G-Dragon Comes Back With 'Übermensch’, First Studio Album in 12 Years

G-Dragon from K-pop group Bigbang returns to the music industry after a 12-year hiatus with his third full-length studio album, Übermensch. G-Dragon, GD, Kwon Ji Yong, or whatever you know him as, is a rare phenomenon in the entertainment industry because he can venture into different creative outlets and dominate them. He's a musician, performer, artist, fashion icon, fashion designer with his brand Peaceminusone, and intellectual. 

For Übermensch, G-Dragon was heavily influenced by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, and his coined term Übermensch, which means "superior man" or "superman" referring to someone with the ability to surpass conventional and religious morality to strive for self-improvement to find their purpose in life. GD is the type of artist and human being constantly looking for self-improvement and self-discovery, and it's most evident in his music, especially this album. 

After years of fans begging the South Korean artist to release new music, he caved and, without warning, dropped "Power" on October 31, 2024. The fan response was beyond but not unexpected given the King of K-pop's power and reputation in the industry. 

This new album is another step in GD's personal journey and through his lyricism, is an echo of how these past 12 years have molded him into a more resilient version of himself. He's never been one to conform to what society expects of him, but Übermensch showcases that he's somehow been able to exceed those restrictions even more. 

The album features eight tracks with special guests including some old friends and new ones. "Home Sweet Home" featuring fellow Bigbang members Taeyang and Daesung opens the album but is also a love letter to the people who've always supported him like his group members and the fans. The vigor-filled "Power" is up next, which was the K-pop idol's reintroduction into the music scene, and is a diss track filled with sarcastic lyrics taking a jab at the media and its never-ending obsession with his every move. 

"Too Bad" is the third track featuring Grammy-winning artist Anderson Paak. The funky upbeat song is vibrant and stays true to G-Dragon's unique sound. A music video for the song accompanied the album release and it was filled with choreography reminiscent of the South Korean rapper's laid-back yet captivating dance style. Karina from the K-pop girl group aespa made a special cameo in the video as well. In traditional GD style, the next track, "Drama" shifts the tone of the album into a more sensible and emotive sound. The K-pop is known for his heartfelt ballads, most notably "Untitled, 2014," where he strips the song back to allow listeners to focus solely on the lyrics. A hauntingly beautiful piano plays in the background as he shows off his multilingual abilities singing the song in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The music video is filled with metaphors expressing his fears of becoming the ballerina in a music box, meaning he becomes someone who's forced to give up the fight against an industry and media machine that exploits him. 

Track five, "Ibelongiiu," is a love song where Kwon Ji Yong openly tells his lover that he belongs to them. It's a declaration of love and, interestingly, this song follows "Drama" where he expresses a feeling of isolation while being in the spotlight and being put on a pedestal for all to cast judgment upon. This is a transitional track moving away from the pain and anger-filled lyrics and sounds to tracks filled with endless possibilities and happiness. 

"Take Me" is the sixth song on Übermensch and it appears to confirm that GD is in his lover-boy era. This journey of self-discovery leading to this third album allowed him to grow and learn more about himself to then be able to give his entire being to his lover. The song, much like the entirety of the album, is heavily influenced by pop and the guitar and drum instrumentation is nostalgic of his 2013 album, Coup d'Etat. 

The penultimate track titled "Bonamana" is another song where GD bears it all. The acoustic guitar allows his haunting cadence to peak through despite the scandalous lyrics like "How about having a little fun behind your man's back?" There's an obsession-filled sensuality to the song and he's aware that the relationship he and his lover are entering into might not be the most ideal situation, but they love each other and that's all that matters. 

"Gyro-Drop" is the final track that closes out G-Dragon's highly anticipated album and it doesn't disappoint. It's groovy and GD doesn't hold any swag back in this provocative song with lyrics such as "Ride me like a carousel, spin me like a Ferris wheel" opening the song and in the chorus. VIPs, the name for the Bigbang fanbase, who've followed his career from the beginning know that G-Dragon is cheeky and flirtatious, so ending the album with this track was a nice dose of nostalgia. 

G-Dragon fans don't have to worry about another hiatus as the South Korean artist announced an Übermensch World Tour in 2025, following the album's release. He revealed that the tour will kick off on March 29th in Seoul, South Korea at the Goyang Sports Complex. Pre-sale for tickets begins on February 26th. He will also be headlining the Head in the Clouds Festival in L.A. in May as well as co-headlining the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix with Elton John later this year in October.