i never meant to stan for t.o.p. i never intended for my interest in kpop to extend at all beyond girl groups tbh. it just sort of happened and now, t.o.p. videos and interviews take up a truly obscene amount of space in my bookmarks. so allow me, dear friends, to provide you with an incomplete introduction to one-fifth of big bang! (just a heads up—there are lots of other big bang videos listed here, including full-length variety appearances etc.)

*articles are italicized, videos are not

part i: the biographical stuff

t.o.p.’s episode of big bang’s documentary — before big bang debuted, they filmed a tv documentary tracking the band’s formation. i recommend each member’s episode, but t.o.p.’s has a special place in my heart for showing him at his goofiest and maybe, just maybe, making me tear up a little bit? it really taps into what i perceive as his slightly unlikely idolhood. i don’t kid myself into thinking that big bang is really that different from other idol groups, but there’s something about t.o.p.’s deserved success as a rapper despite his inability to dance or sing or do so many other things idols are expected to do that tugs at my heart strings and, in my mind, sets him apart from so many beige boy band clones.

the secret star: t.o.p.’s story — interviews with t.o.p.’s friends from high-school, who witnessed his rise from chubby underground rapper to boy band idol firsthand. tw for a horrifying (and likely exaggerated, but u kno) weight-loss story.

part ii: sheer ridiculousness

a tour of t.o.p.’s hostel in japan — t.o.p. shows off his clothes, imitates a crab, and introduces a million kpop fans to sparklehorse.

big bang selfcam in japan — aka my all-time favorite big bang video possibly ever. just watch it, okay???

the legend of choomtop and pure bwoy — when t.o.p. goes, he goes hard

t.o.p. acts cute when he’s drunk — the legend of, “cashier, i’m big bang!”

straight chilling with g-dragon in big bang’s dorm — like me, gd has a hard time dealing with how hot t.o.p. is

with daesung on family outing — how “bingu” became known to the world

intimate note — offering his tips for sleeping in class

making of big bang’s great concert — the one where gd plays the bongos on t.o.p.’s butt

waking up t.o.p. — bb needs his beauty sleep

daesung: “even for just a day, i wanna live like t.o.p. hyung” — the unforgettable story of how t.o.p. fell asleep in a cake

interview in pati pati magazine — t.o.p. tells us about his desire to collaborate with damien rice and sam sparro (i don’t understand him at alllllll)

seungri calls t.o.p. — “ah! t.o.p. hyung!” “are you drunk?”

flirting with se7en — he has a lot of aegyo

cut from 2ne1 tv — fanboying 2ne1 and showing off his great english skills

t.o.p. wants a boyfriend — he loves that damn segway

t.o.p. the fashion consultant — dave strider vibes

guerilla date with gd — “why am i ahjusshi?!”

drop it like it’s hot — he was hiiiiiiigh hiiiiiiigh in the sky that night

big bang’s secret garden parody — essential viewing no matter who you chose to stan

dancing to sexyback — while wearing a mask from scream

the “haru haru” performance where t.o.p. just stands there — at 0:30

km idol world — answering questions about his porn viewing history

guesting on lexy’s episode of manwon happiness — he has his own, too, but i’ve yet towatch it!

with wonder girls — omona!!!

part iii: some musical stuff

act like nothing happened — ugh, okay. this song was nothing special to me until i saw this video. i didn’t really get how great a performer he is until i saw this. i can’t vouch for the accuracy of the rumors op quotes in the vid, but his maturity in handling the questions about his ex is wonderful to see.

his surviving underground single — and tbh my favorite thing he’s ever done

assisting gummy on i am a singer — they have the cutest friendship owjrwfop

trot karaoke with gd — lol does this count as a performance idec