Jo Gwang-il

Jo Gwang-il
Background information
Born	(1996-09-12) September 12, 1996 (age 28) Nam-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper songwriter
Years active	2019-present
Labels	Dippin' Carls Records

Jo Gwang-il (Korean: 조광일; born September 12, 1996) is a South Korean rapper and songwriter. He is known for his fast raps with Korean plosive sounds.^[1] He debuted in 2019 with the single "Grow Back". In 2020, he released his breakout single "Acrobat". He won the rap competition television show Show Me the Money 10 in 2021.

Early life

Jo Gwang-il was born on September 12, 1996, in Nam-gu, Gwangju. He wanted to be a StarCraft gamer, but the company unexpectedly stopped its service.^[2] He turned his attention to music and began rapping at age 17.^[3] He graduated from Jeonnam Technical High School.^[4]

Career

In 2019, Jo Gwang-il released his debut single "Grow Back". In April 2020, he released his breakout single "Acrobat". It peaked at number 18 on the Gaon Singing Room Chart and its music video amassed more than 10 million views.^[5][6] It also received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for Hip-hop Track of the Year at the Korean Hip-hop Awards.^[7][8] In October 2022, he released his debut studio album Dark Adaptation. In 2021, he won the rap competition television show Show Me the Money 10.^[9]

Philanthropy

Jo Gwang-il donated the prize money of Show Me the Money 10 to Holt International Children's Services.^[10]

Discography

Studio album

Title	Details	Peak chart position
		KOR [11]
Dark Adaptation (암순응; Amsuneung)	Released: October 16, 2020 Label: Dippin Carls Records Format: CD, digital download	64

EP

Title	Details
New World (신세계; Sinsegye) (with Brown Tigger)	Released: November 26, 2020 Label: Dippin Carls Records Format: Digital download
Metamorphosis (변태; Byeontae)	Released: August 22, 2022 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart position	Album
		KOR [11]
"Grow Back"	2019	—	Non-album singles
"Acrobat" (곡예사; Gogyesa)	2020	—[A]
"THC" (with Brown Tigger)		—	New World
"Korea" (한국; Hanguk)		—	Dark Adaptation
"Layoff" (정리해고; Jeongnihaego) (with Basick)		—	Non-album single
"Raw" (with Brown Tigger) (featuring Kim Seung-min)		—	New World
"Memoirs" (회상록; Hoesangnok)		—	Dark Adaptation
"Depersonalization" (이인증; Iinjeung)	2021	—	Non-album singles
"4HC" (with Brown Tigger, Walo and Yonge Jaundice)		—
"Rambo" (람보)		—
"Let's Disco Dance" (디스코나 출래; Diseukona chullae)		—
"Anarchy Freestyle" (난세 Freestyle; Nanse Freestyle) (featuring Boi B, Sikboy, Bruno Champman, Brown Tigger, Yonge Jaundice, Hangzoo and Walo)		—
"Perfect" (퍼펙트) (featuring Brown Tigger)		—
"Wake Up" (with Gaeko, Ourealgoat, Since, Ahn Byeong-woong and Tabber)		3	Show Me the Money 10 Episode 1
"Thorn" (가시; Gasi) (with Gaeko and Justhis)		22	Show Me the Money 10 Episode 2
"Waterbomb" (호우주의; Houjuui) (featuring Gaeko and Nucksal)		14	Show Me the Money 10 Semi Final
"Garion" (가리온) (featuring Dynamic Duo)		49	Show Me the Money 10 Final
"Journey" (쿠키영상; Kukiyeongsang) (featuring Ailee, Hangzoo and Gaeko)		101
"Mansae" (만세)	2022	—	Non-album singles
"On and On" (거듭해; Geodeupae) (featuring Fana)		—
"Break the Line" (featuring Brown Tigger)		—
"Compensation" (깽값; Kkaenggap) (featuring Gaeko)		—
"Ghost Buster"		—	Café Minamdang

Filmography

TV

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2021	Show Me the Money 10	Contestant (Winner)	[9]

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Nominee	Category	Result	Ref.
Korean Hip-hop Awards	2021	Himself	New Artist of the Year	Nominated	[8]
		"Acrobat"	Hip-hop Track of the Year
		"Acrobat Remix"	Collaboration of the Year

Notes

1. "Acrobat" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart but peaked at number 8 on the Gaon Singing Room Chart.

References

1. Han, Sujin (December 14, 2021). "[인터뷰] 조광일, 힙합의 다양성을 알려준 래퍼" [[Interview] Jo Gwang-il, a rapper who shows the diversity of hip hop]. Ize (in Korean).
2. Park, Jun-hee (December 30, 2021). "[Herald Interview] Jo Gwangil blazes fast raps to express emotions in his heart". The Korea Herald.
3. Yoo, Jihye (December 15, 2021). "조광일 "'호불호 나뉘는 래퍼' 편견 지운게 가장 뿌듯하죠" [인터뷰]" [Jo Gwang-il, "I am most proud of erasing the prejudice that I am a 'polarizing rapper'" [Interview]]. Sports Donga (in Korean).
4. Kim, Hyojin (December 9, 2021). ""광주 남구의 아들"…조광일, 고향에 걸린 '쇼미더머니10' 우승 현수막" ["Son of Nam-gu, Gwangju"... Jo Gwang-il, "Show Me the Money 10" winner banner hung in his hometown]. Top Star News (in Korean).
5. "2020년 34주차 노래방 Chart" [2020 Week 34 Singing Room Chart]. Circle Chart.
6. [M/V] Gwangil Jo(조광일) - Acrobat(곡예사). SUPER SOUND Bugs!. April 1, 2020 – via YouTube.
7. "2020 올해의 가요 싱글" [2020 K-pop singles of this year]. IZM (in Korean). December 4, 2020. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
8. "한국 힙합 어워즈 2021 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards.
9. "'쇼미더머니10' 조광일, 최종 우승 "개코·코쿤에게 감사"" ["Show Me the Money 10" Jo Gwang-il, final winner "Thanks to Gaeko, Cokun"]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). December 4, 2021.
10. Kang, Gyeong-yun (December 29, 2021). "이게 K-힙합이지...'쇼미10' 우승자 조광일 또 기부" [This is K-hiphop... "Show Me 10" winner Jo Gwang-il donates again]. SBS Entertainment (in Korean).
11. "조광일" [Jo Gwang-il]. Gaon Chart.

External links

• Jo Gwang-il on Instagram