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If you look up the definition of “Underdog” in the dictionary, you might find BTS as one of the provided examples. The K-Pop band’s recent win as Artist of the Year at the 2021 American Music Awards is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the group’s number of (well-deserved) awards and achievements. However, BTS’s trophies never came easy, with the group working tirelessly before their debut as a group to earn recognition.
BTS experienced many ups and downs throughout their career in music so far, tirelessly working their way from being an underdog K-Pop group to global superstars and Artist of the Year at the 2021 AMAs. However, since the beginning, BTS stayed true to their message and fans, reflecting their achievements in their music and constantly striving to produce high-quality art.
BTS Before BTS
Big Hit Entertainment was founded on February 1st, 2005, by CEO Bang Si-hyuk. In 2010, the first member of the Hip-Hop group that would later become BTS was signed to BigHit: RM. Only sixteen years old at the time, Kim Namjoon had made a name for himself in the underground Hip-Hop scene in South Korea under the stage name “Runch Randa.” Upon hearing about RM’s talent for rap, Bang Si-Hyuk invited him to join their record label, and RM accepted on the spot. Over the next three years, RM trained for his debut while attending school. With RM as a trainee, Bang Si-Hyuk planned to create a Hip-Hop group with RM as their center or leader.
Over time, a total of thirty trainees joined Big Hit with the hopes of successfully debuting in the group. Big Hit dropped the first news regarding the formation of the “Bullet Proof Boyz”, or BPB, the original name of BTS. With this news, Big Hit announced the first round of auditions for the group, and after their performances, Suga (Min Yoongi) joined the company. Like RM, Min Yoongi got his start in music through the underground Hip-Hop scene, rapping under the name “Gloss” (( Baepsayed. “BTS Pre-debut History 2010-2013 (Part 1).” Reddit. 2019. )).
Around December 2010, future member J-HOPE also got signed to Big Hit. Jung Hoseok started as a member of a dance crew called “Neuron” in Gwanju. Recognized for his talent with dance, Hoseok initially auditioned as a trainee at JYP Entertainment but ended up being cut, which ultimately lead him to Big Hit. The next BTS member to join the mix was Jin, who was recruited on the spot after a representative from Big Hit took one look at his face. At the time, Jin was pursuing a degree in acting but worked hard to train his singing and dancing skills so he could debut with BTS.
The youngest of BTS, Jeon Jungkook, was the fifth addition to the group. At around thirteen years old, Jungkook auditioned for a TV show called SuperStar K and was soon scouted by seven different companies. However, Jungkook ultimately decided to join BigHit Entertainment after meeting RM, who he admired and wanted to work with. Next to join the group was V or Kim Taehyung. Taehyung wanted to pursue a career in music at a young age and picked up playing the saxophone in high school. Later on, Taehyung went with his friend to an audition for Big Hit.
Although he was only there to support his friend, one of the recruiters encouraged Taehyung to audition as well. Taehyung auditioned after getting permission from his father and ended up being the only person to pass the audition. (( Baepsayed. “BTS Pre-debut History 2010-2013 (Part 2).” Reddit. 2019. )). Finally, the last member to join BTS was Jimin. Park Jimin went to the Busan High School of Arts and excelled in their Dance Department. One of his dance teachers persuaded him to audition for Big Hit Entertainment, and Jimin passed through the Busan auditions.
Ultimately, Jimin moved to Seoul to start training at Big Hit. Despite having the shortest training period in the group, Jimin’s talent for performance ultimately led him to debut with BTS (( Koreaboo. “Here’s How Each BTS Member Was Discovered, And Signed To BigHit.” 15 March 2019. )).
2013
- June 11th, 2013 The Music Video for No More Dream is released, marking BTS’ first official MV.
- June 12th, 2013 BTS’s first single album 2 Cool For Skool is released.
- June 13th, 2013 BTS officially debut with their first performance of “No More Dream” on the Korean Music Show “M Countdown”.
- July 16th, 2013 The M.V. for “We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2” is released.
- November 13th, 2013 BTS win the award for Best New Artist at the Melon Music Awards.
The Year That Started It All
In this fateful year, BTS debuted as a seven-member group with a focus on the Hip-Hop genre. Featuring three main rappers and four vocalists, BTS came to be with the following members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. BTS’s first single album entitled 2 Cool 4 Skool features seven tracks, including one skit of the group talking about the album and their approaching debut. As their first official body of work, the album showcases BTS’s range in sound and message, from the hyped and rap-focused “We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2” to the soft love ballad “Like (좋아요).”
Many of the tracks include meaningful and clever lyrics written by members of the group themselves. RM, Suga, and J-HOPE participated in writing the lyrics for “No More Dream” and criticized how the younger generation’s dreams are limited to securing financial success rather than pursuing what they are passionate about. Within the song, BTS encourages listeners to dream big and follow their goals despite how societal expectations may deter them.
Considering their message, sound, and concept, the Bangtan Boys made quite the bang with their debut in the K-Pop industry. “2 Cool 4 Skool” reached a peak of number five on the Gaon Weekly Album Chart, while “No More Dream” charted on the Billboard World Digital Songs Chart at number fourteen. However, BTS were not entirely well-received at their debut. The group faced mockery online for their band name and stage names, with one commenter predicting that BTS would disappear from the K-pop scene in only a year. Korean “netizens” also commented that BTS’s status as a rookie group from a non-Big Three company made them unlikely to find much success or support (( Koreaboo. “ARMYs Rediscover Old Hate Comments About BTS… And Laugh At Them Now.” 5 April 2018. )).
In 2019, BTS filmed a reaction video to their debut performances of “No More Dream” and “We Are Bulletproof pt. 2”, and called it a “shocking” concept. Suga also remarked: “There is a reason we got so much hate.” Despite this, the group also noted their appreciation to their managers for being able to get them a five-minute time slot on the music show and voiced words of encouragement to their younger rookie selves.
2014
- January 1st, 2014 BTS win the “Rookie of the Year” Award at the Golden Disc Awards.
- February 11th, 2014 The MV for “Boy In Luv” is released.
- February 12th, 2014
- BTS win “New Artist of the Year” at the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.
- “Skool Luv Affair” is released, making BTS’s second mini album.
- “Boy In Luv” reaches the third position on the Billboard World Albums Chart.
- April 4th, 2014 The MV for “(하루만) Just One Day” is released.
- July 1st-14th, 2014 BTS film “American Hustle Life,” their first TV show.
- August 19th, 2014 “Dark & Wild”– BTS’s First Full Length Album — is released.
Schooling And Hustling
With one year of experience under their belts, BTS continued to promote messages to the youth through the Hip-Hop genre. The group’s second mini-album “Skool Luv Affair” features ten tracks, ranging from powerful rap-centric songs like “Cypher Pt. 2: Triptych” to emotional R&B ballads like “Tomorrow.” “Tomorrow” returns to the subject of dreams, with BTS heartfully encouraging their listeners to follow their dreams no matter how much they may want to give up. While songs like “Tomorrow” deeply resonated with BTS’s fans, “Boy in Luv” gained them wider popularity and acknowledgment from the general public. The title track proved to be a commercial success in South Korea, placing number one on multiple music streaming platforms.
Moreover, while BTS worked hard to create new music and albums, they also strove to expand their artistry and understanding of the Hip-Hope genre. For their first reality TV series “American Hustle Life,” BTS lived in L.A. and learned about the history and cultural significance of Hip-Hop and Rap from musical icons like Coolio and Warren G. In a culmination of all their hard work and growth, BTS held a showcase concert at the end of their stay in L.A., handing out flyers for the event themselves to random pedestrians on the street. At the same time, BTS and their Korean producers worked on creating their first full-length album “Dark & Wild.” The primary subject matter of this album is love, however, the group also explored the concept of youth through topics like technology usage and one’s surroundings.
2015
- January 15th, 2015 BTS win a “Bonsang Award” at the Golden Disc Awards.
- January 23rd, 2015 BTS win “New Artist of the Year” at the Seoul Music Awards.
- April 29th, 2015
- The MV for “I Need U” is released.
- BTS’s Third Mini Album “花樣年華 The Most Beautiful Moment In Life Pt.1” is released.
- May 5th, 2015 BTS received their First Win for one of their title tracks on SBS MTV’s The Show with “I Need U.”
- November 29th, 2015 The MV for “RUN” is released.
- November 30th, 2015 BTS’s Fourth Mini Album “花樣年華 The Most Beautiful Moment In Life Pt. 2” is released.
- December 2nd, 2015 BTS win “Best World Performer” at the 2015 MNET Asian Music Awards (MAMA).
The Bittersweet Beauty Of Youth
BTS experienced an immense uptake in popularity throughout 2015. “I NEED U” proved to be a hit in Korea and abroad, with the title track scoring the group their first win on a Korean music show. The win was a significant achievement for BTS, who once struggled to even get their performances aired. In a behind-the-scenes YouTube video shared by BTS’s staff (called a Bangtan Bomb), several members of the group are shown crying in response to their win. Based on their reactions alone, it is clear that the recognition meant a lot to BTS who worked hard since their debut.
Moreover, 2015 was the start of a BTS era that brought much acclaim and interest to the group. “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” album series focuses largely on the beauty and struggle of reaching adulthood. BTS’s company website describes the time as “the start of one’s young adulthood in which beauty coexists with uncertainty” (( BigHit Entertainment. The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1. 2021. )). This topic spoke to many individuals around the world who were at that stage in their lives, with catchy songs like “I NEED U” and “RUN” encapsulating the feeling of teen angst alongside beautiful lyrics.
Ultimately, 2015 showcased the natural progression of BTS’s message and sound. Albums like “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” series continued to utilize Hip-Hip and R&B, however, BTS also began to incorporate more pop into their music. They proved that they could perform multiple genres well while expanding upon their original messages regarding youth and dreams.
2016
- April 19th, 2016 The song “Young Forever” is released.
- May 2nd, 2016 “花樣年華 The Most Beautiful Moment In Life: Young Forever” is released. It is BTS’s first Compilation Album.
- October 9th, 2016 The MV for “Blood Sweat & Tears” is released and peaks on the number one spot on all eight major Korean music charts, making BTS’s first “All-Kill.”
- October 10th, 2016 BTS release their Second Full-Length Album “WINGS.”
- October 29th, 2016
- “WINGS” reaches number one on the World Digital Songs chart.
- BTS reach the number one position on the Billboard Social 50 Chart.
- November 19th, 2016 BTS receive their first Daesang for “Best Album of the Year” at the Melon Music Awards. A daesang is the highest award or grand prize that a artist or group can win at a Korean award show.
- December 2nd, 2016 BTS win a second Daesang for “Artist of the Year” at MAMA, the MNET Asian Music Awards.
Underdog No Longer
Wrapping up “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” era, BTS’s music began to reflect their thoughts regarding their recent achievements and journey as a band. “Young Forever” discusses the pressure BTS feels to always perform their best, which grows stronger and stronger as they work towards their dreams. Despite this pressure, BTS continues running towards their goals as musicians even if they lose their popularity. In addition, they explore how achieving dreams can be bittersweet and scary considering everything one has to lose, however, they assert the value of the strength and beauty one gains in the process.
BTS’s career reached new heights with the release of “WINGS.” Taking on different mature concepts regarding love and personal growth, BTS created the now-iconic “Blood Sweat & Tears” which depicts the pain associated with toxic yet addictive love. They also explored their individual musical ideas through seven solo tracks featured in the “WINGS” album, providing more insight into their respective memories and thoughts throughout their lives.
Furthermore, BTS also won a daesang (grand prize) for the first time in 2016. This achievement was incredibly significant for the group, given their status as a band from a smaller entertainment company in Korea. They reacted emotionally upon winning their second daesang of Artist of the Year at MAMA, with several members of the group bursting into tears as they accepted their award. The award served as a testament to years of hard work developing their music despite all obstacles.
2017
- February 12th, 2017 The MV for “(봄날) Spring Day” is released.
- May 21st, 2017 BTS win “Top Social Artist” at the Billboard Music Awards.
- September 25th, 2017
- “Love Yourself: 承 HER” reaches number seven on the Billboard 200, making BTS the first K-POP boyband to place on the chart.
- BTS become the first K-POP boyband to place on the Billboard Hot 100, with “DNA” debuting at number eighty-five on the chart.
- October 13th, 2017 “Love Yourself: 承 HER” places number one on the Gaon official monthly album chart with over 1.2 million copies of the album sold since its release. It is the first time this many copies of an album have been sold in South Korea in sixteen years.
- November 24th, 2017 “MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)” is officially released.
- December 1st, 2017 BTS win the daesang for “Artist of the Year” at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards, among other trophies.
*MIC-Drop*
2017 was a jam-packed year for the group in which they achieved much at home and abroad. These achievements are largely reflected in their releases throughout the year; however, BTS also continued to speak about important social topics in their music. Starting off the year with “Spring Day,” BTS confronted the feeling of loss and the heartbreak of missing someone dearly. The emotional ballad subtly references the Sewol ferry incident in Korea, a heartbreaking occurrence in which 304 people on a ferry boat — the majority were high school students — drowned as the ship sunk.
Whether “Spring Day” is specifically about the Sewol ferry tragedy or not, the song served as a consolation to many regarding the event and/or the personal loss of their loved ones. As “Spring Day” brought the WINGS era to a close, BTS entered a new stage in their career influenced by their achievements with Billboard. One of their long-term career goals was charting on the Billboard Hot 100, which finally came into fruition with “DNA.” BTS’s success on the chart paired with their social media presence and the support of ARMYs culminated in them receiving the TSA award at the 2017 BBMAs.
After meeting many of their long-term goals, the group took the opportunity to flex their success through “MIC Drop.” In “MIC Drop,” BTS address the haters who once doubted their dreams of finding fame by boasting about their hard-earned trophies and sold-out concerts. “MIC Drop” is primarily a song for BTS and ARMY to proudly celebrate BTS’s achievements after years of them being the underdog group. (( BTS Theories. “MIC DROP- Analysed and Explained.“ BTS G Theories. 13 June 2021. )).
2018
- February 12th, 2018 “MIC Drop Remix” and “DNA” are the first songs by a Korean group to become certified Gold by the RIAA.
- May 18th, 2018
- The MV for “Fake Love” is released.
- “Love Yourself: Tear,” BTS’s third studio album, is released. It is the first Korean album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.
- May 20th, 2018 BTS perform at the Billboard Music Awards for the first time, and win the award for “Top Social Artist” for the second time (( Herman, Tamar. “How BTS Took Over the World.” Billboard. 14 May 2018. )).
- August 24th, 2018 The MV for “IDOL” is released.
- September 24th, 2018 BTS give a speech at the UN General Assembly.
- October 17th, 2018 BTS renew their contract with BigHit Entertainment for an additional seven years.
- December 10th, 2018 BTS win eight awards at the MAMA awards, including “Best Male Group,” “Song of the Year,” and “Album of the Year.”
Seven More Years
Throughout 2018, the group focused on using its platform and global fame to encourage positivity and self-love. RM’s speech at the UN General Assembly focused on his struggle to accept himself in light of his mistakes and missteps in life. His speech inspired ARMYs and non-fans alike to recognize how their mistakes helped them grow and to try to love themselves as they learn and experience new things. BTS’s songs in 2018 specifically explored the topic of self-love. In “Fake Love” they sing about changing themselves and withholding their true feelings just to win someone else’s affections. However, this form of love is detrimental and toxic and only leads to them losing sight of themselves.
“Fake Love” suggests that real love won’t ask you to forget or hide your true self just to appease someone else, ultimately asserting the importance of loving oneself. BTS also sang about self-love in “IDOL.” Before the release of “IDOL,” there was debate circulating online about BTS’s status as an “idol” group, with some arguing that they should be called “artists” instead. BTS address all of this in “IDOL,” saying that people can call them whatever they want or criticize them all they want, either way, they will love themselves and be proud of their career.
At the end of 2018, the BTS members renewed their contracts with Big Hit for another seven years. However, this almost did not happen, as Jin mentioned in an acceptance speech at MAMA 2018 that BTS discussed disbanding at the beginning of the year due to emotional stress. The idea of BTS disbanding came as a heartbreaking shock to many ARMYs, as the group had fostered so much joy throughout the year. This made BTS’s dedication towards promoting positivity despite their struggles all the more meaningful.
2019
- February 10th, 2019 BTS present an award at the Grammy’s.
- April 12th, 2019
- The MV for “Boy With Luv ft. Halsey” is released.
- BTS release their sixth mini album “Map of the Soul: Persona.”
- April 13th, 2019 BTS become the first K-pop act to perform on Saturday Night Live, with their song “Boy With Luv.”
- May 2nd, 2019 BTS perform “Boy With Luv” at the Billboard Music Awards alongside Halsey. They also take home the award for “Top Social Artist” for the third time.
- June 1st, 2019 BTS sell out Wembley Stadium in London, becoming the first Korean act in history to do so (( Lau, Evelyn. “A timeline of BTS: how the K-pop superstars took over the world.” The National News. 12 Aug 2019. )).
- August 11th, 2019 BigHit Entertainment announces BTS will go on an “extended break.”
- December 4th, 2019 BTS win nine awards at the 2019 MAMA awards, including “Best Music Video,” “Best Male Group,” and “Artist of the Year.”
Boyz With Luv
After the emotional yet triumphant end to 2018, BTS continued to promote positivity and the message of self-love in 2019. In collaboration with Halsey, they released “Boy With Luv,” an upbeat and addictive pop track, where the title references one of BTS’s 2014 songs, “Boy In Luv.” While “Boy In Luv” discusses love in an angsty and frustrated way, “Boy With Luv” focuses on its uplifting qualities. Through “Boy With Luv,” BTS asserted that love can empower individuals and can help them believe in themselves.
“Boy With Luv” brought BTS massive success in Korea and music markets around the world. As BTS promoted the song in the United States, they fully solidified their stance as a prominent artist in the Western music industry. In particular, BTS’s performance on SNL earned them the acknowledgment from general American viewers, many of whom witnessed for the first time BTS’s talent for performing live.
Moreover, after the pressure of 2018, BTS and BigHit Entertainment balanced the group’s work schedules more, giving the members their first extended break for the first time since their debut. The break came well-deserved and gave BTS the opportunity to unwind and live as normal twenty-year-olds for the first time in a long while.
2020
- January 17th, 2020 The single “Black Swan” is released along with an “art film” of MN Dance Company performing to the song.
- February 21st, 2020 The song “ON” is released.
- February 27th, 2020 BTS and BigHit Entertainment cancel the MAP OF THE SOUL concert dates in Seoul due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Eventually, the entirety of the global tour is canceled as well (( Utopia. “The Eternal: Timeline of BTS.” ARMY Amino. 28 Feb 2020. )).
- June 7th, 2020 BTS give a commencement speech for YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual ceremony.
- August 20th, 2020 BTS release the English single “Dynamite.”
- August 31st, 2020 “Dynamite” hits number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- September 23rd, 2020 BTS speak at the 75th U.N. General Assembly.
- November 19th, 2020 The song “Life Goes On” is released.
- November 24th, 2020 “Dynamite” is nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance by the Recording Academy.
- November 30th, 2020 “Life Goes On” debuts at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (( Moon, Kat. “See the Major Highlights from BTS’ Momentous Year in 2020.” TIME. 20 Nov 2020. )).
Staying Connected Despite COVID
Wrapping up their break from the end of 2019, BTS started off the year with a bang: announcing a new album, appearing on Western talk shows, dropping tour dates, etc. BTS’s earlier 2020 releases reflected on their growth as artists and the fear of slowly losing their passion for making music and performing. “Black Swan” poetically describes this process and equates it to their “first death,” emphasizing how crucial music and performance are for them. Alongside “Black Swan,” BTS released a powerful anthem track entitled “ON.” Through “ON,” it showcases BTS’s response to their fears captured in “Black Swan,” and they tell themselves that they will keep going no matter the pain or hardships that come their way.
This tenacity and determination is familiar in their music, as it recalls their message in 2013 to keep pursuing one’s dreams no matter what. However, when the COVID-19 outbreak hit, many of BTS plans for the year– like everyone else’s –came screeching to a stop. As people around the world were impacted by the Coronavirus in different ways, BTS tried to remind everyone that they’re not alone through virtual means. They took part in a YouTube virtual commencement ceremony to honor the Class of 2020 whose graduation was canceled. They also spoke at the 75th UN General Assembly in regards to how COVID-19 impacted their lives, giving words of encouragement to individuals around the world. Additionally, Big Hit and BTS hosted online concerts for ARMYs to enjoy despite the tour cancellation.
Moreover, BTS reflected their thoughts and intentions within their new music. In an attempt to encourage some positivity in the midst of the pandemic, BTS released “Dynamite.” As their first all-English song, “Dynamite” provided some much-needed fun for ARMYs and listeners around the world. They directly reflected on the pandemic as well in their song “Life Goes On.” The song captures the bittersweet feeling of how even though everything is at a standstill, life continues to proceed and we live another day.
2021
- March 14th, 2021 BTS perform “Dynamite” at the 63rd Grammy Awards, becoming the first Korean act to perform at the show.
- May 20st, 2021 The official MV for BTS’s second English single “Butter” is released. “Butter” debuts at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, their fourth number one hit in the previous nine months.
- September 24th, 2021 BTS and Coldplay collaborate with the song “My Universe,” debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
- November 21st, 2021 BTS win “Artist of the Year,” “Favorite Pop Duo,” and “Favorite Pop Song” at the American Music Awards. The group also performed “My Universe” with Coldplay and “Butter.”
- November 23rd, 2021 “Butter” is nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the 64th Grammy Awards.
- November 27th, 28th & December 1st, 2nd, 2021 BTS hold their first live concerts in the United States since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with “Permission to Dance On Stage” in L.A.
2013- Forever
Starting off 2021 with a long-awaited performance at the Grammys, BTS orchestrated a full-on mini-concert for the occasion, demonstrating their skill for performance even virtually. From then on, BTS released hit after hit throughout the year. Fun summer anthems like “Butter” and “Permission to Dance” made them one of the top artists of the season in the U.S. These songs showcase BTS’s desire to spread their message of positivity and support far and wide, with dance challenges and new videos galore for the ARMY to enjoy.
In 2021, BTS also collaborated with one of the groups that they’ve long listened to: Coldplay. Their song “My Universe” talks about love using the universe and space as a metaphor, which aligns well with BTS’s previous releases and their poetic lyrics. Ultimately, the song is a testament to the strengths of both Coldplay and BTS and was a great 2021 surprise.
November proved to be eventful for BTS, as they won “Artist of the Year” at the AMAs and performed live in concert for the first time in years. BTS win of “Artist of the Year” just goes to show how far the group has come since receiving their first daesang in 2016. Moreover, they pulled out all the stops for their “Permission to Dance On Stage” concert, further showcasing their love for performing and connecting with ARMYs.
From 2013 until now, BTS chased their dream of making meaningful music that resonated with listeners, encouraging self-love and ambition along the way. Despite the barriers the group faced on their path towards success, BTS became living proof that music is a universal language for all to enjoy and create.