Early Life and Trainee Years[edit]

B.I was first introduced to public at age 13 as a featured rapper in MC Mong's track "Indian Boy" (2009). Along with appearing in the "Indian Boy music video", he appeared in live performances of the song and had a cameo appearance in MC Mong's follow up "Horror Show" music video.

B.I joined YG Entertainment as a trainee in January 2011, where and fellow trainees Bobby and Kim Jinhwan became the foundation of the future six-member "Team B". Team B was revealed to the public in Mnet reality-survival program show "Who is Next: WIN" (2013). In the show, Teams A and B three official battle rounds, each consisting of song arrangement, dance, and original song composition. The public would then vote on for their favorite performances, with the overall winning team moving on to debut and the losing team to be either rearranged or disbanded. As team leader, B.I led team dance choreography and song arrangement (a role he had occupied even prior to WIN). During WIN, he earned his first composition credit for the team's song finale "Climax". Team B ultimately lost the competition (with Team A moving on to debut under the name Winner), leaving the future of Team B in limbo.

In May 2014, YG Enter announced that B.I and Bobby would compete in Mnet's rap survival program "Show Me the Money'." Under the guidance of his team mentors Masta Wu and Tablo of Epik High, B.I progressed to the Top 8 and released one single ("BE I") before being eliminated in episode 7.

In August, Winner debuted with the title track "Empty", which had been composed and given to Winner by B.I as a gift. The song went on to top multiple music charts and earn #1 in various music programs.

Late 2014-present: iKON[edit]

Following the end of "Show Me The Money 3", YG announced that the members would be returning to compete in another reality survival show entitled "MIX & MATCH", which had been filming simultaneously with Show Me The Money 3. While B.I, Bobby, and Jinhwan were confirmed for three of the seven spots, the remaining three members of Team B are to compete with three new trainees for the four remaining places on the team. The three "[2]new members" are named Jung Chan Woo, Yang Hong Suk and Jung Jin Hyung. During the airing of "MIX & MATCH", B.I earned production credits for two more songs: the Team B single "Wait for Me" (composer & lyricist) and the Epik High collaboration track "Born Hater". Along with being a featured rapper alongside other guests Beenzino, Verbal Jint, Winner's Mino, and fellow iKON teammate Bobby, B.I was credited as a co-composer alongside DJ Tukutz.