Chinese EXO member Tao seems to have made up his mind to exit the popular Chinese-Korean idol group. After setting up his one-man studio in China last month, the 22-year-old lead rapper of EXO has reportedly dropped a big hint that he will be releasing his solo music album on July 13.

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He took to his official Weibo account and posted a mysterious image. The text on it says "Z.Tao [in English], Huang Zi Tao [in Chinese]" and "7.13." The image looks like that of tunnel under the bridge, according to Soompi.    

Tao, whose real name is Huang Zitao, is reportedly releasing his first solo album on July 13, and the image is a teaser of his upcoming solo offering, Soompi claimed. 

Meanwhile, last month, Tayla Parx, a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter, posted a selfie of herself with Tao on her Instagram account, according to Korea Boo. His recent photos, taken in a dance studio, also suggested that he was learning dance from a Western choreographer. Korea Boo reported that he may perform a Western-style dance next time.  

Tao's father was the first to indicate that his son may exit EXO as he was thinking of contract termination. In a letter posted on Weibo on April 22, he wrote that he wanted his son to return to China because of health issues and business reasons. Soon after that, Tao flew to the United States to receive treatment for his injuries as well as to pursue studies.

He has not participated in any EXO activity since April but has been busy with his solo activities. He has signed on lucrative, solo endorsement deals, and after setting up his own agency in China, he was seen recording solo in his newly established one-man studio.

Recently, SM Management removed Tao from EXO-M's official Facebook page. He has become the third member, after Krish and Luhan, to be removed from the page. Unlike Kris and Luhan, Tao has yet to announce his departure from the popular idol group. Kris and Luhan quit the group last year and filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment, seeking termination of their contracts.   

TagsTao, EXO, EXO Tao, SM Entertainment, Tao solo album, Tao Chinese ablum