On October 23, 2018, RM of BTS released his second mixtape titled mono., complete with seven tracks that are raw and expressive. This mixtape is filled with self-exploration and emotions that he held in during his time as “Rap Monster.” The word mono means one or alone. Throughout the seven songs, you get to understand the lonely feeling that RM felt while putting on a persona for the stage. 

According to RM, the meaning behind the title of the mixtape is “Monster No More.” In a way to pay homage to his old self, RM laid his past to rest with a passionate and opening album. From the time of his debut in BTS to the moment he changed his stage name, RM felt as if he was being disloyal to his true self, which is why he wrote mono. With songs like “moonchild” that express the need for moonlight to shine and “forever rain” that express the comfort he finds in the rain, RM found a way to not only express his struggles with depression and loneliness but also the sense of hope he has for change. 

Even though there was no official music video for “moonchild,” RM dropped a lyric video for the song that opens with a projected empty white room with a singular chair. The scenery in the projected box changes constantly, but the one thing that never does is the darkness around the box. RM expressed the necessity to find comfort in the darkness that the moon has to offer because that is the one thing you can depend on. Loneliness is a big theme in the mixtape, and this song helped express that sometimes it can be comforting. 

The mixtape ends with “forever rain,” a contemporary sounding track that helps visualize the feeling of loneliness. In this song, RM expresses the need for rain as he believes that it helps cure his loneliness even if it’s only for a little while. The official music video was a black and white animated release. The coloring of the music video openly expresses how life is viewed when you are struggling with depression. The scenes depict rain droplets falling onto his umbrella that he uses to hide himself out in public. RM called the rain his friend and felt that at his worst times, the rain is the only thing that came to check on him. Ending the song with the words, “Forever rain, pour on me,” RM hopes that his sense of comfort will stay by his side if it can. 

Although mono. never won any awards, the album continues charting to this day. Just seven days after the official release of the mixtape, mono. peaked at No. 26, making RM the highest-charting Korean solo act on Billboard 200. In 2018, mono. made it to No. 6 on Billboard’s “20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018: Critics’ Picks.”

As of October 22, 2022, songs from mono. have sold over one million total units in the United States, and on its fourth birthday, RM not only recognized mono. but also revealed a teaser for his third upcoming album with a simple Instagram story stating, “and next..?” He also teased at the inspiration behind the album by stating, “gon be the total record of my 2019 – 2020 the twenties.” Fans are eager to hear what is coming next from RM and how different it might sound.

Edited by Cara Musashi