Timoteo was formerly an SM Entertainment trainee and was supposed to be the member of Exo. Taehyun was exposed to the krump dancing style as Kid Monster, active as a member of a dance group named Monster Woo Fam from 2007–2008. Yoonsan had been living in France for eight years, and was scouted while drinking coffee during his vacation in South Korea.
2014–2016: Debut
Hotshot released their debut single, "Take a Shot", on October 29, 2014. On December 6, it was reported that Hotshot were involved in a light car accident after MBC's Show! Music Core, resulting in with minor injuries. Hotshot released their second digital single, "Midnight Sun" on March 25, 2015, followed by their first extended play, Am I Hotshot?, released on April 24, 2015. The EP consisted of five tracks with "Watch Out", as well as their previous single "Take a Shot" and "Midnight Sun". On July 2, a repackaged edition of Am I Hotshot?, titled I'm A Hotshot, was released containing the original tracks from Am I Hotshot? along with two new songs, including the single "I'm A Hotshot". On June 8, 2016, Hotshot released their debut Japanese single "Step by Step", with the lead song of the same name, "One More Try" and the instrumental version of "Step by Step".
2017–2018: Project group and ''Early Flowering''
Taehyun and Sungwoon participated in the survival television seriesProduce 101 Season 2 during the first half of 2017. The series concluded with one of the two competing members, Sungwoon, ranking 11th and becoming a member of the temporary boy groupWanna One. Taehyun was eliminated, ranking 25th overall. Due to the nature of the contract between Wanna One members and CJ E&M, Sungwoon would promote as a member of Wanna One until December 2018, after which he will return to promote as a regular member of Hotshot again. The remaining five members released a digital single titled "Jelly" on July 15, 2017. Star Crew Entertainment confirmed that Taehyun would be joining the Produce 101 Season 2 fan-created group JBJ and would promote for seven months under Fave Entertainment. JBJ debuted on October 18, 2017 and disbanded on April 30, 2018. From October 2017 to February 2018, Timoteo and Hojung participated in the reality television series . When the show ended, Hojung ranked 3rd, putting him in the top nine and the line-up of project boy group UNB. Timoteo finished 10th.Hojung would promote as a member of UNB for seven months and will be extended up to twenty-five months if the group gained successful,also allowed the project group members to do activities under their respective companies while UNB was on break. On November 15, Hotshot released their second EP Early Flowering with the lead single "I Hate You".
