“I’ll Risk My Career Saying This.. It’s Just Bad”—Veteran Rapper Slams G-Dragon’s Comeback Track Again

Veteran artist Lee Ha-neul of DJ DOC is once again under fire after taking public aim at BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, openly criticizing the latter’s new track “TOO BAD” during a recent livestream.

In the broadcast, Lee didn’t hold back, saying, “Should I be honest? The new song’s just not good.” He continued, “I don’t get it. I don’t know what this song is trying to do.” He also mocked the choreography of the TOO BAD challenge—mimicking the double-arm move with exaggerated gestures while laughing.

Lee then doubled down, saying, “I’ll say this even if it ruins my channel. Even if it ruins my life. It’s just bad. F**.”* The harsh language sparked immediate backlash online.

This isn’t the first time Lee Ha-neul has publicly criticized G-Dragon. Back in November 2024, he commented on G-Dragon’s artistic output, saying, “I respect him, but this latest release fell short of expectations. Usually, I’m impressed with whatever he puts out, but this time… it felt like I could actually compete with him.”

That statement was later edited into a YouTube Shorts video titled “G-Dragon Disappoints”, which drew intense criticism for clout-chasing. Comments like “Focus on your own music” and “Stop using GD for views” flooded in, prompting the video’s removal.

Context: DJ DOC’s Lee Ha-neul on G-Dragon’s New Song: “We’re Just Different”

Lee Ha-neul, member of legendary hip-hop group DJ DOC, stirred conversation in the K-pop scene—this time by sharing his honest thoughts on G-Dragon's latest release.

In a recent video uploaded to his personal YouTube channel, Lee revealed that he plans to release his own new single this February, stating, “There’s no point in dropping a song at the end of the year. You know what would’ve been a disaster? Releasing it now. The whole scene exploded. It’s the biggest moment since 'Gangnam Style.'”

Using a metaphor, he added, “It’s like an apartment exploded—I managed to avoid it. Other artists dropped songs too, but no one heard them. That’s how big G-Dragon’s comeback was.”

However, Lee didn’t shy away from sharing his underwhelmed reaction to G-Dragon’s latest title track “TOO BAD.”

“I respect GD, but the song didn’t meet my expectations,” he said. “I normally love what he puts out, but this one… if I had released my own album at the same time, I wouldn’t have minded. I think I could compete.”

Still, he clarified that his comments weren’t meant as an attack:

“I’m not saying the song is bad—we just operate on different wavelengths.”

This isn't the first time Lee Ha-neul has offered blunt commentary on his peers in the industry. While some viewers appreciate his unfiltered take, others have accused him of using G-Dragon’s name for attention, especially given the massive success surrounding G-Dragon’s comeback album Übermensch and his sold-out world tour.

With both artists preparing to make waves in 2025, fans are watching closely to see whether Lee’s upcoming release will hold its own in the post-GD storm.

G-Dragon Stays Unshaken Amid Kim Soo-hyun Fallout and Lee Ha-neul Digs—All Eyes on His World Tour

Notably, G-Dragon was set to appear in the MBC music reality project Good Day, alongside fellow stars Kim Soo-hyun, Jung Hae-in, Lee Soo-hyuk, Im Si-wan, and Hwang Kwang-hee, forming the project group known as ‘88’. The show aimed to bring together artists from different fields to create this year’s most meaningful song.

However, the show’s future was derailed after Kim Soo-hyun became embroiled in controversy involving his alleged past relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron. With public backlash mounting, the producers chose to cancel the March 23 broadcast and reportedly edited out Kim Soo-hyun's footage entirely—throwing the 88z project into limbo after just one month.

Adding to the storm, Lee Ha-neul of DJ DOC took public aim at G-Dragon during a recent livestream. He criticized the title track “TOO BAD” from G-Dragon’s new album, saying, “Should I be honest? It’s just not good.” He went further, mocking the dance challenge, saying he didn’t understand why others were hyping it up.

“I'll say it even if this ruins my channel—or my life. It’s just bad. F**,”* he added, stirring major backlash for his profanity and tone.

This isn’t his first time targeting GD. He previously downplayed “POWER”, a pre-release single from the same album, saying “I respect GD, but this release was underwhelming. I could’ve competed with that.”

Fans quickly pushed back online, accusing Lee of using G-Dragon for attention, while GD remained silent—focusing instead on his tour and comeback activities.

Despite swirling controversies—from the fallout of Good Day involving Kim Soo-hyun to sharp public jabs by Lee Ha-neul—G-Dragon remains unfazed as he gears up for his highly anticipated Übermensch world tour.

On March 24, the BIGBANG frontman posted a nostalgic photo on social media, recalling his first solo world tour from 2013. The photo featured a handwritten note dated March 28, 2013, reading, “The concert is just around the corner. Ttuwah!”—a playful shout of excitement just days before he kicked off what would become a legendary tour.

G-Dragon’s 2013 One of a Kind tour spanned 13 cities in 8 countries with 27 shows and over 570,000 fans in attendance, including the first-ever four-dome tour in Japan by a Korean solo artist. He followed it with another successful world tour in 2017.

Now, in 2025, he’s back and bigger than ever. His latest world tour kicks off on March 29–30 at Goyang Stadium, just outside Seoul. From there, the Übermensch tour will head to:

Tokyo, Japan – May 10–11

Bulacan, Philippines

Osaka, Japan

Macau, China

Taipei, Taiwan

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jakarta, Indonesia

Hong Kong

Spanning 8 cities in 7 Asian countries, the tour has already sold out multiple dates—adding to the growing anticipation around G-Dragon’s full comeback.

In the same social media post, he even included a thumbs-up emoji—the same symbol fans flooded him with during his 2013 tour—signaling a confident and cheeky nod to his past success and the epic return he’s about to make.

G-Dragon’s Comeback Continues to Soar

Despite the criticism, G-Dragon made a powerful return with his third full-length album Ubermensch, released on February 25, 2025. The album features eight tracks, including:

“TOO BAD” (Title track)

“POWER” (Pre-release)

“HOME SWEET HOME”

“DRAMA”

His comeback has been met with overwhelming support from fans. The TOO BAD dance challenge went viral on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, while his Übermensch World Tour sold out stadiums across Korea and Asia.

Many netizens came to G-Dragon’s defense, with comments like “You don’t have to like the song, but mocking the challenge and swearing on livestream is just petty,” and “G-Dragon is busy breaking records—why is Lee Ha-neul trying to tear him down?”

While artistic critique is part of the industry, Lee Ha-neul’s delivery—and track record of targeting G-Dragon—has left fans questioning the intent behind his repeated jabs. As of now, no official response has been made by G-Dragon or his label.

Despite external distractions, the album has been critically praised, and his brand reputation has soared—landing him the No.1 spot in March’s Idol Brand Power Rankings, ahead of BLACKPINK’s Jennie, aespa’s Karina, and BTS’s J-Hope.

With sold-out stadiums, a loyal fanbase, and unmatched star power, G-Dragon proves once again that true legends don’t crumble—they rise.