Active during his pre-debut days as an underground rapper ( Runch Randa ). 13-year-old Nam-joon was already a prodigy in rap, he'd often attended gigs in his hometown Ilcheon and earned a place for himself in the underground scene at an early age, impressing even older underground rappers. He had made a collab with the famous rapper Zico back in 2008, the track can be found on many platforms including YouTube and SoundCloud.
In early 2015, RM earned not only the approval from big names in the Korean Hip-hop scene, but he had also gained respect from the American Hip-hop figure Warren G. The two came together for the track "P.D.D", where RM asks his haters to stay alive to witness his success. The west coast rapper stated in an interview with CJ America, "I couldn’t understand all his lyrics, but I can say that it was very good because his flow, style, and rhythm are all excellent.” He then even went on to say, "When I hear Rap Monster’s songs, it sounds like Snoop Dogg or me rapping with the beats we’ve made.”
On March 4, 2015, RM released a single with Warren G entitled, "P.D.D (Please Don't Die)" ahead of his first solo mixtape RM following an offer by Warren G to collaborate. The track reflected how RM felt towards those who hated and criticized him at the time, which he used to find very upsetting.
That same March, RM collaborated with hip hop project group MFBTY, EE and Dino J on the song "Bucku Bucku". He featured in the song's music video and also had a cameo appearance in a music video for another song by MFBTY, "Bang Diggy Bang Bang".
He released his first solo mixtape in the same year, titled 'RM'. It's a work where Namjoon gives his take hip-hop's influence in his life, the hardships he'd experienced in pursuit of his career, as well as his struggle with self-love and self-acceptance. "Awakening", the third track of the mixtape, talked of his internal conflict between his two identities of "rapper" and "idol", as he had received backlash from the underground Hip-hop community prior to his debut with BTS, claiming that he'd betrayed his roots as a rapper. To this day, the mixtape is considered one of the best works inside the Korean Hip-Hop scene.
Following RM's release, he featured along with Kwon Jin-ah on Primary's "U" that April. In August, RM collaborated with Marvel for Fantastic Four's soundtrack in Korea, releasing the digital single, "Fantastic" featuring Mandy Ventrice.
In August 2016, vocal duo Homme released a single titled "Dilemma", which was co-produced by RM and Bang Si-hyuk.
In 2017 was released the track "Change", a collab between Wale and Rap Monster (RM). The song talks of global violence, the school system, social injustice, and bullying. The two conversed through lyrics, claiming that people were controlled by the higher power and voiced out their wish of a changing world.
In 2018, he came out with a second mixtape named "mono". A project containing a few collaborations (with artists such as HONNE, NELL, eAeon) where Nam-joon experimented with lofi Hip-Hop and ballad. Though different from his previous works, he was still able to showcase his soul-deep lyricism, where he often implemented his skill of using wordplay and metaphors to further reach his listeners. With this mixtape, he continued to explore his own identity and life through a microscope, touching topics like loneliness, self-doubt, longing, and even explored the concept of love and hate. 'mono' proved RM a unique artist of diversity and growth. The mixtape is available on Spotify, iTunes, and SoundCloud. During its first day of release, the mixtape reached high positions on stream platforms, giving RM a profile with verification, resulting in his becoming of a more acknowledged rapper, producer, and songwriter.
In December, RM collaborated on a remix of Fall Out Boy's song "Champion". The track reached number 18 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and helped RM reach number 46 on the Emerging Artists Chart for the week of January 8, 2018.
In November, RM also collaborated with Tiger JK on his last and final album under the stage name Drunken Tiger, featuring on the track "Timeless". Tiger JK originally expected RM's lyrics to contain self-praise, which was the trend of rap at the time; RM instead wrote lyrics about leaving behind the historical meaning of Drunken Tiger's name.
A lot of prestigious artists, from South Korea and EUA, found interest in RM and invited him for collaborations. Famous American rappers like Wale and Lil Nas X, even the rock group Fall Out Boy and famous Korean artists like Drunken Tiger and Gaeko.
On March 25, 2019, Honne announced that RM would feature on their remake of "Crying Over You" alongside singer BEKA, which was released on March 27.
The same day, Big Hit Entertainment released the song "Persona" as a trailer for BTS' EP Map of the Soul: Persona, performed as a solo by RM.
In 2019 Lil Nas X called RM for one of the remixes of his hit "Old Town Road". And this collab gave Namjoon and the other BTS members a chance to perform along with Lil Nas X for the first time on the 2019 edition of the Grammy's stage.
On December 29, it was announced that RM would feature on Younha's track "Winter Flower", released on January 6, 2020.
RM also featured on "Don't", the lead single of Korean singer eAeon's second solo album released on April 30, 2021.
BTS, on June 14 2022, announced that they will be taking a break from group activities to focus more on solo projects. RM subsequently appeared as a featured artist on the single "Sexy Nukim" by alt-K-pop group Balming Tiger in September,
RM released his debut solo studio album, Indigo, led by the single "Wild Flower", on December 2. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, making him the highest-charting Korean soloist in chart history. he also has a girlfriend
seoul
RM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
남몰래 눈을 뜨네
이 도시의 하모니
난 너무나 익숙해
내 어린 나날들은 아득하고
빌딩과 차들만 가득해도
이젠 여기가 나의 집인 걸
Seoul, Seoul
넌 왜 soul과 발음이 비슷한 걸까
무슨 영혼을 가졌길래
무엇이 날 이토록 너의 곁에 잡아두나
네게 난 추억조차 없는데
난 이제 니가 너무 지겨워
너의 맨날 똑같은 잿빛 표정
아니 아니 나는 내가 두려워
이미 너의 일부가 돼버렸거든
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul (Seoul)
가만 있어도 풍경이 바뀌는 버스와
비슷한 듯 조금씩 다른 빌딩
역한 듯 아닌 듯한 삶의 향과
따뜻한 척 하는 차가운 공원들
늘 헤매야 하는 사람들과
너무 많은 한을 품는 한강들과
혼자 하늘을 볼 수 없는 그네들과
다 큰 애들과, 좀 늦어버린 나
친구들은 툭하면 떠나겠다 해
난 끄덕거려보지만 웃질 못해
너무 인정하기 싫지만
이미 난 너의 매연과 그 역겨움까지도 사랑해
청계천의 비린낼 사랑해
선유도의 쓸쓸함을 사랑해
돈만 있으면 살기 좋다던
어느 택시기사의 그 한숨까지도
(I love ya'll) 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul (Seoul)
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul (I love you, Seoul)
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul (I love you, Seoul)
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul (Seoul)
I'm leavin' you
I'm livin' you
I'm leavin' you
I'm livin' you
I'm leavin' you
I'm livin' you
I'm leavin' you
I'm livin' you
Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
Seoul (yeah)
I love you, Seoul (yeah)
I hate you, Seoul (yeah)
I love you, Seoul (yeah)
I hate you, Seoul
The song "Seoul" by RM is an ode to the city in which he was born and raised. The lyrics describe the city as familiar yet overwhelming, with its towering buildings and constant traffic. He questions the meaning behind the similarity in pronunciation between "Seoul" and "soul" and ponders the soul of the city. While he loves and hates different aspects of Seoul, he acknowledges that he cannot leave it behind because it is his home, and even the negative aspects of the city have a place in his heart.
The repeated refrain of "사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면" (If love and hate are the same words) reflects RM's complex emotions towards Seoul. The verses depict the city's various characteristics and landmarks, from the constantly changing scenery seen from a bus to the "cold parks" that pretend to be warm. RM reflects on his own life in the city, with memories of his youth seeming distant and unreachable. Despite the struggles and frustrations that come with living in a city like Seoul, he still loves it.
Through his lyrics, RM has created a love letter to the city of Seoul with all its beauty and flaws. He acknowledges the contradictions and complexities of the city but emphasizes the bond he has with Seoul as his home.
Line by Line Meaning
차가운 새벽 공기에
I wake up secretly in the cold morning air
남몰래 눈을 뜨네
Without anyone knowing
이 도시의 하모니
The harmony of this city
난 너무나 익숙해
I'm so familiar with it
내 어린 나날들은 아득하고
My childhood memories are distant
빌딩과 차들만 가득해도
Even though it's filled with buildings and cars
이젠 여기가 나의 집인 걸
Now it's my home
Seoul, Seoul
Seoul, Seoul
넌 왜 soul과 발음이 비슷한 걸까
Why is your pronunciation similar to soul?
무슨 영혼을 가졌길래
What kind of soul do you have?
무엇이 날 이토록 너의 곁에 잡아두나
Why do you keep me by your side?
네게 난 추억조차 없는데
I don't even have memories with you
난 이제 니가 너무 지겨워
Now I'm tired of you
너의 맨날 똑같은 잿빛 표정
Your same gray expression every day
아니 아니 나는 내가 두려워
No, no, I'm afraid of myself
이미 너의 일부가 돼버렸거든
I've already become a part of you
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
If love and hate mean the same thing, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate mean the same thing, I hate you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you, Seoul (Seoul)
If love and hate mean the same thing, I hate you, Seoul (Seoul)
가만 있어도 풍경이 바뀌는 버스와
The bus where the scenery changes even when you're still
비슷한 듯 조금씩 다른 빌딩
Buildings that look similar but are slightly different
역한 듯 아닌 듯한 삶의 향과
The scent of life that feels both harsh and not harsh
따뜻한 척 하는 차가운 공원들
Warm-looking but cold parks
늘 헤매야 하는 사람들과
People who always wander
너무 많은 한을 품는 한강들과
The Han River that holds too many grudges
혼자 하늘을 볼 수 없는 그네들과
Swings that you can't look up at alone
다 큰 애들과, 좀 늦어버린 나
Adults and me who's a bit late
친구들은 툭하면 떠나겠다 해
Friends say they'll leave easily
난 끄덕거려보지만 웃질 못해
I nod my head but can't laugh
너무 인정하기 싫지만
I don't want to admit it but
이미 난 너의 매연과 그 역겨움까지도 사랑해
I already love even your smoke and your disgust
청계천의 비린낼 사랑해
I love the love-hate relationship with Cheonggyecheon
선유도의 쓸쓸함을 사랑해
I love the loneliness of Seonyudo
돈만 있으면 살기 좋다던
They say you can live well if you have money
어느 택시기사의 그 한숨까지도
Even the sigh of a taxi driver
(I love ya'll) 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul
(I love ya'll) If love and hate mean the same thing, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you, Seoul (I love you, Seoul)
If love and hate mean the same thing, I love you, Seoul (I love you, Seoul)
I'm leavin' you
I'm leaving you
I'm livin' you
I'm living you
I'm leavin' you
I'm leaving you
Seoul
Seoul
Seoul (yeah)
Seoul (yeah)
I love you, Seoul (yeah)
I love you, Seoul (yeah)
I hate you, Seoul (yeah)
I hate you, Seoul (yeah)
I hate you, Seoul
I hate you, Seoul
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Clutterbuck, James Hatcher, Nam Jun Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind