Influences

How did BTS' musical aesthetic emerge?

RM

In an interview with Rolling Stone, RM expressed how his rap foundation solidified with the “golden age of hip-hop”, nodding to artists such as Nas and Eminem. Additionally, Drake’s Thank You Letter (2009) introduced the idea of a rapper singing on their track, a concept foreign and exciting to RM. (Kaufman). It was this element of the American rap/hip-hop movement that would power BTS’ first couple of records as a group. To add their own identities to the tracks, BTS incorporate their own unique struggles and hardships into their dynamic lyricism.

Overcoming stereotypes

With the addition of four vocalists to the group—Kim Seokjin, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook—the preceding “rap line” found themselves in an artistic turmoil. BTS faced prejudices within their own country early on as they tried to mix hip-hop with the K-pop idol system. The idol system is characterized by perfect dance routines, polished appearances, and poppy tunes that did not exactly resonate with the hip-hop community in South Korea.

from left to right: Suga,, J-Hope and RM

According to RM, "there was this idea of being a pure artist or a pure rapper" and that mixing these elements conflicted with a rapper's authenticity. Early on, the members (specifically the rappers) were mocked for compromising their hip-hop roots and conforming to a pop atmosphere (Kaufman).

from left to right: Jimin, Jungkook, V and Jin

BTS in 2013

BTS at the Grammy Awards in 2022

We are bulletproof!

Luckily, the members did not let these comments stifle their creativity, and they continued to create their authentic lyrics and beats in tandem with explosive choreographies and melodically-driven choruses led by the vocalists.

Hip-Hop 101

To gear BTS up for their debut, RM, Suga, and J-Hope ran a sort of “School of Hip-Hop” within their dormitory, teaching their fellow members who were less familiar with the genre about “Drake, Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., and Tupac Shakur” (Kaufman). After they debuted, the group would draw inspiration from various artists and movements, never afraid to experiment with genre-bending. This nonconformity and ability to shape-shift genres that naysayers originally critiqued would ultimately lead them to cataclysmic stardom.

Suga

Suga was involved in the underground rap scene in South Korea before joining BigHit; his early musical inspirations ranged from Korean hip group, Epik High, to Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, all the way to American rappers such as Eminem and 2Pac. He credits Epik High for his decision to become a rapper and began composing music at 12 years old by listening to and sampling Sakamoto’s music. By 13, Yoongi was dabbling with MIDI on his computer and started working (more like interning considering there was no pay) at a production studio in Daegu when he was 17. While working in this studio, Suga made beats, sold them, and naturally honed his rapping skills. To this day, Yoongi still experiments with MIDI software to play and record electronic instruments for both BTS’ work and his solo endeavors.