Cai Xukun

In this Chinese name, the family name is Cai.

Cai Xukun
蔡徐坤
Cai in 2019
Born (1998-08-02) August 2, 1998 (age 26)
Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
Other names
  • KUN
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • dancer
  • actor
Years active2012–present
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels
  • KUN Studio
Formerly of
Chinese name
Chinese蔡徐坤
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinCài Xúkūn
Bopomofoㄘㄞˋ ㄒㄩˊ ㄎㄨㄣ
Wade–Gilests'ai hsü k'un

Cai Xukun (born August 2, 1998), better known by the mononym Kun (stylized as KUN), is a Chinese singer-songwriter, dancer and actor. He debuted as a member of SWIN and its sub-unit SWIN-S on October 18, 2016, after participating in the first and second seasons of the Chinese reality show Super Idol.[1] After leaving the group and its company Yihai Entertainment, he participated in iQiyi's reality survival show Idol Producer, finishing first and debuting as the leader/center of temporary Chinese boy group Nine Percent, on April 6, 2018.[2][3] He was a cast member of variety show Keep Running from 2020 to 2022.

Most of Kun's solo works are original, including "Wait Wait Wait" and his first EP "1".[4] The EP was a commercial success with every song topping Chinese music charts. "Pull Up", the first track, broke 10 records and peaked at number 1 on four of QQ Music's charts as well as ranking first on Billboard China's V Chart for 8 consecutive weeks.[5][6] At the time of its release in 2018, "Wait Wait Wait" debuted at number 1 on QQ Music's New Song list and Popular Music list for 10 weeks and won the title of Asia's hottest song for 4 consecutive weeks.[7]

On January 10, 2019, Kun was officially named China-Jamaica Goodwill Ambassador and China-Jamaica Outstanding Youth Leader in Shanghai, China.[8] In February, Kun announced his first solo tour, "Kun ONE North America/U.K. Tour 2019", coming in early April 2019.[9] After wrapping up the tour on July 26, Kun released his second EP titled "Young", which consists of two songs, "Young" and "Blindfolded". Upon release, this EP did exceptionally well in Chinese music charts, selling 5.67 million copies in a week,[10] for which he was dubbed "King of Digital Singles".[11]

  1. ^ China News Network (October 8, 2016). "SWIN-S成员名单首曝光 首秀将与李玟Usher同台-中新网" [SWIN-S member list first revealed, debut show will be with Coco Lee Usher]. China News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. ^ Ran (April 6, 2018). "偶练九人团出道！蔡徐坤范丞丞无悬念 林彦俊爆冷" [The nine-member Idol Producer group has debuted! Cai Xukun and Fan Cheng Cheng have no problem with Lin Yanjun's sudden appearance.]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Zhang, He (August 2, 2018). Yang, Ziming (ed.). "蔡徐坤20岁生日发布全新EP《1》 拍MV时曾喝到脏水后呕吐" [Cai Xukun Releases New EP "1" on his 20th Birthday. He once vomited after drinking contaminated water while filming the MV.]. BJ News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Zhang, Qiwen (November 21, 2019). "蔡徐坤的新歌, 好像一次大型"摊牌"现场" [Cai Xukun's new song is like a big "showdown"]. Elle China (in Chinese). Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Northern Network (November 29, 2018). "蔡徐坤亮相时尚盛典 斩获年度青春美丽偶像" [Cai Xukun appears in the Fashion Ceremony and wins the Youth Beauty Idol of the Year]. People's Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Livia (November 30, 2018). "Nine Percent发布首专合体营业：新生代男团的模式摸索" [Nine Percent releases their first album: exploring the model for the new generation of boy groups]. 36kr (in Chinese). Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "Cai Xukun awarded the ambassador of China and Jamaica". Xinhuanet. Xinhua Comprehensive. January 10, 2019. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  9. ^ Billboard Radio China (March 8, 2019). "China's 'Idol Producer' KUN Announces Debut Solo 'ONE' Tour in North America & U.K." Billboard. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Kang, John; Loan, Khong; Kim, Jeanhee; Lee, Emma Chi Wei; Wang, Yue; Wells, Jennifer (December 10, 2020). Watson, Rana Wehbe (ed.). "Forbes Asia's 100 Digital Stars". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  11. ^ China Youth Net (March 30, 2020). "蔡徐坤专业点评直击痛点 舞台指导干货满满" [Cai Xukun's professional comments hit the right sore points, and his stage guidance is full of dry facts]. Baidu (in Chinese). Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.