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
Life
RM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm still life (oh, yeah, you're what?)
I'm still life (yo, what? Oh, yeah)
I'm still life (uh huh, ayy, yeah, let's get it now)
I'm still life (come on, man, okay, get right, let's go, let's go)
난 still life, but I'm movin'
Just live now, goin' forward, yeah
또 피워 나의 꽃을
Gimme no name 'cause I'm untitled
계속 전시되는 내 삶 (oh, yeah)
그래도 삶 (what?) 아직도 삶 (hmm)
과건 가버렸고 미랜 모르네 (oh)
두 갈래길에서 숨 고르네
벗어나고 싶어 이 캔버스의 틀 (oh)
어제와 내일이 내게 드리운 그늘
난 그저 담담하게 live errtime (oh)
24/7 yeah, baby, I'm on time
난 그저 오늘을 살아 1분 1초마다
가진 전불 다 걸어 what you know about me, huh?
I'm still life (ooh-ooh)
Yeah, can't lock me in the frame, I'm movin', yeah
I'm still life (ooh-ooh)
Life is better than the death, I'll prove it, yeah
I'm still life, but I'm movin'
Just live now, goin' forward, yeah
멈추지 않는 정물 huh
또 피워 나의 꽃을
I'm still life, but I'm movin'
Just live now, goin' forward, yeah
멈추지 않는 정물 huh
Yo, I never stop bay, let's get it now
Errday is my day one, brother
Baby 난 돈으로 시간을 벌어
걔네 조롱은 듣지 마, 니 귀 버려
꼭 버러지들 온라인에 목숨 걸어
Trendsetter? I'm a friend, better
식상해질 정도의 go and getter
결국 네가 원하는 대론 되지 않았지
바램관 달리 너무 잘 살아대네 내 뜻대로 huh
(Ninety four) livin' in 한남대로
(Ninety one) look at my 탄탄대로
갈 일이 없어 이젠 강남대로
월세 밀린 넌 빨리 당장 방 빼고
What a poor flex, hon', look at your chain
Me rather do it like look at my stain
오늘을 살아 잡초처럼
걍 화초처럼 but I never stay
Oh, shit (oh, shit) hahaha
Ayo, Paak (what's up?)
You do know what I'm sayin' but
I know what you sayin' bro
Shit happens in life, but you know what happens is
What happens and shit (true, true)
It's gon' be what it's gon' be
Bro, you just gotta do you thing
Obvious, fuck it, let's go
Yeah, come on (ah) let's go
I'm still life (yeah, ooh, you're still life, baby)
Y'all can't lock me in the frame, I'm movin'
I'm still life (ooh-ooh, go ahead, go and live it up, yeah)
Life is better than the death, I'll prove it, yeah
I'm still life (still life) but I'm movin'(movin')
Just live now, goin' forward, yeah
멈추지 않는 정물 (get it now)
또 피워 나의 꽃을
I'm still life (still life) but I'm movin'(movin')
Just live now (live now) goin' forward (forward), yeah
멈추지 않는 정물 (get it now) huh
Yo, I never stop bay, let's get it now
The song "Still Life" by RM reveals how life constantly moves forward, just like the artist himself. The lyrics talk about the concept of being a still life but still being in motion in life, and how even though things may change, one can still keep going forth. The artist doesn't have a name and is presented as untitled, just as an art piece might be, but his life is continually exhibited for all to view, though he may not know where it's headed.
RM emphasizes that every day is a new beginning for himself and that he lives his life at his own pace: "I'm just calmly living my life errtime, 24/7 yeah, baby, I'm on time." He is always moving forward as long as he's alive, like a flower that continues growing. He sees life as an art, and he is the artist who creates and draws every stroke. He doesn't stop even when he faces difficult circumstances: "Oh shit, hahaha, Ayo, Paak, you do know what I'm sayin' but I know what you're sayin', bro." He believes in facing your problems head-on and living life with no regrets.
Overall, RM's "Still Life" inspires one to live their life to the fullest and continue growing like a flower, even when faced with challenges. This song can be interpreted in various ways, but it ultimately reminds us that we have control over our lives and, like a work of art, we can shape it into what we want it to be.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm still life (oh, yeah, you're what?)
I am like a still life painting - a depiction of a quiet, unmoving subject (someone or something that doesn't change)
Just live now, goin' forward, yeah
I live in the present and move forward from here
멈추지 않는 정물 huh
I'm an unceasing figure (an object that is depicted in a stationary, non-moving way)
또 피워 나의 꽃을
I continue to grow and bloom as a person
I'm still life, but I'm movin'
Although I appear unchanging like a still life, I am still moving forward in life
Gimme no name 'cause I'm untitled
I don't need a label or title; I am myself
두 갈래길에서 숨 고르네
I am at a crossroads and must choose a path forward
어제와 내일이 내게 드리운 그늘
The shadows of yesterday and tomorrow loom over me
24/7 yeah, baby, I'm on time
I am always on time and ready to face life's challenges
Yo, I never stop bay, let's get it now
I never stop moving forward, so let's go and face whatever comes our way
Errday is my day one, brother
Every day is like my first day, and I approach it with the same enthusiasm
Baby 난 돈으로 시간을 벌어
I use money to buy myself more time
Trendsetter? I'm a friend, better
I am not just someone who sets trends - I am a friend who does it better
바램관 달리 너무 잘 살아대네 내 뜻대로 huh
I am living so well that it's like I am just following my own wishes
Me rather do it like look at my stain
Rather than showing off my possessions (like a chain), I would rather make my unique mark in the world
오늘을 살아 잡초처럼 걍 화초처럼 but I never stay
I live like a weed or flower, growing and thriving, but I never allow myself to stay in one place for too long
Shit happens in life, but you know what happens is What happens and shit (true, true)
Life is full of unexpected events, but sometimes those events turn out for the best
I'm still life (yeah, ooh, you're still life, baby)
I remain like a still life painting
Life is better than the death, I'll prove it, yeah
I believe that life is worth living, and I will continue to prove it to myself and others
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nam Jun Kim, Ninos Hanna, Emil Schmidt, Adam Kulling, Min Soo Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RM Jhope With Some Kookies
Life lyrics
Pulled in just one glass of soju and felt it
living is consecutively awareness and loneliness
whether you have many people around you or not
the little me inside myself was always lonely
why is there no opposite word of loneliness?
could it be because people, until they die, have no moments of not being lonely?
even if our surroundings are boisterous,
it’s necessary to seek a moment to be alone
yeah that’s a life
we live inside danger
through the reward that makes us able to see this beautiful world
flak jackets and streetlamps and sturdy cars
until the time that we die perfectly we can’t protect everything
from the moment that everything is born
life is more beautiful knowing that we’ve taken a loan on death
even light is treasured more when there’s darkness
the sunshine appears after we’ve passed through the storm
life, fall in love
life receives injuries from us and
is lonely because of the wind and
we wanna be right
but always wrong
were we born to be wrong?
is life something like that?
(in the end, for our whole lives we don’t know what tomorrow will be)
(even if we say we’ll tear this building down, we can’t avoid it)
we tryna be bright
but always dark
we still don’t know if we’ve lived to the extent that we can
the world is one decalcomania
the people I thought were on my side can change and become vicious
like folding paper, a problem that ends if we go have relationships
in a moment he can be sneering at me from the other side
it’s just the same, but kid, there’s no need to get mad
some parents don’t have children when they stand in front of money
we have to set it ablaze, because the world is too cold
so nobody can know, rather than doing me
at times we’re right, I don’t know if there’ll be a time when it doesn’t seem wrong
but the thing that we all learned at some point was how
to step on someone, to catch them, to erase them, to hate them
fuck all the peace and love, I know that that’s the natural enemy of success
that’s too obvious
logic follows like a sheep, those quotations becoming audible
make me even sadder. so what am I doing, as expected I’m only talking
but it’s just a breeze that brushes against someone
life, fall in love
life receives injuries from us and
is lonely because of the wind and
we wanna be right
but always wrong
were we born to be wrong?
is life something like that?
were we born to die, were we born to live
were we born to die, were we born to live
are we living to die, or are we dying to live
the nametag with my name on it, is that my life?
or is it death
who knows…
life, fall in love
life receives injuries from us and
is lonely because of the wind and
we wanna be right
but always wrong
were we born to be wrong?
is life something like that?
(in the end, for our whole lives we don’t know what tomorrow will be)
(even if we say we’ll tear this building down, we can’t avoid it)
we tryna be bright
but always dark
we still don’t know if we’ve lived to the extent that we can
nad
this song is like sitting alone in a cafe accompanied with a good book and people are just passing by
Luna Dragfilia
kyul kyung right just a good casual and soothing song with a lot of deep meaning and nice beats and tones
barning hurtsalot
Don't forget the background rain
Sadia .k
And it's raining outside, that would be perfect.
Mochi Trashu
kyul kyung you just explained my thought
Bella Song
I'm literally alone in a cafe with a good book and a coffee. Just me and my depression just like any other day.
M
RapMonster is honestly one of my favourite artists of all time..he writes songs that have meaning to him, and songs just for the fun of it, but no matter what, they are all special to him. He writes the lyrics about what he has been through or what other people are going through, etc..he's such a good artist and I honestly love him so much. The lyrics in this song (like many others) are deep and meaningful. He works very hard on his music and I wish more people appreciated him.
Joselin Rodriguez
ruby canfora that was a cover though lmao
that one leave who inspired namjoon for spring day
ruby canfora tried listen to what am i to you, RM write a really intense heartbreaking lyrics and that song is a cover. Plus,he is a hiphop artist, so he would write and cover a wide range of musics style .
julia
Maki Cheesecake I agree