(Complex) Interview: Taeyang Talks Rise, Individuality in K-Pop and Life After YG

By now you’ve most likely heard of G-Dragon, the Korean pop juggernaut whose exploits in music and style we covered extensively last year. But if you’re not a K-pop enthusiast, you are probably unaware of Taeyang—G-Dragon’s best friend since childhood, YG Entertainmentlabelmate, and fellow member in the mega-group Big Bang. Though he isn’t quite as flashy as GD, Taeyang is undoubtedly a star in his own right, with a well-earned reputation in K-pop circles as the genre’s best R&B singer and dancer. (He’s also a global face for Calvin Klein’s new CK One campaign.) Taeyang’s second solo album, RISE, has topped the iTunes album charts in 10 countries since its release in June,