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]
^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).
^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).
^"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.
^ ab"한국 힙합 어워즈 2021 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards.
^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).