Long before the sold-out shows and screaming crowds, RM got his start as Runch Randa, an underground rapper with mind-bending lyrics. Bang Si-hyuk noticed him back in 2010 and made him the first recruit for BTS. He didn’t just walk into the group, he helped make it real from scratch and stepped up as leader. BTS debuted in 2013, but RM was already laying the groundwork years before.
RM isn’t just a rapper, he’s basically the group’s main lyricist. He’s racked up more than 230 songwriting credits and helps shape BTS’s signature sound. Songs like Spring Day, Boy With Luv, and Life Goes On all have his fingerprints. He always makes sure the other members add their own flavor, but he’s the glue. Even solo, RM goes deep with mixtapes like RM (2015) and Mono (2018), and albums like Indigo (2022) and Right Place, Wrong Person (2024).
RM isn’t locked into one style. He’s worked with HONNE, Juice WRLD, Anderson .Paak, Megan Thee Stallion, Erykah Badu, the list goes on. Whether it’s hip-hop, alt-R&B, or neo-soul, he always sounds like himself. People outside of K-pop really respect him, both as a rapper and a creative force.
Take a look at RM’s Instagram, his feed is jam-packed with art. He’s a serious collector and loves Korean modern and contemporary works, especially pieces by Yun Hyong-keun, Kim Whanki, and Joung Young-ju. He spends his downtime wandering galleries worldwide, and he even paints. His pointillism landscape from In The Soop 2 proves art isn’t just a side hobby. For RM, it’s how he gets energized.
If there’s something breakable nearby, Nam-joon’s probably going to break it. Door handles on Bon Voyage, props on Run BTS, sunglasses during live broadcasts. Chopsticks, floors, toy sets, they’re all fair game. He isn’t reckless, just genuinely clumsy, which has become a running joke among fans. ARMYs keep track of every incident almost like stats.
RM likes to play around with his vocals on Run BTS and jokes about singing off-key. But he can actually hold a tune, just check out 4 O’Clock with V, their cover of Fix You, or solo tracks like Wild Flower, Yun, and Lonely. When he wants to, he brings the emotion and control. Rap’s his main thing, though.
Unlike Jin and the others, RM never bothered with a driver’s license. No car. He just bikes, and he’s totally happy with that. You’ll find him posting about rides through Seoul’s parks or cruising city streets. It’s his way of clearing his mind. If he needs a lift, the members drive him. Honestly, it’s pretty relatable.
Whether he’s writing lyrics or giving a speech, RM has a knack for saying things that stick. People still quote his 2018 UN address: “What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat? Tell me your story… No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself.”
