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RM

Rapper, songwriter and BTS leader

Born 1994

RM is the stage name of South Korean rapper and songwriter Kim Namjoon, the leader of BTS. His prepared United Nations address describes his childhood in Ilsan and the search for a voice that shaped his public work. Before BTS, he developed through underground rap as a teenager; BIGHIT then built the group around him. BTS debuted in 2013. Wings expanded the group’s recording catalogue. Love Yourself: Answer brought together that series of releases. Map of the Soul: 7 followed in 2020. BE continued the group’s album work later that year. RM’s solo catalogue includes the 2018 release mono. Indigo arrived in 2022 with a wide range of collaborators. Right Place, Wrong Person followed in 2024. Lee Seokjun’s Right People, Wrong Place follows the creation of that solo album. Bao Nguyen’s BTS: The Return records the group’s later return. The group released ARIRANG in 2026. Its Seoul comeback concert also became a screen credit. RM’s parallel interest in visual art led to a collaboration with SFMOMA on an exhibition. He also contributed a bilingual exhibition audio tour.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

Keep exploring

Connected people

ConnectionVBTS bandmate and 4 O’Clock co-composer.

ConnectionJinBTS bandmate.

ConnectionSUGABTS bandmate.

Official records · wins and honours

Awards & Honours

Selected recognition linked to the awarding organisation or primary record.

2025
Shark Awards / video teamCompetitive win
Best Music Video
LOST!
Official record
2025
Shark Awards / video teamCompetitive win
Best R&B/Soul Video
LOST!
Official record
2025
Shark Awards / video teamCompetitive win
Best Direction
LOST!
Official record
2024
UK Music Video Awards / video teamCompetitive win
Best Alternative Video International
LOST! — directed by Aube Perrie
Official record
2024
UK Music Video Awards / Studio AugmentaCompetitive win
Best Production Design in a Video
LOST! — production-design team award
Official record
2023
Grammy AwardsNomination
Nomination: Album of the Year
Music of the Spheres — BTS feature
Official record
2023
Grammy AwardsNomination
Nomination: Pop Duo/Group Performance
My Universe — Coldplay/BTS
Official record
2023
Grammy AwardsNomination
Nomination: Best Music Video
Yet to Come — BTS
Official record

Best Music Video

Best R&B/Soul Video

Best Direction

Best Alternative Video International

Best Production Design in a Video

Nomination: Album of the Year

Nomination: Pop Duo/Group Performance

Nomination: Best Music Video