lay

Overview

Lay, born Zhang Yixing on October 7, 1991, in Changsha, Hunan, China, is a multi-talented artist known for his role in the K-pop group EXO as the main dancer, sub-vocalist, and sub-rapper. He debuted with EXO under SM Entertainment in 2012 and later established his solo career under n.cH Entertainment. Lay is celebrated for his unique dance style, songwriting, and production skills.

Discography

• Studio Albums
  • Lay 02 Sheep (2017)
  • Namanana (2018) (also available in English)
  • Lit (2020)
  • Producer (2021)
  • Step (2024) (English)
• EPs
  • Lose Control (2016)
  • East (2021)
  • West (2022)
• Special Albums
  • Winter Special Gift (2017)
  • Honey (2019)
  • East (2021)
• Collaborations
  • "Sheep (Alan Walker Relift)" (with Alan Walker) (2018)
  • "Let's Shut Up & Dance" (with Jason Derulo & NCT 127) (2019)
  • "Time To Shine" (with Nick Young) (2022)
  • "Right Back" (with D.N.A) (2023)
  • "D.N.A Cypher Ⅰ" (with D.N.A, GALI, Shan Yichun, Lin, Wang Ziyi) (2023)
  • "D.N.A Cypher ⅠⅠ" (with D.N.A, Danko, Vinida Weng & Victor Ma) (2023)
  • "All In" (with D.N.A, Victor Ma & Yichun Shan) (2023)
  • "Run Back To You" (with Lauv) (2024)
  • "Run Back To You (VIDI Remix)" (with Lauv) (2024)
• Features
  • Far East Movement - "Lovebird" (2019)
  • Steve Aoki - "Love You More" (2020)

Career Highlights

• 2012: Debuted with EXO, becoming known for his dance skills and stage presence.
• 2015: Founded Zhang Yixing Studio for his solo endeavors in China.
• 2016: Won the Most Popular Singer award at the 2016 MBC Entertainment Awards for his solo debut.
• 2017: Gained recognition in China with his solo work, leading to numerous awards including at the Tencent Music Awards.
• 2020: Founded his own label Chromosome Entertainment, where he currently serves as the CEO and producer.
• 2022: Announced his departure from SM Entertainment after his contract concluded, focusing on his solo career.
• 2024: Released the new album Step in 2024 with a Korean version, marking a return to promotional activities in South Korea.

Recent Activities

Lay has been active in China, participating in the Spring Festival Gala and hinting at discussions for a possible EXO reunion in late 2025. He released the new album Step in 2024, and also performed in 2024 Krazy Super Concert in Los Angeles alongside various artists. He also embarked on his world tour Grand Line 4: STEP was, which spanned across 7 cities in Asia, and a total of 11 concerts between June to August 2024.

Solo Activities

Beyond music, Lay has ventured into acting, starring in movies like Royal Treasure (2016), The Island (2018), the acclaimed No More Bets (2023), and the lauded dramas The Golden Eyes (2019), Crime Crackdown (2021), and Challenges at Midlife (2022).

Lay is also a notable figure in variety shows, having been a mentor on Idol Producer. His endorsement deals span across brands like Valentino, Huawei, and Converse in Asia.

Achievements

Lay currently has 72 wins and 88 nominations from various awards ceremonies, recognizing his solo work. Some of these include:

• 2015 Asian Influence Awards Oriental Ceremony: Honored as the Best Influential All-Rounded Artist.
• 2016 China Writer's Rich List Awards: Won the Celebrity Author Award (4th Prize) for his book Standing Firm At 24.
• 2018 ERC Chinese Top Ten Awards: Triple recipient, securing Album of the Year (Lay 02 Sheep), Most Popular Male Artist, and Producer of the Year.
• 2019 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards: Honored with the Top Singer Award, Most Popular Male Singer, and Best Selling Digital Album of the Year (Namanana).
• 2020 China Year End Awards: Recognized with the Best Selling Album award for Lit.
• 2022 Weibo Music Awards: Received multiple distinctions, including the Recommended Singer of the Year, Remarkable Artist of the Year, Recommended MV of the Year ("No One Cares"), Recommended Concert of the Year (Grandline 2: Infinite Lands), Recommended Song of the Year ("Flying Asparas"), and Warmest Radio Host (Lay's Moon Night Radio).

Album Sales

• Lose Control sold 1.1 million digital copies in China and over 280,000 in South Korea, marking his strong solo debut.
• Lay 02 Sheep recorded over 1 million cumulative digital sales across China, South Korea, and Japan.
• Namanana surpassed 1 million cumulative digital streams in China and the United States, highlighting international reach.
• Honey broke the record by exceeding 4 million digital cumulative sales.
• Lit sold over 2.8 million digital sales, with over 1.5 million pre-orders within 7 minutes and 19 seconds of its launch.
• East has sold over 800,000 digital copies to date, with continued sales growth.

Personal Life

Lay is known for his philanthropy, having established the Zhang Yixing Arts Scholarship. His hobbies include composing music and dancing. He maintains a private life, focusing public information on his career and charitable activities.

Social Media Profiles

• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• YouTube
• Weibo

Original Sources

• The Xingmi Handbook
• Lay Studio
• QQ Music
• Billboard
• Lay Zhang Discography