RM Shares How He Got BTS’ Label to Approve Jung Kook’s Bold ‘Seven’ Lyrics: ‘He Can Sing an F-Word’
Trending on Billboard
As the leader of BTS, RM plays a pivotal role in shaping the band’s trajectory, including the direction of its members’ solo projects. In a new cover story by Rolling Stone, published on April 13, RM shared how he advocated for Jung Kook’s artistic freedom during the creation of his hit single “Seven,” featuring Latto. Some label executives initially expressed reluctance over the song’s risqué lyrics.
In his conversation with the publication, RM revealed his efforts to convince HYBE, the group’s label, not to censor Jung Kook’s lyrics. He recounted, “I told the label, ‘Please don’t change!’” Highlighting the concerns from higher-ups, he added that lines like “And that’s why night after night, I’ll be f–kin’ you right” caused some apprehension.
“Why not? He’s all grown up,” RM stated. “He can sing an F-word.”
While the lyrics of “Seven” are undoubtedly more explicit than BTS’ typical family-oriented themes, Jung Kook expressed confidence in his choice to sing them. The track’s success is evident, as it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023.
“I wasn’t embarrassed,” Jung Kook told Rolling Stone. “I just felt, ‘So what?’”
This interview coincides with the recent release of ARIRANG, the group’s first full-length album since 2020. The album has successfully secured its third week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, underscoring the dedication of the group members in the studio following their military service obligations.
However, Jin revealed some initial reservations about the album’s creative direction during the early stages of production. While he favored continuing the dance-pop style of previous hits like “Dynamite” and “Butter,” the album instead leans into BTS’ hip-hop roots.
“I actually didn’t totally agree with the others on that issue,” Jin commented. “Because with music, you see certain results, right? So I believed that our most beloved songs are our identity.”
He continued, “But not everyone felt that way. So after a lot of discussion, I was convinced by the opinion that our identity is in the music we used to make.”
See BTS on the cover of Rolling Stone below.
