RM, formerly Rap Monster (랩몬스터), is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, and and music producer under Big Hit Entertainment. RM is the main rapper and leader of the worldwide sensation boy group BTS.
RM was born on September 12, 1994 with the name Kim Nam-Joon (김남준). At a young age, RM has always been interested in poetry and hip hop music which paved the way for his passion in writing his own lyrics and music. RM continued to pursue his music, becoming an underground rapper and auditioning for different entertainment companies. After a referral from Sleepy, a South Korean Hip Hop artist, RM auditioned and was offered a spot in Big Hit Entertainment. Eventually, RM debuted as the leader of BTS.
With hard work and unwavering passion, RM and the rest of his members went on to become one of the most sought after artists of their generation, known not just in South Korea but all over the world.
RM released his first solo mixtape, "RM," in 2015. In 2017, he announced the change of his stage name from Rap Monster to RM, and expressed that his new stage name "could mean anything you want to," like for example, Real Me.