BTS Dominates Again: Solo Albums Featured in 2024 Best Album Lists

Once again, 2024 is proving to be a remarkable year for BTS (방탄소년단), as the solo works of its members are being recognized in prestigious year-end best album lists by various international media outlets.

RM's second solo album, 'Right Place, Wrong Person,' and Jin's first solo album, 'Happy,' have both made it onto Billboard's recent list of 'The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024: Staff Picks.'

Billboard praised RM's 'Right Place, Wrong Person' as 'the best K-Pop album of the year and the boldest album released across all genres in 2024.' They highlighted RM's significant artistic leap, noting how he seamlessly transitions between genres such as hip-hop, jazz, afrobeats, and punk while maintaining artistic coherence. The lyrics, which balance self-exploration and social commentary, showcase RM's growth as both a musician and storyteller, resulting in a masterpiece that transcends cultural and genre boundaries.

Jin's 'Happy' received accolades as an 'impressive pop rock album.' Billboard described it as featuring retro-inspired tracks reminiscent of rock band The Killers and Fitz and the Tantrums, including songs like 'Running Wild,' 'I'll Be There,' and the smooth modern pop track 'Heart on the Window' (featuring Wendy). They noted that 'Happy' demonstrates Jin's readiness to carve out his own path and pursue a successful solo career.

Beyond Billboard, RM's 'Right Place, Wrong Person' has been recognized as a classic by several other outlets. Global culture magazine HYPEBEAST included it in their 'The 10 Best Music Projects of 2024,' calling it an album that challenges preconceived notions of RM. They emphasized the album's diverse musical genres across its 11 tracks, stating it maintains focus while proving RM's essence.

British music magazine NME expressed admiration for RM's varied musical colors and consistent messaging, ranking the album 16th in their 'The 50 Best Albums of 2024.' They described it as one of the most idea-rich albums released this year.

RM's second solo album also made it onto Rolling Stone's 'The 100 Best Albums of 2024,' becoming the only K-Pop album to feature on this list. Rolling Stone described it as a 'psychedelic and emotional album that harmonizes introspective lyrics with inviting music for new explorations.'

Additionally, BTS's group track 'Dynamite,' released in 2020, has been recognized by UPROXX as the 71st entry in their 'The 100 Best Hit Songs Of The Century So Far.' This recognition is particularly meaningful as it reflects the song's lasting impact and long-term listenability. UPROXX noted that BTS brought color and joy to a world that seemed dull, emphasizing that 'Dynamite' signaled K-Pop's smooth entry into the global market.

Moreover, BTS has been named the K-Pop artist with the most global streams for seven consecutive years in Spotify's '2024 Wrapped' year-end summary, achieving a staggering 3.9 billion streams this year. This continued love from fans solidifies BTS's powerful presence in major global year-end charts.