Choi Yeonjun, the oldest member, the energetic, brilliant star of one of the most active groups in K-pop, Tomorrow X Together, or TXT, finally makes it official: the solo debut is coming on September 19, 2024. His solo project will be a mixtape titled Ggum, which translates to "dream" in Korean, and it promises to showcase the individuality of Yeonjun as an artist even more than his established group identity.
The mixtape's title track is entitled Ggum, and it is foreseen that the dynamic hip-hop sound with electronic elements reflects Yeonjun's style and sensibilities. It was from the introductory film, which was released on HYBE's official YouTube channel, that fans got a glimpse of his solo persona, where Yeonjun comes off as being introverted and raw, contrasting the usual glamorous image of idols. The teaser has him battling the harsh realities of growing up and coming from obscurity into the limelight, showing a deeper side to the artist.
Dubbed K-pop's Gen Z "It Boy," Yeonjun has quickly proved himself an all-rounder in performance, dance, rap, and vocals. In addition to what he brought into the group's musical releases, he has also participated in composing and writing for TXT. On this solo album, Yeonjun articulates more of his personal tastes and his distinctive style, both of which have captured the hearts of people around the world since the debut of TXT.
This makes Yeonjun the first member of the TXT group to embark on a solo career. After the massive success of TXT's world tour still going on and also various nominations at major awards ceremonies, Yeonjun's solo performance is very likely to push him further up the ladder of success among K-pop's front-runners. His fans await Ggum in high expectations of new dimensions his artistry will reveal
This is not only a feather in Yeonjun's cap, but it is also a big day for risingTXT, who are rising consecutively worldwide. He recently created a buzz with his solo OST debut "Boyfriend" for the popular K-drama Cinderella at 2 AM. The new song adds feathers to his cap in showing versatility beyond what he does in the idol group to more personal music projects.
Boyfriend" by Yeonjun is an all-star OST cast romantic ballad that brings much-needed dramatic tension in the series. Cinderella at 2AM is a drama with an office romance where late-night interactions, love, and heartbreak were concerned. Yeonjun's emotive vocals bring that to life. The song was soft and yearning-a rendition of emotions by the male lead who deals with a complicated romantic relationship.
This OST has received so much publicity because Yeonjun has risen in popularity, not only as an idol but also as a solo artist. The song continues to gain traction on various streaming platforms he is on, and his fans-who lovingly refer to themselves as MOAs-praise his ability to evoke such deep emotions with his voice. His involvement in Cinderella at 2AM shows the ability of connecting with an audience wider than those who would watch his performances with TXT.
Considering that TXT was surrounded by critical acclaim and Yeonjun is continuously on the rise, not just as a performer but also as a songwriter, this solo engagement brings him even closer to the league of rising influence in K-pop.
