Huang Zitao (Chinese: 黃子韜; born May 2, 1993), also known as Tao, is a Chinese singer-songwriter, rapper, actor, model, and a former member of Korean-Chinese boy band EXO and its Chinese sub-group EXO-M. Scouted at a talent show in 2010, he moved to South Korea to become an idol trainee, later debuting as a member of EXO in 2012.
In June 2015, Huang set up a Chinese agency, 黄子韬Z.TAO Studio to manage his solo activities. In August of the same year, he filed a lawsuit against his company SM Entertainment, claiming that his 10-year contract had unjust terms and said he lacks freedom due to the long contract period. He then left EXO, returning to China, where he continued his activities as a musician: however, SM Entertainment filed a lawsuit against Huang regarding his solo activities. Chinese courts ruled that Huang was entitled to use his name and image for solo activities in China, and dismissed the lawsuit.
He made his solo debut in China 2015 with the mini-album TAO, under the new stage name Z.Tao. Huang made his acting debut in the romantic movie You Are My Sunshine and later received recognition for his leading roles in Negotiator and The Brightest Star in the Sky.
In July 2018, Huang established his own agency called L.TAO Entertainment. Huang has expanded his business further by opening a restaurant called Hao Shi and an architecture and design company called L.TAO Architecture and Design in June 2019. Huang ranked 25th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2017, and 35th in 2019.
- 2016 - The Road
- 2015 - TAO
- 2015 - Z.TAO
- 2019 - Art is Blue
- 2019 - Music is Blue
- 2016 - Adore
- 2015 - You Are My Sunshine, as William
- 2016 - Railroad Tigers, as Da Hai
- 2017 - 'The Game Changer'', as Fang Jie
- 2017 - Edge of Innocence, as Kang Qiao
- 2016 - L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties, as Yin Chen
- 2017 - 'XXX Return Of Xander Cage, as Nicks
- 2017 - Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, as Tang Sanzang
- 2017 - Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, as Captain Neza
- 2017 - Europe Raiders, as Le Qi
- 2018 - L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties 2, as Yin Chen
- 2015 - EXO Next Door, as himself
- 2017 - A Chinese Odyssey: Love You A Million Years, as Zhi Zunbao
- 2018 - Negotiator, as Xie Xiaofei
- 2019 - The Brightest Star in the Sky , as Zheng Boxu
- 2019 - The Files of Teenagers in the Concession, as Wu Qian
- 2019 - Legend of Youth, as Chong Liming
Z.Tao provides examples of the following tropes:
- Animal Motif: Panda, due to his Creepy Shadowed Undereyes.
- Badass Adorable: He is a Wushu champion.
- Creepy Shadowed Undereyes: He was born with it.
- Meaningful Name: Zitao means "hidden talents".
- Time Master: His superpower when he was in EXO.
