Obsessed with BTS? Here’s everything to know about RM

The K-pop sensation that is BTS has been enrapturing hearts for years. When the band was formed in 2010, one could’ve never guessed the K-pop commotion they would cause after their 2013 debut. These seven members blossomed into musical stars that captivate many around the globe. 

One of the most fun things about being a K-pop fan is learning everything there is to know about the band members you love. Everyone’s favorite clumsy genius of a BTS member is RM and we’d like to give you the 411 on this band leader. RM has always been artistic, but he wasn’t always a rap god. Learn about RM’s poetic beginnings and much more by reading on. 

Growing up RM 

Kim Nam-joon, otherwise known as RM, was a creative child. RM was born in Dongjak-gu, South Korea on September 12, 1994. His family later moved to Ilsan-gu when he was four or five. There he excelled in school. 

RM used to want to pursue a literary career because he was so talented at writing poetry. He used to post his poems online where he grew to be relatively popular and won many awards for his writings. At the age of eleven, RM’s focus on a literary career began to shift. Hearing the song “Fly” by Epik High in fifth grade was the catalyst. 

It was only natural that RM’s knack for writing poetry turned into a passion for writing lyrics. In reality, rap lyrics are just poetry put to music, so this mind-shift was a smooth transition for RM. RM was so excited about the art of rap that he would print his favorite lyrics out to show to friends, and in his first year of middle school, he became involved with local amateur hip hop circles. 

It was in 2007 that RM created his first self-composed recording. He did this with the help of the program Adobe Edit and performed in his first concert in 2008. RM may not have recognized the trajectory of his career at the time, but he was on his way to K-pop stardom. 

How RM became BTS 

RM’s parents weren’t too happy about his obsession with rap and hip hop. They saw his focus shifting from academics to a musical career and thought he was wasting his potential. After all, their son had an above average IQ and had scored in the top 1% of South Korea in university entrance exams. 

For a while they convinced RM to put his music career on the back burner in favor of school, but it didn’t last long. RM’s love for rap and music production couldn’t be stifled. He pleaded with his parents to let him follow his dreams. RM asked his mother if “she wanted to have a son who was a first place rapper, or a 5000th place student.” 

If you can believe it, RM once participated in an audition for Big Deal Records during which he totally bombed it by forgetting all his lyrics. This wasn’t a complete waste of a day though, because a rapper named Sleepy exchanged contact information with RM and later recommended him to Big Hit Entertainment. In 2010, Sleepy encouraged RM to audition for Big Hit Entertainment and RM was offered a spot at the label. 

Unknown to his parents, RM accepted the offer and the cracklings of the big bang that formed BTS began to fizzle. Big Hit producer Bang Si-hyuk and producer Pdogg soon started the production of a hip hop group. This hip hop group would later be known as the Bangtang Boys (or BTS). RM debuted as a member and leader of BTS in 2013. The rest is history. 

American hip hop magazine XXL included RM in their list of “10 Korean Rappers You Should Know.” They said, “ Rap Monster rarely fails to live up to his name,” and went on to describe him as “one of the region’s most dextrous rappers, capable of switching flows effortlessly as he glides across an array of diverse instrumentals.” 

Fun facts about BTS’s RM 

RM has an IQ of 148. His rampant clumsiness isn’t an indicator of the intelligence pinging around in his brain. RM always takes the lead during English interviews since he’s the most fluent of all the BTS members. Jungkook is striving to learn English as well so he can help RM out, but is not quite there yet. 

RM is a master at losing AirPods, a fact fans enjoy lovingly making fun of him for. One wonders if the guy should just stick to headphones and call it an artistic choice after losing thirty-three pairs of them, but to each their own. RM has one younger sister. He also used to go under the moniker “Runch Randa” when he was part of the underground hip hop scene. 

The nickname Rap Monster, which he chose during his idol training, was officially changed to RM in November of 2017. RM felt he didn’t fully identify with the name anymore and wanted the flexibility of initials with multiple meanings. Whatever this rap genius may change his name to in the future, we’re sure his diehard fans will have no qualms about following him on his music journey.