Jay B (GOT7) Profile & Facts (Updated 2024)

Jay B, also known as JB (제이비), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor under Mauve Company. He is a member of the boy group GOT7 and its subunit JJ Project and Jus2. He debuted solo on May 14, 2021, with the single “Switch It Up”.

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Jay B (GOT7) Profile

Stage Name	Jay B, formerly JB (제이비)
Birth Name	Im Jae Beom (임재범)
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, Actor
Birthday	January 6, 1994
Active Years	2014–present
Age	30 (in 2024)
Zodiac Sign	Capricorn
Height	179 cm (5’10.5″)
Weight	70 kg (154 lbs)
Nationality	Korean
Blood Type	A
MBTI	ENTJ

Jay B (GOT7) Facts:

Early Life

– Jay B was born in Goyang city, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
– He went to Goyang Gwansan Elementary School and Goyang Jeil Middle School.
– His parents divorced due to his father’s issues with alcohol, and he lived with his mother and stepfather.
– He attended Sewon High School and later majored in film at Geonguk University.

Personal Life

– He does not have any siblings.
– He dropped out from Konkuk University and enrolled in International Cyber University (Entertainment / Bachelor of Science)
– He has five cats, including Nora (GOT7’s cat), Kunta, and Odd.
– He wanted to become an idol after watching the boy group g.o.d perform. (Esquire HK)
– His worst fear is cockroaches even more than ghosts (Warner Music Singapore).
– His former dorm partner was Youngjae, and then Jackson.
– He doesn’t consider himself a hustler and he gets inspired by watching Sik-K working. (Esquire Korea)
– Jay B used to listen to James Brown during his b-boying days.
– He would like to get a barista certificate in the future.
– If he could be anyone for one day, he would want to be a cat or dog.
– He doesn’t believe in superstitions. (Warner Music Singapore)
– He had panic and anxiety disorders so he always carried medicines with him (Arena Interview)
– His family has a tomato farm in Illsan, South Korea.
– He felt conflicted between his idol life and his interest in hip-hop but now he thinks making good music is enough. (Vogue Korea)
– He had his first kiss at the age of 13.
– He picked up the hobby of photography after watching the 2003 Japanese movie “Love College”. (Teenvogue)
– His life motto is “Let’s work hard. Be a man! Be righteous like a tiger.”
– He recommends Haruki Murakami’s books for someone who feels down. (ESQUIRE Korea)
– He doesn’t have any ideals or role models because he believes that people change with the environment. (Esquire HK)
– He along with Jinyoung and Yugyeom are avid book readers.
– He draws his songwriting inspiration from his daily imagination as well as books and movies.
– He started making music after he started liking D-Angelo.
– On July 7, 2022, it was announced that he had been in a relationship with special effects artist and YouTuber PURE.D.
– After an over-year-long relationship, he and PURE.D announced their separation on February 10, 2023.
– Jay B’s ideal type is a cute girl who captures his attention.

B-boying & Auditioning at JYP

– His stage name as a b-boy was “Defsoul” and he began b-boying in his third of middle school.
– He used to listen to funk and soul genres a lot as a b-boy. (Esquire Korea)
– He wasn’t interested in becoming a singer and worked as a b-boy assistant referee but his father pushed him to attend the 2009 JYP auditions.
– He won first place at the JYP Open Audition along with Jinyoung among 10,000 applicants.

Career

– Jay B is the leader, main vocalist, lead dancer, and center in GOT7.
– He was a trainee for 2.5 years.
– He appeared in the dramas, ‘Dream High 2’ (2012) and ‘When a Man Falls In Love’ (2013).
– He also appeared in the group’s drama “Dream Knight”.
– He uploads his songs on SoundCloud under the pseudonym “Def”.
– He wrote GOT7’s major hits songs including “You Are” and “LOOK.”
– On May 11, 2021, he officially signed with H1GHR MUSIC following the expiration of his contract with JYP Entertainment.
– He was a fixed member of the tvN program “Prison Life of Fools,” alongside SEVENTEEN‘s Seungkwan and IZ*ONE‘s Yena.
– On February 22, 2021, he changed his stage name from JB to Jay B.
– On July 23, 2023, he terminated his contract with CDNZA Records and later entered into an exclusive contract with Mauve Company on October 6, 2023.
– His song “Switch It Up” was banned by one of the largest TV and radio broadcasters KBS because of its “excessively intimate” lyrics. (Allure)
– His mandatory military service began in early February 2023.

Difference between Def and Jay B

– Jay B said that the main difference between Jay B and Def. is that Jay B creates music that fans want to hear while Def creates music that he wants fans to listen to. (Esquire Korea)
– He doesn’t read comments on his work as Def because he doesn’t want positive or negative feedback and just wants to express himself. (Arena Korea)
– He said Def is a window to resolve what he could not solve as Jay B and he believes it’s important to be honest when he is making music as Def. (Marie Claire Korea)
– He got the inspiration for the name “Def” from Musiq Soulchild music videos. (L’officiel Phillipines)

Likes & Dislikes

– His favorite color is grey.
– His favorite music genre is R&B and likes Musiq Soulchild and Maxwell’s music.
– His favorite jewelry is rings. (Hommes Thailand)
– He has loved photography since middle school.
– He likes to read poetry collections. (Esquire HK)
– He enjoys camping traditionally and often sets up the tent himself.
– He likes to search for short videos about life and philosophy on YouTube. (Esquire HK)
– He loves to visit the mountains and nature to recharge and collect his thoughts. (Teenvogue)
– He loves anything with old and vintage style.

Food Preferences

– He likes eating snacks like dried octopus and beef jerky. (Harper’s BAZAAR)
– He often eats sashimi the most.
– He loves to eat Soy sauce-marinated crab bimimbab.
– His favorite beverages are Korean Sprite and Coca-Cola.
– He likes wine with sweetness and subscribed to a service that delivers two bottles of wine to his house with their description.
– He is fan of the popular Korean snack “Home Run Ball”. (Harper’s BAZAAR)
– He likes burgers more than Pizza because he feels pizzas are too greasy.

Abilities

– He can play the piano.
– He is ambidextrous and can write with both hands.
– He learned how to scuba dive. (Allure)
– He is skilled in b-boying and photography.
– He can speak Korea and Japanese.

Personality & Habits

– Jay B used to get angry easily during his early debut days but now is more laid back and chill.
– He considers himself a minimalist and doesn’t go on shopping sprees. (Numéro Thailand)
– He likes to take notes and also regularly writes in his journal. (Esquire Korea)
– He describes himself in three words as “very free and more human being”.
– He considers himself a perfectionist in his career but away from work, he just likes to chill and enjoy daily life like everyone else. (Allure)