RM (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids RM
RM in November 2023
Born	Kim Nam-joon (1994-09-12) September 12, 1994 (age 30) Seoul, South Korea
Education	Apgujeong High School Global Cyber University
Occupation	Rapper songwriter record producer
Years active	2010 (2010)–present
Works	Solo discography songs written
Honors	Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit (2018)
Musical career
Genres	K-pop hip hop R&B
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Big Hit
Korean name
Hangul	김남준
Hanja	金南俊
Revised Romanization	Gim Namjun
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Namjun
Signature

Kim Nam-joon (Hangul: 김남준; born September 12, 1994), known as RM, is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, and music producer. He is the leader of the famous South Korean boy band BTS. RM started his music journey as a teenager in the underground Korean hip-hop scene. He joined Big Hit Entertainment in 2010 and debuted with BTS in June 2013.

RM released his first solo music collection, called a mixtape, RM, in 2015. His second mixtape, Mono, came out in 2018. Mono made history by reaching number 26 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. This was the highest spot for a Korean solo artist at that time. In 2022, he officially debuted as a solo artist with his album Indigo. This album featured many artists and reached number three on the Billboard 200. RM has also worked with many other artists like Warren G, Fall Out Boy, and Lil Nas X.

RM's Early Life and School

Kim Nam-joon was born on September 12, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea. His family moved to Ilsan District when he was about four or five years old. He has a younger sister. RM learned English mostly by watching the American TV show Friends with his mother.

As a child, RM loved writing poetry and often won awards for it. He shared his poems on an online website for about a year. He thought about becoming a writer but later chose music instead. When he was twelve, he studied in New Zealand for four months.

How RM Discovered Hip-Hop Music

When RM was 11, in fifth grade, he became interested in hip-hop after hearing a song called "Fly" by Epik High. He found comfort in the song and wanted to learn more. His teacher introduced him to the music of American rapper Eminem. This made RM interested in writing lyrics. He would print out lyrics he liked and share them with friends.

RM started writing his own songs around this time. He said his poems became lyrics when he added music. In 2007, he began rapping in local hip-hop groups. He made his first recording using a program called Adobe Audition. In 2008, he performed his first concert. RM became more active in the underground Korean hip-hop scene as "Runch Randa." He released several songs and worked with other underground rappers like Zico.

RM's Academic Achievements

RM was a very smart student. He had an IQ of 148. He scored in the top 1% in national university entrance exams for language, math, foreign language, and social studies. His parents wanted him to focus on his studies because of his good grades.

However, RM really wanted to pursue music. He convinced his mother to let him be a rapper. He asked her if she would rather have "a son who was a first-place rapper, or a 5,000th-place student."

In March 2019, RM graduated from Global Cyber University. He then enrolled in a Master's program at Hanyang Cyber University to study Advertising and Media.

RM's Stage Name

RM chose the name "Rap Monster" when he was a music trainee. The name came from a song he wrote, inspired by San E's "Rap Genius." In that song, San E said he should be called a "rap monster" because he "raps non-stop." RM thought the name was "cool." He later said he had a complicated relationship with the name.

In November 2017, he officially changed his stage name to "RM." He felt "Rap Monster" no longer showed who he was or the music he made. In an interview in 2019, RM said the name "could symbolize many things." One idea is that it means "Real Me."

RM's Music Career

2010–2013: Joining Big Hit and Debuting with BTS

In 2009, RM auditioned for Big Deal Records. He passed the first round but forgot his lyrics in the second. However, rapper Sleepy met RM and later told Big Hit Entertainment producer Pdogg about him. In 2010, Sleepy encouraged RM to audition for Big Hit Entertainment CEO Bang Si-hyuk. Bang offered RM, who was 16, a spot at the company. RM accepted right away, even without his parents knowing. Bang and Pdogg then started forming a hip-hop group that would become BTS.

RM trained for three years with other rappers, Min Yoon-gi (later known as Suga) and Jung Ho-seok (later known as J-Hope). During this time, RM worked on five songs for BTS before their official debut. He also wrote songs for the girl group Glam. Their debut song "Party (XXO)" was praised for being very progressive.

On June 13, 2013, RM officially debuted with BTS. He has since written and produced many songs for their albums. On August 29, 2013, RM performed the intro song for BTS' first mini-album, O!RUL8,2?. This was his first solo performance after debuting.

2014–2016: First Solo Songs and RM Mixtape

RM performing in July 2015

On August 5, 2014, Big Hit Entertainment released a trailer for BTS' first full album, Dark & Wild. The rap song, "Intro: What Am I to You?", was a solo performance by RM. Through a TV show called American Hustle Life, RM met rapper Warren G. Warren G offered to make a beat for BTS. On March 4, 2015, RM released a song with Warren G called "P.D.D (Please Don't Die)." This song came out before RM's first solo mixtape RM. The song showed how RM felt about people who criticized him.

In March 2015, RM also worked with the hip-hop group MFBTY on their song "Bucku Bucku." He appeared in its music video and also had a small role in another MFBTY video. RM had met MFBTY member Tiger JK in 2013 and admired his work.

RM was also a regular on the Korean TV show Problematic Men. On this show, cast members solved puzzles and problems by discussing their ideas. The show started in February 2015, but RM left after 22 episodes because of BTS' world tour.

On March 17, 2015, RM released his first solo mixtape, RM. It was ranked 48th on Spin's "50 Best Hip Hop Albums of 2015." The mixtape talked about many things, like RM's past and the idea of being true to yourself. RM said he worked on the mixtape for about four or five months, fitting it in between BTS activities. He later said he wrote about negative feelings like anger. He hoped his next mixtape would be something he worked on completely by himself.

After RM was released, he worked with Kwon Jin-ah on Primary's song "U" in April. In May, he collaborated on Yankie's ProMeTheUs. In August, RM worked with Marvel for the Korean soundtrack of the Fantastic Four movie. He released the song "Fantastic" featuring Mandy Ventrice. In September, he performed at the hip-hop concert All Force One 2015 - Hot & Cool. In August 2016, the vocal duo Homme released "Dilemma," which RM helped produce with Bang Si-hyuk.

2017–2021: Second Mixtape Mono and More Collaborations

In March 2017, RM worked with American rapper Wale on a song called "Change." It was a socially-focused track released for free with a music video. A month later, RM was featured on the song "Gajah" with Gaeko of Dynamic Duo. In December, RM collaborated on a remix of Fall Out Boy's song "Champion." This song reached number 18 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. On December 27, RM became the first K-pop artist to appear on the Rock Digital Songs chart, reaching number two.

RM released his second mixtape, Mono, which he called a "playlist," on October 23, 2018. He became the first Korean artist to reach number one on the Emerging Artists Chart in the United States with this release. Critics liked the playlist, praising RM for showing "his deep insecurities" in songs like "Tokyo" and "Seoul." The song "Seoul" was produced by the British duo Honne. In November, RM also worked with Tiger JK on his final album as Drunken Tiger. RM wrote lyrics about the historical meaning of Drunken Tiger's name.

On March 25, 2019, Honne announced that RM would be on their remake of "Crying Over You." This song was released on March 27. The same day, Big Hit Entertainment released the song "Persona" as a trailer for BTS' mini-album Map of the Soul: Persona. RM performed this song as a solo. Persona debuted at number 17 on Billboard's YouTube Song Chart. Three months later, on July 24, 2019, RM was featured on a remix of Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road," called "Seoul Town Road." He added an English verse with a "surprisingly good Southern twang." On December 29, it was announced that RM would be on Younha's song "Winter Flower," released on January 6, 2020. RM also featured on "Don't," the main song from Korean singer eAeon's second solo album, released on April 30, 2021.

2022–Present: Official Solo Debut

During BTS' ninth anniversary in June 2022, RM talked about needing time to think about his path as a member of BTS and as an individual. His album Indigo, led by the song "Wild Flower," reached number three on the Billboard 200. This made RM the highest-charting Korean solo artist on that chart at the time.

In 2023, RM traveled to Spain for inspiration for a second solo album. In an interview, he talked about finding his own identity after following K-pop trends for 10 years with BTS. He also said he would "not be taking on any projects in the near future" because of his upcoming mandatory military service. RM was featured on the song "Smoke Sprite" by So Yoon of Se So Neon, released on March 14. He was also announced as the first celebrity brand ambassador for Bottega Veneta at the end of March. In May, he was featured on the song "Don't Ever Say Love Me" by Colde.

RM's second studio album, Right Place, Wrong Person, was released on May 24, 2024. This was his first project released after starting his military service. The album, supported by the songs "Come Back to Me" and "Lost!", debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. This was his highest debut on the chart and his biggest opening sales week. A documentary film, RM: Right People, Wrong Place, will show the eight months before RM's military service, including how he created the album. It will premiere at the Busan International Film Festival.

RM's Artistry and Influence

RM is known for his deep voice, called a baritone. In 2017, the American hip-hop magazine XXL listed him as one of "10 Korean Rappers You Should Know." The writer said that "Rap Monster rarely fails to live up to his name." He described RM as "one of the region's most dexterous rappers," able to change his flow easily over different music styles. Crystal Tai of the South China Morning Post noted that RM has "received much praise for his natural flow and lyrics."

In January 2020, RM was promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association. This shows his important role as a songwriter and producer.

In surveys by Gallup Korea, RM was ranked as the 12th most preferred idol in 2018 and 11th in 2019. In 2018, RM and the other members of BTS received the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit from the President of South Korea. This award recognized their efforts in spreading Korean culture around the world. In July 2021, he and BTS members were appointed Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture by President Moon Jae-in. Their role was to help lead global discussions on topics like sustainable growth and to strengthen South Korea's standing internationally.

On June 1, 2023, RM was appointed as the Public Relations Ambassador for South Korea's Ministry of National Defense Agency Remains Excavation and Investigation Team. This team works to find and identify the remains of war veterans from the Korean War.

RM's Personal Life

In 2018, RM had a surgery called septoplasty to correct his nasal septum deviation. He took a short break from band activities to recover.

Since 2018, RM has lived in Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea, with his bandmates. He has also bought and sold properties in Seoul.

RM's Philanthropy and Donations

RM is known for his generous donations. For his 25th birthday, he donated ₩100 million (US$85,810.58) to the Seoul Samsun School. This money helped hearing-impaired students get music education. In December 2020, the Arts Council of Korea recognized him as one of its 2020 Patrons of the Arts. This was for his ₩100 million (US$84,726.68) donation to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. This donation helped print and distribute rare art books to schools and libraries in rural areas.

Since September 2021, he has donated ₩100 million (US$87,416.41) every year to help preserve and restore cultural artifacts overseas. His first donation helped treat a hwarot (a traditional Korean ceremonial robe) at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. His 2022 donation helped create an art brochure introducing Korean paintings. In September 2023, he donated ₩100 million (US$87,416.41) to the National Forensic Service of South Korea to help develop forensic science. In September 2024, for his 30th birthday, he donated ₩100 million (US$87,416.41) to the Funds for Veterans. This donation will help uniformed service personnel and their families.

RM's Military Service

On November 22, 2023, Big Hit announced that RM, along with bandmates V, Jimin, and Jungkook, had started the process for their mandatory military service. RM began his military service on December 11 as an active duty soldier.

Awards and Nominations

RM's Music Albums

Studio Albums

• Indigo (2022)
• Right Place, Wrong Person (2024)

Mixtapes

• RM (2015)
• Mono (2018)

RM's Filmography (TV Shows)

Images for kids

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  RM in November 2023

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  RM's signature

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  Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit ribbon

See also

In Spanish: RM (rapero) para niños