ToppDogg is a group with a whopping 13 members. It’s the biggest number after Super Junior. Since each member only gets a small part [in songs], we wondered how these guys can confidently express their colours. Their solution was through ‘fantasy units’: The 13 members were divided into four units called Wizard, Knight, Dragon and Lion which you can find in RPG games or fantasy novels. Their distinctive colours are also conveyed through their music. In particular, the song ‘Arario’, which they are currently promoting for their special album after ‘Open the Door’, is filled with very Korean-like nuance (T/N: They’re saying how ‘Arario’ is a song that gives off a traditional Korean feeling). ‘Arario’ beautifully weaves in traditional Korean melody and the MV uses a balance of white garments and bright primary colours to symbolise Korean people, along with samulnori (T/N: Traditional Korean percussion quartet) in its performance. Although they only debuted in 2013 and are still considered rookies, they are in the process of creating their individual colours. The 13 members, who attempt to create distinctive music through fantasy units, are on the road that lets them stand up together even when they fall. ToppDogg’s aim is for the public to be familiar with them. To understand the 13 members more, we are going to conduct an analysis on each unit or ‘kingdom’: Wizard, Knight, Dragon and Lion.
# Wizard Kingdom (B-Joo, Hojoon, Hansol, Xero)
1. Why are you called the Wizards?
Xero: It’s the gathering of all members who specialise on performances.
Hansol: Because we can display different colours just like wizards.
Sangdo: When you play games, you can see different magic like fire, water, lightning and others. These members are capable of diverse genres [just like that].
2. The attributes of Wizards
Hojoon: When I was little, I used lightning spell in this game I played called ‘The Kingdom of The Winds’. (laughs) That’s why my popping is lightning-like? Because it hits you hard like the lightning.
B-Joo: I’m the cleric, in charge of healing. I want to heal both the members and the public.
Sangdo: What about poison? If you look at B-Joo’s dancing, you’ll get immersed in it just like an addiction.
Xero: I’m ice. When people watch me dance, they can freeze from captivation.
P-Goon: Xero also has a chic and cold image!
Hansol: I’m… Sailor Moon. (laughs) Before I went with the name Hansol, I was going to use the name ML for ‘Moon Light’. (laughs) It’s just perfect.
3. The reason you became singers
Hojoon: I’ve always loved singers. Since I was little, I sung a lot of anime theme songs. Also, while watching music shows I would try following the dance steps and people said I was good, so here I am.
B-Joo: I’ve always wanted to be a singer but when I was in high school I was full of worries when I received my report cards. At that moment, I heard that my friend had been accepted into a company and I blindly followed him and failed; so I worked harder and got to where I am now.
Xero: I started dancing in Grade 2, 3 of middle school but I would only go for public performances. In high school I went to a casting and after that my dreams grew and I became a wizard. What a change! (laughs)
Hansol: The hardest time was when during my adolescence, when I was walking and heard Gummy-sunbaenim’s song by chance; it healed my heart a lot. I wanted to become a person who heals others’ hearts one day. That’s why I decided to become a singer.
4. Role model
Hansol: P!nk, the rock singer. She doesn’t only do rock but she does other genres well. Even when she’s dancing or doing acrobatic moves, she sings live. Without differentiating between genres, my dream is to become a performer that does different dances.
Xero: American hip-hop artist, The Game! Although he has a strong, gangster image I feel that I can learn a lot from him.
B-Joo: Without a doubt, it’s Michael Jackson. His stage presence is very cool, you get goosebumps.
Hojoon: Chris Brown, who’s good in everything he does.
5. The member who you want to recruit into Wizard
Hansol: There are two members. Kidoh-hyung and Gohn-hyung. Because they can produce and make different-coloured songs, so they can be used to our heart’s content.
Xero: Kidoh. I usually like electronic music, and Kidoh makes good beats so he can give me good parts.
B-Joo: I want to receive rap lessons from Jenissi-hyung.
6. Killer move
Hansol: Our killer move is the meteor!
Xero: When all four Wizards are on the stage, we spread apart and lay in ashes like a meteor.
Seogoong: These kids really want to look cool. (laughs)
#Lion Kingdom (Jenissi, Yano, Gohn, Seogoong)
1. Why are you called the Lions?
Sangdo: Because they have a strong and dependable yet carefree image.
Yano: If you think of lions, they are very carefree. Also, they’re the king of animals so they have a brave and strong vibe.
Gohn: When you see a lion, they have this playboy-like image but it’s just an image. Inside their strong physique, you can feel their easygoingness.
Seogoong: Two main vocals, one rapper and one producer make a whole.
2. Lion’s unique charms
Gohn: Of course, their carefree charm.
Yano: We have a different colour than the others. I admire B.O.B’s music. Even just looking at him, I feel good.
Gohn: In my case, I have a singer-songwriter image and a preference for the neosoul, R&B genre. My role model is Bruno Mars. He has a funky, rock-ish feel.
Seogoong: I like R&B but I focus more on music. I practice music more.
Jenissi: Since we’re many people singing one song, I’m working hard to sing my part as if it was my own song. First, I’m listening and researching a lot about foreign and domestic hip hop. I’m not researching a lot in order to copy them but in order to avoid [copying them].
3. The reason you became singers
Gohn: I don’t remember clearly when I began thinking I wanted to become a singer. I wanted to put my thoughts into music. After singing other people’s songs, I wanted to sing my own songs so I started composing. While learning music alone in Hongdae and holding performances I became affiliated with the company.
Seogoong: I wanted people to know my face and voice. I wanted to appear on TV and sing.
Jenissi: I never decided I wanted to be a popular singer but after trying to do music with my friends, turns out it wasn’t easy. I think I began [to think I wanted to become a singer] with the thought of wanting the public to hear my best voice.
Yano: I never had the thought that I should become a singer. Since I was little, I liked music and started learning rap so my interest grew from there. I just let it flow naturally until now. Before I started rapping, I played the drums but I found the [concept of the] beat fun and liked the feeling when my body moved to the music. One day my friend was listening to rap music but he took off the earphones for us to listen to it together and I fell for it. It was a diss track… (laughs) There aren’t many diss tracks available for public (T/N: mainstream-wise) but hearing that style was new and fun so I started [learning to become a singer].
4. The weakest and strongest members
Jenissi: Since we’re many people singing one song, I’m working hard to sing my part as if it was my own song. First, I’m listening and researching a lot about foreign and domestic hip hop. I’m not researching a lot in order to copy them but in order to avoid [copying them].
3. The reason you became singers
Gohn: I don’t remember clearly when I began thinking I wanted to become a singer. I wanted to put my thoughts into music. After singing other people’s songs, I wanted to sing my own songs so I started composing. While learning music alone in Hongdae and holding performances I became affiliated with the company.
Seogoong: I wanted people to know my face and voice. I wanted to appear on TV and sing.
Jenissi: I never decided I wanted to be a popular singer but after trying to do music with my friends, turns out it wasn’t easy. I think I began [to think I wanted to become a singer] with the thought of wanting the public to hear my best voice.
Yano: I never had the thought that I should become a singer. Since I was little, I liked music and started learning rap so my interest grew from there. I just let it flow naturally until now. Before I started rapping, I played the drums but I found the [concept of the] beat fun and liked the feeling when my body moved to the music. One day my friend was listening to rap music but he took off the earphones for us to listen to it together and I fell for it. It was a diss track… (laughs) There aren’t many diss tracks available for public (T/N: mainstream-wise) but hearing that style was new and fun so I started [learning to become a singer].
4. The weakest and strongest members
B-Joo: Because maknae Yano is younger than me, he’s the easiest to deal with. (laughs) The strongest member is oldest hyung Jenissi?
Jenissi: That’s nonsense. (laughs) Even yesterday, I was only sitting quietly but I was attacked.
5. The member who you want to recruit into Lion
Seogoong: Kidoh! (Kidoh: I’d rather not.) I was originally not in Lion. Because I wasn’t originally in Lion I don’t want to be in Lion.
Jenissi: We’ll send Seogoong away and swap him for another member! Ah… but our team needs a main vocalist.
Seogoong: I entered Lion just for that one reason…
Jenissi: We’ll swap him for Nakta! No particular reason.
Yano: I want to swap him for P-Goon. He seems strong. (laughs)
6. Weak points
Seogoong: There isn’t any in particular. All four of us can’t dance. We dance like octopuses. (laughs) Jenissi-hyung is the worst dancer. He’s like a toy soldier moving.
Yano: Let’s go with practicing our dancing slowly.
Seogoong: We learn dances quickly but we dance like octopuses.
7. Killer move
Yano: The roar! A lion’s roar! We’ll show our valiant side!
Seogoong: Spreading out our mane! We want to have a strong presence on the stage.
# Knight Kingdom (Nakta, Kidoh, A-Tom)
1. Why are you called the Knights?
Kidoh: Because it’s a group of friends who have an upright image.
A-Tom: Compared to Dragons, Wizards, Lions, the Knights are the most human-like. That’s why it’s where the most human-like members get together.
2. Knight’s unique charms
Nakta: I’m in charge of the wackiness and clumsiness. I’m a kind knight.
A-Tom: Because I’m the maknae, I’m a beginner knight. I’m a knight who resembles model Hong Jonghyun. (laughs)
Kidoh: I’m in charge of producing so my charm is my musical spectrum. And if I get the feel sometimes I can become crazy. I’m the awakening knight.
Sangdo: Like Starcraft. Berserker (T/N: A famous South Korean Starcraft player)! (laughs)
3. ToppDogg’s Knights’ rules
A-Tom: Every week we receive a lesson. A chivalry class. (laughs)
Seogoong: There are actually no rules. We just know it and do well. If not, that one person is finished and if you don’t want to be attacked you have to do well. [If not], you’ll get scolded by the other 12.
Nakta: If you want to be lame then we’re going to be ruthless.
Seogoong: Your mind will be completely dried up.
4. The Knight’s preferred music
Nakta: I like girl group music. I like f(x), Girl’s Day and other girl groups’ music.
A-Tom: Although I like a variety of genres, among them I like rap and I like the rapper Whiz Khalifa.
Kidoh: I like hip-hop.
5. The reason you became singers
Nakta: I’ve never had the thought of wanting to become a singer. I entered the company with the goal of learning. I continued doing it until I debuted. I trained for two years but at the beginning my parents were really against it; now, they tell me to ask them for help whenever possible.
A-Tom: When I was little I liked watching singers’ videos so I started becoming interested in it, and after befriending people who had the same interest I became something close to a singer.
Kidoh: Because I originally wanted to become a producer I wrote songs. When I was in my first year of high school, I watched a music program and included in the top 10 was Brave Brothers’ song. I thought it was cool so I went to his Cyworld homepage and left a comment on his guestbook, “I compose but please let me enter your company”. After that I got a phone call and they listened to my song and I learned a lot while going in and out of the company. I originally hated idols. But I realised that idols have it the hardest. Korean idols are very amazing. I began learning dance. My dance skills are better than the Lions.
Seogoong: I told the dance leader that Kidoh’s dance is the weirdest.
Kidoh: The dance leader agreed with Seogoong but told me that I have the best sense of rhythm.
Yano: If Kidoh had a weakness, it would be habit of his mouth forming an ‘o’ whenever he’s concentrating in his dancing. When he’s concentrated too. Luckily, on stage he learned to control that.
6. The member who you want to recruit into Knight
Kidoh: Xero! Because his looks are quite good. He’s suitable to be the Knight’s visual.
A-Tom: He’s also tall, I think he’d fit well [in the unit].
7. The weakest and strongest members
Jenissi: They’re all easy to deal with. (laughs) And it’s hard to be only on one side. Amongst that, Kidoh has mood swings so he’s a bit difficult.
Kidoh: Back in the day, I was very violent. (laughs)
Jenissi: There have been times when Kidoh couldn’t keep himself calm and lost his cool.
Seogoong: The moment Kidoh puts on his glasses and puts a towel around [his shoulder], everyone runs away.
Jenissi: If you can see those signs you need to lock the doors and avoid that spot (T/N: where Kidoh is).
#Dragon Kingdom (P-Goon, Sangdo)
1. Why are you called the Dragons?
Sangdo: When we were first divided into units, they were very concerned about where to put me. Later, they were conflicted whether they should put me in Knight or Dragon. In the end, they settled it with my skin colour. (laughs)
P-Goon: The black feel is strong. We’re exoticand have strong personalities.
Kidoh: They’re both scary like dragons. (laughs)
2. Dragon’s unique charms
A-Tom: Because 13 members is a lot,leader P-Goon has a lot of work to do but he leads and guides us well.
P-Goon: It’s not only hard on me, but it’s hard for everyone as well so we embrace each other. It’s natural to think that there isn’t any easy work.
Hansol: Out of ToppDogg’s 13 members, they have the strongest mental power.
Yano: For two years, they maintained the same image.
3. The reason you became singers
P-Goon: When I was in primary school, I thought that Shinhwa-sunbaenims’ ‘Wild Eyes’ dance was very cool so I decided to become a singer. To become a trainee, I went to an audition and passed but the style was rather different. I match better with R&B and because I prefer it I ended up in ToppDogg.
Sangdo: Actually, I was very confused. In high school, I joined a club because I liked singing and during a festival I stood on stage; at that moment, I felt it was very fun so I continued singing.
4. The member who you want to recruit into Dragon
Sangdo: Our image is strong so we want to bring someone different into our team. I suppose B-Joo could be the baby dragon!
P-Goon: As soon as he was born he’d be a ptreodactyl with horns, fiery-style Pokemon. (laughs)
Sangdo: Just by looking at his appearance, A-Tom also matches a dragon’s. He resembles a lizard. His face is like a dinosaur’s.
P-Goon: If he cuts his hair short like us, he’ll look like one.
5. Weak points
Sangdo: I’m the weak point. My weak point is that I only have an exotic feel.
P-Goon: My weakness is that I don’t have a sense of friendliness. Fans are scared of Sangdo and I. When they see us leave the studio just for a bit, they don’t say anything to us. If we had a charm, perhaps it’s the passion hidden behind our scary image. Now that they already got to know me, they say I’m not scary. Even when I look into the mirror, I’m scared too. My makeup might be too strong.
Sangdo: If I was in front of the company building, the fans there would avoid making eye contact [with me]. Because they’re scared. Later on, when we spoke, they told me they couldn’t talk to me at first because I seemed really scary. But that’s not the case.
6. Killer move
Members: Because they’re dragons, it has to be flame-throwing. (laughs) It feels like they can blow flames when they’re angry. (…) What the heck! Haha.
Source: Tenasia
Translated by: Topp Dogg Intl
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