bts biography 2022

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Korean: 방탄소년단 Japanese: 防弾少年団

• Introduction

BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Entertainment . BTS' musical style has evolved to include a wide range of genres. Their lyrics touch on the themes of mental health, troubles of school-age youth, loss, the journey towards loving oneself, and individualism. BTS debuted on June 12, 2013, with the song " No More Dream " from their first album " 2 COOL 4 SKOOL ". " Wings " became BTS' first album to sell one million copies in South Korea. By 2017, BTS crossed into the international music market, leading the Korean Wave into the United States and breaking numerous sales records, becoming the first Korean group to receive a certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for their single " MIC Drop ". BTS is the first Korean act to top the Billboard 200 with their studio album " Love Yourself: Tear " and have since hit the top of the U.S. charts with their albums " Love Yourself: Answer " and " MAP OF THE SOUL : PERSONA ", making BTS the first group since The Beatles to earn three number one albums in less than a year. "Love Yourself: Answer" also broke South Korea's Gaon Album Chart's all-time monthly record previously set by Love Yourself: Tear and became the first Korean album certified Gold in the United States. As of 2019, BTS are worth more than $4.65 billion to South Korea's economy each year, or 0.3 percent of the country's GDP. BTS attracts one in every 13 foreign tourists that visit South Korea and was cited as one of the key acts boosting global music sales to $19 billion in 2018.

• Member's profiles

See pics for more Jin

Korean: 진 Japanese: ジン

See pics for more Suga

Korean: 슈가 Japanese: シュガ

See pics for more j-hope

Korean: 제이홉 Japanese: ジェイ ホープ

See pics for more RM

Korean: 아르엠 Japanese: アールエム

See pics for more Jimin

Korean: 지민 Japanese: ジミン

See pics for more V

Korean: 뷔 Japanese: ヴィ

See pics for more Jungkook

Korean: 정국 Japanese: ジョングク

• Discography

Bad Decisions (with Benny Blanco, Snoop Dogg)

Music show wins (164) most song wins total wins

• Music video views

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• Recommendations
• Table of contents
• Music show wins (164)

Daily popularity

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5 revealing takeaways from the BTS biography ‘Beyond the Story’

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On the Shelf

Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS

By Myeongseok Kang Translated by Anton Hur, Slin Jung and Clare Richards Flatiron: 544 pages, $45 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org , whose fees support independent bookstores.

The K-pop juggernaut known as BTS has dominated the American music scene in an unprecedented way. The group’s seven members — RM, Jin, SUGA , j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — have performed at the Grammys and the American Music Awards, and most of their music videos have over 1 billion views on YouTube.

The band released “ My Universe ” with Coldplay, whose frontman, Chris Martin, seemed to speak for billions when he said, “It’s very special to me that the most popular artist in the world speaks Korean ... and it just feels very hopeful to me, in terms of thinking of the world as one family.”

“ Beyond the Story : 10-Year Record of BTS” is the first biography of the group, published in time for their 10-year anniversary. Written over three years, the book weaves in an oral history with group interviews by the biography’s author, Myeongseok Kang. Fans might be surprised at the shaggy underdog tale contained therein. Here are some major takeaways.

BTS was born in a K-pop dormitory

In the aughts, Korean idol groups were having their big moment, and not just domestically. The U.S. went wild over rapper Psy’s “Gangnam Style” in 2012 , proving that K-pop could find a place in the Western market. During this time, Korean teens swarmed to dance hagwons (private academies) where they could study dance, and make important connections in Seoul’s entertainment industry.

That industry revolves around “idols” — K-pop celebrities who perform in solo acts or groups. Large entertainment companies scout Korean teens to become idols or hold packed auditions to anoint idol “trainees,” whom they then mold into pop stars. SUGA and j-hope entered the idol audition process before joining Big Hit Entertainment as trainees; j-hope had been auditioning for other companies before his dance hagwon recommended him for Big Hit.

Entertainment & Arts

BTS: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The international superstar K-pop group BTS performed in an NPR Tiny Desk (home) concert on Monday morning.

Sept. 21, 2020

The trainees sign contracts and must live in a dormitory, where they eat, sleep and breathe K-pop until their debut. Jin describes the dorms as having “clothes strewn everywhere, cereal scattered on the floor” and plenty of dirty dishes, explaining that they worked 14-hours days and were simply too busy to live tidy lives.

While many of the BTS members wondered how they made it to their debut without quitting, Jin said adjusting to life in the dorm prepared him for the surreal state of being an “idol” in the K-pop world.

Breaking into the industry, BTS was not welcomed with open arms

Because the K-pop competition was so fierce, the odds of success as a group were incredibly slim. BTS members struggled at first with impostor syndrome, performance flubs and bullying from the public. Even before they made their debut on a televised showcase, naysayers were already dragging the group in the comments sections of online forums. Their first gig brought in only about a dozen fans.

It was a long slog from there. Jimin said the group would avoid making eye contact with other groups in green rooms. For the first time they were forced to compare themselves vocally with other K-pop idols.

“If I wanted to improve somehow, I had to practice my singing, but I didn’t know how to practice,” he said. “So I just kept singing blindly. Every time I made a mistake, I went to the bathroom to cry.”

Despite winning best new artist awards at many major Korean music awards shows in 2013, the group was shunned by peers and more established artists. According to the biography, no one in the industry would speak to them, they couldn’t approach anyone, and their nights consisted of little more than quick thank-you speeches at contest podiums before being shuttled back to the dorms.

Several times throughout the biography, Kang references various public insults aimed at BTS — but opts out of repeating the jibes.

Promoting BTS was a DIY endeavor for the group

In comparison to the “big three” Korean entertainment companies that debuted many of the era’s K-pop stars, Big Hit Entertainment might be considered more of a startup. It didn’t have the deep pockets to market BTS at the level of bigger players, so the group built a following instead through vlogging.

YouTube videos featured members dancing, rapping, spending Christmas together; individual vlogs were made in the style of confessional interviews; Jin launched his own “Eat Jin” vlog in which he filmed himself eating.

Kang writes that the vlog approach to self-promotion was “a complete rejection of genre norms in Korea’s idol industry, where every frame of every video was perfectly produced for public consumption.” And yet it was exactly this sense of spontaneity and intimacy that fueled BTS’ fanatical fan base.

BTS’ Suga on going solo, his love of hip-hop and the band’s future: ‘We’re real brothers, period’

With BTS currently on hiatus due to military conscription, its members are pursuing solo projects. For Suga, that means a bold new rap album and sold-out arena shows.

May 9, 2023

BTS had to address complaints their lyrics were misogynistic

It wasn’t all adoration from there on out: The band came under fire for two songs that fans said perpetuated gender inequality and misogyny. The 2014 song “War of Hormones” featured lyrics that translate to “Girls are like an equation / us guys just do them (yup) / Imma give it to you girl right now / A woman is the best present.” And the 2015 song “Joke” includes lyrics that translate to “”You’re the best woman, the best vagina .... But now that I think about it, you were never the best / I will stop calling you best and instead call you gonorrhea.”

In July 2016, Big Hit and BTS issued a statement responding to the complaints, saying, “We learned that music creation is not free from societal prejudice and fallacies,” and “Furthermore, we became aware that it may also not be desirable to define the value of women and their role in society from a male perspective.”

RM, who wrote the lyrics, told Kang that this early reckoning helped him recognize the problem in time to change his attitude and behavior.

According to Kang, gender sensitivity training is now obligatory for all all artists at Big Hit (now known as HYBE) before they can debut.

BTS gets snubbed, again, at 2023 Grammys

The K-pop superstars were shut out in two categories, including pop duo/group performance.

Feb. 5, 2023

The band still felt like outliers before winning AMA’s artist of the year in 2021

BTS had conflicting emotions when it came to awards shows . They struggled with industry peers in their early days, and felt they weren’t welcomed or respected as artists. But in 2021 they wound up on American soil just as a lull in the pandemic opened a window for a public appearance at the American Music Awards . They also happened to be up up for several major awards, including the most coveted: artist of the year.

SUGA recalled that their American television debut , in 2017, had been on the same stage for the same awards show (at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles). When the group won artist of the year, he couldn’t help thinking someone had made a mistake — or the world was playing a prank on him.

“I felt like we’d been outsiders or outliers until then,” RM said. “But now it felt, not like we were in the mainstream necessarily, but we were being welcomed more.”

Jung Kook said winning the award felt like the beginning of a new chapter: “Who would’ve thought we could win artist of the year at an American awards ceremony? It was so shocking. It sent chills down my spine.”

BTS fans know the feeling.

More to Read

Boundary-pushing K-pop superstar Taemin is ‘grateful but still hungry’ to take the genre to greater heights

Aug. 2, 2024

K-drama stars ramp up excitement for expanded celebration of Korean culture at KCON 2024

July 30, 2024

BTS’ Jimin and Jungkook to star in a new Disney+ show. Meanwhile, Jin will carry Olympic torch

July 3, 2024

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Emily St. Martin is a former entertainment reporter on the Fast Break Desk. Before joining the Los Angeles Times, she contributed to the New York Times, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, NBC, Vice, Los Angeles Magazine and the Southern California News Group. She also previously worked at the Hollywood Reporter. In 2022, she won third place for best news feature with the L.A. Press Club. St. Martin has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of La Verne and a master’s in creative nonfiction from UC Riverside.

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BTS Members: Everything to Know About the K-Pop Supergroup

Get to know BTS' seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook

Kelsey Lentz is a former assistant editor at PEOPLE with over four years of experience working in the digital media industry. She left the brand in 2023.

BTS has taken the world by storm.

Since their debut in 2013, the South Korean boy band, whose name is an acronym for Bangtan Sonyeondan (which roughly translates to Bulletproof Boys), has topped the charts with their catchy pop music, collaborated with some of the biggest names in the industry and grown one of the largest fanbases, affectionately dubbed ARMY.

The Grammy -nominated group is comprised of seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook. In the years since they exploded onto the scene, many of the members have gone on to pursue solo projects , in addition to creating hits like "Butter" with their bandmates.

While they are mainly known for their collective success, which includes their various charitable endeavors , each artist has begun to pave their own path and develop their individual fandoms.

"We do make sure that one person doesn't stand out," Jungkook told Miss Vogue in 2018. "But then we are really unique. We all have our style, so I think we all stand out. We each have our own roles and positions in the band and then we work together to make sure we all try hard for the Army."

Here's everything there is to know about the seven members of BTS.

RM (whose full name is Kim Namjoon) is the band's leader and main rapper. Born on Sept. 12, 1994, RM grew up in Ilsan, South Korea, and began rapping at a young age. He made some waves in the underground rap scene — performing under various names, including Large, Stealo and Runch Randa — and eventually caught the eye of the South Korean record label Big Hit Entertainment (later rebranded into HYBE), who formed BTS and recruited him to be the first official member in 2010.

Over the years, RM has been praised for his fluency in English. During an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show , RM revealed that he taught himself English by watching the iconic sitcom Friends . "My English teacher was the sitcom Friends ," he explained. "Back in the days, when I was like 15, 14, it was quite like a syndrome for all the Korean parents to make their kids watch Friends . I thought I was kind of like a victim at that time, but right now, I'm the lucky one, thanks to my mother."

RM added that his mom bought him all 10 seasons of the hit show on DVD. "So firstly, I watched them with the Korean subtitles, and then next time, I watched with the English subtitles, and then I just removed it."

During their annual FESTA dinner in June 2022, BTS shared that they would be taking a break to pursue solo projects and figure out their next steps as a band.

"I always thought that BTS was different from other groups, but the problem with K-pop and the whole idol system is that they don't give you time to mature," RM said during the event. "You have to keep producing music and keep doing something."

HYBE later clarified in a statement that the group was not taking a hiatus and would remain active "as a team while taking individual journey to further achieve personal growth."

RM made his official solo debut with his first studio album, INDIGO, in December 2022.

Jin (whose full name is Kim Seokjin) was born on Dec. 4, 1992, in Gwacheon, South Korea. He is the oldest member of the group and the first member to begin mandatory military service in South Korea — a requirement that must be fulfilled by able-bodied men in the country before they're 28 years old.

Often referred to as "Worldwide Handsome," Jin joined the group in 2013 as one of the four main vocalists. In 2017, Jin graduated from Konkuk University in South Korea, according to a tweet from BTS' official Twitter page, with a degree in acting and art.

Jin is also BTS' resident foodie. He previously had his own food web series, Eat Jin, and he is the co-owner of a Japanese restaurant called Ossu Seriomushi, located in Seoul, South Korea. In August 2022, Jin made use of his time off from BTS and got back in the kitchen, receiving a cooking lesson from celebrity chef and South Korean television personality Lee Yeon-bok, per Billboard .

During an interview with Weverse Magazine , Jin opened up about finding his confidence as an individual, outside of BTS.

"It used to be that any time I had to do something, I thought it was such a big deal. Like, how can I handle something this big right now," Jin told the outlet. "I would always feel discouraged, but my personality has changed a lot now, I think. I think the biggest change in my mind is that now, even if there's a major project in the works, I think I can do it now."

He added, "Now, instead of, 'How can I handle this?' it's 'I can handle this!' when I'm making songs for other people to listen to."

Jin released the solo single , "The Astronaut," which was co-written by Chris Martin of Coldplay , in October 2022.

Suga (whose full name is Min Yoongi) was born on March 9, 1993, in Daegu, South Korea. Prior to joining BTS, he made a name for himself as an underground rapper — performing under the stage name Gloss — and a producer.

These days, in addition to his involvement with BTS, Suga performs as a solo rapper under the alias Agust D, which is a play on his stage name and a reference to his hometown. He is also a commercial producer under the name "By Suga."

Of his different aliases, he told GQ Austalia , "All three are me. They each take up a third of myself, and one isn't more reflective of me than another. I simply give people a choice. These three sides of myself are incredibly different, so I'm giving people a choice to see me as they want."

In April 2022, Suga produced and was featured on "Gangnam Style" singer Psy's comeback song "That That."

"At first, because he's many years my senior and someone who's well-respected in the business I was quite nervous," Suga said of the collaboration, adding, "it felt like working with a childhood friend so it made the songwriting process that much more fun … We became besties in a way."

Suga made his foray into the fashion world in January 2023, when Italian fashion house Valentino announced him as their latest brand ambassador. Suga joined the company's Di.Vas ambassador group, which stands for Different Values, per WWD .

Pierpaolo Picciolo, Valentino's creative director, described Suga to the outlet as a "multifaceted artist" who expresses himself with "authenticity and energy." He added, "He perfectly embodies everything that DI.VA.s testimonials stand for: diversity, inclusivity, creativity, and passion."

In September 2023, Suga became the third member of BTS to enlist in the South Korean military.

J-Hope (whose full name is Jung Hoseok) was born on Feb. 18, 1994, in Gwangju, South Korea. J-Hope got his start as a dancer and won several competitions in South Korea. He was then recruited by Big Hit Entertainment in 2010 and began training as a rapper. Now, he is one of three rappers in the group, as well as a dancer, songwriter and producer. He was also the first BTS member to start a solo career.

In 2019, J-Hope teamed up with singer Becky G to release the song "Chicken Noodle Soup." The "Shower" singer opened up about her collaboration with J-Hope during an interview with Teen Vogue . "We were one of the first to do Korean, Spanish, and English. It's really badass," she told the outlet.

Of their language barrier, she added, "I'm so happy that it happened the way it did. To this day, it's one of those, 'I see you, you see me, and even though we may not necessarily have the deepest conversations, we get it' [relationships]."

The duo performed the song at Lollapalooza 2022 during J-Hope's historic headlining set , which made him the first South Korean artist to headline a main stage at a major American music festival.

The month prior, he released his debut solo album Jack in the Box and opened up to Rolling Stone about his solo career. "Since I'm the first one to go solo, I feel a sense of responsibility and there's definitely some pressure as well," he told the outlet. " Jack in the Box is filled only with things I personally wanted to do, almost to the point where I worry to myself, 'Did I focus too much on solely what I wanted to do?' I think that's where the half nervousness comes from."

He added that his bandmates RM and Jungkook were some of the first people to listen to the album and were incredibly supportive of it. "[RM] said, 'Wow, I didn't think you'd do music like this. I have a bit of brain freeze. And it's so you. The fact that you brought this music at this time… I really respect it, and I love that it's so you,' " he recalled of RM's reaction to the album.

Later in the interview, he said that while his solo career has been " fun " and "challenging," he misses his bandmates, explaining that his rehearsals can sometimes feel "lonely."

Another female artist that J-Hope is close with is Lizzo . In April 2022, Lizzo spoke about their friendship and revealed that J-Hope is " a great texter , expressive. He doesn't leave you on read." She added of BTS, "Good people, like really good energy."

On New Year's Eve 2023, J-Hope performed in Times Square in New York City for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest .

In February 2023, J-Hope became the second member of BTS to enlist in the South Korean military .

"We would like to inform our fans that j-hope has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement," the group's label, BIGHIT MUSIC, said in a statement. "We ask for your continued love and support for j-hope until he completes his military service and safely returns."

Jimin (whose full name is Park Jimin) was born on Oct. 13, 1995, in Busan, South Korea. He is another one of the group's main dancers, and he studied dance in high school. He was the last to join BTS, becoming a member of the group in 2013.

In recent years, Jimin has also ventured out independently and taken on new projects. In early January 2023, he was featured on South Korean singer Taeyang's song "Vibe." Just a few days later, Dior announced Jimin as their new global brand ambassador .

The artist celebrated the news on Instagram, writing, "So thrilled to start a journey with @Dior!" He added in Korean, "Honored to be Dior's Global Ambassador! Stay tuned for a lot of things to come!"

Jimin has kept plans of a solo album close to his chest, however, in an interview with W Korea on Jan. 23, 2023, he hinted that there is an album in the works. "Lately, I am working on a solo album. That's what I have been up to. Nothing special … " he said subtly.

V (whose full name is Kim Taehyung) was born on Dec. 30, 1995, in Daegu, South Korea. He grew up singing and playing the saxophone, and he eventually joined BTS after auditioning for Big Hit Entertainment in 2013.

After making his official debut with BTS, V also took on acting projects and debuted as an actor in the historical drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. V also starred on In the Soop: Friendcation , a reality show on Disney+ that followed the singer and his real-life actor and musician friends, including Parasite star Choi Woo-shik, while they were on vacation. BTS originated the franchise with 2020's BTS In the Soop .

On his 25th birthday in December 2020, V released the song "Snow Flower," which is a collaboration with singer-songwriter, producer and rapper Peakboy. Upon its release, he also discussed an upcoming solo mixtape.

"This year feels like a stopped moment, and as the end of the year nears, I think there will be a lot of people with increased anxiety and depression. As [the mixtape] was late, I made [the song] in a hurry, feeling sorry for ARMY," he said. "For today, I hope that white flowers will come down to your hearts and feel some warm comfort and happiness."

In December 2021, when the BTS members joined Instagram, V broke two Guinness world records in the process. The singer broke the record for the fastest time to reach both 1 million followers and 10 million followers.

That same month, he released the holiday song, "Christmas Tree," which immediately topped the Billboard charts and earned him his first solo No. 1, per Billboard . The following year, he released a cover of the Christmas song "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" on Dec. 23, 2022.

V is reportedly single. However, he's rumored to be dating Jennie from Blackpink . The pair were spotted holding hands on a stroll through Paris in May 2023.

Jungkook, 25

Jungkook (whose full name is Jeon Jung-kook) was born on Sept. 1, 1997, in Busan, South Korea. He is the youngest member of BTS and ARMY affectionately call him "Kookie" or "Golden Maknae," which translates to "golden youngest."

When he was a teenager, Jungkook auditioned for the Korean talent show Superstar K during its third season in 2011. While he never made it to the finals, his audition did get him recognized by a few talent agencies, including Big Hit Entertainment. He began training under the label and joined BTS in 2013 as one of the four main vocalists and a dancer.

Jungkook was inspired by his bandmate J-Hope to make his own music as a solo artist. "It was really funny. After hearing the album, [Jungkook] suddenly went to his studio," J-Hope told Rolling Stone in July 2022. "I think he felt the motivation to start . I love that one of our greatest motivators is one another."

ABC/Paula Lobo

While his solo album is still in the works, he has released a few solo tracks, including "My You," "Still With You," and "Dreamers," which was part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup official soundtrack.

In July 2023, Jungkook made his solo performance debut at  Good Morning America' s Summer Concert Series in New York City. He performed three songs, including his single "Seven," before severe weather rolled over Central Park.

A few months later, Jungkook became the fourth member of BTS to enlist in the South Korean military.

Related Articles

Beyond The Story: BTS biography is a humanising, literary portrayal of K-pop ’s world-leading  stars

PhD candidate, Media and Communication, University of Leeds

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Jenessa Williams does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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In a climate of ever-increasing competition, it’s a real feat when any band makes it to their tenth anniversary bigger than ever. Such is the case with K-pop group BTS (short for bangtan sonyeondan , “bulletproof boy scouts” in Korean). The band have released their first official biography – Beyond The Story – to look back on their decade-long path to international, record-breaking success .

Initially rumoured to be a Taylor Swift autobiography , pre-orders had made the book a bestseller before its subject was announced. It was released to tie in with both BTS’s anniversary and their hiatus, undertaken so that the members could enrol in mandatory Korean military service .

For fans who have been there from the beginning, the book is a souvenir to covet. For western audiences who have discovered K-pop more recently, it’s a pleasant reintroduction to the group’s early incubation years. Having sold well over 40 million albums worldwide – and become the youngest ever recipients of the South Korean Order of Cultural Merit – BTS are among Korea’s most influential ambassadors.

Behind The Story was co-written by South Korean journalist Kang Myeong-seok and the band’s seven members. Following the oral history format that has benefited popular music journalism books such as Lizzy Goodman’s Meet Me In The Bathroom (2011), it tracks the band’s history across 544 pages, culminating in the release of their most recent anthology album, Proof (2022).

One by one, and in their own words, we meet J-Hope , RM , Suga , Jungkook , Jin , Jimin and V . They recall their nervousness at becoming K-pop trainees, their different motivations and the parts of performance they felt most vulnerable about. Each knew that they would have to work impossibly hard if they were to compete at the level K-pop culture demands.

Through anecdotes both humorous and moving, we learn how they bonded as a group. The seven teenagers, who were from completely different walks of life, were set up in a bunkhouse to learn how to sing and dance as a slick professional outfit.

In telling the story of BTS, Beyond The Story also tells the story of K-pop and how its dynamics have changed over the years. Fans who cottoned onto BTS in their international breakthrough era of songs such as Boy With Luv (2019) or Dynamite (2020) may assume that they always traded in upbeat pop. But their early years were actually deeply rooted in American Hip-hop , a genre K-pop has borrowed from since the early 1990s.

While K-pop groups often pride themselves on a style of perfectly-synchronous choreography known as kalgunmu (razor-sharp dancing), BTS’s hip-hop influence allowed them a certain looseness. Their musical hybridity helped to bring their individual personalities to life.

While it is true that Korean management companies closely guide their stars’ public image, and work them hard from a very young age , Beyond The Story challenges the stereotype of K-pop artists as mere performance puppets. There are several moments where members recall direct involvement in styling, choreography or songwriting. They also discuss using their platform to speak up on a range of social and political issues .

The group’s founding label Big Hit was considered small when they launched. This meant the group were frequently underestimated – even mocked – by their peers. But this underdog status encouraged them to experiment with DIY forms of self-promotion. The members blogged directly to a growing fanbase , for example, instead of relying on management-led channels.

It’s a model that has paid off. Though K-pop still evokes images of impressive polish and unison performance, newer groups such as Seventeen , Le Serrafim and Tomorrow X Together have been able to develop a model which matches feats of dance athleticism with more vulnerable, personal lyricism. This allows them to be both relatable and aspirational for worldwide audiences.

Read more: Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the V&A is an unflinching look at the country's creative rise

A new wave of music biography

Some prior understanding of the K-pop industry may be required to get the most out of the book (knowing how groups are typically assembled, for example, or how competitive Korean TV shows work). But as a contribution to modern music journalism, Beyond The Story is valuable. As they learn of the band’s insatiable work ethic, discipline and brotherly commitment, readers will feel as if they know each of the seven members much better, with a deeper understanding of how their music has developed since their debut.

It’s also highly visual. Lush photography neatly punctuates the chapters, guiding the reader smoothly through each BTS era. With pages that mark the track listings and specific details of each release, it’s easy to turn to your favourite album or treat the book as a reference text – a thoughtful, encyclopaedic blueprint for future artist biographies to come.

The use of QR codes throughout (330, to be exact) is also a smart innovation, recognising that fans might want to reminisce about (or discover) the group’s music videos, dance practices and video logs for themselves as they read. In this way, the book becomes a living museum, truly immersive and interactive.

Of course, the BTS story is far from over. Amid their hiatus, the members are experiencing international success with solo singles. Jimin recently became the first Korean soloist to top the US Billboard charts. At a time when K-pop feels bigger than ever, their success story can only inspire others who are ready to ride the unstoppable Korean wave to reach for their dreams, or indeed, for their local bookstore.

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BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” is a Grammy-nominated South Korean group that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since its debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, BTS has established themselves as “21st century Pop Icons” breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY) , collected four No. 1 songs in a span of 9 months, performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world, and been named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS has been nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the 63rd Grammy Awards and recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

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What to know about BTS ahead of their Grammys performance

You’ve probably heard BTS’ second English-language single “Butter” on the radio, or maybe you’ve heard the song’s remix with Megan Thee Stallion on TikTok.

BTS is a global K-pop phenomenon. In 2020, the group became the first K-pop act to receive a Grammy nomination with their hit "Dynamite." This year, nominated for best pop duo/group performance for “Butter,” BTS could become the first K-pop group to snag a Grammy. 

The nominations are a sliver in their record-breaking history. Among their accomplishments? BTS was the first K-pop group to reach No. 1 on Billboard 200 , and holds the Guinness record for the fastest time taken to reach one million fans on TikTok. They are the first group since the Beatles to earn three No. 1-charting albums in a single year.

Get to know the chart-topping boy band ahead of their Grammy performance Sunday . Keep in mind the group may be smaller than usual. On March 29, BTS' management company BigHit Music said BTS member Jungkook tested positive for COVID , four days after band mate J-Hope was announced to have a confirmed case . No word on whether the K-Pop stars will join for the performance.

Who is BTS?

BTS is a seven-member K-pop boy band assembled by K-pop producer Bang Shi Hyuk of Big Hit Entertainment .

Known for their style and signature synchronized dancing, BTS is made of seven 20-something singers and rappers, including frontman RM (whose real name is Kim Nam Joon), Jungkook (Jeon Jung Kook), V (Kim Tae Hyung), Suga (Min Yoon Gi), Jin (Kim Seok Jin), Jimin (Park Ji Min) and J-Hope (Jung Ho Seok). 

The group debuted in the summer of 2013 with the hip-hop song "No More Dream." Their sound has gone through distinct eras since then. The release of "Wings" in 2017 marked the third BTS era, which was notable because each member had his own solo song. "Dynamite," released in 2020, was their first English-language single.

They’ve collaborated with artists like Sia, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion, and Troye Sivan for recent albums and appear on Coldplay’s 2021 “Music of The Spheres" and Lauv’s 2020 "How I'm Feeling."

What’s in a name? The meaning behind the acronym

BTS is an acronym which has two meanings. As the group explained during an appearance on the Graham Norton Show in 2018 , the name means "beyond the scene" in English, and "Bangtan Sonyeondan" in Korean, which translates to "Bulletproof Boy Scouts."

Their 'ARMY' is strong

BTS fans call themselves the ARMY. The official fandom name is also an acronym: It stands for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth.

Their group's fanbase spans the globe, and is especially palpable on social media. BTS holds the Guinness World Record for most Twitter engagements in 2019. The group has over 38 million followers on Twitter and almost 62 million followers on Instagram, the most for any music group, per Guinness World Records . All seven band members got their own Instagram accounts in 2021.

The fans' vocal support led to BTS ending Justin Bieber's six-year streak for Billboard’s Top Social Artist in 2017, and winning the award every year since. Their presence is more tangible if you ever attend a concert, and you hear the ARMY's fan chants , sung in coordination to the songs.

"They are the most special people," RM said of the ARMY during an appearance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert . V added, "Our fans are the best. They are our motivation."

They’ve spoken out about climate change, youth activism and COVID-19 vaccines

BTS has spoken in front of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly three times ( once virtual ). The first time was in 2018 to promote the launch of Generation Unlimited, a UNICEF campaign built to empower young people to seek education and build careers and confidence.

In September, BTS returned to the General Assembly at its SDG Moment to spotlight sustainable development goals. Invited by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the group talked about climate change and confirmed they had been vaccinated against COVID-19 .

"Butter" is their second English-language single

You could say the single, which came out in 2021, is "smooth like butter," as the lyrics go. Speaking to Billboard , RM said "Butter" is all "positive vibes" and "upbeat energy."

Have the chorus memorized ahead of their Grammys performance, so you can feel like a member of the ARMY: "Side step, right, left to my beat / High like the moon, rock with me, baby / Know that I got that heat / Let me show you ‘cause talk is cheap / Side step, right, left to my beat / Get it, let it roll."

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Taylor swift’s swifties vs drake’s team drizzy in billboard’s fan army face-off | billboard news, jin participates in 2024 olympics, woozi snaps back, jimin & jung kook tease new show | billboard news, is jung kook’s ‘i am still’ his documentary | billboard news, jimin & jung kook announce tv show, jin to participate in 2024 olympics | billboard news, army demands geffen records to apologize to jimin | billboard news, bts’ v ‘type 1’ is coming, katy perry previews lyrics at paris fashion week & more | billboard news, bts’ jimin announces second album ‘muse’ | billboard news, is bts starring in ‘despicable me 4’ jin hugs fans & performs solo | billboard news, bts’ jin finishes army service, set to hug 1,000 fans | billboard news, latest news.

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BTS members guide: Read BTS’ profiles to become ARMY

If you’re looking to learn more about each of the BTS members, here’s a profile on each of the men driving the global sensation from South Korea! Meet Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook!

BTS , also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, Bangtan Boys, or Beyond The Scene, is a band from South Korea that is made up of seven members.

The group debuted in 2013 but was training with Big Hit Entertainment for several years prior to their first album being released. Each BTS member was specifically selected to complete the group which is made of rappers, dancers, and vocalists.

Related: BTS song , album list: A complete guide to every single tune

Nowadays, the group is known for their massive fan base and their global outreach — but that wasn’t always the case.

The BTS members each struggled in their own way to make it to where they are today, despite all of the odds against them.

Each member has their own individual personality and talents that help make BTS so amazing! Read on to learn a little more about each of the BTS members:

BTS members quick facts:

If you’re looking to find out which BTS members are oldest to youngest, the member’s ages, the members birthdays, or their heights. Here’s all the info you need at your fingertips!

For the full BTS members guide click here or continue downward!

BTS members from oldest to youngest:

In South Korea, age plays an important role in society. Which is why many are curious to find out the BTS members from oldest to youngest.

In BTS, you can often find the oldest members of the group helping out the youngest members of the group. Except for when the oldest members forget their age and play around with the youngest members too.

Here are the BTS members from oldest to youngest:

• Jin – Jin is the oldest member of BTS • Suga – Suga is the second oldest member of BTS • J-Hope – J-Hope is the third oldest member of BTS • RM – RM is the fourth oldest member of BTS • Jimin – Jimin is the third youngest member of BTS • V – V is the second youngest member of BTS • Jungkook – Jungkook is the youngest member of BTS

BTS members age:

The BTS members ages range from 28 years old (international age) to just 23 years old! Though to be fair, the BTS members don’t always act their age. Jungkook, the group’s center, is actually the youngest member of all seven.

Here are the BTS members ages from oldest to youngest :

• Jin – 28 years old • Suga – 28 years old • J-Hope – 27 years old • RM – 26 years old • Jimin – 25 years old • V – 25 years old • Jungkook – 24 years old

BTS members birthdays:

The BTS member’s birthdays are actually fairly close together on the calendar, despite there being seven of them. With most of their birthdays occurring in the Fall and Wintertime. There are multiple BTS members with birthdays in the same month as well!

Here are the BTS members birthdays oldest to youngest:

• Jin – Born December 4, 1992 • Suga – Born March 9, 1993 • J-Hope – Born February 18, 1994 • RM – Born September 12, 1994 • Jimin – Born October 13, 1995 • V – Born December 30, 1995 • Jungkook – Born September 1, 1997

BTS members height:

Of course, the topic of height often comes up amongst the members. They love to tease each other for it even though they’re all relatively close in that department anyway.

RM is the tallest of the BTS members, while Jimin is the shortest of the members with Suga just slightly taller than him.

Here are the BTS members heights from tallest to shortest:

• RM – 181 cm (5’11.3”) • Jin – 179 cm (5’10.5”) • V – 178 cm (5’10.1″) • Jungkook – 178 cm (5’10.1”) • J-Hope – 177 cm (5’9.7”) • Suga – 174 cm (5’8.5″) • Jimin – 173cm (5’8.1″)

BTS members guide

These BTS profiles are in order of oldest to youngest and also include the member’s ages, the member’s heights, and the member’s birthdays along with more details on their personalities!

💜 BTS member Jin 💜 BTS member Suga 💜 BTS member J-Hope 💜 BTS member RM 💜 BTS member Jimin 💜 BTS member V 💜 BTS member Jungkook

BTS member Jin:

Stage Name: Jin Full Name: Kim Seokjin Position: Vocalist Birthday: December 4, 1992 Age: 28 Height: 179 cm (5’10.5”) Personality Type: INTP

Jin is the oldest BTS member, although he doesn’t often act like it. He’s known for his dad jokes, describing himself as “Worldwide handsome” in response to the times his pictures have gone viral, and winking or blowing kisses to the camera whenever it lands on him.

Despite being the oldest, Jin is one of the more easily frightened members. He can also be quite dramatic when he’s scared and it makes for a lot of great entertainment for fans on video content. He’s also one of the better cooks in the band and has a series of videos titled “Eat Jin” that focuses on his foodie adventures.

Jin was originally studying acting and was infamously spotted on the streets by a Big Hit Entertainment staff member. Though he’s never formally acted in any K-dramas, you can easily see how natural his acting skills are in many of the BTS music videos.

His character is also central to the Bangtan Universe (BU) that has a storyline in the groups MV’s, as well as The Notes book and the Save Me webtoon .

Jin has previously revealed that the reason he joined BTS was in order to make his family proud. “When I was younger my mom used to just listen to her friends bragging about their sons. She just listened to them without saying anything. So I thought I want to make my mom be proud of her son too,” the singer emotionally revealed at one of their concerts.

Although Jin can come off as being confident about his visuals, he can still be self-conscious about his vocals and dancing which he’s had to work hard on over the years. He’s also extremely caring for the younger members who he spends a lot of time with off stage as well. And BTS’ leader RM has said that he finds a lot of comfort being about Jin when he’s anxious during interviews, which just shows Jin’s more sensitive side.

Fun facts about BTS member Jin: 💜He’s from a well off family and has one older brother, his mom and his dad. 💜Jin once studied abroad in Australia, though he still gets self-conscious when speaking English (he’s really good at it though). 💜He likes to collect Super Mario related toys and still likes to play video games in his free time. 💜Jin is one of the few members of BTS that has his license and can drive (as seen on Bon Voyage season 3). 💜He enjoys snowboarding and recently picked up the hobby of fishing as well. 💜Jin and his brother own a restaurant together in Seoul. 💜He has explained that he likes to be silly because he enjoys making others happy. 💜Jin self-taught himself how to play the guitar and can even sing while playing. 💜For his most recent birthday in 2019, Jin donated food and other items to an animal welfare center.

BTS member Suga:

Stage Name: Suga Full Name: Min Yoongi Position: Rapper Birthday: March 9, 1993 Age: 28 Height: 174 cm (5’8.5″) Personality Type: INFP

Suga is the second oldest BTS member and can often be found taking care of things for the other members.

He’s known for being a bit of an introvert which sometimes leads people to wrongly believe his personality is cold. When actually Suga is very caring and sensitive when you get to know him better. The other members like to joke about how he prefers to help them without anyone noticing. And when he gets really excited his silly side will shine right through.

He’s well known for working long hours in his studio but when he has time off he likes to sleep as much as possible. Suga has been outspoken about his struggles with mental health in hopes to help others open up too. He’s also made many statements in support of the LGBT community despite the taboo topic in South Korea and has previously made personal donations to orphanages.

Prior to joining Big Hit Entertainment, Suga was an underground rapper and jokes that he was tricked into joining BTS when he initially thought he would just be a producer. He’s also spoken about his financial instability growing up and how he’d often go without eating when he needed money to take the bus.

Suga has also spoken about how his family was against his passion for music as a teenager which caused a lot of tension between them. And he even cried on stage once when they attended a BTS concert.

He has released solo albums under the stage name Agust D, writes/produces music for BTS, and also won the Hot Trend award at the 2017 Melon Music Awards for working as the producer on singer Suran’s “Wine.” More recently he produced a track for Epik High, whom he idolized growing up, titled “Eternal Sunshine.”

Fun facts about BTS member Suga: 💜His family struggled financially when Suga was younger, and he has one older brother, his mom and his dad. 💜Before moving to Seoul, Suga used to attend a school that specialized in teaching English but he gets nervous speaking it still. 💜In his free time, Suga mostly likes to sleep but he also enjoys spending time with his older brother who cooks for him. 💜Suga’s family has a male mini poodle named Holly who he loves to take pictures with and spoil with toys. 💜He is actually very sweet, patient, and caring, even though his stage persona is often portrayed as being tough. 💜Suga’s stage name originates from his love of basketball and stands for his former position as a shooting guard (SG). 💜He’s used the stage name Agust D for his solo work and it’s from “Suga” spelled backward and “DT” for Daegu Town where he grew up. 💜Suga can compose music on the spot, can play the piano, and is said to have a perfect pitch (aka absolute pitch). 💜For Suga’s most recent birthday in 2019, he made a sizable donation to the Korea Pediatric Cancer Foundation under the name of ARMY.

BTS member J-Hope:

Stage Name: J-Hope Full Name: Jung Hoseok Position: Rapper, Dancer Birthday: February 18, 1994 Age: 27 Height: 177 cm (5’9.7”) Personality Type: ESFJ

J-Hope is one of the best dancers in the group, and also also a literal sunshine angel!

J-Hope is known for being quite silly pretty much wherever he is because he likes to help others laugh and have a good time. If you watch him in interviews, he will most definitely introduce himself as “I’m your hope, you’re my hope, I’m J-Hope.” If you’re ever in a bad mood, all you need to do is watch some J-Hope videos and your day will get 100% better.

Although, he often takes charge when it comes to dancing practices and is very serious about perfecting their performances. For those that look up to his dance skills, he can actually be a little intimidating when he’s in dance teacher mode.

Other than dancing, J-Hope is known to love fashion and loves to go shopping. He’s not afraid to try different styles and loves having bags as accessories. J-Hope is also very caring of his friends and family, and even wrote a whole song dedicated to his mother titled “MAMA.”

Though he didn’t know how to rap when he joined Big Hit, the other BTS members helped to train him. During their early days, J-Hope struggled a lot with being away from his family and almost quit BTS before the others talked him out of it.

He was also the third member of BTS to release a solo album titled Hope World . Since he was a lot newer to music production than RM and Suga, the project put a lot of pressure on J-Hope. However, it’s been a great joy for fans to see a different side of him through his music writing.

It seems like J-Hope is constantly improving in all areas of his musicianship and has been gaining more confidence when it comes to helping out on BTS’ albums. He recently wrote a majority of “Dionysus” from BTS’ album Map of the Soul: Persona which has quickly become a fan favorite.

Fun facts about BTS member J-Hope: 💜J-Hope is close to his older sister who runs a fashion company called Mejiwoo , as well as his mother and father. 💜J-Hope is another one of the few members who are one has his license and can drive. 💜J-Hope auditioned for JYP before Big Hit, but he didn’t make the cut. 💜Jimin and J-Hope are the only members of BTS who still share a room in their current dorm, they said they wanted the big closet that came with the master! 🤣 💜Although he mainly raps, J-Hope is also an exceptional singer and will sometimes show off his skills in BTS songs. 💜His family has a pet Shih Tzu named Mickey who he’ll often take pictures with when he’s home. 💜With his energetic personality, J-Hope often helps set the mood for the others when they’re feeling down. 💜J-Hope often leads the group in dance practices which is where his more serious side will come out. 💜For his most recent birthday in 2019, J-Hope made a donation for low-income students at his former school in Gwangju through ChildFund Korea.

BTS’ member RM:

Stage Name: RM Full Name: Kim Namjoon Position: Rapper, Leader Birthday: September 12, 1994 Age: 26 Height: 181 cm (5’11.3”) Personality Type: ENFP

RM is the leader of BTS and he played a big part in helping Big Hit form the group that fans get to enjoy today.

It’s well known that that Jungkook was being scouted by the top entertainment companies and decided to sign with Big Hit after meeting RM despite the company’s smaller budget. RM also helped talk members out of quitting the band during their difficult trainee days.

He’s also a low-key genius with an IQ of 148 and taught himself English by watching episodes of Friends . RM is also a writer and producer for the band and has also put out two of his own solo albums titled Mono. and RM .

In their early days, RM struggled a lot with his identity as a musician. After his career as an underground rapper, he received a lot of backlash from the community for joining BTS. Meanwhile, he received a lot of criticism from the Korean music industry that he didn’t fit the beauty standards for an idol group.

These issues understandably caused a lot of internal turmoil for him. But through his music and fans he has been learning to love himself as he implores others to do the same in his lyrics. These days, he seems a lot more comfortable and happy in his own skin which is a great sight to see!

In his spare time, you can find him Namjooning – spending time in nature, riding his bike, and visiting art museums.

Fun facts about BTS member RM: 💜Although he’s the leader of BTS, RM is actually in the middle of the group age-wise. 💜In his family, RM has one younger sister plus his mom and dad. 💜RM enjoys reading and shopping online in his free time, sometimes he just hangs out in his studio even when he’s not writing music. 💜He has a large collection of Kaws figurines which he shows off at his studio. 💜RM is fluent in English and once studied abroad in New Zealand! 💜Out of all the members of BTS, RM has written the most lyrics for their songs. 💜One of his nicknames is “God of Destruction” because he’s constantly accidentally breaking everything around him. 💜RM’s family has a white dog named Rap Mon after his former stage name. 💜For his birthday in 2018, fans adorable adopted a koala at Brisbane’s Australian Zoo and named her Koya, after his BT21 character!

BTS member Jimin:

Stage Name: Jimin Full Name: Park Jimin Position: Vocalist, Dancer Birthday: October 13, 1995 Age: 25 Height: 173cm (5’8.1″) Personality Type: ENFJ

Jimin had the shortest amount of time as a trainee before BTS debuted and almost didn’t make the cut. Although he’s a formally trained dancer, he had no experience with singing and had to continue to train hard over the years on his vocals. These days, he seems a lot more satisfied with his skills and has no problem hitting all the right notes live.

Jimin is perhaps one of the most affectionate members, towards his fellow bandmates and fans. On camera, he’s known for his strong stage presence, but offstage he’s often doubting himself as seen in their documentary Burn The Stage .

Along with being affectionate, he’s also extremely caring about the other members. If one of them gets upset on stage, Jimin is usually the first one to rush to their side to try and cheer them up. He’s always selfless and seems to constantly put others before himself.

When he laughs, he does so with his whole body and tends to throw himself onto whoever is nearest. And when he gets shy, he’ll hit whoever is closest to him as well.

Always motivated by fans and wanting to interact with them, Jimin is quite active on their social media. He’s a great source for behind the scenes photos of what they’re all up to as well as live streams on their V Live account .

Recently, Jimin has been getting more into composing music and writing lyrics. He also enjoys traveling and shopping when he has downtime.

Fun facts about BTS member Jimin: 💜Jimin has one younger brother, who looks so much like him, and is close with his parents. 💜Although he’s the shortest member of the group, Jimin has a powerful stage presence that captivates everyone. 💜Jimin hates to be alone and prefers to spend as much time with the other members as he can. 💜In his free time, Jimin enjoys reading books, comics, and webtoons. 💜He also likes to draw and has shown off some of his drawings to fans in his V Lives. 💜Jimin was trained in both contemporary dance and ballet before joining Big Hit. 💜Many fans refer to him as Mochi (a rice cake) and earned the nickname for his cute qualities. 💜 Jimin’s song “Promise” , which he wrote himself, broke the record for most streams on SoundCloud in 24 hours! 💜Sometime in 2018, Jimin secretly made a large donation to his hometown of Busan’s Metropolitan Office of Education and it was only revealed months later in 2019 that he’d done so!

BTS member V:

Stage Name: V Full Name: Kim Taehyung Position: Vocalist, Dancer Birthday: December 30, 1995 Age: 25 Height: 178 cm (5’10.1″) Personality Type: ENFP

V, also known as Taehyung, Tae, or TaeTae was the last member of BTS to be revealed. He actually didn’t even mean to audition for Big Hit but had joined a friend for moral support and was convinced by a staff member to try out as well.

V comes from a family of farmers and has said that he probably would have ended up doing the same thing if he hadn’t joined BTS. He remains extremely close with his family and greatly looks up to his father.

One word to describe V would be: unique. His voice easily stands out from the other vocal line because of his soulful and deep tone. He loves to play around with fashion and has a great appreciation for art as well. One of his favorite hobbies is photography, and he also acted in the Korean historical drama Hwarang: The Beginning .

He’s well known for his outgoing personality, and it’s often joked that he can become friends with anyone that he meets. His fun and silly personality often comes out with fan engagements as well. V also has a pet Pomeranian named Yeontan (a.k.a. Tannie) who is the unofficial 8th BTS member.

Although he’s very warm and friendly, V also understandably likes to keep much of his personal life private. This is why there’s not that much known about his family or younger years.

Fun facts about BTS member V: 💜V has a younger sister and a younger brother, as well as several young cousins. 💜Thanks to all of his younger family members, V loves to be around babies and younger kids. 💜V has said that his role model is his father, and used to constantly wear a watch that his father gifted him. 💜Although V’s pet Pomeranian Tannie doesn’t live with the members full time, he’s often brought with them to various events and shoots. Tannie lives with V’s family whenever the members are traveling. 💜V played the saxophone for many years and can also play the piano. 💜After having a close relationship with his grandmother, V has said he picked up his fashion sense from her. 💜Along with photography, V likes to paint in his free time. 💜V came up with the term “I purple you” which is used by BTS and ARMYs as another way to say I love and trust you. 💜For V’s birthday in 2018, many fans took to making donations to the World Wide Fund to help save endangered tigers.

BTS member Jungkook:

Stage Name: Jungkook Full Name: Jeon Jeongguk Position: Vocalist, Dancer, Center Birthday: September 1, 1997 Age: 24 Height: 178 cm (5’10.1”) Personality Type: INFP

Jungkook is the youngest BTS member, also known as their Golden Maknae because he seems to be good at basically everything. Along with his vocal and dancing skills, Jungkook is also quite athletic and artistic.

Initially, Jungkook left his hometown at a very young age to take part in a talent show for kids and was soon scouted by several entertainment agencies. Like previously mentioned, he ended up signing on with Big Hit after being impressed by RM.

He was also the only trainee that was sent to America for dance training prior to their debut. By the time the group did debut, he was just 15 years old. Since he left home at such a young age, Jungkook often says that the other members basically raised him and had a huge impact on who he is today.

He’s also well known for his video productions which are released under the name of G.C.F (Golden Closet Films) and is fascinated with cameras. He loves to film the other members and edit them in his free time.

As the youngest of the group, Jungkook can be a bit on the shy side. Though he has said that over the years the other members have helped draw him out of his shell.

Fun facts about BTS member Jungkook: 💜Jungkook is also the maknae of his family and has an older brother. He’s also said that his mother is older than his father. 💜Jungkook has been pretty open about the fact that he disliked school when he went, aside from a few subjects. 💜Aside from being gifted in singing and dancing, Jungkook also likes photography, videography, and gaming! 💜Jungkook releases short films he calls G.C.F.s on BTS’ youtube channel which gives fans a behind the scenes look at the member’s lives. 💜Jungkook is another one of the members of BTS who can drive and has his license. 💜The other members of BTS claim that Jungkook might be their maknae but he doesn’t really act like one. 💜Jungkook speaks formally to the other members but they say that he does so to get away with annoying his hyungs. 💜He’s very athletic, can play multiple sports well and also enjoys working out. 💜For Jungkook’s birthday in 2018, many fans made donations to Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission (KKOOM).

Bonus pro tip: Don’t try and learn them by their hair colors because they constantly change and you will just confuse yourself.

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Everything We Know About BTS' New 2022 Album 'Proof'

Later in 2022, BTS will release a three-part anthology of key tracks, new songs, and previously unreleased rarities. Here's everything to know about 'Proof.'

There's a new stirring in the fabric of the BTS universe — a big one.

On June 10, the GRAMMY-nominated pop juggernauts will release Proof , a collection of tracks from throughout their discography, as well as brand new tracks, never-before-heard demos and more.

Spanning three discs, Proof promises to celebrate the band's past, present and future through a lovingly curated song cycle. If members of the BTS Army ever wanted to hear demos of tracks like "Jump," I Need U" and "DNA" — as well as an a cappella version of Jungkook's "Still With You" — they're in luck.

In the wake of Proof 's recently released tracklisting — featuring well-known tunes like "Dynamite" and "Butter" (and so much more), here's everything GRAMMY.com could find about the career-spanning compilation by a giant of 21st-century pop.

It's Called Proof , And It's Out June 10 Via Big Hit Music

That's according to the official press release.

It'll Contain A Wealth Of Treasures, Previously Unreleased Or Not

According to said press release: "The new album consists of three CDs that contain brand new tracks, members' selections, demo versions, unreleased tracks and more."

Proof Acts As A "Chronicle Of BTS"

The first disc begins with a remastered version of "Born Singer," from all the way back in 2013, which the press release describes as "BTS' candid emotions they felt after one month of their debut." The disc ends with the lead single "Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)."

The second disc consists of "15 solo and sub-unit tracks," beginning with the new track "Run BTS," and highlights each BTS member's distinct tastes and personality.

The third disc, only available on CD, is said to be "dedicated to the fans," featuring unreleased tracks and demo versions that any fan will eat up — as well as a new fan song, "For Youth."

Read More: Smooth Like "Butter": How BTS' GRAMMY-Nominated Mega Hit Came To Be

The Album Celebrates Nine Years Of BTS

Can you believe it's been almost a decade? Yet it feels like the Bangtan Boys are just getting started.

BTS Initially Teased The Music Back In April

During their Permission To Dance Onstage concert in Las Vegas, BTS shared short clips with the text "We Are Bulletproof" and "2022. 06. 10." While this initially fueled speculation that a new album was coming, the release wound up materializing as Proof .

They Shared The Tracklist On Instagram

It's in the Highlights section of their Stories , where BTS also announced that "Yet to Come" will be the lead single.

They Released A Trailer, Too

See below — and watch this space as more details of Proof are unveiled!

K-Pop Group SEVENTEEN Talk New Album Your Choice, Love And Growing Together

Photo: Courtesy of KCON L.A.

KCON L.A. 2024: 7 Highlights From NCT 127, ZEROBASEONE, NMIXX & More

The world's biggest K-pop festival returned to Los Angeles, featuring headliners NCT 127, ENHYPEN, and Taemin, along with a mix of rookie sensations and nostalgic favorites.

Held from July 26-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, KCON 2024 showcased an array of performances from K-pop stars, with notable acts including NCT 127 , ENHYPEN , Taemin , ZEROBASEONE , and g.o.d. The event marked its largest success yet, attracting fans worldwide both in-person and through digital platforms.

KCON, the biggest K-pop show in the world, has come a long way since its inception in 2012 at Irvine's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre with around 10,000 attendees. Over a decade later, the music festival and convention event has expanded globally, but Los Angeles remains special as its origin. This year, KCON proclaimed its biggest success yet, stating, "Over 5.9 million fans from more than 170 countries enjoyed KCON L.A. 2024 both at the festival site and through digital platforms." It was also broadcasted for the first time on the CW network in the U.S., and by its usual broadcaster Mnet in Korea and around the world.

This year's KCON featured a varied lineup for performers. The finale headliners were NCT 127, who last attended KCON L.A. in 2017 in their early days. They were joined by ENHYPEN and Taemin as nightly headliners. Rookie groups like ZEROBASEONE and Boynextdoor proved to be crowd favorites, while Y2K icons like g.o.d surprised the whole audience with 2000s hits. Despite fewer female performers, dynamic sets from NMIXX, Somi, and StayC made a significant impact.   

It was generally a big year for rookie acts, with a variety of Korean, Japanese, and Filipino newer boy bands and girl groups making appearances throughout the weekend. As more senior artists hold solo tours, with many touring simultaneously to KCON, there was ample time to meet newcomers. 

Even L.A. -based Katseye, Hybe X Geffen Records' new girl group that features members from around the world, had a moment as the openers for the final night, performing live in front of fans for the very first time. 

Read on for memorable highlights, performances, and other insights from the annual event.

g.o.d Ascend To New Heights

Although the styles of the '90s and early aughts are trending, it was perhaps a bit of a surprise — to the crowd and artists alike — that one of Korea's early boy band greats could get the whole stadium up out of their seats, clapping, and swaying along to the R&B stylings of g.o.d. 

Formed in 1999, the quartet took the stage in suits and began their set with the ballad "Road" followed by "Lie." While many fans came out specifically to see them, bearing banners and light blue balloon-shaped light sticks in support, it was the group's comfortable affability that made them one of KCON's most talked-about acts. 

By having fun and being earnestly engaging, they won over a crowd largely made up of people unfamiliar with their discography. When they performed "Sky Blue Balloon," a song dedicated to their fans, everyone clapped and sang along. As they turned on their phone flashlights ("Give us 1% of your phone battery!" quipped Cali-native Joon Park), the audience basked in the poignant closer "One Candle," a song well-known in South Korea as a democratic anthem, creating a warm, memorable glow.  

ZEROBASEONE Lead Rookie Power

When they performed at the 2023 event, ZEROBASEONE, or ZB1, were charming newcomers who had just come together during K-pop competition show, "Boys Planet . " While ZB1 are not technically rookies anymore, they're still relatively new kids on the block compared to many senior acts. Despite their relative youth, at KCON LA 2024, they were one of the biggest draws for fans in attendance. Throughout the weekend, it was near impossible to move a foot or two without spotting one or two (or 10!) dedicated "Zeroses" cheering them on with a light stick that looks surprisingly similar to a rose-shaped engagement ring. 

For fans lucky enough to attend multiple nights of KCON LA 2024, ZB1 performed both on Friday, July 26, and Sunday, July 28, showcasing fan favorites like " Sweat ," " Crush ," and " In Bloom ." They also shared a teaser for their new EP, Cinema Paradise, which will drop in August. 

Along with ZB1, it was a big weekend for some other newer boy bands: Boynextdoor’s catchy, witty performances were some of the most-talked about, while TWS’s earworm hits had the whole arena singing along. 

ENHYPEN Fulfill Dreams And Enhance Fantasies

Coming to KCON right after touring in the U.S. earlier this year could have meant repeat performances for ENHYPEN's "Engenes" to witness, but instead, the vampiric septet charmed with new energy just days after releasing their latest EP, Romance: Untold, on July 12. 

Surprising the crowd with the English version of that album's single " XO (Only If You Say Yes) ", ENHYPEN ran through some of their biggest hits, seducing listeners with " Bite Me " and charming them with the picture-perfect " Polaroid Love ." 

They also, along with Zico and Taemin, hosted one of KCON's unique "Dream Stages," coming together with fan dancers to perform the English version of last year's smooth "Sweet Venom." 

Read more: Meet ENHYPEN, K-Pop's Latest Breakout Boy Group

A Welcome Return For NCT 127

Seven years since their last KCON LA performance, NCT 127 appeared triumphant as both openers and closers on the third night of the show. They kicked the night off (literally) with their 2020 hit "Kick It," and returned at the end of the night to perform their new song " Walk ," before renditions of hits " Lemonade ," " 2 Baddies ," and " Fact Check ."

It was a moment of glory for the team, who had spent much of their biggest musical eras without touring during the pandemic. Now that concerts are back, they've been touring heavily. When their planned world tour, "Neo City – The Unity," became an Asia-only tour, it felt like there would be no moment for Stateside fans in 2024. When they were announced as late-addition special headliners, NCTzens rapidly bought up tickets. 

With the 127 members and their U.S. fans (plus many from overseas) reunited, the atmosphere was one of euphoria and exuberance as the members boisterously dominated the stage, making jokes and playfully engaging in a way that felt comfortable and assured in their performing prowess. It may not have been a full NCT 127 concert in LA, but it's clear that the stars and many fans are waiting for that. 

Jeon Somi, Hyolyn & BIBI Shine

While groups are the bread and butter of K-pop, soloists have their own flair, and this year the fiery spotlight fell on the women. During the final night, the powerful dynamism of BIBI, Jeon Somi, and Hyolyn took over. Although BIBI's real set was the first night, she performed a expletive-free version of her hit revenge track " Bibi's Vengeance " before embracing Hyolyn. 

Hyolyn, a soloist and member of girl group Sistar, forwent her own songs for the concert event and instead put her own sultry spin on LOONA's " So What " with a team of fierce dancers. 

Jeon Somi rounded out things with her truly addicting dance tracks " Fast Forward " and " DUMB DUMB ," along with the emotive " The Way ." She then revealed the name of her new upcoming song, "Ice Cream" and charmed the crowd by teaching them a call-and-response chant: "Come get your ice cream," shouted one side of the arena. "Too hot!" returned the other before Somi realized with a laugh that the lyric actually was "Too cold!" 

Read more: 10 K-Pop Rookie Girl Groups To Watch In 2023

Fiery Covers Galore

One of the special things about KCON is the emphasis put on historic K-pop songs and events, with remakes and covers being a major part of every KCON. This year was no different, beginning with the first day's concert featuring P1Harmony 's cover of BTS's " Fire ."

In 2016, when BTS performed "Fire" at KCON LA, the air was palpable with the feeling that something big was taking place. That set has often been cited as the moment many K-pop fans and music watchers realized BTS was on the brink of global superstardom. It was a fitting tribute to have P1Harmony, who had a major year on the festival and touring circuit, open up KCON LA with their own spin on the song the very first night of the event. 

Other acts also put their own spin on both recent hits and older classics throughout the nighttime concerts. The third night featured an homage to girl groups: along with Hyolyn covering LOONA , ZB1 covered Red Velvet's "Psycho" and STAYC covered (G)I-DLE's " Queencard ."

The Unsung Hero: The KCON Stage

A rather unsuspecting, warehouse-style room next to the main convention floor was the secret sauce that brought a special touch to revitalize the decade-plus event by making it a true day-long music festival. 

While KCON LA had previously tried smaller nighttime concerts, concerts occasionally on the convention floor, and long-time had a meet-and-greet stage, this year's daytime KCON Stage that almost all artists visited was the sort of concert fans dream of. 

While the headlining M Countdown concerts were certainly the highlights of KCON LA 2024, the KCON Stage provided an intimate moment for artists and fans to get up-close and personal. Kicking off each morning with auditions for the Dream Stage performances with Taemin, ENHYPEN, and Zico for their respective night's events, the KCON Stage featured concert sets from a variety of artists throughout the day. Each day's KCON Stage performances were a bit more relaxed and raw compared to the highly choreographed made-for-TV nighttime shows. 

NMIXX, whose " Run for Roses " and " Dice " got the second night's crowd basking in their glory, was one such moment. The KCON Stage gave them a chance to bring some summertime fun with a bubble-blowing rendition of " Love Me Like This ." 

Even acts who are popular K-pop crowd pleasers but not part of the lineup for KCON's main concerts, like A.C.E and AleXa, had sets during the day. They, along with other acts like POW, Bibi, and Craxy, had KCON convention-goers perking up their ears at these unexpected concert moments. 

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5 Takeaways from BTS Jimin's New Album, 'MUSE': A Bold Exploration Of Love And Inspiration

NCT 127 Essential Songs: 14 Tracks You Need To Know From The K-Pop Juggernauts

Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Jimin's second solo project, 'MUSE,' showcases his artistic growth and versatility, featuring a blend of nostalgic sounds, personal reflections, and standout collaborations.

K-pop juggernauts BTS are still on hiatus due to military enlistments, except for Jin, who was discharged last month. Yet, all members remain booked and busy in their solo endeavors.

Documentaries , travel shows , special singles — you name it, they carefully prepared it before starting their duties. And after new records from j-hope ( HOPE on the Street ) and RM ( Right Place, Wrong Person ) this year, the next in line is Jimin , who dropped MUSE today.

The album comes almost a year and a half after his debut EP, FACE , which placed Jimin as the first South Korean soloist to top Billboard 's Hot 100 chart. In it, the Busan-born star proved his versatility and prowess standing on his own, captivating audiences old and new with his sensitive charisma.

In MUSE , Jimin introduces a new facet of his musical identity: bolder and more confident, but still a big softie at heart. To celebrate the beginning of a new era — and to ease the wait until his discharge next year — here are five key takeaways from Jimin's latest release, MUSE .

It's Another Jimin-Led Production

FACE was a proper introduction to Jimin's artistic vision, with him contributing to every aspect of the project and co-writing all of its tracks, minus the instrumental "Interlude: Dive."

Now, he takes it up a notch for MUSE , showcasing his growth by co-writing six out of seven tracks, and co-producing two of them: "Rebirth" and "Interlude: Showtime." Once again, Jimin had a hand on all of the album's components, including its concept and visuals, and bore down another layer of his ever-evolving skills.

If FACE introduced us to a vulnerable and sometimes desperate Jimin, MUSE charges forward with main pop boy energy, tender but commanding, sweet but sassy. It works both as a gift to fans and a tool to get to know Jimin even deeper.

He’s Still In Search Of His Muse

"We never met, but she's all I see at night/ Never met but she's always on my mind/ Wanna give her the world/ And so much more/ Who is my heart waiting for?" Jimin sings in MUSE 's track, "Who." As the lyrics suggest, MUSE 's main theme is Jimin's journey to find the source of his inspiration — his muse.

The album's seven tracks are all interconnected by love and longing, with Jimin searching for the one but getting lost in the way, and back at it once more. Through this perspective, he continues his path of self-discovery. After looking at his own FACE in the mirror, who else does he see? Who else instigates him enough to make art?

A Stellar Team Backs Up The Effort

To write and produce MUSE , Jimin enlisted longtime collaborators Pdogg, Ghstloop, Evan, and Supreme Boi. They have also been working with BTS for years, and know just what Jimin wants and needs in his songs.

But to make this album even more special, Jimin also collaborated with a fresh crop of professionals. Lead single "Who" was co-written and co-produced by Jon Bellion , Pete Nappi , and Tenroc , while Ayo the Producer and Kofo co-signed the fan-dedicated "Closer Than This." OneRepublic 's Ryan Tedder helped pen "Be Mine," and Tommy Brown has writing credits on "Rebirth" and "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)."

Aside from Korean rapper Loco, MUSE also features American actress and singer Sofia Carson on the smooth duet "Slow Dance." Together, these names assembled a cohesive, yet diverse LP, brimming with influences from several decades, genres, and countries at once.

The Smeraldo Flower Makes A Comeback

Back in 2017, when BTS was in their LOVE YOURSELF era, they also introduced to their lore a fictional blue flower named Smeraldo . Symbolizing "a truth that cannot be told," its legend was better explored in the track "The Truth Untold (Feat. Steve Aoki)," and offered important clues to understanding that era's messages.

However, as years passed, the Smeraldo flower was largely forgotten from BTS's new works — until MUSE . Here, Jimin brings back the blue flower as one of the albums' visual concepts , and as the main motif behind pre-release "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)."

According to a press statement, the track's lyrics "express the longing to confess and find love on behalf of those unable to articulate their feelings," hence the use of Smeraldo. As for its curious title — loosely inspired by The Beatles ' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band — it came first as a casual nickname between Jimin, Pdogg, Ghstloop, and Evan while they worked together on FACE , and eventually became real.

It’s Packed With Nostalgia

If you miss Justin Timberlake 's Justified sounds and other early-2000s gems, MUSE is here to take you on a nostalgic trip. Inspired by pop, R&B and hip hop from that era, Jimin gave his latest album a vintage, cozy veneer.

These references are predominantly visible on "Who" and its delightful guitar strums, but "Slow Dance (feat. Sofia Carson)," for example, sounds like an updated version of Usher and Alicia Key 's "My Boo," and "Be Mine" could be the 2020's lovechild of Santana 's "Maria Maria" and Sean Paul 's "I'm Still In Love With You."

Another strain of references can be seen in "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)," which extends The Beatles' inspiration to experimental samples and marching band percussion, and creates a quirky piece that strays away from any current trends. "Interlude: Showtime" drinks from the same source, featuring a circus brass and drum line that introduces us to the singularity of "Smeraldo Garden."

While infused with nostalgia, MUSE still appeals to today's tastes, and offers a seamless, polished listen. It stands as a testament to Jimin's artistic growth, and while he might not have found his muse yet — he is certainly a source of inspiration for many.

More BTS News

GRAMMY Museum Partners With HYBE For New K-Pop Exhibit 'HYBE: We Believe In Music' Opening Aug. 2

Stream RM's New Album 'Right Place, Wrong Person': See The Tracklist, "LOST!" Video & Special Guests

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Graphic courtesy of the GRAMMY Museum

Running Aug. 2 through Sept. 15, the GRAMMY Museum exhibit showcases artifacts from superstar HYBE artists, including BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, and many more.

The GRAMMY Museum joins forces with HYBE to present its newest exhibit, HYBE: We Believe In Music, A GRAMMY Museum Exhibit . This interactive exhibit chronicles the history and impact of HYBE, and showcases its legacy of unparalleled innovation and creativity as a trend-setting global entertainment brand.

The exhibit opens on Aug. 2 in downtown Los Angeles and features spotlight moments with K-pop stars BTS , SEVENTEEN , TOMORROW X TOGETHER , ENHYPEN , LE SSERAFIM , and many more. "HYBE: We Believe In Music" runs through Sept.15. The exhibit will kick off on Aug. 1 with "Global Spin Live: TWS," a program featuring a moderated conversation with K-pop group TWS, followed by a performance.

The exhibit traces HYBE's evolution and influence by showcasing instantly recognizable artifacts from its roster of artists, creators, and fans. The displays notably feature original outfits worn in iconic music videos such as "Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)" by BTS, "MAESTRO" by SEVENTEEN, "Sugar Rush Ride" by TOMORROW X TOGETHER, "Sweet Venom" by ENHYPEN, and "EASY" by LE SSERAFIM. HYBE: We Believe In Music also boasts accessories and performance gear donned by ZICO, fromis_9, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, &TEAM, and ILLIT. The exhibit marks the first time these artifacts will be on display together in one location.

Other highlights include interactive sing-along and dance rooms, a dedicated Fan Section celebrating the endless support between HYBE artists and their fandoms, a Mono to Immersive room featuring BTS's 2022 GRAMMYs performance of "Butter," and a Photoism Booth that allows visitors to pose alongside their favorite K-pop artists.  The GRAMMY Museum exhibit will also feature exclusive video content with producers, artists, music videos, and more.

"HYBE and their artists represent the present and future of the global music landscape, and our goal with this exhibit is to deepen the appreciation and respect for its creators and performers," says Michael Sticka , President/CEO of the GRAMMY Museum. "HYBE has contributed to creating a playground of innovation that inspires fandoms that transcend age, gender, geography and beyond. The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to provide a space where fans can express their love for K-pop and feel closer to their favorite idols."

Read more: 11 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Know In 2024: NCT Wish, RIIZE, Kiss Of Life & More

HYBE Chief Operating Officer Taeho Kim added, "Putting out an exhibition that captures HYBE's journey is a new experience for us. We're very excited about this partnership with GRAMMY Museum, and we look forward to welcoming music fans who visit the museum to enjoy and connect with our historical pieces."

The exhibit highlights the roots of HYBE's meteoric rise. In 2005, South Korean producer, composer, and songwriter Bang Si-Hyuk, known as "hitman" Bang, changed the trajectory of Korean pop music by launching the record label Big Hit Entertainment. He soon signed a talented 16-year-old rapper named RM , which became the first step in creating the label's groundbreaking boy band — BTS. With the group's global success, "hitman" Bang and Big Hit Entertainment became known as musical trailblazers and record industry innovators. Big Hit Entertainment has now evolved into HYBE, which only continues to break boundaries in music and beyond.

Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for TSX Entertainment

New Music Friday: Listen To Songs & Albums From Jungkook, Meghan Trainor, Peggy Gou, & More

Bask in the pre-summer magic with fresh musical offerings from acts as diverse as Ski Mask the Slump God, Kaytranada, Thomas Rhett, and more.

We're still a couple of weeks away from the summer solstice, but the smell of cookouts and chlorine is already in the air. As parts of the country experience summer weather, there's plenty of musical delights ready to soundtrack the start of summer. From pop to alt-country to rap, this New Music Friday sprouted sounds for listeners of all persuasions. Here's a cross-section of today's songs and albums to check out, from Peggy Gou 's debut album to the latest single from Jungkook .

Meghan Trainor — 'Timeless'

Just a few weeks before Meghan Trainor 's breakthrough smash, "All About That Bass," turns 10, the GRAMMY winner rings in the anniversary in major fashion: a brand new album.

Trainor's sixth LP, Timeless , an irresistible split difference between bubblegum pop and woo-wop. Back in March, she released the lead single "Been Like This" with T-Pain ; the "Buy U a Drank" star also appears on "Love on Hold."

"I cannot believe it has been 10 years since this all started. I have never been more grateful for this life that my incredible Megatronz have gifted me with," Trainor said in a statement — "Megatronz" referring to her rabid fanbase. "This new album and tour are all for them and my beautiful family."

Peggy Gou — 'I Hear You'

I Hear You might be South Korean DJ and singer Peggy Gou's debut album, but she declares it to be much more than that.

"It embodies countless hours of dedication in my journey to create something timeless, and is a testament to the power of listening, to ourselves and to each other," Gou said in a statement . 

And of the video to "1+1=11," in all of its shadowplay: "By bringing together dance — embodied exploration of space — with colorful shadows, lights, and mirrors, I was able to bring some of the key interests that have long shaped my art into an entirely new context."

If all this resonates with you, I Hear You is — well, a must-hear.

Listen: Leap Into AAPI Month 2024 With A Playlist Featuring Laufey, Diljit Dosanjh, & Peggy Gou

Orville Peck, Diplo & Kylie Minogue — "Midnight Ride"

As Pride Month kicked off, Kylie Minogue brought out two very special guests at Outloud Fest at West Hollywood Pride: her newest collaborators, Orville Peck and Diplo . The trio debuted the slinky, sparkling "Midnight Ride," a winning trifecta of their diverse talent pools.

Just a few days later, the studio version has arrived. In its full-fledged wonder, the track is just as much of a ride on record as it was on stage.

The single is the latest offering from Peck's forthcoming duets album, Stampede ; though the full album's release date has yet to be announced, the alt-country star teased the exciting collabs to come with the seven-song Stampede, Vol. 1 on May 10, which featured Elton John and Bernie Taupin , Nathaniel Rateliff and more.

On July 19, English indie favorites Glass Animals will declare I Love You So F***ing Much with their fourth album. They previously released the advance single "Creatures in Heaven." "A Tear in Space (Airlock)" arrives from smack in the middle of the forthcoming album.

A celestial, pulsing track replete with delicious production details, "A Tear in Space (Airlock)" marks another evolutionary step for the Oxford-rooted group. Their smash "Heat Waves" might be in the rearview, but they still know how to craft a song for just that.

Read More: Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Glass Animals' Dave Bayley On The Group's Slow Burn To Massive Success With "Heat Waves" — And How It Almost Never Happened

KAYTRANADA — 'TIMELESS'

The Haitian-Canadian producer, rapper, singer, and DJ born Louis Celestin has produced everyone from Anderson .Paak to Alicia Keys to Victoria Monét , but he's just as compelling when it's his name on the record sleeve. The two-time GRAMMY winner proves just that with his third album, TIMELESS . Of course, the producer recruited several collaborators for the project, and the list is a panoply of associates from across his career — not only .Paak, but Childish Gambino , Don Toliver, and more.

Maluma & Blessd — '1 of 1'

"A full production between two Colombian artists had never been done before," rapper and singer Maluma brassily proclaimed in a recent press statement. "If it's the first, it can't be done twice."

He's referring to the (aptly titled) 1 of 1 , his new EP with fellow Colombian great Blessd. Co-produced by MadMuscik and the RudeBoyz, this six-pack is a reflection of the clear admiration and respect between the two reggaetón practitioners.

This pre-summer weekend, grab a bestie, hit the road, crank up tunes like "Call Me" and "Goyard/GTA," and let that feeling flow through you, too.

Ski Mask the Slump God — '11th Dimension'

Five years after his last LP, Floridan rap phenom Ski Mask the Slump God returns by taking listeners to the 11th Dimension .

If 11th Dimension 's advance singles — the jovial "Ooga Booga!", the propulsive "Headrush" — whetted your thirst, get ready for the other 19 tracks, like head-spinning highlights "By Myself," "KillStreak" and "Him Jung Un."

And while Ski Mask the Slump God takes most of those tracks himself, the album's five features are equally as thrilling: Future and ATL Jacob, Skillibeng, Corbin, and two posthumous duets with late rap stars XXXTentacion and Juice Wrld .

Generally, when an artist has a blast making music, it seeps through the grooves — and Thomas Rhett had an absolute ball making his new album, About A Woman , out Aug. 23.

"I did this with a new batch of producers, a lot of different songwriters. This is the funnest album that I've made, I think," he told Backstage Country . "This is a very, very 'me' album. If you liked Tangled Up and Life Changes , Center Point Road , this album is sort of that on steroids." He's already revealed the first single, "Beautiful as You"; its follow-up, "Gone Country," is a rough-hewn statement of down-home purpose. Every line and lick is true to his dictum that he "got back to the root of why I love to make music and put smiles on faces." 

Let that smile cross your face as you prepare for your summer adventures — and we'll see you on next week's New Music Friday!

On This Day In Music: 2 Live Crew's 'As Nasty As They Wanna Be' Becomes First Album Declared Legally Obscene, Anticipates First Amendment Cases

• 1 Everything We Know About BTS' New 2022 Album 'Proof'
• 2 KCON L.A. 2024: 7 Highlights From NCT 127, ZEROBASEONE, NMIXX & More
• 3 5 Takeaways from BTS Jimin's New Album, 'MUSE': A Bold Exploration Of Love And Inspiration
• 4 GRAMMY Museum Partners With HYBE For New K-Pop Exhibit 'HYBE: We Believe In Music' Opening Aug. 2
• 5 New Music Friday: Listen To Songs & Albums From Jungkook, Meghan Trainor, Peggy Gou, & More

• Born September 1 , 1997 · Busan, South Korea
• Birth name Jeon Jung-kook
• Justin Seagull
• Jungkookie / Kookie
• Golden Maknae
• Height 5′ 8¾″ (1.75 m)
• Jeon Jungkook was born in Busan, South Korea. At just 13 (International age), he received casting offers from 7 entertainment companies, but in the end chose Big Hit Entertainment because of RM, who is now his band mate and leader of BTS. Because he was so young, BTS attended his middle school and high school graduations. Also being the youngest, he is the only Gen Z group member. He is often referred to as 'Golden Maknae' by ARMY, BTS' fan base. The reason for this is because he is good at so many things! 'Maknae' refers to the youngest in a k-pop group. The 'Golden' is because Jungkook is good at pretty almost everything. This includes singing, rapping, dancing, sports, drawing, photography, videography, composing, imitations, acting, bowling, gaming, and more! He even directed their music video 'Life Goes On'. Along with his band mates, they have dominated the charts and broke records left and right. On August 12, 2022, BTS had acquired 26.7 billion views on Youtube, making them the most viewed artist in Youtube history. In 2022, they also set the record for the most 'Group of the Year' wins at the MTS VMAs with their 4th consecutive year. One of their largest though, may be being the first Korean group to be nominated for a Grammy in 2020 or speaking at the United Nations for their UNICEF campaign in 2018. He and his band members have partnered up with artists such as Charlie Puth, Snoop Dogg, Benny Blanco, Halsey, Jason Derulo, Steve Aoki, Charlie XCX, and more. Some personal achievements of Jungkook's were being named the Sexiest International Man in 2020 by People Magazine, his solo 'Euphoria' sold over 4 million copies, making it the highest selling B-Side track by a Korean artist, and another solo song of his, 'My Time' dominated in sales and the World Digital Song Sales chart, and has reached 50M+ Spotify streams. At just 21, Jungkook was the youngest recipient of the distinguished fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit medal, along with his 6 other band mates. - IMDb Mini Biography By: M.S.
• Exceptional singing and dancing ability
• His bunny shaped teeth
• Member of boy band BTS .
• Has a black belt in Taekwondo.
• Hobbies include: playing the guitar, photography, video editing and drawing.
• Is said to be a really good cook.
• He is part of the so-called "Maknae Line" - the other two being V and Jimin - which is the name for the youngest BTS members.
• Effort makes you. You will regret it someday if you don't do your best now. Don't think it's too late but keep working on it. It may take time, but nothing gets worse due to practicing. So practice. You may get depressed, but it proves you are doing good.
• Effort makes you. You will regret it someday if you don't do your best now. Don't think it's too late to keep working on it.
• To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.
• [Jungkooks quote on pursuing ones passion] Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about.
• Living without passion is like being dead.

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Jin (BTS) Facts and Profile

Stage Name: Jin (진) Birth Name: Kim Seok Jin (김석진) Birthday: December 4, 1992 Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius Height: 179.5cm (5’10.6″) Weight: 61 kg (134 lbs) Blood Type: O MBTI Type: INTP Representative Emoji: 🐹/🦙 Jin’s Spotify list: Jin’s GA CHI DEUL EUL LAE? Instagram: @jin

Jin facts: – He was born in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, but when he was 1 year old his family moved to Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea – His family consists of: Dad, mom, older brother ( Kim Seok Joong , 2 years older) – He’s from a well-off family. His father is the CEO of a company. – Jin’s nicknames are: Fake Maknae, Worldwide Handsome, Eat Jin – In 2015 Jin was nicknamed Car Door Guy (from coming out the door and stunning fans with his visuals). – Jin is also known as that “third guy from the left” (After BTS participated At Billboard Music Awards). – Education: Konkuk University; Hanyang Cyber University – Films major (masters/graduate) – Jin was an exchange student in Australia, during his middle school year. – During primary school his favorite subject was Physical Education. – During that period he used to like sports like tennis, swimming or golf (that he learned from his father). – He also learned snowboarding as his father was a ski lover. – When his father went in business trips, he used to take Jin with him, so he visited a lot of places like Japan, Europe, Australia etc. – He got into gaming when he was in the 1st year of middle school. – Back then he used to spend all his Summer vacation playing video games at Internet cafe with his friends. – Both his middle school and high school were all-boys schools. – During his 1st year of high school his dream was to become a newspaper reporter. – He wanted to become an actor after seeing Kim Nam-Gil in “Queen Seondeok”. – Before being streetcast for auditions, he had been a student at Konkuk University, majoring in acting. – He has been scouted 3 months after enrolling in University, in the Summer of 2011. – When he was scouted by BigHit, there were only the 3 rappers there, RM , Suga and J-Hope . – Bangtan members place him as the 1st in terms of visuals. – Other members said that Jin has the longest legs in BTS. – He’s very confident about his looks, especially about his tick lower lip and his broad shoulders. – He revealed his shoulders are 60 cm wide. – He is also known for his “traffic dance”. – Jin speaks Chinese (Mandarin) and basic English. – In the old dorm, Jin was the member usually in charge of cleaning up. – He also likes Disney princesses. – He is a very good cook. – He enjoys looking at food photos and recipes. – Jin admitted he gave up on cooking as a hobby because of his food allergies. – According to the other members, he has the best body in Bangtan. – The first ever album that Jin bought was a Girls’ Generation album. – His favorite number is 4. – Jin’s favorite color is blue. (According to BTS interview for J-14 Magazine from 170505). His favorite color used to be pink. – His favorite weather is Spring sunlight. – He started playing Super Mario when he was five years old and Maple Story in seven grade and still plays them. – He really love Super Mario toys that he even asked his friends to buy him one. – Jin’s habit is blinking his left eye when hungry. – Jin winks if he meets eyes with anyone (“Knowing Bros”) He winked at Heechul (Super Junior). – He can open a bag of chips with his feet. – He loves eating. – His favorite food: lobster, meat, Naengmyun (cold noodles), chicken and greasy food. – He is allergic to potatoes and garlic (Run BTS Ep. 125) – His role model is T.O.P from BIGBANG . – Jin favorite items are: Maple Story action figures, Super Mario action figures, Nintendo games. – When he was younger he wanted to be a detective. – Jin and RM used to be the least skilled dancers in BTS, but they improved a lot. – He wears really strong prescription glasses but he doesn’t like wearing them because he’ll become insecure. – Jin chose V as the member that he’s closest to. – V describes Jin like Hidetoshi from Doraemon. – For Jin, his charms is his full bottom lip. – Jin wakes up 2 hours earlier than the rest of the members. – Jin had a dog named JJanggu. – He has a driver license. – Jin can play the guitar and the piano. – Jin likes alpacas. – Jin is really good at snowboarding. – Jin has a habit where if he makes eye contact with anyone for more than 3 seconds, he winks at them. – If he’d get a day off, Jin wants to have a servant. He’d want Suga as his servant so he can order him around. – Jin can’t watch horror movies. When he once decided to watch a horror movie during his first year in college, ended up clinging to the person next to him. – If Jimin had to go with a member during spring he’d choose Jin because he’s funny to be with. – Jin and Jungkook bicker a lot. A taxi driver once thought that Jungkook and Jin are twins because of their non-stop bickering. – He likes strawberries, but he doesn’t like strawberry flavored things. – Jin said that looking at bugs isn’t scary, but if they get on his body, that’s really scary. – When Jin makes a dad joke the only person who doesn’t laugh is Suga. – Jin dieted for a year, eating only chicken breasts. – Jin used to work at a strawberry farm. – Jin got two pets that are sugar gliders and their names are Odeng and Eomuk. He got those while searching for Suga on the Internet, but sugar gliders popped up instead. – Update: Eomuk passed away because of an accident, but he got a new sugar glider called Gukmul. (VLive on 180905) – He is the first idol to hit 100 million hearts on a solo Vlive. – Jin is friends with Kidoh (Jin Hyosang) ex member of ToppDogg . Kidoh left Big Hit Entertainment in 2012 and switched to Stardom Entertainment. – Jin is friends with B1A4 ‘s Sandeul . They even went to an amusement park together. – Jin is also friends with VIXX’s Ken , Monsta X Jooheon and Lee Won Keun . – B.A.P ‘s Youngjae revealed that he and BTS’s Jin , BTOB ‘s Eunkwang and VIXX’s Ken are in a gaming crew, called “The Strongest Idol”. (“Lee Guk Joo’s Young Street”) – Moonbyul (Mamamoo) said that the 92 liner have a group chat. There is BTS’s Jin , VIXX’s Ken , B1A4’s Sanduel & Baro and EXID’s Hani . (Weekly Idol ep 345) – Moonbyul also mentioned that Jin and Sandeul are the person who always make the chatroom interesting. (Kim Shin Young’s Hope Song Radio) – 3 requirements for Jin happiness: money, friends, and calm/quiet place. [SKOOL LUV AFFAIR KEYWORD TALK] – Jin sang the OST of “Hwarang” alongside V, which is Part 2 – “It’s Definitely You”. – He was casted in Law of the Jungle in Kota Manado but left earlier than the other cast because BTS had an abroad concert that time – In 2017 after BTS attended Billboard Music Awards , Jin got a lot of attention (internationally) for his good looks. – In April 2018, he opened a restaurant together with his brother. The restaurant, located in Seoul, near Lake Seokchon, is called ‘Ossu Seiromushi’ and serves steamed Japanese dishes. Other members about Jin – Jimin: “He’s the oldest, but he likes to whine.” [After School Club] – Jungkook: “Jin-hyung looks manly and he’s chic like a wolf but personality-wise, he’s carefree so he’s sloth-like (laughs). He’s really nice and he’s also a good cook, so we call him “granny” between us.” – Jimin: “He’s like a grandma.” – Suga: “A Wolf.” – V: “Prince.” – J-Hope: “A Princess.” – In the old dorm Jin and Suga used to share a room (Suga said that Jin is perfect as his roommate). – In the new dorm he has his own room. (180327: BTS’ JHOPE & JIMIN – MORE MAGAZINE MAY ISSUE) – Jin is ranked 47th on TC Candler “The 100 Most Handsome Faces of 2018”. – Jin is former classmates with Disney Channel star Mitchell Hope who plays as Ben in the Descendants film series. This was found out after images of Jin from his elementary school years in Australia surfaced online, a few of them containing Mitchell Hope. – He made his solo debut on October 28, 2022 with the single album “ The Astronaut “. – On December 13, 2022 Jin officially enlisted as an active-duty soldier. He got discharged on June 12, 2024. – Jin’s ideal type is a girl whose looks and personality is similar to that of a puppy, who’s good at cooking, kind and takes good care of him.

Note 1: He updated his MBTI result on May 6, 2022. (Source: BTS MBTI 2022 ver. )

Note 2: Jin confirmed his current height is 179.5 cm (Jin said he is 1.5 cm shorter than RM who is 181 cm).

Note 3: Please don’t copy-paste the content of this page to other sites/places on the web. If you use info from our profile, please kindly put a link to this post. Thanks a lot! 🙂 – Kprofiles.com

(Special thanks to Melissa Vasquez, SeokjinYugyeomChanyeolKihyun, Confident Jin, A turtle who want to become ro, legitpotato, アビー, Kristine Belle Atienza, kuroo tetsurou, CU Merryl, Kristine Belle Atienza, The Real Otaku, rosyhobi, Eunlien, Frappuccino, Hena De la Cruz, kbatienza, Woah, Asdf, Linh Trinh, Kim Izha, KJ, army.bts, Salt, Tara, Geunhye, Taehyungs_Poem, Femeron, Rehkid, army4life )

Related: BTS Profile You may also like: Quiz: Who’s your BTS boyfriend? Jin Discography Quiz: How well do you know Jin (BTS)?

• He's my ultimate bias
• He's my bias in BTS
• He's among my favorite members in BTS, but not my bias
• He is among my least favorite members in BTS
• He's my ultimate bias 45%, 34771 vote 34771 vote 45% 34771 vote - 45% of all votes
• He's among my favorite members in BTS, but not my bias 29%, 22408 votes 22408 votes 29% 22408 votes - 29% of all votes
• He's my bias in BTS 16%, 12831 vote 12831 vote 16% 12831 vote - 16% of all votes
• He is among my least favorite members in BTS 6%, 4372 votes 4372 votes 6% 4372 votes - 6% of all votes
• He is ok 4%, 3418 votes 3418 votes 4% 3418 votes - 4% of all votes

Latest solo release:

Do you like Jin ? Do you know more facts about him? Feel free to comment below.

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Min Yoongi reveals what it's like to be BTS's SUGA, producer SUGA, and Agust D

On June 15, BTS 's SUGA  was interviewed by Weverse magazine and shared his honest thoughts on being a producer and a member of BTS.

On this day, SUGA shared the behind story of the song "Born Singer," which was the first mixtape song that was included in the album, 'Proof.' He explained, " First of all, I didn’t even know if it could be included on the album. I wasn’t even sure it would be possible, since the original song is so famous, but J. Cole gave us permission. I want to tell him how grateful I am. It’s a song I only could have written back then. I still remember writing it during the first and second weeks we were promoting 'No More Dream.' The emotions I felt during that debut time will all evaporate over time, so I had to write it then or never ."

He also revealed that the audio included in the album is not a re-recording but the original audio. He explained, " I even thought about re-recording it since it’s a little over the top looking back, but the intention behind it would be lost if I did. So we just put it in since it wouldn’t be possible to listen back on this period of ours unless it was in a concert ."

SUGA also shared his thoughts on being a producer and slowly solidifying his recognition as a renowned producer not only as a rapper of BTS. In the interview, he shared how he got to work with Psy on his latest song, "That That." SUGA explained, " I was just going to write the song and dip out, but then he said, 'You have experience featuring on other songs, don’t you?' I was like, 'Featuring could be okay …' And I did it. Then he said it would be a bit weird if I wasn’t in the music video, and said, 'Just try it once and see how it goes,' and I said, 'I’ll just do the verse and be off,' and the next thing I know, I’m dancing, too. (laughs) " SUGA added that he danced and participated in the music video solely for all the ARMYs who would be watching.

The BTS rapper also shared what it felt like working with singer Psy, who is known to have his distinct style in music. SUGA explained he intended the listeners to feel the collaboration with Psy was an interesting one. SUGA elaborated, " I’ve worked on a lot of different songs as a producer, but non-ARMY mainly know the well-known ones, and those are usually the ones by people like IU or Heize so I think they feel like the songs have similar vibes. But I had a song from before that I wanted to have included on an album but couldn’t, and I thought it would be a good match for PSY from the outset ." 

SUGA confessed that the track "That, That" is also different from Psy's usual style, but Psy was able to bring his unique vibe into the song anyway. SUGA stated, " I wrote the verses and the hook that goes, “that, that I like that,” which feels typical of my style, and then I put in a rap part for the people who are going to listen to the song since it’s been two years since I released D-2. Because I wanted to give them something that sounded similar to my mixtapes. But the melody that PSY wrote was just a straight-up PSY song. (laughs) We divided up the labor and wrote separately, but I learned a lot from him ." SUGA said this project was a different experience for him and also shared how much he admired Psy while working on the music together.

The BTS member also shared that he is working hard to release a follow-up album following his second mixtape 'D-2' released under the name of Agust D . SUGA shared, " when I release an album as Agust D, that’s a solo work with solo promotions, and I feel like I should use the same system that regular groups do when they’re promoting and have a lead single and a B-side. I was thinking a lot recently that maybe I should shoot two music videos: one just there for the visuals, while the other is more focused on the listening experience. Ah, what should I do? I’m working hard on a follow-up to D-2 ."

Lastly, SUGA explained that the catalyst that makes him continue making music is the ARMYs. He explained, " There aren’t a lot of things to be excited about in life. But for anyone who likes my music, I hope they’re excited about it—excited for when it comes out, excited for when I promote, and excited for when I go on tour. I hope they’re excited about everything so I can give their life meaning each and every day ."

You can check out SUGA's full interview here.

Gaon Chart releases chart rankings for June 5 to June 11

Who will be the next K-pop group to lead the Hallyu wave during BTS's group hiatus?

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He is the best.Thank you.

king yoongi is talented. 💜

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