BTS Drop Highly-Anticipated LP ‘Map Of The Soul: 7’

After months of anticipation and build-up, South Korean superstars BTS have returned with their fourth Korean studio album, Map Of The Soul: 7. The entire world seemed to hold its breath as 2:30 PM (IST) approached, with social media finally exploding in celebration the moment the album and lead single “ON” dropped on all streaming platforms.

The release of Map Of The Soul: 7 is led by the power-packed single “ON,” a goosebumps-inducing hip-hop and synth track with dashes of soul and jazz. In the lyrics, the members of BTS reflect on their seven years as Bangtan and their growth from underdogs to global pop titans. “Even if I fall, I come right up, scream/That’s how we’ve always been/Even if my knees drop to the ground/As long as they don’t get buried/It won’t matter/Win no matter what.”

The music video is choreography-heavy, featuring a diverse cast of 30 dancers and 12 members of California’s Blue Devils marching band all dressed in black as they join BTS in an unforgettable display of confidence and raw talent. The members of the group are dressed in blends of black and white (perhaps alluding to the white and black swan themes in the album) as they leap effortlessly from one complex dance move to another. The group also flaunt their undeniable sex appeal with their wardrobe, teasing audiences with flashes of skin and touches of sultry choreography.

As an album, Map Of The Soul: 7 is BTS’ own commentary on their seven years as a team and what they mean to one another, as well as what their artistry means to them. According to a press release, BTS feel they, “now accept both the proud light and withheld shadow of their identity to tell a story of individuals who have found their complete selves.” With a total of 20 tracks, this is BTS’ largest LP yet. In addition to five tracks tracks from Map Of The Soul: Persona, the record presents 15 new tracks which experiment with new genres, collaborators and concepts. The digital verson of “ON” features Sia’s eerie vocals while “Louder than bombs” involves pop singer Troye Sivan as a writer. Other tracks include the previous 2020 releases “Black Swan,” Suga’s “Interlude: Shadow” and j-hope’s “Outro: Ego.”

Last night the group unveiled a 30 second teaser to the track on TikTok which promptly caused the platform to crash as fans flooded to the site to hear the clip. The album release was preceded by almost two months of content, singles and activities including global art exhibits funded by BTS and detailed music videos. BTS will appear later today in New York City for NBC’s Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza and MTV Fresh Out in Times Square.