Lay Zhang檢視原始碼討論檢視歷史

Lay Zhang the picture originates from imdb

Lay Zhang (Chinese: 張藝興; pinyin: Zhāng Yìxīng; born October 7, 1991), known mononymously as Lay, is a Chinese rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, record producer, and businessman. He first gained international recognition in 2012 as a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO and its sub-group EXO-M under SM Entertainment. Since then, he has established himself as a successful solo artist in both China and internationally, and is the founder and CEO of Chromosome Entertainment Group .

Early Life and Education

Zhang Yixing was born as Zhang Jiashuai (張加帥) on October 7, 1991, in Changsha, Hunan, China . His legal name was later changed to Zhang Yixing. He was born into a scholarly family; his great-grandfather was the Chinese political figure Cheng Xingling, and his grandfather was a former Party branch secretary and principal of Wangluyuan Primary School . His parents were educators, with his father and grandparents being teachers, while his mother ran a clothing store. His mother, a fan of Michael Jackson, encouraged him from a young age to learn singing, musical instruments, and dance .

As a child, Zhang was a child actor, appearing in the television drama We the People (1998) at the age of seven . In 2005, he gained local attention by participating in the Hunan Economic Channel talent show Star Academy, where he finished in third place . In 2008, at the age of 17, he successfully auditioned for South Korea's SM Entertainment through their global casting in Wuhan and subsequently moved to South Korea to begin his training . Before his official debut, he gained experience by performing as a replacement dancer for SHINee member Jonghyun during their tour in 2010 .

Career

2012–2015: Debut with EXO and Solo Activities in China

In 2012, Zhang was officially introduced as a member of EXO under the stage name "Lay" . The group debuted in April with the single "Mama" and quickly rose to stardom, with albums like XOXO achieving million-seller status in South Korea . Within EXO, Lay served as a main dancer and a sub-vocalist . He began contributing musically early on, composing and performing his own song "I'm Lay" during EXO's first solo concert tour in 2014. He also composed the song "Promise" for the group's repackaged second studio album, Love Me Right .

In April 2015, SM Entertainment made a historic move by granting Zhang permission to establish a personal studio in China to manage his solo activities there. This made him the first artist in the company's 26-year history to receive such autonomy . That same year, he became a fixed cast member on the popular Chinese reality show Go Fighting!, which significantly boosted his recognition in China . He also released an autobiography, Standing Firm at 24, which was a commercial success, and made his film debut with supporting roles in *Ex-Files 2* and Oh My God .

2016–2019: Solo Music Debut and International Breakthrough

In October 2016, Zhang made his official solo debut with the extended play (EP) Lose Control. He was heavily involved in its production, writing, arranging, and even translating the lyrics. The EP was a commercial success, topping the Gaon Album Chart in South Korea and peaking at number four on the Billboard World Albums chart .

He continued his solo trajectory with his first studio album, Lay 02 Sheep (2017), which also charted on the Billboard World Albums chart . His international profile grew significantly with the release of his second studio album, Namanana (2018). The album was released in both Mandarin and English versions, featured a collaboration with Bazzi, and reached number 21 on the Billboard 200, a then-career-high and a notable achievement for a Chinese solo artist. It also topped the Billboard World Albums and Independent Albums charts .

During this period, Zhang also continued his acting career, starring in films such as Kung Fu Yoga (2017) alongside Jackie Chan and The Island (2018). His performance in The Island earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 25th Huading Awards . He also served as the "National Producer Representative" on the hit idol survival show Idol Producer in 2018 . From 2017 to 2021, he performed at the CCTV New Year's Gala for five consecutive years .

2020–Present: Chromosome Entertainment and Continued Expansion

In 2020, Zhang founded his own entertainment company, Chromosome Entertainment Group, and serves as its CEO. The company is involved in talent development, artist management, and music production . He continued to release music, exploring his self-defined "M-POP" style, which blends Mandarin with other musical elements, as heard in his album Lit (2020) .

His acting work continued to garner attention, most notably for his role as Pan Sheng in the critically acclaimed box office hit No More Bets (2023) . In 2022, after his contract with SM Entertainment expired, he did not renew, though he stated he would remain open to promoting with EXO in the future . He subsequently signed a global record deal with Warner Music in 2023 . His recent activities include producing films based on Chinese folklore and launching an AI-collaborative music production lab in Beijing .

Artistry and Public Image

Zhang is known for his precise choreography and soulful vocals. His music often fuses traditional Chinese instrumentation with modern pop, hip-hop, and electronic sounds, a style he has championed as part of the "C-Pop" genre . As a producer, he is deeply involved in conceptualizing his albums, music videos, and stage productions .

Due to his positive public image, Zhang has been selected as an ambassador for numerous official organizations. He served as the publicity ambassador for the Communist Youth League of China in Changsha for five consecutive years starting in 2016 . He has also been named a promotion ambassador for Chinese street dance, internet integrity, and tax services, among others . He has appeared on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list multiple times .

Personal Life

Zhang was previously in a relationship with SM Entertainment, but details of his current personal life are kept private. He is known for his strong work ethic, often referred to by his nickname "Little Effort" (小努力) .

Discography

Studio Albums

Lay 02 Sheep (2017)

Namanana (2018)

Lit (2020)

East (2021)

Extended Plays (EPs)

Lose Control (2016)

Winter Special Gift (2017)

Honey (2019)

Filmography

Selected Films

Ex-Files 2* (2015)

Kung Fu Yoga (2017)

The Island (2018)

No More Bets (2023)

A Legend (2024)

Selected Television Dramas

To Be a Better Man (2016)

The Mystic Nine (2016)

The Golden Eyes (2019)

Ming Dynasty (2019)

Crime Crackdown (2021)

Challenges at Midlife (2022)