| Bobby Kim | |
| Native Name: | 김바비 |
| Birth Date: | 12 January 1973 |
| Origin: | South Korea |
| Genre: | Korean hip hop, R&B |
| Years Active: | 1994—present |
| Label: | Oscar Entertainment |
| Associated Acts: | Bugga Kingz, Movement Crew, Dr. Reggae |
Kim Do-kyun (; born January 12, 1973), more commonly known as Bobby Kim, is a South Korean hip hop and R&B artist.[1] [2]
His father, a trumpet player, influenced and exposed him to music. At an early age, he worked as a rapper at night clubs. Since high school, he performed in clubs in the San Francisco underground. That time, he got attracted by hip hop when America was in a golden age of hip hop, but he learned many genres of music as well. Later in 1992, he went to Korea to start his music career. In 1994, he debuted as a member of a group called ‘Dr. Reggae.” However, the group could not achieve much success. Thus, he started doing features as a background rapper, appearing on numerous singles. Also, he worked as a producer, creating singles for artists in Korea.[3]
Bobby Kim is about to release his second special album “OLD & NEW‘ on July 6, 2012. The album is to feature remakes of old songs as well as new tracks for fans to enjoy a total of 11 tracks.[4]
After he finished high school, he made a group called Dr. Reggae and introduced Reggae music to Korea for the first time. At that time, only two members were active, so it was known as a duet. However, it was actually seven members at first. Bobby Kim was not as successful when he was a part of Dr. Reggae. After Dr. Reggae disbanded, he became a vocal trainer for hip hop singers and taught singing and rapping techniques. He was nicknamed ‘Reggae hip hop's godfather.’ He also wrote songs for singers such as Drunken Tiger, Leessang, and Dynamic Duo.[5]
His songs showed a unique rhythm. After his colleagues listened to his music, they suggested he sing his own songs. Therefore, he produced his debut album called ‘Beat Within my Soul.’
On 11 September 2011, he appeared during the sixth session of the show I Am a Singer, but he was voted off at the eleventh session, which was on 1 January 2012.[6]
Kim was accused of sexually harassing a flight attendant and creating a disturbance while drunk on a flight from Korea to the United States in January 2015.[7] Kim stopped appearing in all television shows, including the TV Art Stage. On June 11, 2015, Incheon District Court's Judge, Shim Dong-young, issued Kim with a fine of 4 million Won, and ordered him to complete a 40-hour sexual violence educational program for infringing upon an aviation law and for forcibly harassing an airline employee.[8]
On May 5, 2022, Bobby Kim plans to marry his non-celebrity girlfriend on June 10, 2022, at a church in Seoul. to invite family and close acquaintances.[9]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR RIAK [10] | KOR Gaon [11] | |||
| Holy Bumz Presents |
| — | — | |
| Beats Within My Soul |
| 15 | — |
|
| Follow Your Soul |
| 8 | — |
|
| Love Chapter 1 |
| 25 | ||
| Heart & Soul |
| 2 |
| |
| Old & New |
| 7 |
| |
| Mirror (거울) |
| 10 |
| |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [17] | |||
| "Free Style" | 1998 | — | Holy Bumz Presents |
| "Falling In Love Again" (고래의 꿈) | 2004 | — | Beats Within My Soul |
| "It's Alright, It's All Good" | — | ||
| "Bluebird" (파랑새) | 2006 | — | Follow Your Soul |
| "Maybe" (메이비) | 2008 | — | Rhapsody Part 3 |
| "Love..That Guy" (사랑..그 놈) | 2009 | — | Love Chapter 1 |
| "Like a Man" (남자답게) | 2010 | 8 | Heart & Soul |
| "Lonely" (외톨이) | 62 | ||
| "True Colors" | — | rowspan="5" | |
| "You Aren't the Only One" (너 하나만 못해) | 48 | ||
| "Love Recipe" (러브 레시피) | 8 | ||
| "Only You" (너만이) | 2012 | 25 | |
| "People These Days" (요즘 사람들) | 22 | ||
| "Afraid of Love" (못됐다 사랑) | 31 | Old & New | |
| "In My Dream" (꿈에) | 44 | ||
| "Girl" (그런 걸) | 63 | rowspan="2" | |
| "I'm Alive" (내가 사는 이유) | 2013 | 49 | |
| "Apology" (사과) | 2014 | — | Mirror |
| "Why?" (왜 난) | 2019 | — | Scarlette |
| "The Sun" (태양처럼) | 2021 | — | rowspan="3" |
| "Night" (밤하늘) | 2022 | — | |
| "Intoxicated" (취했어) | — | ||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [18] | ||||
| "Fall In Love With You" | 2010 | 79 | Dr. Champ OST | |
| "Ikkeulim" (이끌림) | 83 | Haru OST | ||
| "Still" (그래도) | — | Home Sweet Home OST | ||
| "Love is Scared" (사랑이 무서워) | 2011 | 39 | Spy Myung-wol OST | |
| "When We Are Able to Love" (사랑 할 수 있을 때) | 43 | |||
| "Heartburn" (가슴앓이) | 48 | Glory Jane OST | ||
| "Only You" | 2012 | — | Love and War OST | |
| "Thank You | " | 2013 | — | Pots of Gold OST |
| "Forever You" (영원히 너를) | 51 | Goddess of Fire OST | ||
| "Stranger" (이방인) | 2014 | 67 | Doctor Stranger OST | |
| "I Can Love You" (사랑한다 할 수 있기에) | 2016 | 38 | Remember OST | |
| "El Camino" | 2019 | — | Woman of 9.9 Billion OST |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [19] | |||
| "Heunhan Sarang" (흔한 사랑) | 2010 | 96 | Heart & Soul |
| "Maem Maem Maem" (맴 맴 맴) | 73 | ||
| "Neoegeman" (너에게만) | 94 | ||
| "How to Avoid the Sun" (태양을 피하는 방법) | 2011 | 29 | I Am a Singer |
| "Your Wedding" (너의 결혼식) | 23 | ||
| "Alley" (골목길) | 9 | ||
| "Reunion in Memory" (추억 속의 재회) | 15 | ||
| "Waterwheel Live" (물레방아 인생) | 16 | ||
| "Love Love Love" (사랑 사랑 사랑) | 39 | ||
| "Meeting" (만남) | 91 | ||
| "Love Me Once Again" (미워도 다시 한 번) | 35 | ||
| "It's Been a Long Time" (한동안 뜸했었지) | 96 | ||
| "Remembrance" (회상) | 21 | ||
| "Love Gone with Autumn Behind" (가을을 남기고 간 사랑) | 69 | ||
| "Double" | 2012 | 68 | |
| "That Day, One Year Ago" (일년 전 그날) | 41 | Corona Borealis |
| width="75%" class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| Year | Category | Work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Best R&B Performance | "Bluebird"[20] | ||
| 2009 | Best Ballad/R&B Performance | "Today More Than Yesterday"[21] |