BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan or Bulletproof Boy Scouts, has taken the world by storm with their groundbreaking music, dynamic performances, and profound connection with fans. Although they are now serving in the Millitary and Jin is back, yet no other kpop group could surpass their records. Since their debut in 2013, the South Korean boy band has released a multitude of albums that showcase their growth as artists and their ability to adapt to and set trends in the global music industry. This article will take you through all BTS albums in order, from their humble beginnings in 2013 to their latest releases in 2024, highlighting the evolution of their sound, themes, and impact on the music world.
1. 2 Cool 4 Skool (2013)
BTS made their official debut on June 12, 2013, with the single album “2 Cool 4 Skool.” This album marked the beginning of their “school trilogy,” a series that explored the struggles and experiences of youth. The lead single, “No More Dream,” introduced BTS as a group unafraid to address social issues, particularly the pressures faced by young people in South Korea. With its hip-hop beats and powerful lyrics, the album set the stage for BTS’s future endeavors.
2. O!RUL8,2? (2013)
O!RUL8,2?, released on September 11, 2013, was a furtherance of those ideas. The title is a play on words with the question “Oh, are you late too?” and the concept of the album deals with the idea of chasing one’s dreams before it’s too late. Songs like “N.O” and “We On” furthered BTS’s reputation for being a group that spoke to the plight of young people while experimenting with a mix of rap and melodic hooks.
3. Skool Luv Affair (2014)
The final component of the school trilogy was “Skool Luv Affair” that dropped on February 12, 2014. The album focused on love in school, and amongst some of its tracks came: “Boy In Luv” and “Just One Day.” This album demonstrates BTS experimenting a bit more with pop while still retaining much of the heavy hip-hop in their earlier discography.
4. Dark & Wild (2014)
On August 20, 2014, BTS dropped their first full-length album entitled “Dark & Wild.” It told another story because it was now filled with darker and more mature themes. The lead single, “Danger,” spoke of groaning for love from the one he loves, while “War of Hormone” showed playful radicalism of the group. The said album gained critically acclaimed variations in sound with deeper lyrics.
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5. The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1 (2015)
On April 29, 2015, BTS released an album entitled “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1“, which introduced their “HYYH” series, short for Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa. It deals with the brevity of youthful years and how it is fully invested with beauty and pain. The lead single “I Need U” was commercially successful, helping the boy group gain more international attention. The album also contained “Dope“, a favorite of fans, as the performance is full of energy.
6. The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2 (2015)
Picking up where they left off, “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2” dropped on November 30th of 2015. This album showed even more about painful youth, including “Run” and “Butterfly.” The reflective nature of their lyrical content and refined production on this album reassured BTS’s position as a main act in the world music stage.
7. The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever (2016)
Serving as the conclusion to the “HYYH” series, “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever” was released on May 2, 2016. The special album compiled some tracks that had been released earlier into one work with new songs like “Fire” and “Save Me.” The album really wrapped up the “HYYH” series, in a sense rejoicing at the bitter sweetness of youth.
8. Wings (2016)
Wings,” released on October 10, 2016, was a milestone in the career of BTS. Temptation, growth, and finding oneself were the themes it dealt with; many even claimed that it was based upon a novel called “Demian” by Hermann Hesse. Also, the title song “Blood Sweat & Tears” reached the highest success, and the concept and performance of this album were highly appreciated. Each member had one solo song showcasing his talent and further diversifying the sounds of the album.
9. You Never Walk Alone (2017)
On February 13, 2017, BTS dropped a repackage of the album “Wings,” entitled “You Never Walk Alone.” Of course, this album would also definitely contain new tracks, including “Spring Day” and “Not Today,” both anthems for fans. “Spring Day” was especially poignant; its lyrics about loss and longing really echoed in listeners, and it remains one of the most loved songs by BTS.
10. Love Yourself: Her (2017)
Her, released on September 18, 2017, began the Love Yourself series of BTS, an en masse dealing with self-love. The lead single from the album, DNA, would rise to the top and show the evolution that the group had gone through to become more pop-oriented. This album also housed Mic Drop, which went on to be a global sensation, especially after a remix featuring Steve Aoki.
11. Love Yourself: Tear (2018)
The “Love Yourself” series’ second single, “Love Yourself: Tear,” was released on May 18, 2018. This album dealt with love in pain and the confusion of a relationship. The lead single “Fake Love” proved to be commercially and critically successful, while the album itself went on to become the very first Korean album to top the Billboard 200 chart. The darker themes and mature sound marked a new chapter in BTS’s musical journey.
12. Love Yourself: Answer (2018)
BTS albums inspire us to love ourselves, and therefore this album is a miracle. “Love Yourself: Answer” is a compilation album that came out on August 24, 2018, compiling together the tracks from previous two “Love Yourself” albums, along with new songs like “Idol.” Its messages of self-accepting and empowering reverberated across the globe and turned the album into the milestone disc of BTS discography.
13. Map of the Soul: Persona (2019)
The vibe of this among all BTS albums is so colorful. BTS released “Map of the Soul: Persona” on April 12, 2019, which was the beginning of the “Map of the Soul” series. It draws inspiration from Carl Jung’s theories of psychology, with an emphasis on the concept of persona. The single “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey reached great heights, while the reflective themes and catchy melodies in the album received critical acclaim around the world.
14. Map of the Soul: 7 (2020)
“Map of the Soul: 7,” released on February 21, 2020, marked a seven-year journey of BTS together. The album married some of its previous elements with new, experimental sounds. The lead single “ON” displayed the powerful performance ability of the group, while tracks like “Black Swan” and “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal” looked upon their struggles and growth through the years. This album reached the top in many charts around the world and was commercially successful; hence, it finally positioned BTS into global superstardom.
15. BE (2020)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, on November 20, 2020, BTS dropped “BE“, which was an album showing emotions and challenges of the world at that period. The album was a hopeful message and comfort to people, including tracks such as “Life Goes On” and “Dynamite“, which deeply touched the hearts of listeners. “Dynamite” gave BTS their first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, further sealing their status as international icons.
16. Butter (Single Album) (2021)
After the success of “Dynamite,” the group released a single album on May 21, 2021, entitled “Butter.” “Butter” is an upbeat dance-pop title track that instantly hit and broke records in various charts worldwide. The single album housed the track “Permission to Dance,” co-written by Ed Sheeran himself, which conveyed a very joyful and positive message.
17. Proof (2022)
On June 10, 2022, BTS celebrated their ninth anniversary by releasing an anthology album entitled “Proof.” It contains a few of their popular tracks and some new ones like “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” and “Run BTS.” If this album were to be described in a few words, it would be to look back into the past and at the same time promise more to come-reassuring the fans that the journey of BTS was nowhere near over.
18. Indigo (RM Solo Album) (2022)
On December 2, 2022, BTS’s leader RM released his solo album entitled “Indigo.” It was a significant milestone in the career of RM as it epitomized personal growth and artistic maturity. “Indigo” merged sounds from hip-hop, R&B, and indie music into one album, having guests from each genre. This album is deeper and more introspective to his identity and the challenges thrown by fame. Songs like “Wild Flower” and “Still Life” gave the evidence of lyrical depth and emotional resonance that once again elevated RM as a thoughtful and influential artist.
19. Jack In The Box (j-hope Solo Album) (2022)
After the solo stage of RM, j-hope from BTS dropped his solo album entitled “Jack In The Box” on July 15, 2022. Indeed, with his high-energy performances and infectious positivism, j-hope presented another softer side through the album. It included tracks such as “MORE” and “Arson,” which also touched on topics about ambition, fame, and personal struggles. “Jack In The Box” was known for its boldness and creativity; it was meant to let fans be with him through his artistic journey. Other than that, in 2024, J-hope released another album entitled hope on the street. All the enthusiasm and inspiration can be heard from their clear voices in the BTS albums.
20. Face (Jimin Solo Album) (2023)
Are you searching for inspiration from BTS albums? Jimin’s album has it all. Later, in March 2023, Jimin became the second member of BTS to release his solo album titled “Face.” He took this opportunity to express his musical identity through a combination of pop, R&B, and electronic sounds. The lead single “Like Crazy” was commercially successful, and the album as a whole received great critical acclaim for its emotive lyrics and Jimin’s vocal performance. “Face” had given a glimpse into Jimin’s life and growth, further highlighting the uniqueness each BTS member holds.
21. D-Day (Agust D / SUGA Solo Album) (2023)
Among all BTS albums from Rapline, D-Day is our favorite. SUGA released his solo album “D-Day” on April 21, 2023, under the stage name Agust D. The album completed the series of his Agust D trilogy, with previous releases entitled “Agust D” and “D-2.” “D-Day” is a conceptual and personal work by Suga reflecting on his career, life, and the pressures of fame. Songs like “Haegeum” and “AMYGDALA” were full proof of his skills both as a rapper and a producer, and the album was applauded due to its brutal honesty and strong messages.
22. Layover (V Solo Album) (2023)
Finally, in September 2023, BTS’s V dropped his solo album entitled “Layover“. The album really reflected V’s artistic senses, which merged influences of jazz, neo-soul, and classical. Moreover, V’s single “Love Me Again” was another hit. The lead single “Slow Dancing” was smooth and soulful, really bringing out the deepness and resonance in V’s vocals. It was critically well-received due to its sophisticated sound and the way V was able to evoke emotion within the music. “Layover” really cemented V as a multi-faceted artist with his own musical character.
23. Golden (Jungkook Solo Album) (2023)
Of all the BTS albums in the Solo Era, Jungkook’s album was the most successful. On November 3, 2023, Jungkook became the youngest in the group BTS and released his solo album titled “Golden“. Being highly recognized for his extensive vocal range and stage presence, this album brought several genres into one: Pop, R&B, and dance. The lead single “Seven” instantly went into the hit flow, showing how Jungkook is able to fit other genres while never leaving the ‘taste’ of his iconic style. The album “Golden” went on to receive great reviews, being very polished in production and charismatic performances by Jungkook himself, hence becoming one of the best releases from the discography of BTS.
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Conclusion
Throughout a very successful decade-long career, BTS albums kept on releasing responsible for setting standards in the global music landscape. Their discography, from hotheaded rookies to internationally renowned superstars, stands out as a signature innovative player within the contemporary world music scene in tune with their fanbase.
All BTS albums have a story, and every story is representative of the growth and development of the group of artists both as individuals and collectively. Their music crossed every language and cultural boundary, touching the hearts of listeners worldwide. Of course, with further growth and new creative paths taken, it would be very difficult to doubt their long-standing legacy to touch not only fans today but those in coming generations.
Whether you are a seasoned ARMY or a new listener, taking a deep dive into the discography of BTS-in order-offers a unique journey through the evolution of one of the most influential musical groups of our time. Moving forward into the future, the music of BTS will definitely continue to touch hearts and break records, showing that their story is far from over.
