Born on September 12, 1994, in Dongjak, South Korea, Kim Namjoon turns 28 this year with an inspiring legacy already growing under his name. From writing poetry to drafting lyrics to rapping from the underground scene all the way to the biggest stages in the world, he has woven a path for himself with his artistry, eloquence, and passion for his creative work.
RM grew up in Ilsan with his family. As a child and pre-teen, he often wrote impressive poetry that he shared with classes and online forums. He won multiple awards for his poetry, and at the time planned on pursuing the medium as a career. However, upon being introduced to the renowned South Korean rap group Epik High, he gained an interest in rap/hip-hop. He began applying his poetic skills to come up with rap verses to share with his peers. In middle school, his journey as a rapper began. He started off participating in amateur hip-hop groups and went on to become active in the underground Korean rap scene. He composed his first recording of his own written rap songs and performed in his first concert while still in middle school. His connections and activity in these rap circles produced collaborations with other up-and-coming hip-hop artists of the time.
RM’s first “stage name” was Runch Randa, but he adopted his first official moniker “Rap Monster” when he was recruited to the company Big Hit in 2010. The name was inspired by San E and was derived from one of RM’s own original rap songs. He got connected with Big Hit by way of the rapper Sleepy who suggested the young artist to CEO Bang Si-hyuk. RM was offered a position with the company and accepted immediately, kickstarting the creation of Big Hit’s then-newest boy hip-hop group – the group that went on to become BTS. RM officially joined Big Hit Entertainment at the age of 16.
His career with Big Hit immediately consisted of training, recording, performing, and writing, being credited on multiple pre-debut BTS tracks, and even songwriting for the girl group Glam. He has been a notable featured artist and songwriter on multiple works since the start of his career. He debuted with BTS as a group on June 13, 2013. The group went on to soon after release their first EP O!RUL8,2? and first album Dark & Wild, with both records including an introductory track performed as a solo song by RM. Since then, intro tracks performed by RM have become a staple part of his catalog as a part of BTS.
He released his first solo mixtape in March of 2015, the mixtape simply titled RM. This record is a foundational piece to the landmark artist that is Kim Namjoon. His passion, youthful yet wise spirit, and confidence ooze out of every track. They still hold up their impactful messages and musicality to this day. Later on, in 2018, RM released his next and most recent mixtape, mono. This album laid bare Namjoon’s most honest thoughts and feelings at the time. The album feels simultaneously and intermittently comforting and melancholic as we journey through RM’s point of view. His expert lyricism shines in both of his mixtapes in unique ways.
RM’s songwriting chops and charismatic presence radiates both through his solo and collaborative works as well as throughout the discography and performances of BTS. He adds a refreshing and enticing dynamic to any track he makes an appearance on, bringing his lyrical depth and strong vocal presence to the forefront. As part of BTS, he adds to a team of impeccable artists that build on and highlight each other’s strengths. The group has varying styles of lyricism, dancing, vocals, flow, and performance, each making up an irreplaceable part of the whole. From the beginning, RM’s work has shown his talents not only in his initial interest of poetry but also a grasp of meter, wordplay, and delivery, coupled with raw emotional honesty - pillars of what makes a great rapper into one of the greatest.
In the past nine years since the debut of BTS, RM has been a part of some of the most ground-breaking moments in modern music industry history. The group has broken down barriers in the world of pop and hip-hop music and culture. The level of excellence of their art is a monument to music in itself. Their global impact has made their talent and their quality of both art and personhood undeniable. They have now won multiple awards on major music awards shows, often being the first Korean act to win such titles on Western programs. This comes not simply through their award-deserving music and visual production but also by the walls they and ARMY have pushed through – using the strength that comes from both working towards and supporting the creation of something intrinsically good. They have now appeared and spoken at the UN twice, with RM’s speech from their 2018 visit having become one of his most quoted and widely-known public speaking moments thus far. His writing and speaking skills are a testament to the value of poetry and humanness in both general and artistic/musical spaces. RM carries himself with an air of both leadership and wisdom but also with a kindness and openness that only makes him even more admirable as a leader and artist.
RM’s impact reaches beyond the world of just music and songwriting. His positive influence is apparent if you look at the ways his sentiments and lifestyle inspire ARMY and ripples out from us. His interest in literature and art that he shares inspires others to enrich their own lives with those things. This has effectively sparked the creation of book clubs/reading lists based on his recommendations and increasing traffic to art museums and spaces. Initiatives that range from simple monthly reading goals to projects made to preserve and feature literary and creative spaces have been inspired by his stake in the value of such things.
Namjoon’s hobby of visiting art galleries and collecting pieces started with his visit to the Chicago Art Institute in 2017 and has since grown to become an apparent passion and integral part of his daily life. He himself is changing the view of who is “qualified” to enjoy and appreciate all disciplines of art, opening up the often intimidating world of fine art - historically dominated by white European and American men - to young people of all socio-political and ethnic demographics. He places an importance on sharing South Korean artists he admires, highlighting the artistry of his own culture and identity. He has also both shared and collected works by notable LGBT+ artists. Now, after these years of artistry and inspiration, he has already contributed to the world, RM is continuing on his dynamic path of music and art alongside BTS and cementing himself as a living legacy. His impact is already so significant that he need not wait for the posthumous glory of artists like Van Gogh or Monet – the implications of his talent and expression are evident and only growing as we speak.
Kim Namjoon has shown us that true leadership is caring, honest, and thoughtful – that creativity and emotion is not only good but essential. He lifts the spirits and inspires the minds of all he reaches. Turning 28 this year, RM is an example (alongside the whole of BTS) that adulthood is not the absence of youth or youthfulness – that our capacity for joy and appreciation of the simple awes of life is unending. His impressive knack for songwriting and performing has culminated in some of the best pop and rap music of our time, shown in eloquence, composition, and production, but also in the appreciation and praise it garners among fans and beyond. Like the art pieces he has collected and displays in his home and studio, Kim Namjoon’s journey as an artist and human is a continuously growing gallery of his talent, personality, and impressions on the world around him.
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Written By: Sav
Edited By: Aury
Checked By: Miranda
