Zelo

Choi Jun-hong (Hangul: 최준홍; born October 15, 1996), better known by his stage name Zelo, is a South Korean rapper, singer, beatboxer and dancer best known as the former member of the South Korean boy group B.A.P. He made his recording debut with the single "Never Give Up" under B.A.P's sub-unit Bang&Zelo in November 2011. He departed TS Entertainment in December 2018.

For Church Slavonic letter zelo, see Dze.
In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.

Zelo
Zelo at Daejeon Love Blue Concert, September 2017
Born
Choi Jun-hong

(1996-10-15) October 15, 1996
Mokpo, South Korea
Occupation
  • Rapper
  • singer
Musical career
GenresHip hop
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2011–present
Labels
Associated acts
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationChoe Jun-hong
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Chunhong
Stage name
Hangul
젤로
Revised RomanizationJello
McCune–ReischauerChello

Early life

Zelo was born on October 15, 1996 in Mokpo, South Korea.[1][2] He has one older brother.[3] He aspired to be a soccer player when he was young, but then changed his dreams to becoming a singer as he chanced upon music and grew interested in it.[4] He started practising beatboxing and dancing at home.[4] In 5th grade, Zelo was introduced by an acquaintance who recognized his talent to Joy Dance - Plug In Music Academy located in Gwangju, which is a well-known music academy. He auditioned for several recording companies but did not succeed generally because he was too young. He was finally accepted as a trainee at TS Entertainment.[3] He graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in 2015.[5]

Career

Careering beginnings and B.A.P

Zelo first collaborated with Bang Yong-guk in the sub-unit Bang&Zelo. The pair released "Never Give Up" on December 2, 2011.[6] Zelo was revealed as a member of idol sextet B.A.P on January 17, 2012, where he served as the rapper.[7][8] The group debuted nine days later with its single album Warrior.[9] 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".[10] In August of the following year, the two parties ultimately settled and B.A.P resumed its activities under TS Entertainment.[11] Following the expiration of his contract with TS Entertainment on December 2, 2018, Zelo decided not to renew with the company. He officially departed from the group on December 24, after finishing the European leg of B.A.P's 2018 tour.[12] The remaining four members left the agency in February 2019, leading the dissolution of B.A.P.[13]

Soloist career

Zelo signed an exclusive contract with A Entertainment on January 11, 2019.[14] He held a fan meeting in Japan two months later and began working on a solo record under the company.[15] He released his debut mini-album Distance and its lead single "Questions" on June 21.[16] On August 21, Zelo sent A Entertainment a contract termination letter citing unpaid wages, but the agency did not agree to the termination. In a lawsuit, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff and certified the contract annulment one year later.[14]

Zelo released the collaborative single "Shower" with rappers Lil Oppa and Jvde on January 5, 2020.[17] He released his second mini-album Day2Day and its lead single "She and Malibu" on April 18.[18]

Artistry and influences

Zelo was the second rapper of the group.[19] Zelo cites will.i.am and Kanye West as his role models.[20] He also named 50 Cent and other rappers as his musical influences.[21]

Discography
See also: B.A.P discography

Mini-albums
Title Album details Peak
positions		 Sales
KOR
[22]
Distance 27
Day2Day —
Scarecrow
  • Released: September 15, 2020
  • Label: Stone Music, Genie Music
  • Formats: digital download
 —

As lead artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[24]
"Never Give Up"
(Bang&Zelo featuring Heritage)		 2011 65 non-album single
"Howler" 2018 — B.A.P Concert Special Solo 'The Recollection'
"Questions" (알고싶어; Algoshipeo) 2019 — Distance
"Shower" (샤워; Syawo)
(with Lil Oppa and Jvde)		 2020 — non-album single
"She and Malibu" (그녀와는 말리부; Geunyeowaneun Mallibu) — Day2Day
"Blame"
(featuring Jvde Milez)		 — non-album single
style="width:16em;"|Title Year Release
"R(x)play"
(V-Hawk featuring Zelo)		 2015 non-album single
"Shadow"
(Jung Dae-hyun featuring Zelo)		 2017 Dae Hyun X Jong Up Project Album 'Party Baby'
"Stay with Me"
(Youngjae featuring Zelo)		 2018 B.A.P Concert Special Solo 'The Recollection'
"Annoying" (짜증이 나; Jjajeungi Na)
(Jongup featuring Zelo)
"You, Me and Us" (너와 나 우리; Neowa Na Uri)
(Lee Ye-jun featuring Zelo of B.A.P)		 2019 Municon Vol.2

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other performer(s) Release Ref.
"Vintage" 2013 Song Ji-eun Hope Torture

References
  1. "INFO (B.A.P Hot Debut Story) Zelo ① & ② the 'country boy from Mokpo' who wanted to become a soccer player!". DKPOPNEWS. Daily K-pop News. November 23, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  2. Bak Geon-Uk (May 29, 2012). "B.A.P 핫데뷔일기, "젤로① "B.A.P 안됐다면? 축구선수 됐을 것"". Herald Economy (in Korean). Herald Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  3. Hwang Yo-Jin (March 9, 2012). "(INTERVIEW) B.A.P Zelo, Jong-up". 10asia. 10아시아. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  4. 박, 건욱 (May 29, 2012). "[B.A.P 핫데뷔일기]젤로① "B.A.P 안됐다면? 축구선수 됐을 것"" [[B.A.P Hot Debut Story] Zelo ① “If I didn’t become a member of B.A.P? Then I think I would have become a soccer player”] (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  5. Lee, Ji Sook (February 11, 2015). "A Pink′s Ha Young, Red Velvet′s Joy, B.A.P′s Zelo and More Graduate from High School". Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  6. Lee, Hyeon-woo (December 2, 2011). 방용국, 서태지 되고싶어? 어설픈 '교실이데아'. Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  7. Park, Kun-wook (January 17, 2012). 비에이피 젤로-종업, 재킷이미지 공개 '막내들의 반란'. Herald Economy (in Korean). Herald Corporaton. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. Oh, Se-hoon (January 19, 2012). B.A.P,데뷔곡 'WARRIOR' 뮤비 티저 공개. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). Dong-a Ilbo Company. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  9. Hwang, Mi-hyeon (January 26, 2012). B.A.P, 26일 자정 앨범-뮤비 공개...'스타 탄생 예고'. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  10. Kim, Hyung-woo (November 27, 2014). "TS Entertainment Checking on B.A.P's Lawsuit to Nullify Contract". Mwave (in Korean). CJ E&M. Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  11. Kim, Mi-hwa (August 3, 2015). B.A.P, 소속사 TS로 복귀 "신뢰 회복..밝은 미래 약속"(공식입장 전문). Starnews (in Korean). Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  12. Ha, Na-yeong (December 24, 2018). 방용국→젤로 탈퇴…균열 생긴 B.A.P, 향후 행보 어떨까. Digital Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Chosun Ilbo Company. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  13. Kim, Eun-ku (February 18, 2019). [단독]B.A.P 결국 해체…힘찬·영재·대현·종업도 각자의 길. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  14. Ku, Ja-yun (August 21, 2020). B.A.P 출신 젤로, 전 소속사 상대 전속계약 무효 소송 승소. The Financial News (in Korean). Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  15. Kim, Su-kyeong (March 19, 2019). B.A.P 출신 젤로, A엔터테인먼트와 전속계약…일본 팬미팅 개최. 10asia (in Korean). Korea Entertainment Media. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  16. An, Yun-ji (June 21, 2019). B.A.P→솔로, 젤로의 모든 걸 "알고싶어" [M+핫컴백]. MBN Star (in Korean). Maeil Broadcasting Network. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  17. Hong, Seung-han (January 3, 2020). 젤로X주드X릴오빠, 새 싱글 '샤워' 5일 공개. Sportsseoul (in Korean). Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  18. Lee, Se-bin (April 14, 2020). B.A.P 출신 젤로, 솔로 EP 공개 예고. TVreport (in Korean). Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  19. "Artist Search - B.A.P, Profile". KBS World. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  20. Hwang Hyo-Jin (March 7, 2012). "B.A.P - My name is 젤로, 종업". 10asia News (in Korean). 10asiae. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  21. "Exclusive interview with Bang & Zelo!". Daily Kpop News. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  22. "Gaon Chart - Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  23. 2019년 07월 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  24. "Gaon Chart - Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
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