ARRACHO

KHAN #1. Rockabye cover

JIN first thing when you wake On days where I don’t have schedule I will stay in bed and read web comics. I will read half before going to bed then read the last half when I wake up (laughs)

before going to bed  I read web comics (laughs) Noblesse, Love Revolution, king of going back to school(?) etc. Almost every genre each day of the week

RAP MONSTER first thing when you wake up drink water. I heard that it’s good to drink a glass of water after waking up in the morning as well as when you go to bed, so I’m in the habit (of doing that) now

before going to sleep I will read online comics. I like them all; romance comedy drama. I will read any genre

SUGA first thing when you wake up I wake up and don’t doing anything

before going to sleep I close my eyes and think a lot….before going to sleep I tend to get more thoughts. If I can’t sleep I will make music (without going to sleep at all?)

JHOPE first thing when you wake up Stretch! Then just drink water because it’s good for the body

before going to sleep I will stretch. Especially my feet since they are sore lately

JIMIN first thing when waking up I open my eyes. My eyes get swollen easily in the morning, so much that at times I can’t see! I will massage and work hard every morning(?)

before you go to bed I will watch videos. Such as stage videos and fighting sports, variety shows, anime. I’m not that sleepy so I will sleep in the morning

TAEHYUNG: first then when waking up The managers will say “Please wake up~”. When I hear that voice I wake up thinking “Ah~ is it morning already…”

before you go to sleep I listen to jazz music. Songs from people such as Chet baker, Micheal Buble, Etta James etc. Lately I’ve become interested in it.

JUNGKOOK first thing when you wake up open the refrigerator (laughs) I don’t open it because I want something to eat but if I did want to eat there’s food in there(?)

before you go to sleep I use a Bluetooth speaker and play music and go to bed. I like classical music so I will listen to the piano often

List of things that ruined my life:

힙합하다 - Rap Monster (Pt. 1 of 3)

I was born in 1994 and lived in Seoul until I was 4. my mother and father came to Seoul without any footholds, and after suffering for a while, they wanted to settle down and when I was 4 we ended up moving to Ilsan. therefore, our family’s main house is still in Ilsan. since I was young, my character was more drawn to the humanities, so rather than science and math, I had more interest in society, English, languages, and culture. since I was in elementary school, I had a very strong will to write compelling pieces. compared to my peers, I read a lot, and in particular I read a lot of classical literature and biographies. I asked my mom to buy them for me, and I remember buying a full collection of around 100 books. these days I read the books that are hot at the moment, but being able to acquire them is very different, so I’ve been unexpectedly feeling like I should read the classics again.

until music established itself as part of my life, I did nothing but study and play computer games. if only I hadn’t played computer games, it seems like I’d be doing something completely different. it was basically a life of nourishment. my mother and father raised me well, so I didn’t know what it meant to be lost. I fought with my mom a lot about doing music, but now I’m doing it respectably so of course she likes it. when I was young, I did a lot of things that could be seen as pedantic. I often received awards for my poetry and writing. I sincerely considered going into literary studies. but there were a lot of people doing that. I don’t like living a risky life. so I just studied hard, and fortunately I was able to continuously achieve 1st or 2nd place, so I thought about whether to go into business administration or literary studies.

it’s closed now, but there used to be a community where amateur rookies could meet. if you leveled up there they gave you gift certificates, and when I was in my 4th or 5th year of elementary school I was playing a lot of games and really wanted to get that gift certificate. (laugh) at the time I received a kind of acknowledgement there. I wrote poetry in a diamond shape. to be honest, if I think about it, it wasn’t even really poetry, it was just that I creased it into a diamond shape. (laugh) if you were selected as ‘this month’s best poem’ three times, then you became a 'green poet,’ and I received acknowledgement by becoming a green poet on that site. if you became a green poet, you got a separate board to post on. if you had your own board, then the views were definitely higher. for a year, I wrote poetry and then became a green poet. I wonder if it wasn’t when that poetry met music that my writings became lyrics instead.

in 2006, Epik High hyungdeul came out with “Fly” and won #1 on a music program. of course, before that Tiger JK hyung’s “Good Life” had gotten #1 as well, but this in opposition to the tide, a hip hop song won #1, and the song was really good. their method of rapping was really fresh. I ended up thinking, 'ah, so people can tell their stories in this way.’ in our class there were some friends who liked rap, but there was one friend who I’d been close with since I was 4 who really liked it. thanks to that friend, I ended up listening to Garion and Outsider, as well as artists like Nas and Jay Z, and it was seriously a shock. I thought, 'so there are people who tell their stories this way, and the telling of those stories can become music.’

there were a lot of things that were vaguely difficult in elementary school. because of a girl I liked, because of final exams, because of the short vacations, because I fought with my mom, etc. etc. no matter how young you are, it’s just as difficult as it is for an adult. I thought that things were really difficult for me, but I felt very strongly that the song “Fly” was giving me comfort. I felt that strength. differently from connotative genres like poetry and ballads, rap is primarily progressive, and I felt a huge strength from that detail. if I had been listening for the sake of the melody until then, from that point on, I started to listen to lyrics.

honestly, at that time, I really liked ballads. it was a time when a cowboy-like singing style was popular, and people who sang seemed so cool. but I really couldn’t sing at all, so I thought if I tried rap, there might be a path for me. in hip hop, the lyrics are written as if one is emptying out their entire soul. our homeroom teacher at the time was very young, so I asked the teacher about it. the teacher introduced me to Eminem, and told me that someone like this had succeeded by telling their own story. even though Eminem’s lyrics weren’t the kind of thing I should have been listening to at that age, they were really cool. so I printed out the lyrics and imitated them every day. even when I took a shower, I imitated them. I took pleasure in following the lyrics and showing them to my friends, and having concerts at our school festivals.

in 2007 I became a 1st year middle schooler and started community activities for the first time. there was a hip hop community that was only for amateurs. I convinced my mom and bought a mic, I wrote lyrics for the first time, and I did my first recording with a program called Cool Edit. a little while ago I looked at the lyrics I wrote during this time and I have absolutely no idea what I was talking about. (laugh) I wrote words then that I don’t even know now. I think maybe I saw it in a book and wrote it. why would a 1st year middle schooler be using words like 'secondary’ (laugh) so I looked it up and found the dictionary definition of the word. I think that I wanted to show these ridiculous songs really coolly. I wanted to become a lyricist like Tablo hyung… Tablo hyung and MC Meta are my role models. at that time I got a considerable spotlight from the amateur community. so I really thought that I’d become something big. (laugh) I did my first concert in 2008. after that, I tried for UMF but I failed, and at that time I realized the fact that my showmanship wasn’t all that spectacular.

in 2009, I auditioned for Big Deal Records. I passed the first round, and in the second round there were 7 people. among the people who auditioned with me at that time were Yammo and Samuel Seo. at the time, the audition task was to do a concert with an artist, and I did mine with Dead'P hyung. but when I went onstage, I forgot all my lyrics… but even so, because I was young, people treated me kindly, at that time, Sleepy hyung came and gave me his phone number. sleep hyung is close with Pdogg hyung who is even now still producing music for BTS. even until that time, my parents’ opposition was still strong, so I decided to set music aside and was determined to focus on studying. I shaved all my hair and decided to spend my golden period by studying. but in May, a phone call came from Sleepy hyung. he asked if I knew someone called Bang Sihyuk, and at that time 'Superstar K’ was popular. he told me 'that person is searching, go try once,’ so I immediately sought him out. even though I’d been determined to focus on studying, I think I wanted to do music as much as ever.

to be continued…

Say something that would make me flush Yoongi: You wanna come to my house

Is there any similarities between oppa and me? ㅠㅠ (please) Yoongi: The fact that we love each other

Yoongi oppa! Every time I see you, I just end up complimenting you! Why am I like this? Yoongi: Because you have fallen for me

I went to the Mokdong fansign event, but I couldn’t speak properly since my bias is Yoongi. I could’t even make eye contact with him, he noticed and looked at me from below. He said: “are you really not going to look at me in the eye?? Huh? Look at me ㅇㅇah~” I nearly screamed and my face was burning hot. 

Yoongi: Welcome~~ Fan: My bias is you oppa ㅠㅠ I came all the way from Busan (rural area) by the intercity bus to see you guys. Oppa, I bought some bath bombs for you but I don’t know if you’d like it or not, please take it.  Yoongi: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ omg, you know that I like taking baths? Fan: I heard about it so ㅠㅠ  (suddenly teared up because I was so happy and Yoongi was startled)  Yoongi: Don’t cry don’t cry, it’s true that I like taking baths. I like it so I’ll use it well.  Fan: Oppa, you have to remember me ㅠㅠ!  Yoongi: Of course I will remember you, you’re so pretty. (Thinking about it now still makes my heart flutter. Everyone, Min Yoongi has gone crazy and next fansign Min Yoongi you said you will remember me)

This was my first time going to BTS fansign, so I was really nervous and my hands were shaking. When I was in the queue to get my album signed, I really wanted to run away but it was my turn to get signed from Yoongi. I was shaking so much I couldn’t even flip to his page, then he said he will do it instead and he asked: “why are you shaking?” I replied: “because I’m really nervous.” Then he said: “it’s not easy to come (to an fansign) won’t you be upset if you didn’t even look at me, let’s look at each other for 5 seconds.” So I made eye contact with him, my mind went blank and felt like my heart was going to jump out. Suddenly, Yoongi said: “you didn’t know that 10 seconds have passed right? See, you can look at me in the eye.” When he was signing, he asked if I had anything I wanted to say to him, so I confessed my love to him in a goat’s voice. He said: “since you’ve practiced with me, don’t be nervous when you go to the next member and say what you want to say to them. I’ll keep watching you.”

Yoongi actually remembers the people who came to the fan signs Fan: Oppa, do you remember me? Yoongi: ?? You’ve never attended (unconcerned)

◆ BTS have so many fans in Korea and overseas. Can you feel the popularity?  

- I can feel it when we’re abroad. When we’re performing on a big stage, it’s amazing to hear news on ‘tickets were sold within a short time’. I feel blessed when we’re abroad and see so many foreign fans loving us. I’m grateful to be active in this era where media is dynamic. I feel that I’ve benefited a lot (from that). We can be easily connected and it’s great.

◆ What’s the secret of being popular overseas?

- I think being devoted to our job plays an important role. We’re always diligently singing and composing, and I think we have to do well. The most important is to do well in singing, dancing and performing. In addition, besides the performance, nowadays many people also like the relationship (between group members). I think our close friendship is a plus. While we’re interacting with fans on SNS and through videos, I feel that we’re closer than celebrity x fans.

◆ When ‘Rap Monster’ is mentioned, people consider you’re an idol who produces (music). How did you start producing?

- The concept of producing is ambiguous. There are people who says that is producing, or that isn’t. I think if you’re producing, you must know how to arrange songs. Arranging songs is to implement instruments, creating and arranging instruments that can be made into the melody background. It’s different from making melodies. Nowadays, everyone is doing great so I feel that I’ve reached my limit. And it has only been less than a year since I started (to produce). I have a keyboard and it has only been less than a year so it’s still difficult. I’m not skilled in operating other machines so I’m still learning. I wanted to always compose songs. Composing songs is… writing melodies. I’ve been writing by myself for about 5 years. In 2012, I’ve started to write melodies in earnest and besides rapping, I also wanted to sing. I wanted to make my own song. I wanted to extend my spectrum, so I’ve been writing melodies by myself. I’m also tuned into the (latest) trend and greedy.

◆ You’ve released your mixtape in the past, what kind of message did you want to convey?

- At the time, I just wanted to release it rather than (thinking about) its message. I was kind of angry. I don’t know whether I was angry with myself or the world, but I just thought that I had to tell my stories. Listening to it again, I still don’t know what stories I was telling. I just thought ‘let’s release it’. At the time, I couldn’t arrange songs so I lacked a lot. I felt that I’ve reached my limit, when I’m telling my own stories; bringing out other’s trap and producing on top of that, so that’s why there was a limit. It is a love and hatred mixtape, with mixed emotions.

◆ Where do you get your inspirations from when you write songs and lyrics?

- I get inspirations when I don’t try to write songs. I always think that I need to do something when I go to the Han River or after work. When I watch a movie, unconsciously, when a line or a scene comes up, I’d think that I need to do that. I’ve written a lot down, if there are 100, only 3~4 would work out in reality.

◆ Out of the songs you’ve composed up till now, which song do you have a strong attachment to?

- ‘Young Forever’ is the song that I produced properly and released for the first time, so I have a strong attachment to it. Recently, I co-wrote Homme’s Dilemma, it’s my first time writing for someone else so I think I’ll have many songs in the future that I’ll be strongly attached to. Doing something for the first time in life is always meaning, right?

◆ As an idol and producer, do you feel a gap between the two?

- Rather than a gap, I think producer and idol can intersect at some point. There are idols who are great at producing. If I had to point out a difference… it’s very different when I’m working on BTS’ album as a producer, when I’m working on Homme’s song and when I’m working on my own songs. It’s like creating a different persona. It’s very strange. When I’m producing my songs, I don’t have to worry about anything and just follow my feelings. When I’m producing BTS’ song, I think about many people will be listening to it. I can’t follow my feelings, because it has to be loved by the public and be able to sing together. If it was written for someone else, I have to think about narrowing down the gap between what kind of things they and I want to tell. It’s different so it’s difficult to shift between the 3.

◆ What’s the most important when you’re writing a song?

- Look at how the melody and lyrics are having an impact on me. Of course I’d think about many people listening to the song when I’m producing as BTS. If I’m not pleased with the idea, then other people won’t like it either. When I’m dwelling on the songs, the most important is whether the song and its lyrics, melody and instruments can have an impact. It’s the same as being self-satisfied.  

◆ Is there a musical belief that you try to keep while producing?

- ‘Having no belief’ is my belief. After handling it technically, pop music indeed has rules. But ‘let’s not be bounded to the rules’ is my belief.  If you keep doing it, it’ll become obvious. I learned that it’s possible to produce in the way that I want, if I process other people’s stories and rules. I don’t know how bad I would be at producing if I just decide on what I will do and think that I must keep a certain element, but when I get older, I’ll be locked up (in that mode). So I try to avoid doing that.

◆ Is there a person who you want to give your song to as a present?

- As a producer, it’s an honor to give a song to a singer who sings well. But I haven’t thought about it yet. I was lucky to co-write for Homme. It’s not that I haven’t worked that much outside of the company, I just don’t know my ability as a producer. I want to have collaborations with other people. Maybe because I have a low voice, I like those who have a high vocal range or a thin tone. There are many female vocalists that I want to work with, such as Youngha, Lee Sora, Kim Yuna and so on. I want to work with those who sings with a sad emotion. I want to work together with them, whether it’s featuring or something else.

◆ What kind of music do you want to make in the future?

- Like the drama ‘Dear My Friends’, I want to make music that finds the things that I couldn’t discover. ‘Dear My Friends’ gave me catharsis. I have felt that ‘my parents were young once too’ but the things that I didn’t know, it made me feel it once again. I want to make that kind of music. 

◆ What’s your final goal or dream?

- My goal is to make more songs, even if only one song remains in someone’s life playlist. 

◆ It’s Xportsnews’ 9th anniversary, please say something.

- I’ve been writing the stories that I wanted for 10 years, and the first time to record my rapping was in July, 2007. I’ve been rapping for 9 years. About this time next year, I think I’ll be able to feel what it’s like to rap. My father always said: “you’ll be able to know after doing it for 10 years. You would know what that is.” It’s Xportsnews’ 9th anniversary, so I think those who works here would know what kind of feeling it is. I would like congratulate and hope that Xportsnews will be able to reach its 90th anniversary!

To ARMY,

I, I’m glad that my birthday is on 12th September. If I wasn’t named Kim Namjoon, ‘Kim Namjoon’ these words won’t be special to me. And if I wasn’t born on 12th September, maybe these numbers won’t mean anything to me?

Anyway, most of the time when it’s my birthday, the sky is the highest and the weather is the best out of the year. 940912.. 912.. before I knew it, the combination of these numbers became special to me. I think this is how the relationship between people will turn out eventually. You’d step into each other’s life and interfere, and you wouldn't’ even know that it’d become meaningful. It’s just like you guys and I.

This birthday, like always, I want to go to a secluded park or village.  I want to go there and see how my favorite people are living, look at the buildings’ color, appearance, just look at the nature and so on while looking back (on the old days).

In a similar context When I’m thinking of you guys and get curious, sometimes I’d open the letters that you guys have sent me. When I’m reading it, I feel that we’re similar and then I’d feel that we’re very different, but I can clearly feel that we’re sharing the same part of the world.

Which means that we’re looking at the same parts of the world that others can’t see! Like Atlantis. People still don’t know whether it exists or not, right? But, I believe that Atlantis exists somewhere.

You guys and I, in our Atlantis We’d meet like this today and share each other’s world while crying and laughing. 12th September will (also) be no exception. Especially today, I think more and more world’s waves are surging against me.

Such content of a letter still remains in my memory. If you type ‘RM’ on a qwerty keyboard, it’d be ‘그’! To me, ‘그’ is ‘him’, and ‘him’, like what I tweeted the other day, it could also be ‘힘’ (strength/power). I hope that my world will give you guys ‘힘’ in some sort of ways.

Sometime ago, I wished that my Atlantis was completely filled in my music. It’d be great if I could see you guys when I’m looking at that world, and looking only at the things that I could see.

So, this letter is another part of my world that I’m showing. Can you see it?  And what is everyone’s world like? And I’m curious of what color part you will show me.

By the way.. Happy birthday! RM.

11th September, 2016  - ‘그’. 

Q: If you were an ARMY, who’s charisma will you be captivated by?

JIN: I’ll be captivated by J-Hope’s dance, because I think he’s really cool when he dances.

J-HOPE: I’ll be captivated by Jin’s handsome face.

SUGA: I’ll be captivated by Bang PD’s charisma!

Everyone: HAHAHAHAHA.

JUNGKOOK: I think our managers are very charismatic.

Rap Monster: I’ll like all of our members.

【最偶像TOPSTAR 2015】 BTS Interview

About the new album

Q: How did you settle with the theme of the album?

Rap Monster: After the end of ‘Boy in Luv’ promotion, we were thinking about what we should do next. Our company suggested that we should extend the story, which is what we were thinking of doing. Making it more like a studio album, showing a more matured and grown image so we decided to go with this theme.

Q: What do you think about this album?

J-Hope: Personally, I really love this album because we worked hard on producing it. And there were many songs that we wrote while we were abroad. We did a lot of research, so the songs are great and is worth looking forward to. 

Q: Up till now, which song are you most satisfied with?

Rap Monster: It’s all different~ Jin: My favorite is ‘Boy in Luv’, because we received a lot of love through the song and we were very happy during the promotion period. Suga: I like ‘Let me know’, because I wrote the song and also up till now, expressing this kind of feelings in a song is the first time. So I really like it because of the uniqueness. J-Hope: My favorite song is ‘No More dream’, it’s our debut song after all, it contains what we wanted to say and our own color, so it’s my favorite. Jungkook: My favorite song is ‘Rain’, it’s about our trainee period, I, personally really like the rain sound so I picked ‘Rain’. Jimin: I like a lot of songs. If I had a pick one, then it’d be ‘Hip Hop Lover’, I like the style and it’s a very cool song in this album. V: My favorite is ‘Cypher’. It’s our rap line hyung’s song. ‘Cypher part 2’ is in ‘Skool Luv Affair’, this album’s ‘Cypher part 3’ is my favorite. (V showing aegyo at this moment, seriously I can’t take it.) Rap Monster: My favorite is the hidden track on our first album ‘길’, I was emotionally involved when I was writing it so I really like it.

Q: Like your group name is ‘Boys Scouts’, is there any concept you want to challenge?

Suga: I want to try a more masculine concept, since it’s boys scouts, so there’s limitation to show a more masculine image. I want to try a more masculine image that matches with boys scouts’ image. (That was well said, give you a thumbs up!)

Debut heartfelt wishes

Q: Everyone went through many hardships before debut and worked very hard. In order to achieve your dream, what was the most memorable thing that you did?

Jin: We practice really diligently. We practice our choreographies everyday, 10 hours, 14 hours, 17 hours. We work really hard on practicing.

Q: From trainee days to debut, it wasn’t an easy journey. What supported you to endure everything and reach here?

Rap Monster: Although everyone is different, but there’re things that we want to do and we want to achieve things under the name ‘BTS’, so we’ve endured all the hardships and reached here. We’ve have given up so much personally and in terms of psychological aspects. So, promoting under the name of ‘BTS’ seems even more precious. 

Q: What kind of power do you want to bring to the fans?

J-Hope: Firstly, our fans enthusiastically cheers for our every performance, we gain power from the cheering to complete the performance. We’re very grateful for that. With every performance, we want to show a stage with passion and power, we want to convey such energy.

Q. From ‘Boy in Luv’ to ‘Danger’, do you feel that you’ve changed?

Jin: More mature? The young boy image is more sedate now, I think I’ve matured more. Rap Monster: More worried about the future. We’ve debuted for a long time to be called a rookie group, now we’re at the stage of getting rid of the rookie group label. I’ve been thinking a lot about which direction we should take and whether we can be able to do well.

Q: This is your 3rd time coming to China and you’ve also performed here. What’s different about working in China and Korea?

Suga: Until now we haven’t been really active in China, so it’s too early to come to a conclusion. But it has got to be the language difference, the fans are even more enthusiastic because of that. Like yesterday, they were singing along with us.

Q: What do you want to say to your Chinese fans?

V: Our ‘Danger’ promotion has ended in Korea. We’ll be having concerts in Korea and we’ll come to China more often. Everyone, please anticipate and continue to look out for us.  

7. When fans talk about BTS in the future, what kind of existence do you hope to be for them? What kind of comment do you wish to hear?

Suga: I hope they say we’re ‘a group that makes good music’. Rap Monster: Honestly, I think being a fan of someone maybe because of his music or other reasons, they might like his performance or maybe because he has a handsome face. Either way, he can bring energy to their lives and that’s the existence that I want to be. We receive energy from our fans. They see us on the stage and we’re able to become their life’s active agent, seeing them full of vitality makes us feel blissful. We want to be that kind of existence for them.

The boys’ private life

Q: What was the first Chinese phrase that you’ve learnt?

J-Hope: Hello everyone (大家好). Jungkook: Hello (你好). Jin: Are you well? (你身体好吗?) J-Hope: Are you ok? (没关系吗) Please treat me well (请多多指教).

Q: If there’s a chance and time, where do you want to go in China to have fun?

J-Hope: The Great Wall. Jin: I want to go to Wangfujing Street (王府井大街) Rap Monster: What’s Wangfujing Street? Jungkook: Snack street? Jin: A street that sells snacks (explains excitedly) Suga: I want to go to Zhangjiajie (张家界), Avatar was filmed there. Rap Monster: I want to go to Shanghai. Jungkook: Me too. V: The Great Wall.   Rap Monster: In Korea’s McDonald’s, there’s Shanghai Spice and it’s the best selling one on the menu. I don’t know why it’s called the Shanghai Spice hamburger.

Q: Did the members do anything that have moved you emotionally?

J-Hope: When it’s a member’s birthday, Jin hyung will always cook seaweed soup, I’m really touched by that. V: And when it’s the weekend or when we have no schedule, Jin hyung will make breakfast in the morning when we’re still tired and sleeping.

Q: What’s your first impression of each other?

Suga: First impression? It’s very different now. When we met for the first time, everyone was rustic and including myself. We came to Seoul, practiced together and managed to rid of the rusticness. Rap Monster: Everyone was unsophisticated, although we’re handsome now. We became handsome with the help of stylists. Before I didn’t know how to dress myself up, I dressed up weirdly and always thought that I looked cool, everyone was like that. (laughs) V: When I first saw Jimin, I didn’t know he could become the Jimin now. Suga: He was the most rustic. Jimin: It wasn’t that bad. V: I didn’t say anything, Suga hyung said it. Rap Monster: For example, at the time there was a trending MLB hat in Korea and I remember that I used to wear that hat backwards with a weird pair of trousers and a grey t-shirt. If it’s trending in Korea, we’d be walking around wearing it. 

Q: What’s the best thing about living together and what’s the most uncomfortable?

Suga: There’s nothing to hide and we shower really quick. Rap Monster: There’s no time to be depressed, sometimes you’d be depressed when you’re alone, but there’s always someone there. Suga: The worst is that there’s no personal space. Rap Monster: The dormitory is too small, although there’s no personal space but I feel that we can be closer (in that way).

Q: If you weren’t an artist, what job would you go for?

Jungkook: I want to be an athlete, for example: taekwondo, in the sports field. Rap Monster: A company employee. Jin: Me too, a company employee. V: I might go sell apples in Seoul. J-Hope: I might be a teacher. Jimin: I’ve never thought what I wanted to do, I learnt dancing because I want to develop my skills in dance, so if I wasn’t an artist, I don’t know what I’ll be doing. V: Be my assistant. Rap Monster: I’d be always working. J-Hope: Working at a convenience store.

Q: You always have promotions and schedules so you must be really tired and stressed, and you don’t even have any personal space. How do you usually relax yourself? If there’s a chance, where do you want to travel to?

Suga: I just sleep, because I don’t get enough sleep. Rap Monster: To be honest, we had our first holiday when it was Chuseok and that was it, we’ve never really relaxed or rested. I just sleep or watch movies, but I don’t go to the cinema, I just download and watch it. We also play games on our phones together. V: Talking with the members. Jin: I space out in the limited time, like going to the park and stare at the sky.  J-Hope: I play games. Jungkook: Me too.  Jimin: I want to go to Hawaii.  BTS: Hawaii is amazing!!!  Jungkook: There’s a resort, right! Maldives! Suga: Traveling to Beijing is also pretty good.

Individual questions

Q: Jungkook is still studying hard, how do you balance school and work?

Jungkook: I can’t go to the school sometimes because the schedule. It just sorted out by itself (suddenly speaks in satoori) school won’t affect work and work won’t affect school. Rap Monster: He got permission from the school, and it’s not an ordinary school, it’s a performing arts school. Our company and the school negotiated, Jungkook sometimes goes to school and they understand each other so there’s no problem.

Q: V always looks energetic, when others are having naps, you’re always full of energy and being mischievous.

V: Yes! (energetically answers) (Everyone laughs) Rap Monster: What are we going to do if you just answer like that.

Q: But you’re always the last one to get out of the bed, do you gain energy from that? Who do you always mess around with? 

V: I’m always fooling around with Hope hyung. J-Hope: Of course it’d me. V: Recently, we’re… Rap Monster: Did you pick Hope because of the car? V: Suddenly found the joy. J-Hope: Our fans gave us a racing car, after our schedule, we were playing it outside and then went back to the dormitory. Jimin: Because of our schedule, we could only sleep for 2 hours, and they’d go play (instead of sleeping). Rap Monster: That racing car looks fun. Jimin: You guys are amazing. 

Q: Although Rap Monster is young (Rap Monster: Yes, I’m young), the work you’ve produced have depth (Jungkook: He’s a grownup ah~) What’s your rules of life? 

Rap Monster: My motto is to live sexily, it’s funny right? Although I find it funny, I had lots of different motto in the past, because I want others to find that I’m cool and charismatic, it has a lot of meanings. I want to be someone that could live with full of energy and charisma. Instead of saying my thoughts are in depth, I just have a lot of thoughts and useless thoughts. I have a lot of different ideas and my work is the result of organizing these thoughts. 

Q: After seeing BTS’ appearing on variety shows, I feel that J-Hope can really bring up the atmosphere, have the entertaining sense. Have you thought about developing towards the field of variety shows or acting?

J-Hope: Ah, if someone can teach me, I’ll definitely do it and I have the confidence to do well!

Q: Recently it seems that V and Jin are learning how to produce and trying to produce, what kind of music do you guys like?

Jin: I like songs that are straightforward, it’s easier for everyone to understand. V: When it was the ‘Boy in Luv’ era, I was a little but engrossed in it, because I like R&B love songs. But after I’ve tried it, I realized that not everyone can pull off the genre. I need to gain experience, listen a lot and then I gradually started to participate in producing our music. Rap Monster: They asked you what’s your favorite genre. V: R&B.

Q: Jin is the visual of BTS and you acted well in the MVs, have you thought about developing your acting skills?

Jin: I manage to find time to exercise at night, I’m also practicing my acting skills, but I can’t focus so much on it.

Q: Jimin has a reversal charm of having cute face and strong abs at the same time. As the member that’s in charge of abs, working out is unavoidable, is there a secret to maintain a perfect body? Do you supervise the others and work out together? Who’s the laziest?

Jimin: Our fans knows that sometimes I have a fit body, sometimes I don’t, my body is fit when I’m working out diligently and my body is unfit when I eat a bit more and tired. Rap Monster: How do you manage (your body)? Jimin: Usually after our schedule, I work out before I sleep. V: Sometimes Jimin seems to be the most pitiful member, he need to manage his body because he always reveals it. Rap Monster: So he can’t eat. Jimin: Our debut song is 'No More Dream’, so I had to manage my body. J-Hope: Jimin works out very diligently. V: He doesn’t eat food that puts weight on him. Rap Monster: He’s the most persistent. J-Hope: There’s a funny episode. (Jungkook laughs) J-Hope: I was getting ready to shower (all the members laughs) Suga: Do you have to talk about that? J-Hope: It wasn’t me going to shower, who was it? V: Me me. J-Hope: Jimin was showering, a member went into the bathroom and Jimin was doing abs exercise. He asked Jimin why he was exercising in there. Jimin replied that he haven’t done it yet, so if he exercise after showering, he’ll sweat and then have to shower again, so he’s showering and working out together. V: He must exercise everyday. Rap Monster: It must be really tiring. V: He forgot to exercise that day. J-Hope: So he was working out under the running water. It was so hilarious. Rap Monster: He was doing it in the shower? J-Hope: It was so funny, he was working out in a narrow space, on the floor.

Q: Many songs were produced by Suga and Rap Monster but your styles seems different. Suga’s style has an intense rhythmic sense whereas Rap Monster’s focuses on being more emotional. How did you guys produce something great when you’re working together with complete different styles, how do you make both fits well together and make the work perfect? 

Rap Monster: People usually says that Suga hyung likes strong rhythm, but 'Tomorrow’ and 'Let Me Know’ are both very emotional. We don’t say hyung you make strong rhythm and I make it emotional, we don’t distribute the work. We make better songs when we’re together, and we pick the songs that more people would like to listen to. If Suga hyung is producing, I’d listen to hyung because I haven’t had much experience in producing. I can only compose songs, so we’re great together and we even discuss about which areas that needs improvement. Suga: There’s no conflict, because we don’t interfere with each other’s work. We believe in each other that both can do well.

[ENG] 140614 BTS @ K STAR LOVERS 1/2; 2/2

Tracklist:

1. Intro : Boy Meets Evil

2. Blood Sweat & Tears

3. Begin

4. Lie

5. Stigma

6. First Love

7. Reflection

8. MAMA

9. Awake

10. Lost

11. BTS Cypher 4

12. Am I Wrong

13. 21st Century Girl

14. 2! 3!

15. Interlude : Wings

(SEOUL, FOCUS NEWS) (September) 12th is the birthday of Rap Monster (Kim Namjoon) the leader and main rapper of popular boy group BTS who have currently confirmed and are again quickly in the midst of preparing for their comeback with a new album and their Gocheok Sky Dome fan meeting in the second half of this year. Born on September 12th 1994.

Rap Monster associated the specialness of ‘birthday’ with “a precious day when someone (else) is thinking of me.” FOCUS NEWS has listened to the ‘birthday’ related stories of Rap Monster who first thought of his parents, members, and fans and the appreciation he wanted to convey on this kind of birthday.

- Q. [What do you think you will be doing on your birthday?] ▲ “Since we are currently preparing for our comeback, I will probably be practicing, or composing. There is also a small possibility that I could be on a simple trip.”

- Q. [What are your thoughts on your birthday?] ▲ “I like that my birthday is on September 12th. Maybe it’s because it’s my birthday, but 9 and 12 have become very special numbers to me.”

- Q. [What does my birthday mean to me?] ▲ “As I have become older, it has become ‘a day of filial piety’ to me. It is of course a day when I call my mother and father. Also, it is a day where I thank the many people who wish me a happy birthday and take time to look around at my surroundings.”

- Q. [What do you think about getting older?] ▲ “Like a rock in the road, it is just something that is there. There is nothing you can do about it.”

- Q. [What is the age you are most excited for?] ▲ “34-35 years old. I want to become a bit more dignified. As I get older, I feel like I am improving.”

- Q. [What was your conception dream?] ▲ “My grandmother had my conception dream, she said that a snake bit the back of her ankle in a pepper field.”

- Q. [What was your most memorable birthday?] ▲ “It was a birthday when I was really really young, when I ordered and ate kimbap and chicken with my elementary school friends. I received a pencil set as well as a pencil case, notebook, and crayons. Are you all doing well my friends?”

- Q. [What special gifts have you received?] ▲ “There is no gift more special than my mother’s seaweed soup that becomes more special each year.”

- Q. [A gift that you would like to receive in the future?] ▲ “Heart! (That) someone thinks of me this much for one day in a year. There is nothing as precious as this.”

- Q. [If you were given a day off for your birthday, what would you want to do?] ▲ “I want to go on a vacation with my family, meet with my friends, play games, but… I might also be nice if I, one day, for myself, went somewhere suddenly. That also seems very like me.”

- Q. [A celebrity you want to be congratulated by?] ▲ “Call (me), Jackson! If Tiger JK-hyung sends me a message, I will probably cry.”

- Q. [What do you think your birthday will be like in 10 years?] ▲ “I want to spend it calmly like I do now. I want to try to spend it simply with my old friends. But honestly, as long as there are people who congratulate me, wouldn’t that be enough?”

- Q. [Is there anyone you would like to thank on your birthday?] ▲ “Family, friends, BTS members, Big Hit, and ARMY! These five. I’m overflowing with happiness. Those who have supported me. Thank you, thank you.”

- Q. [Please say something to yourself for your birthday.] ▲ “You are now 23 years old, now it is becoming a bit more obvious that you are an adult. You are also getting older. Let’s live more modestly and appreciatively. Fighting!”

[original article (x)]

[Birthday Talk To You] BTS Rap Monster

- Q. [What will you be doing on your birthday?] ▲ “Since we’re preparing for a comeback, I think I’ll be practicing or working. There’s a low probability of me also going on a simple vacation.” - Q. [How do you feel about your birthday?] ▲ “I’m glad that my birthday is September 12. It’s because that’s my birthday, but 9-12 has become a very special number to me.” - Q. [What does ‘birthday’ mean to you?] ▲ “Since I’m a bit older, it’s become a 'day of filial piety.’ It’s a day for me to call my mother and father. And while being thankful to all the people who wish me a happy birthday, it’s also a day for me to look anew at my surroundings.” - Q. [How do you think about getting older?] ▲ “It’s just something that’s there, like a stone in the road. You can’t do anything about it.” - Q. [What age are you most anticipating?] ▲ “34-35 years old. I want to become more dignified. I also feel like as I get older I’ll improve more.” - Q. [What was your conception dream?] ▲ “My grandmother dreamed my conception dream, and in it a snake bit the back of her ankle in a pepper patch.” - Q. [What was your most memorable birthday?] ▲ “When I was very very young, my elementary school friends and I ordered kimbap and chicken on my birthday. I got a pencil set and a pencil case, a notebook, crayons… are you all doing well, friends?” - Q. [If you had to choose a special gift?] ▲ “I don’t think there’s a gift that’s as special every year as my mother’s seaweed soup.” - Q. [It seems like there’s a gift you’ll want to receive in the future?] ▲ “Heart! If someone thinks of me for even one day out of a year. I don’t think there’s anything as special as that.” - Q. [If you had a birthday vacation, what would you want to do?] ▲ “I want to go on a vacation with my family, meet my friends, and play games, but… I think if it was for just a day, I’d probably just disappear off to somewhere impromptu. That would be pretty like me.” - Q. [Is there a star from whom you want to receive congratulations?] ▲ “Jackson, call me! And if Tiger JK hyung sent me a text message, I might cry.” - Q. [If you imagine your birthday 10 years from now?] ▲ “Just like now, I want to spend it calmly. I want to spend it simply with long-time friends. But if I have people who sincerely think of me, won’t that be enough?” - Q. [Is there a person you want to thank on your birthday?] ▲ “My family, friends, BTS members, Big Hit, ARMY! I’m satisfied and overflowing with these five happinesses. These things shore me up.* Thank you, thank you.” - Q. [Say something to yourself on your birthday.] ▲ “Now that I’m three years older than twenty, it seems like my adulthood is showing a little. You’re getting older too. Let’s live humbly and thankfully. Fighting!”

* shore up - to support, prop up, etc.