RAIN

After making his solo debut with 2002's Bad Guy, Rain became one of the world's biggest K-pop stars, maintaining both a multi-platinum music career and an international acting career throughout the early 21st century. He was born as Jung Ji-hoon in Seosan, South Korea, on June 25, 1982. Although Bad Guy peaked at Number 1 in his homeland, it was Rain's third album, 2004's It's Raining, that made him a star throughout East Asia. A mix of hip-hop influences and modern pop melodies, the album climbed to Number 1 in South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, its popularity boosted by singles like "I Do" and the chart-topping title track. Meanwhile, Rain also became a fixture on South Korean television, where he starred in shows like Full House and Sang Doo! Let's Go To School. His popularity spread throughout the rest of the globe during the following years, with Time Magazine hailing him as one of the "100 Most Influential People Who Shape Our World" in 2006. Meanwhile, 2006's Rain's World and 2008's Rainism both sold over a million copies in Asia, while appearances in the American films Speed Racer and Ninja Assassin helped further his international presence. He largely focused on his acting career during the 2010s, although releases like 2014's Rain Effect — his sixth consecutive album to top the Gaon Music Chart in South Korean — and the 2017 EP My Life helped maintain his status as a K-pop titan. Released in 2020, the Top 20 single "Switch To Me" found him duetting with J.Y. Park, the music mogul who had signed Rain to his first record deal.