Zelo

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

South Korean rapper (born 1996)

title: "Zelo" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1996-births", "living-people", "ts-entertainment-artists", "south-korean-male-idols", "21st-century-south-korean-male-rappers", "k-pop-singers", "b.a.p-(south-korean-band)-members", "school-of-performing-arts-seoul-alumni", "south-korean-hip-hop-dancers", "south-korean-child-singers", "21st-century-south-korean-rappers"] description: "South Korean rapper (born 1996)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelo" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary South Korean rapper (born 1996) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameZelo
image20170912 B.A.P 젤로 @대전 푸른음악회-1.jpg
captionZelo at Daejeon Love Blue Concert, September 2017
birth_nameChoi Jun-hong
birth_date
birth_placeMokpo, South Korea
occupation
module{{Infobox musical artist
instrumentVocals
genre
years_active2011–present
label
past_member_of
module{{Infobox Korean name/auto
hangul%최준홍
hanja崔準烘
hangulstage%_젤로
::

| name = Zelo | image = 20170912 B.A.P 젤로 @대전 푸른음악회-1.jpg | image_size = | caption = Zelo at Daejeon Love Blue Concert, September 2017 | birth_name = Choi Jun-hong | birth_date = | birth_place = Mokpo, South Korea | occupation = | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | instrument = Vocals | genre = | years_active = 2011–present | label = | past_member_of = | website = | module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto|child=yes | hangul = %최준홍 | hanja = 崔準烘 | hangulstage = %_젤로

Choi Jun-hong (; born October 15, 1996), known professionally as Zelo, is a South Korean rapper and dancer best known as the former member of the South Korean boy group B.A.P. He made his recording debut with the single "Never Give Up" under B.A.P's sub-unit Bang&Zelo in November 2011. He departed TS Entertainment in December 2018.

Early life

Zelo was born on October 15, 1996, in Mokpo, South Korea. He has one older brother. He aspired to be a soccer player when he was young, but then changed his dreams to becoming a singer as he chanced upon music and grew interested in it. He started practising beatboxing and dancing at home. In 5th grade, Zelo was introduced by an acquaintance who recognized his talent to Joy Dance - Plug In Music Academy located in Gwangju, which is a well-known music academy. He auditioned for several recording companies but did not succeed generally because he was too young. He was finally accepted as a trainee at TS Entertainment. He graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in 2015.

Career

Career beginnings and B.A.P

Zelo first collaborated with Bang Yong-guk in the sub-unit Bang&Zelo. The pair released "Never Give Up" on December 2, 2011. Zelo was revealed as a member of idol sextet B.A.P on January 17, 2012, where he served as the rapper. The group debuted nine days later with its single album Warrior. In November 2014, the group filed a lawsuit against its agency. The members sought to nullify its contract with the company citing "unfair conditions and profit distribution". In August of the following year, the two parties ultimately settled and B.A.P resumed its activities under TS Entertainment. Following the expiration of his contract with TS Entertainment on December 2, 2018, Zelo decided not to renew with the company. He officially departed from the group on December 24, after finishing the European leg of B.A.P's 2018 tour. The remaining four members left the agency in February 2019, leading the dissolution of B.A.P.

Soloist career

Zelo signed an exclusive contract with A Entertainment on January 11, 2019. He held a fan meeting in Japan two months later and began working on a solo record under the company. He released his debut mini-album Distance and its lead single "Questions" on June 21. On August 21, Zelo sent A Entertainment a contract termination letter citing unpaid wages, but the agency did not agree to the termination. In a lawsuit, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff and certified the contract annulment one year later.

Zelo released the collaborative single "Shower" with rappers Lil Oppa and Jvde on January 5, 2020. He released his second mini-album Day2Day and its lead single "She and Malibu" on April 18.

In August 2022, Zelo signed with Uzurocks.

He enlisted for his mandatory military service on December 12, 2023, and was discharged on June 11, 2025.

Artistry and influences

Zelo was the second rapper of the group. Zelo cites will.i.am and Kanye West as his role models. He also named 50 Cent and other rappers as his musical influences.

Discography

Extended plays

::data[format=table] | Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | KOR | Distance | Day2Day | Scarecrow | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 27 | | | | | | | | | — | rowspan="2" | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | | | | | | | | ::

Singles

As lead artist

::data[format=table] | Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | KOR | "Never Give Up" (Bang&Zelo featuring Heritage) | "Howler" | "Questions" () | "Shower" () (with Lil Oppa and Jvde) | "She and Malibu" () | "Mi Amor" () | "Fault" () | "Why Am I So Lonely" | "Blame" (featuring Jvde Milez) | "On a Roll" | "Back on the Road" | "Deadline" | "Smile" | "Possessed" | "Sunrise" | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2011 | 65 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | — | B.A.P Concert Special Solo The Recollection | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2019 | — | Distance | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2020 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | Day2Day | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | Scarecrow | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | Non-album singles}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2021 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2022 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2023 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | Enough | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

As featured artist

::data[format=table] | style="width:16em;"|Title | Year | Release | "R(x)play" (V-Hawk featuring Zelo) | "Shadow" (Jung Dae-hyun featuring Zelo) | "Stay with Me" (Youngjae featuring Zelo) | "Annoying" () (Jongup featuring Zelo) | "You, Me and Us" () (Lee Ye-jun featuring Zelo of B.A.P) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2015 | | | | | | | | | 2017 | Dae Hyun X Jong Up Project Album Party Baby | | | | | | | | 2018 | B.A.P Concert Special Solo The Recollection | | | | | | | | 2019 | Municon Vol.2 | | | | | | | ::

Guest appearances

::data[format=table title="List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name"]

TitleYearOther performer(s)ReleaseRef."Vintage"
2013Song Ji-eunHope Torture
::

References

References

  1. (November 23, 2012). "INFO (B.A.P Hot Debut Story) Zelo ① & ② the 'country boy from Mokpo' who wanted to become a soccer player!". Daily K-pop News.
  2. Bak Geon-Uk. (2012-05-29). "B.A.P 핫데뷔일기, "젤로① "B.A.P 안됐다면? 축구선수 됐을 것"". [[Herald Corporation]].
  3. Hwang Yo-Jin. (2012-03-09). "(INTERVIEW) B.A.P Zelo, Jong-up". 10아시아.
  4. 박, 건욱. (29 May 2012). "[B.A.P 핫데뷔일기]젤로① "B.A.P 안됐다면? 축구선수 됐을 것"".
  5. Lee, Ji Sook. (11 February 2015). "A Pink′s Ha Young, Red Velvet′s Joy, B.A.P′s Zelo and More Graduate from High School".
  6. link. (December 2, 2011)
  7. link. [[Herald Corporation]]. (January 17, 2012)
  8. link. Dong-a Ilbo Company. (January 19, 2012)
  9. link. OSEN]]. (January 26, 2012)
  10. (November 27, 2014). "TS Entertainment Checking on B.A.P's Lawsuit to Nullify Contract". [[CJ E&M]].
  11. link. Star News]]. (August 3, 2015)
  12. link. Digital Chosun Ilbo]]. Chosun Ilbo Company. (December 24, 2018)
  13. link. (February 18, 2019)
  14. link. (August 21, 2020)
  15. link. Korea Entertainment Media. (March 19, 2019)
  16. link. [[Maeil Broadcasting Network]]. (June 21, 2019)
  17. link. (January 3, 2020)
  18. link. (April 14, 2020{{Dead link). (August 2025)
  19. Park, Sang-hu. (August 17, 2022). "B.A.P 출신 젤로, 우쥬록스와 전속계약… 솔로 활동 시작". [[JTBC]].
  20. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKv8Bqvv0sc/
  21. "Artist Search - B.A.P, Profile". [[KBS World]].
  22. Hwang Hyo-Jin. (2012-03-07). "B.A.P - My name is 젤로, 종업". 10asiae.
  23. "Exclusive interview with Bang & Zelo!". Daily Kpop News.
  24. "Gaon Chart - Album Chart". [[Gaon Music Chart]].
  25. link. Gaon Music Chart
  26. "Gaon Chart - Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1996-birthsliving-peoplets-entertainment-artistssouth-korean-male-idols21st-century-south-korean-male-rappersk-pop-singersb.a.p-(south-korean-band)-membersschool-of-performing-arts-seoul-alumnisouth-korean-hip-hop-dancerssouth-korean-child-singers21st-century-south-korean-rappers