BTS-Pop Underdogs to Global Icons
I hate BTS. No, seriously, they took my favorite ex away from me. They ruined my life. Their fans—ARMY(she’s one of them)—are louder than my mom when she found out I spent all my pocket money on Souls games. But fuck it, I respect them. Why? Because these seven South Korean dudes clawed their way up from being literal nobodies to taking over the world. And I’m not even talking metaphorically. These guys have more followers than some countries have citizens. They’ve got Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram in a chokehold. Their fanbase isn’t just loyal—it’s a full-blown empire of people who’d probably sell a kidney if it meant boosting BTS’s album sales. So, grab your overpriced Starbucks, sit your butt down, and let’s talk about how BTS became the biggest fucking thing since sliced bread.
Catch a support chair or something, for this Reaper is going to change tones and sing you poetry.
Humble Beginnings – Broke and Underrated
Picture this: It’s 2013. BTS debuts under Big Hit Entertainment, which at the time had about the same financial stability as my bank account after a Black Friday sale. K-pop was already being dominated by SM, YG, and JYP Entertainment, the rich kids of the industry. Big Hit? They were the nerdy kid eating instant ramen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No fancy budgets, no major backing, just seven guys with a dream and an underdog company betting everything on them.
But BTS? They had something different. They didn’t just dance and sing like every other K-pop group. These guys wrote about real shit—mental health, societal pressure, chasing dreams while being broke AF. While other idols were singing about love and breakups, BTS was out here talking about depression, self-doubt, and questioning the system. And ARMY? They felt that. They weren’t just fans; they were part of the journey. They saw themselves in BTS—the struggle, the hustle, the relentless ambition.
At first, though? Crickets. The industry didn’t take them seriously. They were called “nugu” (unknown) idols, sneered at by elites, and looked down on by other groups who had fancier company logos backing them. TV shows ignored them. Award shows barely acknowledged their existence. The only people hyping them up were their moms and, eventually, international fans who saw something special. But they didn’t back down. They kept grinding, dropping bangers like “No More Dream” and “We Are Bulletproof Pt.2.” And then, boom. The underdogs started barking.
The Rise – From K-pop Nobodies to World Domination
Fast forward to 2015, and BTS started getting traction. “I Need U” hit different. It was the song that put them on the K-pop map. Suddenly, people who ignored them were forced to pay attention. By 2016, “Blood Sweat & Tears” and “Fire” melted the internet. Their albums were no longer just K-pop albums; they were masterpieces(according to the “ARMY”) that blended rap, pop, R&B, and deep lyrics about, well, existential crises. They were speaking to an audience that needed them, and that audience responded by taking them straight to the top.
By 2017, BTS had gone full Thanos. They cracked the U.S. market with “DNA” and performed at the freakin’ AMAs. Suddenly, every Western media outlet that previously ignored them was now calling them “the biggest boy band in the world.” No shit, Sherlock.
They kept breaking records like they were playing GTA with cheat codes—first K-pop act to top the Billboard 200, first to perform at the Grammys, first to sell out stadiums in the U.S. They weren’t just breaking into the Western market; they were obliterating every wall that once kept K-pop acts out. Faster than you can say “stream Butter,” BTS was outselling, outstreaming, and out-everything-ing every other artist. And unlike Western boy bands that eventually fizzle out(not at all poking One Direction(RIP Liam)), BTS was built different. They weren’t some corporate creation forced together—they were a team that stuck together because they genuinely wanted to.
Why ARMY Is Built Different
BTS fans? They don’t play. You think Taylor Swift’s Swifties are intense? Bro, ARMY will make you question your existence. They singlehandedly broke the internet multiple times, crashed Twitter servers, and made even Google’s algorithm bow down. They made BTS the most tweeted-about musicians on the planet for years in a row. They streamed their songs to heights never seen before, raised millions for charity in BTS’s name, and fought against racism and xenophobia like a damn movement.
ARMY isn’t just a fandom; it’s a freakin’ force of nature. They don’t just support BTS—they protect BTS. They stream, they fundraise, they fact-check dumb(that’s what “ARMY” calls them) journalists who try to undermine BTS’s impact, and they make sure the world knows their boys are here to stay. You say one bad thing about BTS, and suddenly your WiFi stops working. Coincidence? I think not.
The Solo Era – BTS but Make It Individual
Then came 2022. BTS announced they were taking a break to focus on solo projects and, oh yeah, serve their mandatory military service. Cue millions of ARMYs sobbing into their BTS-themed pillows. But this wasn’t some One Direction-style “hiatus” where members lowkey hated each other. No, BTS was making sure they came back stronger than ever.
During this “break,” did they rest? Hell no. They dropped solo albums, broke more records, and continued to make their fans’ wallets suffer. J-Hope gave us “Jack in the Box,” RM dropped “Indigo,” Jin made all the fans cry with “The Astronaut,” and Suga went full Agust D mode with his rawest work yet. Jimin and V? They gave the fans music that could make a grown man weep(atleast that’s what they say). And Jungkook? He went on TikTok and accidentally created entire dance trends without even trying.
The Latest BTS News – Because Even in the Military, They Stay Winning
As of March 2025, BTS is still breaking news even while serving in the military. Jin, the eldest, was the first to be discharged, and he celebrated by hosting a heartwarming fan event where he offered free hugs, knowing how much ARMY missed him.
Meanwhile, J-Hope, fresh out of the military, decided to bless the ARMY ears with a new collab featuring Miguel. RM released a documentary last year titled RM: Right People, Wrong Place, giving fans a deep dive into his thoughts and creative process before enlistment.
Suga, currently serving in alternative social service, has been keeping things low-key but continues to interact with fans through pre-recorded content. Jimin, V, and Jungkook are still in the military, but fans are already hyped for their return. The best part? BTS renewed their contract with Big Hit, meaning they’re officially reuniting. Get ready—2025 is about to be a BTS-fueled storm.
Final Thoughts – BTS Ain’t Done Yet
If you thought BTS peaked, think again. They’re about to come back, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that they don’t just return—they annihilate.
So, whether you love them, hate them(like me), or just pretend to tolerate them because your little sister won’t shut up about them, one thing’s for sure: BTS is one of the greatest music acts of our time. And they did it all while flipping off the industry that doubted them. Respect.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to mentally prepare for whatever record-breaking chaos they unleash next. Fighting, ARMY.
