Ranking All BTS Solo Singles
With the various members of BTS with the exception of V have official solo singles released, I thought that I could rank them from best to worst. As usual, this is my opinion, and I have my own biases. While there has yet to be a full-fledged classic from the members, the diverse sounds and talents make this an interesting ranking.
For the rules, a single must have an MV which features the member in some fashion. Guest features do not count, nor do unpromoted tracks. Solo tracks not released with an official MV do not count.
23. J-Hope - Airplane (2018)
Perhaps best known for being sampled by the whole group later that year, J-Hope's Airplane fails to completely capture his charm. The hook is languid, and the lyrics lack his typical wit, instead following a typical "I made it" formula. At least the production has its moments.
22. RM - Do You (2015)
Rapping about doing what you want should be RM's skill showcase at its best, especially as he is my favorite of the BTS members, and here he really provides a rap flow for the ages. Unfortunately, the song never does anything with its production, with the basic beat distracting rather than supporting RM's skills.
21. Agust D - Give It To Me (2016)
Rather than showcasing Suga's rapping over an appealing melody, Give It To Me's shout-a-thon and talkathon edition of rapping. 2016 was the year of angry K-Pop boys burning cars, and there is hardly anything else to note in this track.
20. J-Hope - Chicken Noodle Soup Ft. Becky G (2019)
A collaboration like this, heavily sampling an early 2000s hit with a quirky chorus should not work this well. Thankfully, J-Hope and Becky G have the charisma to carry every element of the song. The only thing holding Chicken Noodle Soup back is its unwillingness to focus on what it should be; a simple hip-hop throwback, instead having too many melodic interludes.
19. RM x Wale - Change (2017)
Lyrically, Change is quite interesting, and one of the few BTS tracks that actually tackles contemporary issues head-on. The production through most of the song is generic and unintelligible, but the final outro and its aggressive club beat makes a good pairing with RM and Wale's rapping skills. Had the hold song sounded like the outro, Change would have been a classic.
18. J-Hope - Daydream (2018)
Daydream might be the most J-Hope-esque song in, well, J-Hope's solo discography. From lyrics that toe the line of personal and funny, and a beat that feels ripped straight from late 2000s video games and a fun party house remix album. Through every single element, J-Hope provides his typical charisma and energy, even if it lacks the hooks of the best BTS material.
17. Jungkook - Dreamers Ft. Fahad Al Kubaisi (2022)
Dreamers, for the most part, is exactly what one would expect from a sports tournament song; joyful, energetic, and unwilling to offend. With the exception of Fahad Al Kubaisi's excellent second verse, Dreamers is largely a waste of talent. Nonetheless, the melody is surprisingly refreshing.
16. Jimin - Set Me Free Pt. 2 (2023)
Set Me Free Pt. 2 is the most frustrating BTS-related single yet. I love the productional flourishes, and the processing actually works great with Jimin's vocals to create an epic yet claustrophobic atmosphere. With a few changes, Set Me Free Pt. 2 would jump up to the top 3 at least, but the Vocaloid backing instrumentals, better lyrics, and a little tinkering with the verses would create a classic.
15. Agust D - Haegeum (2023)
Haegeum is Agust D showcasing his rap skills at their rawest. The verses showcase a number of skills within their rap flows, but the song ends up just a bit short when it comes to creating a lasting impact, instead acting as more of a skill showcase.
14. J-Hope - More (2022)
Borrowing some angst from Suga's career, J-Hope seemingly spoofs his career's pressure with a feeling of "been there, done that." Paired with an engaging MV and clever grunge production, but lacks the hooks required to make it a highlight. (Full Review)
13. RM - Fantastic Ft. Mandy Ventrice (2015)
This strange collaboration sounds nothing like RM's usual and personal material. With lyrics like "Fantastic, elastic, I got the thing thing thing," the song sounds like a semi-unintentional tribute to SHINee's Ring Ding Dong. Pair this with the awful film it promotes and the EDM beat circa 2013, and you have a song as fun as it is bizarre.
12. Agust D - Amygdala (2023)
Amygdala was the hardest of these songs to rank. Released too recently completely judge with hindsight. The autotune is overwhelming and suffocating, but the interesting and personal lyrics, along with a decent melody, make it a potential highlight. I only expect it to grow with time.
11. Agust D - People Pt. 2 Ft. IU (2023)
Nonsensical chorus lyrics aside, People Pt. 2 features a strong coffee house melody and a feature from an iconic vocalist like IU. With better lines for IU, People Pt. 2 could have actually been quite great.
10. J-Hope - On The Street Ft. J.Cole (2023)
On The Street might be one of the most disappointing BTS solos, with all the elements for a modern-day classic in its mix, but the song never quite gets there. J.Cole's feature provides energy and some great ideas in his feature, but something is just lacking in the song, perhaps the awkwardly-phrased rhymes.
9. Jimin - Like Crazy (2023)
Given how I love the concept of Like Crazy and Jimin's vocal timbre, Like Crazy feels like a disappointment of vast potential. The song successfully builds an atmosphere for great things to happen, and even has a few fantastic production flourishes, but never finds a refrain that sticks, nor does it tell a story with its elements. The biggest flaw here is the underutilization of Jimin's timbre for emotive moments.
8. RM x Warren G - P.D.D (2015)
An unexpected but fantastic collaboration, RM rapped an ode to his haters over a Warren G beat. While this concept has been done to death by BTS, P.D.D's interesting method of showcasing these ideas, along with RM's strong rapping and Warren G's great production make this one of the more underrated BTS solos.
7. Agust D - Daechwita (2020)
Paired with an iconic MV and an aggressive instrumental, it might not be an exaggeration to call Daechwita the most iconic BTS solo track. Daechwita merges Suga's typical rap style with a traditional Korean instrumentation, a trick that works well, and gives us entry into the better part of this collection of singles.
6. Jin - Astronaut (2022)
Given that Jin is one of the least musically involved members of BTS, it is surprising that his solo debut was so solid. This is assisted by a beautiful vocal performance and a melody that is pretty much the best of modern Chris Martin.
5. J-Hope - Arson (2022)
"Do I put out the fire, or burn even brighter?" This question is left unanswered across the eery production and aggressive rapping of J-Hope across Arson. Easily J-Hope's moment in the spotlight, Arson's aggression was a stark turn from the usually upbeat J-Hope, and accomplishes much in its short time. While another minute to delve deeper into Arson's ideas, but the haunting track accomplishes enough to be called a highlight in its little time. (Full Review)
4. Jungkook - Stay Alive [Prod. Suga] (2022)
3. Agust D - Agust D (2016)
This is how you write a rap track. Ignoring the slightly finicky phrasing in the chorus, this song is both show and tell, with Suga rapping about how good he is at rapping, and proving exactly why he can claim as such. Combined with a frantic and urgent use of a James Brown sample, the intensity through Agust D is undefeated.
If there is one moment in Agust D that is bound to stick, it would be that second verse, which sees Suga unleash his rap skills on a scale previously unthinkable. This is exactly what a boy band solo should be, a showcase of a member's skills when he is working on his own.
2. RM - Wild Flower Ft. Youjeen (2022)
While Indigo failed to live up to Mono, it provided RM with one of his best songs yet in the single Wild Flower. From his clever lyrics (Yeah, my start was poetry / My one and only strength and dream that protected me so far (Light a flower) / Burning fireworks to flowerworks / Boyhood to eternity / I’ll stay in this barren field / Ah, I’ll return someday) to his articulate yet fierce rap flow, Wild Flower accomplishes a lot.
In addition to this, the production of Wild Flower might be the best for any BTS solo song yet, with stirring instrumental flourishes. The vocal performance surges, improving the song even further. While Wild Flower misses the top spot, it may become my most listened of the BTS solos, capturing every element I seek in a pop-rap song. (Full Review)
1. RM - Forever Rain (2018)
The lead single from one of Korea's best albums of the 2010s, Forever Rain may not even be the best song on its album, but it stands as one of the best BTS singles nonetheless. One could write a book on the lyrics of Forever Rain alone, tackling a state of depression with the lyricism and artistry expected from RM.
Every element of Forever Rain is an example of RM's skill as a songwriter. From the thunderingly silent production to his monologues and of course, the aforementioned lyrics, Forever Rain accomplishes a lot with very little. Forever Rain is hardly easy to listen to, but it sticks with you in a way no other song on this list can.
Image Source: Soompi
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