ARMY Magazine - Special Issues ARMY Magazine Namjoon Special Edition | Page 11

We all know about his mixtape, which was sole- ly Namjoon’s, not BTS. But new ARMYs may be unaware that since BTS’ debut he’s worked with artists such as Warren G, EE, Dino J, Wale and Fall Out Boy. It’s an even lesser known fact that Namjoon worked with Marvel Studios on the Fantastic Four soundtrack. Kim Namjoon does not need BTS to be suc- cessful. But BTS needs him. Whether he goes by Rap Monster, RM, Nam- joon or God of Destruction, our leader has al- ways shone in his role. Back in the early days of BTS, Namjoon was criticized by fellow Hip Hop artists. Some, because their view was that he was a sellout for joining a company. Some, sim- ply to mock him for joining a boy band. From the rest of the music industry, he was criticized for his looks and apparent lack of singing ability or dance skills. Despite this, Namjoon flourished. He’s risen above the hatred, the slander, and used it as cannon fodder in his music to fire back at the naysayers. He exudes self confidence. He’s considerate of the other members, making sure they all get a chance to speak their minds and ensuring that they know their value on the team. He’s humble. He remembers where he came from, looking back on this flower path he carved with his blood, sweat and tears, and he thanks ARMY. No true ARMY can remain un- moved when he speaks because he never fails to thank ARMY for staying with them, despite the fact that it was him and the other mem- bers who practiced for hours, who poured their hearts out into the music, who gave the best of himself for an ARMY of strangers that he made into a family. And let’s not forget how socially aware he is. It would be easy, as a man in his position, to ig- nore social issues. It would be easy, so easy that it’s what has come to be expected. Which is why it makes ARMY so proud that our lead- er takes time to research and understand the problems in our world and write and change his music accordingly. From 21st Century Girl, which is a heartwarming anthem with such a beautiful message for girls everywhere, to the recurring gender-neutral pronouns in his later music Namjoon is careful to ensure that not a single ARMY is left unfed. When it comes to his outlook on life, he’s known to gracefully express his views in non offensive ways. A truly thought provoking quote by him is “It’s important to protect and defend my faith and be the owner of my own life, and also it’s important that we live like the earth we live on, living only with rotations. It’s unavoidable.” No matter what life may throw our way, it is import- ant for us to take control of the situation. We de- cide what the outcome will be. We are the ones in charge of our lives so we should decide what we do with our lives. His words have brought a lot of comfort and reassurance to ARMYs all over the world. A true leader’s worth is shown by the people he leads, and by the followers who come after of their own free will. One only has to look at the astounding work ethic, passion and creativity of all seven members to understand that these men are truly artists of the highest caliber. And let’s not forget ARMY. We’ve organized charity projects, social projects, support groups and fandom activities. We’re so diverse in age, eth- nic identity, gender and sexuality. We are pow- erful. We are enormous. We’ve become a family that spans continents. And we’re here because Kim Namjoon nev- er gave up or walked away. Because he never stopped believing in our galaxy. Thanks, RM.