RM’s ‘Right Place, Wrong Person’: All 11 Songs Ranked

Identical to RM himself, French-American duo DOMi & DJ BECK is difficult to outline. Their instrumental-focused work garners Grammy nominations and collaborations with the likes of Herbie Hancock and Busta Rhymes. Bringing their abilities collectively on the “? (Interlude)” is a far-too-short intermission with nice promise by way of synthesizer, drum, and flute mixtures.

With the music’s title meant to characterize RM being brutally sincere and pulling out his deepest tales, “Groin” lets RM step barely again into his authentic “Rap Monster” moniker and away from BTS’ English-speaking consultant attending conferences on the United Nations. Whereas some elements of the music get repetitive and really feel like they reduce his messages, there’s a heavy dose of intelligent wordplay; it’s refreshing to listen to a scrappier RM once more, and it exhibits that irrespective of how mature one could get, elements of our youthful selves stay.

Within the shortest interlude on the document, RM merely asks the listener, “When the credit roll, do you cling tight?” earlier than including, “I’m so grateful for everybody’s time/ Hope you all had such a beautiful night time.” There are numerous methods to take the phrase. Are you a moviegoer speeding to return to your life after being transported for a couple of hours? Or are you somebody who lets experiences wash over you after they end? Or do you’re taking time to acknowledge all of the individuals who helped create the film you’ve skilled?

The allegory may even lengthen its that means for TV exhibits or live shows (when many Ok-pop live shows roll a credit video at a present’s finish, together with your entire tour and administration employees). It’s a fast and quirky reduce however can elicit intense dialog and introspection.

The opening observe flips the album’s title and establishes the thematic tone of exploring misalignments by decidedly various manufacturing. With its mishmash of echoes, yelps, and vocal loops over the ever-changing synth work, “Proper Folks, Unsuitable Place” units the fluid and steady narrative of the LP that’s extra paying homage to RM’s gorgeously lo-fi mixtape mono., launched in 2018, than something from his previous solo or BTS work.

RM shared how he’s “very offended” within the first three tracks of RPWP with Monitor No. 3, “out of affection,” encapsulating a few of his most surprising however relatable ires. Over stomping, industrial hip-hop manufacturing, RM’s distorted vocals repeat “My life is out of affection” and speaks to the individuals continuously watching and berating him, even when they imply nicely. Pairing worries in dwelling as much as expectations alongside a reference to Radiohead’s melodic slacker-anthem “Creep,” RM speaks to a lack of hope within the observe till the ultimate line the place he realizes what stays when he says, “You possibly can f-ck my physique/Can’t f-ck my thoughts.”

Whereas RM hasn’t ever revealed specifics of whether or not he’s been in a romantic relationship, the subject material of “Nuts” put into the context of a number of occasions he and Jimin converse to “so many issues” that occurred to RM personally up to now couple months on MMM level to at the least some couple quarrels. “In the case of love, she might be an all-nighter/ Greatest gaslighter, no man might ever combat her,” he slurs on the prime of the document earlier than returning later within the verse with, “In the case of cash, he might be a rattling fighter/ Greatest gaslightеr, no lady might cease him.” Regardless of the unhurried basslines alongside RM’s leisurely and playful supply, the star shared that “Nuts” represents considered one of his “actually offended” songs, showcasing extra of the spectrum of dichotomy represented on Proper Place, Unsuitable Particular person.

One of many longest tracks on the LP, “World wide in a day,” begins with RM and indie soul singer Moses Sumney taking part in round, buying and selling off strains and distorting their vocals earlier than reducing to a rock star-rap efficiency on the midway mark. The ultimate 30 seconds of the observe shut with layered, acapella harmonies with a title like “World wide in a day,” additionally representing the big selection of different genres tackled throughout the stunningly cool standout.

The centerpiece of Proper Place Unsuitable Particular person, “LOST!” speaks to the BTS chief shedding his manner and needing to seek out himself solely on his personal. Regardless of the intense subject material, the lightness of the observe’s lyrics and composition means that Namjoon has made peace in his journey. When he spits strains like, “I’m goddamn misplaced/ I by no means been to membership earlier than, I hit the membership,” they’ll each really feel relatable to anybody venturing into a brand new expertise but additionally fairly disjointed contemplating his uncommon experiences rising into maturity as a Ok-pop idol.

RM spoke about how the previous months making RPWP have been dynamic when it comes to highs and lows and there’s a way of close to mania in “LOST!” within the second verse when he shares, “Each morning, each night time, I at all times feelin’ lifeless/ And within the morning, I really feel love, I hug it in pleasure.” The multitudes and vary RM shares within the album’s title observe is without doubt one of the finest representations of the dualities and juxtapositions discovered all through Proper Place Unsuitable Particular person with the playful and at-ease ambiance making it excellent single materials to achieve wider audiences.

Regardless of rising to fame as a rapper in BTS, RM is aware of craft comfortable, delicate pop soundscapes. A giant fan of shoegaze, “Heaven” is the ethereal standout on RPWP that’s like a sonic equal of resting one’s head on a cloud however feeling the thunder rumbling slightly below the floor. The all-English observe sees the star acknowledging somebody poisonous in his life (“If that’s your delight/ Come damage my vibe…/ You don’t want to cover it/ I do know what you might be”) who no can not have an effect on his unshakeable solace (“I’m feelin’ so good right here with me/ Feelin’ so full right here with me/ Every part’s untakeable/ My peace is unbreakable). It’s a uncommon second of musical tranquility in Namjoon’s journey and actually begins the gorgeous second half of Proper Place, Unsuitable Particular person.

“Come again to me” launched Proper Place, Unsuitable Particular person for RM to return to us in a extra somber and reflective temper. With acoustic, folky manufacturing that wouldn’t sound misplaced throughout various, pop, or adult-contemporary radio, the almost six-and-a-half minute tune lets RM ship a extra laid-back, crooner sort of efficiency. Because the layers of his voice get extra advanced and free-flowing — with background vocals by Kuo Kuo of Taiwian’s Sundown Rollercoaster and the music’s producer OHHYUK from acclaimed Korean indie band Hyukoh — the instrumentation additionally turns into more and more nuanced with extra percussion, guitars and bass parts added into a mixture that grows fiercer and extra emotional, however by no means overwhelming or messy.

A observe that exemplifies the mixing of cultures, languages, sounds and feelings, “Domodachi” boasts layers that talk to the introspective and multifaceted strategy RM took to RPWP.

“Domadachi” is a mix of the Japanese phrases domo and tomodachi, which imply “thanks” and “associates,” respectively. The compound “Domadachi” roughly interprets to “thanks, associates,” however the biting lyrics present the phrase’s sarcastic essence. RM’s express Korean and English verses, the primarily Japanese refrain, and in addition to the rap from British rapper Little Simz show the vary of linguistic interaction to discover belonging by addressing associates, followers and critics who overemphasize the superficial. Little Simz delivers her verse to declare that “Simz and RM, man/ It don’t get larger” however closes her last line with the Korean phrase “내 선은 넘지 못해,” or “You possibly can’t cross my line,” chatting with the duo as boundary-pushing artists.

The offbeat manufacturing shifting by saxophone riffs, racing guitar licks, and ominous Japanese chanting by the refrain solely makes the observe all of the extra intriguing of a pay attention with extra treasures to seek out the extra the listener digs. (And it’s so value it to dig)