Road," and more.
B.I
In fact, even after B.I withdrew from the group, he was credited in several of iKON's songs, such as majority of their "I Decide" album released in February 2020.
Why Did B.I Leave iKON?
In 2019, it was reported that B.I had purchased and used marijuana and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in 2016, and a conversation on KakaoTalk between him and a man arrested on the charges of dealing drugs was discovered by the police.
Amid his drug investigations, B.I admitted to purchasing the illegal substances, and had decided to withdraw from the group in June 2019, officially making iKON a six-member group.
B.I
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Years after his trials began, in which the idol cooperated to nine investigations and drug testing sessions, and subsequently testing negative for illegal drugs, B.I was sentenced to four years of probation, a fine of 1.5 million won (around $1,200 USD), 80 hours of community service, and 40 hours of drug education on the charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act.
B.I's Latest Activities Following Departure From iKON
Following his departure from iKON, B.I continued on with his solo career.
In September 2020, he joined his currently label IOK Company as the executive director. Under IOK Company, B.I made his solo debut in March 2021 through the release of his charity single album "Midnight Blue (Love Streaming)," which contains songs written and composed by B.I, as well as songs that he has previously released through his Soundcloud.
B.I
He continued on with his solo career, collaborating with artists such as Tyla Yaweh and Destiny Rogers for their single "Got It Like That" in May 2021.
He later released his first studio album "Waterfall," which features the lead single "illa illa" in June 2021. The song's music video went on to break the record for the most viewed debut music video by a male K-Pop solo artist within the fist 24 hours on Youtube.
In August 2021, B.I collaborated with former YG Entertainment labelmate Lee Hi for her song "Savior," which he wrote and composed as the lead single of her album "4 Only."
B.I
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B.I also released a reinterpretation of "illa illa" with the digital single "Lost At Sea (illa illa 2)", featuring Bipolar Sunshine and Afgan. He later dropped his second studio album "Cosmos" in November, featuring a lead single of the same name.
This year, B.I became the first K-Pop and Asian act to join The Recording Academy's "GRAMMY Global Spin," where he performed his song "Nineteen."
More recently, B.I announced his global album project "Love or Loved" in May 2022 through the pre-release single "BTBT" with Soulja Boy, featuring DeVita.
Aside from his music, he made a TV appearance on the Filipino show "Lunch Out Loud" back in November 2021.
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Written by Robyn Joan
