He and the rest of his bandmates may be serving in the South Korean military right now, but BTS’s RM made sure that his fans wouldn’t forget about him. How could they, when he and his label BigHit Music just announced that his second solo album Right Place, Wrong Person will drop on May 24?

According to BigHit Music, the album is an embodiment of who RM is as a solo artist. Like the other albums and singles he released on his own, it will be distinct from the material he released as part of the septet. The label encouraged fans to watch out for and support this new batch of material from the 29-year-old rapper.

“Your anticipation and support for RM and his second solo album Right Place, Wrong Person would be much appreciated,” said BigHit Music in a statement.

The album is described as falling within the alternative genre, featuring a rich sound coupled with frank and honest lyrics. RM has been heavily involved in the creative process, contributing to the lyrics for every track. The themes of the album touch on universal emotions, particularly the feelings of being an outsider or not fitting in. That will surely make it a hit among those who have felt the same way at one point or another.

RM vs. NewJeans?

The timing of this announcement coincides with some controversy in the K-pop industry, notably an ongoing feud between ADOR’s CEO Min Hee Jin and parent company HYBE, the music conglomerate that BigHit Music is also part of. Previously, HYBE stated that the issues between the company and Min Hee Jin wouldn’t affect NewJeans’ comeback in any way.

“NewJeans will continue activities as planned, with the new music video released on the 27th and their double singles to be released in May and June. We will do our best so that the comeback activities aren’t hindered and released on time,” the agency wrote.

However, RM’s album is now slated for release on the same day that NewJeans is set to return to the music scene with their own new material. Hours after BigHit Music’s announcement, a promotion schedule for Right Place, Wrong Person popped up on the label’s X (formerly Twitter) account.

Excitement and concern

In 2015, RM released his debut solo mixtape titled RM, and in 2018, he followed that with Mono, his second mixtape. Mono reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200. In 2022, he released his first studio album Indigo, which saw contributions from renowned artists like Anderson .Paak and Erykah Badu. Indigo achieved a peak position of No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Over the course of his career, RM has worked with several notable artists, including Fall Out Boy, Gaeko, Krizz Kaliko, Lil Nas X, MFBTY, Primary, Wale, Warren G, and Younha.

RM enlisted in the South Korean military in December 2023. After completing basic training, he became a saxophone player in the military band. He’s set to be discharged sometime in 2025.

As the K-pop industry gears up for Right Place, Wrong Person, there’s excitement for RM’s new music and concern about the timing of its release. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Check out the interesting art BigHit Music posted on SNS when they made the announcement earlier today. Source: X/@haruharu_w_bts.