One of a Kind (G-Dragon song) explained

One of a Kind
Type:single
Artist:G-Dragon
Album:One of a Kind
Released:August 24, 2012
Length:3:26
Label:YG Entertainment
Lyricist:G-Dragon
Composer:G-Dragon, Choice37
Prev Title:I Need a Girl
Prev Year:2010
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Next Year:2012

"One of a Kind" is a song by South Korean rapper G-Dragon. Released on August 24, 2012 through YG Entertainment, it served as the lead single from the extended play of the same name. Written solely by G-Dragon, the rapper also worked with long-time collaborator Choice37 to produce the music. The song was well received by music critics, that considered it one of his best work and one of the most influential Korean hip hop tracks. "One of a Kind" peaked at number nine on the Gaon Digital Chart in South Korea.

Composition and reception

A hip hop and pop-rap song, the lyrics discuss "cheeky" themes such as money and fame.[1] [2] David Jeffries of Allmusic deemed the track as "a bright, boastful number with a hooky chorus and plenty of exciting production tricks".[3] Billboard named "One of a Kind" the seventeenth best K-pop song of 2012, praising the "knocking hip-hop beat that today's biggest rappers would kill for" and how G-Dragon "showed off his impressive knack for flow and lyrics".[4] Web portal Daum named the single the fifth best Korean song of the year, calling it a "masterpiece" and its composition "outstanding".[5]

Korean music critic Kim Bong-hyun included "One of a Kind" in his book of most influential Korean hip hop songs from 1989 to 2016, naming it one of the 28 tracks that shaped the genre.[6] "One of a Kind" was also the only song by a solo artist to be included in The Dong-a Ilbos 2016 list of the best male idol songs in the past 20 years.[7] Ize magazine listed "One of a Kind" as one of the most memorable songs written by G-Dragon, commenting that it raised his status as a hip-hop musician.[8]

Commercially, the song became the fifth track from the album to peak within Gaon Digital Chart's top ten, when it rose to number nine in its second week, after a debut at number 21.[9] [10] The track earned him the Best Hip Hop / Rap Song of the Year awards from the Korean Music Awards and the Rhythmer Awards.[11]

Music video

The music video for "One of a Kind" preceded the album, being released on YouTube on August 25, 2012, marking his first solo release since Heartbreaker (2009).[12] Directed by Seo Hyun Seung, the video was described as "autobiographical" and "glittered with designer items."[13] G-Dragon is seen wearing outfits that he has worn in previous music videos. Fellow Big Bang member, Taeyang makes an appearance.[14] David Bevan of Spin called it "a dazzling clip" for the "undeniable pop-rap juggernaut" track.[15] Stereogum named "One of a Kind" the best music video of the week, with Tom Breihan commenting that "[I]f you don’t have a baby tiger on a leash or a dancing bear cub in your video, you lost. Sometimes, it’s just that simple. K-pop has discovered skate-rap, and we should all be very, very excited about that."[16] Fuse called it one of G-Dragon's "must-see videos", noting that the "Explicit Content" reinterpreted sticker is "one of his most memorable looks".[17]

Chart performance and sales

ChartPeak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[18] 9
South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[19] 14
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] 7

Sales

Awards

YearAward-Giving BodyCategoryResultRef.
2012HipHopPlaya AwardsMusic Video of the Year
2013Korean Music AwardsSong of the Year[22]
Best Rap/Hip Hop Song
Rhythmer AwardsBest Hip Hop Song of The Year

Notes and References

  1. News: G-Dragon Goes Solo with One Of A Kind. September 24, 2012. seoulbeats. July 9, 2017. en-US. August 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170822072221/http://seoulbeats.com/2012/09/g-dragon-goes-solo-with-one-of-a-kind/. live.
  2. News: K-Pop Review: One of a Kind by G-Dragon. October 11, 2012. KpopStarz. July 9, 2017. August 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170813181258/http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/15484/20121011/g-dragon-one-of-a-kind-korean-review.htm. live.
  3. Web site: One of a Kind - G-Dragon . AllMusic . Jeffries . David . August 13, 2017 . November 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030517/https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-of-a-kind-mw0002422630 . live .
  4. 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2012: BIGBANG, PSY, 2NE1 & More. Oak. Jessica. Benjamin. Jeff. Billboard. December 21, 2012. July 9, 2017. April 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402045453/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481268/20-best-k-pop-songs-of-2012-bigbang-psy-2ne1-more. live.
  5. Web site: 국내노래 TOP 10 . Daum Music . ko . January 18, 2013 . July 9, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150108233940/http://music.daum.net/musicbar/musicbar/detail?board_id=3759 . January 8, 2015 . dead .
  6. Web site: [책의 향기]홍서범부터 GD까지 '쇼 미 더' 한국 힙합 ]. Dong-a News . August 5, 2017 . August 13, 2017 . ko . August 13, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170813184312/http://news.donga.com/3/07/20170805/85691260/1 . live .
  7. Web site: "반짝반짝 눈이 부셔"… 빅뱅-소녀시대 역대 최고 아이돌 원문보. The Dong-a Ilbo. September 2016 . ko. July 9, 2017. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202112902/http://news.donga.com/NewsStand/3/all/20160901/80071885/1. live.
  8. Web site: G-Dragon 고별展│가사로 본 지 드래곤의 인생 . ko . Ize Magazine . June 13, 2017 . August 25, 2017 . August 25, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170825184744/http://ize.co.kr/articleView.html?no=2017061217057287043 . live .
  9. Web site: 2012년 39주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Chart. July 9, 2017. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609184604/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=39&hitYear=2012&termGbn=week. live.
  10. Web site: 2012년 38주차 Digital Chart. Gaon Chart. July 9, 2017. March 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150307064501/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=38&hitYear=2012&termGbn=week. live.
  11. Web site: 제3회 리드머 어워드(3rd RHYTHMER AWARDS) 수상결과 리드머 - 대한민국 대표 흑인음악 미디어. board.rhythmer.net. ko. July 9, 2017. October 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161023051128/http://board.rhythmer.net/src/go.php?n=12169&m=view&s=award. live.
  12. Web site: G-Dragon Unleashes MV for "One of a Kind" . Soompi . August 24, 2012 . July 9, 2017 . August 17, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170817231617/https://www.soompi.com/2012/08/24/g-dragon-unleashes-mv-for-one-of-a-kind/ . live .
  13. Web site: KPOP NEWS - [Video] G-Dragon Releases Music Video for Autobiographical 'One of a Kind' Mwave]. Kim. JiYeon. August 25, 2012. Mwave. en. July 9, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170813184658/http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/13306/video-g-dragon-releases-music-video-for-autobiographical-one-of-a-kind. August 13, 2017. dead.
  14. Web site: [Video] G-Dragon's 'One of a Kind' is Filled With Hidden Treasures]. MWave. March 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170728164253/http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/13318/video-g-dragons-one-of-a-kind-is-filled-with-hidden-treasures. July 28, 2017. dead.
  15. News: K-Pop's New Style: G-Dragon Blazes a Cray Path. Bevan. David. January 21, 2013. Spin. July 9, 2017. June 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170603113419/http://www.spin.com/2013/01/g-dragon-bigbang-k-pop-new-album-2013-style-crayon-one-of-a-kind/. live.
  16. Web site: The 5 Best Videos Of The Week. Breihan. Tom. Stereogum. August 31, 2012. July 9, 2017. August 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170813190003/http://www.stereogum.com/1140132/the-5-best-videos-of-the-week-47/video/. live.
  17. Web site: G-DRAGON HEADLINES KCON 2014: 5 MUST-SEE VIDEOS BEFORE HIS CONCERT. Benjamin. Jeff. Fuse. August 8, 2014. July 9, 2017. August 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170808233457/http://www.fuse.tv/2014/08/g-dragon-kcon-2014-best-mvs-videos#3. live.
  18. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. gaonchart.co.kr. July 9, 2017. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609184604/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=39&hitYear=2012&termGbn=week. live.
  19. G-Dragon Korea K-Pop Hot 100 Chart History. . July 9, 2017. September 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170925073129/http://www.billboard.com/artist/276219/g-dragon/chart?f=1175. dead.
  20. World Digital Songs : Sep 29, 2012 Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. en. July 9, 2017. May 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180505094135/https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2012-09-29/world-digital-songs. dead.
  21. Cumulative sales for "One of a Kind":
    • Web site: 2012 Year End. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815061806/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=3&nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=2012&hitYear=2012&termGbn=year. August 15, 2016.
    • Web site: Week 02 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815231043/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=4&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=02&nationGbn=K. August 15, 2016.
    • Web site: Week 03 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815193051/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageno=3&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=03&nationGbn=K. August 15, 2016.
    • Web site: Week 06 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 6, 2016. August 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815215040/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=3&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=06&nationGbn=K.
    • Web site: Week 07 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 6, 2016. August 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815213814/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=3&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=07&nationGbn=K.
    • Web site: Week 08 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 6, 2016. August 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815134750/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=4&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=08&nationGbn=K.
    • Web site: Week 09 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 6, 2016. August 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815134750/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=3&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=09&nationGbn=K.
    • Web site: Week 10 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Gaon Chart. August 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815134750/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=3&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=10&nationGbn=K. August 6, 2016.
    • Web site: Week 11 of 2013. Korea Music Content Industry Association. August 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815134750/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=4&serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=11&nationGbn=K. Gaon Chart. August 6, 2016.
  22. Web site: KMA 2013 - Nominees List 1. January 29, 2013. KMA. February 3, 2013. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181208/http://www.koreanmusicawards.com/2013/list001.html. dead.

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