EXO Baekhyun: The Vocal Genius and Solo Star

Early Life and Debut

Baekhyun was born on May 6, 1992, in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. His birth name is Byun Baek-hyun, and his stage name Kai means “open” in Chinese. He has an older brother who is also a dancer. He developed an interest in singing and dancing from a young age, inspired by his mother who was a fan of Rain. He started learning ballet and jazz dance when he was in elementary school.

He auditioned for SM Entertainment in 2007 and became a trainee after winning the company’s Youth Best Contest. He trained for six years in various dance genres, such as hip-hop, popping, locking, and krumping. He was the first member of EXO to be introduced to the public through a series of teasers in 2011. He debuted as a member of EXO-K, the Korean sub-unit of EXO, on April 8, 2012, with the song “Mama” from their first EP Mama.

A career with EXO and SuperM

As a member of EXO, Baekhyun has achieved tremendous success and popularity both domestically and internationally. The group has sold over 10 million albums in Korea alone and has won numerous awards, such as six Daesangs (grand prizes) at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and four consecutive Album of the Year awards at the Melon Music Awards. The group has also performed at prestigious events, such as the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony and the Dubai Fountain Show.

Baekhyun is the main vocalist, sub-rapper, sub-vocalist, center, and visual of EXO. He is known for his powerful and expressive voice and stage presence that showcases his athleticism and artistry. He has also contributed to the group’s songs as a songwriter and producer under the name Ars. Some of his works include “Confession”, “I See You”, “Nothing On Me”, and “Hello Stranger”.

In addition to EXO, Baekhyun is also a member of SuperM, a supergroup formed by SM Entertainment and Capitol Music Group in 2019. The group consists of seven members from four SM boy groups: Taemin from SHINee, Baekhyun and Kai from EXO, Taeyong and Mark from NCT 127, and Ten and Lucas from WayV. The group debuted on October 4, 2019, with their first EP SuperM: The 1st Mini Album. The EP topped the Billboard 200 chart, making SuperM the first Korean act to debut at number one on the chart.

Solo Activities

Baekhyun has also pursued various solo activities outside of his group activities, such as acting, modeling, collaborating, and releasing his own music. He has acted in several web dramas and TV shows, such as Choco Bank (2016), Andante (2017), Spring Has Come (2018), Miracle That We Met (2018), and The Miracle We Met (2021). He has also modeled for several brands and magazines, such as Gucci, W Korea, Esquire, Vogue, Arena Homme+, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, GQ, Dazed, L’Officiel Hommes, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Grazia, High Cut, Singles, Nylon, Allure, Ceci, The Star, InStyle, Lined, Big Issue, etc.

He has also collaborated with various artists on different projects, such as Sanjoy and Elliott Yamin on “Victim of Love” (2017), Park Ji-min on “I’m All Ears” (2018), Ravi on “Y.B.B.” (2020), Raiden on “Yours” (2020), etc.

He made his solo debut on July 10, 2019, with his first EP City Lights. The EP contains six tracks that showcase his diverse musical genres and vocal abilities. The title track “UN Village” is an R&B song that expresses his love for someone in a romantic way. The EP sold over 500,000 copies in 2019 and became the best-selling album by a solo artist of the 2010s in South Korea.

He followed up with two more EPs, Delight (2020) and Bambi (2021), which both sold over a million copies each. Delight became the first album by a solo artist in South Korea to have sold over 1 million copies in 19 years, and Bambi became the fastest-selling album by a solo artist in South Korea. He also won three consecutive Mnet Asian Music Awards for Best Male Artist from 2019 to 2021.

Personal Life and Trivia

• Baekhyun is fluent in Korean, English, Chinese (Mandarin), and Japanese.
• He is friends with many idols from different groups, such as SHINee’s Taemin, BTS’s Jimin, Wanna One/HotShot’s Sungwoon, HotShot’s Timoteo, VIXX’s Ravi, etc.
• He loves dogs and has three of them: Monggu, Jjanggu, and Jjangah. He often posts pictures and videos of them on his Instagram account.
• He has a tattoo on his chest that says “Kai” in Morse code.
• He has a cheerful and optimistic personality. He likes to make people laugh and smile with his jokes and antics. He is also kind-hearted and caring towards his members and fans.
• He is a Christian and often prays before performing on stage. For the latest KPOP products, click here.

Conclusion

EXO Baekhyun is an amazing idol who has shown his talent, passion, and charisma as a singer, songwriter, actor, and model. He is not only a valuable member of EXO and SuperM, but also a solo artist who has his own color and style. He is an inspiration to many people who love music and art.

Is this article EXO Baekhyun: The Vocal Genius and Solo Star helpful. Comment below.