K-Pop Star Taeyang Hits Billboard 200

From Billboard.com:

K-Pop Star Taeyang Hits Billboard 200

The BIGBANG member also goes No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums and Heatseekers Albums charts.

The album title from K-pop star Taeyang adequately describes his latest activity on a slew of Billboard charts. The singer/rapper's "Rise" LP soars into the Billboard 200, landing at No. 112. The all-Korean set sold 3,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Nearly four years after his last solo LP, "Rise" is the second full-length from Taeyang, a member of boy band BIGBANG. The set was led by the single "Eyes, Nose, Lips," a touching ballad with an adult-R&B sound. The single also tops the K-Pop Hot 100 (more on that later along with loads of fun chart stats).

On the Billboard 200, "Rise" surpasses previous chart positions hit by releases from BIGBANG and Taeyang's bandmate G-Dragon.

In 2012, BIGBANG hit No. 150 with their "Alive" album, selling 4,000 copies. Meanwhile G-Dragon, the leader of BIGBANG has landed two entries: His 2012 EP "One of a Kind" (No. 161) plus his "Coup D'etat, Pt. 1" EP from 2013 (No. 182).

"Rise" is now the third highest-charting K-pop album on America's definitive albums ranking. He follows behind 2NE1's "Crush" album (No. 61) and Girls' Generation's "Mr. Mr." EP (No. 110).

Meanwhile, "Rise" also rockets to No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums chart and Heatseekers Albums charts. His 2010 album "Solar" had previously hit No. 14 on World Albums in 2010.

And here's a particularly fun chart fact for VIPs (the affectionate nickname of BIGBANG fans): Taeyang is the third member of the K-pop quintet to chart a solo effort on both Heatseekers Albums and World Albums. He follows earlier charting efforts from both G-Dragon and BIGBANG singer Seungri.

Last November, Taeyang visited his U.S. fans to perform a solo concert in California as part of MTV Iggy and Intel's 'Music Experiment' series.

Over on the K-Pop Hot 100, the lead single from "Rise" has also risen to the top slot. "Eyes, Nose, Lips" jumps from No. 34 to No. 1 on the chart giving the 26-year-old his first solo No. 1. It's his third time topping the chart overall, counting BIGBANG's two No. 1s.

Taeyang also sees "Stay With Me," a collaboration track with G-Dragon, land at No. 7. Previously, Taeyang had only charted as high as No. 9 with the EDM-rap hybrid track "Ringa Linga," included on "Rise."