BTS Timeline \u00b7 Pre-debut<\/p>
2010<\/p>
Where it all began<\/p>
2010 timeline, moment by moment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nThe beginning \u2013 B.P.B., the first name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- The group’s first appearance<\/li>\n\n
- The origin of the name: B.P.B., from Bullet Proof Boys<\/li>\n\n
- The original lineup, with the rap line<\/li>\n\n
- The first songs, like \u201cWe Are Bulletproof Pt.1\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Read all<\/summary>\n\n\n1. The First Appearance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBTS officially appeared for the first time in August 2010, with only Kim Namjoon (RM) and Jung Huncheol (Iron) revealed as members. Namjoon joined Big Hit Entertainment in May 2010. There is no precise information about when Iron joined, only that it was after Namjoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Origin of the Name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"bts](\"https:\/\/bangtannow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pre-debut-bts-2010.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt first, the group was abbreviated as B.P.B<\/strong>, a reference to the English name \u201cBullet Proof Boys<\/strong>\u201d. At that point, the term \u201cboy scouts\u201d was not yet part of the name. The abbreviation changed to BTS<\/strong> in mid-2011, around the release of the song \u201cSatoori Rap\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. The Original Lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring the trainee period, around 30 people went through the selection process for BTS, but not all of them made it to the official lineup. The members confirmed at the time were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Kim Namjoon (RM)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jung Huncheol (Iron)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shin Donghyuck (Supreme Boi)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Park Yeong-man<\/strong> (little is known about him, except that he was older than the 1994 line members).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4. The First Features<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBetween 2010 and 2011, BTS took part in five official tracks, always credited as Bangtan<\/strong>, with no individual mention of the members. Namjoon was on all of these tracks. In 2012, Hoseok also featured on Jo Kwon’s song \u201cAnimal\u201d, credited as \u201cJung Hoseok of BTS<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. First Songs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring this period, BTS released a few tracks of their own, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- \u201cWe Are B.P.B\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 later re-recorded as \u201cWe Are Bulletproof Pt. 1<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u201cHook Gayo\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These first steps were crucial in shaping BTS’s identity, molding the group that would later conquer the world.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n2010 \u2013 The first Hit It! audition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Big Hit opens the first Hit It! audition<\/li>\n\n
- The first days of training<\/li>\n\n
- Recruitment: Hoseok comes from Gwangju, and Yoongi joins the project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Read all<\/summary>\nBTS’s story began unexpectedly, after a night out drinking between Pdogg, a producer at Big Hit Entertainment, and Sleepy, a rapper from the duo \u201cUntouchable\u201d. Pdogg, who was also a rapper (although he stopped performing as one after BTS debuted), was introduced to Kim Namjoon (RM) through Sleepy. During the conversation, Sleepy asked if Pdogg would like to hear a young, talented high school rapper he knew. Pdogg agreed, and Sleepy played some of Namjoon’s underground tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time, Namjoon had paused rapping to focus on his studies. Still, the songs impressed Pdogg, who quickly showed them to Bang Si-hyuk (Bang PD), Big Hit’s CEO. Bang PD asked Namjoon to audition. After the audition, Namjoon signed the contract right away, marking the start of Bangtan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No Clear Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the beginning, there was no structured plan for the group. In old interviews, Bang PD revealed that Big Hit had no formal trainee system, evaluation periods or even dorms. Signing Namjoon was the starting point for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a 2017 interview, Bang PD said his initial idea was to form a hip hop group with Namjoon at the center. That vision gradually evolved into an idol group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are old rumors suggesting that Iron might have been the group’s original leader, but there is no concrete evidence to support that story. From the start, Namjoon was recognized as the leader by Jihoon, a former Big Hit trainee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First Days of Training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBetween May and August 2010, Namjoon went to Big Hit after school and went home at the end of the day. In August that year, Big Hit got its first dorm, and Namjoon was the first trainee to move in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there are no records confirming whether Iron also lived in the dorm, we know that Supreme Boi was already part of the group from September 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This period marked the start of BTS’s journey, still under the name B.P.B (Bullet Proof Boys)<\/strong>, planting the seeds of what would become a global phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Bang](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
Bang PD’s tweet: \u201cThe future of BigHit! Good-looking and with perfect skills! Here come the \u201cbulletproof boys\u201d!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe First Hit It! Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBTS was revealed to the public for the first time on August 30, 2010<\/strong>, during the promotion of the first Hit It!<\/strong> audition. On that occasion, two members were introduced: Kim Namjoon (RM)<\/strong> and Jung Huncheol (Iron)<\/strong>. Along with the reveal, the group’s official fancafe<\/strong> was opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNamjoon and Iron were promoted as rappers with experience on the underground scene, and Bangtan was first announced as a hip hop crew. However, judging by the comments on the HipHopPlaya<\/strong> community, Namjoon seemed to be the only name the public already knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConnections and Recruitment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIron came from the same dance academy in Gwangju<\/strong> as Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)<\/strong>, which suggests Big Hit may have recruited him through that connection. After Namjoon joined, Pdogg mentioned that Big Hit considered other well-known underground hip hop artists, like Beenzino<\/strong> and Basick<\/strong>, before deciding to hold an open audition to form the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTrack Releases and the Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTo promote the Hit It!<\/strong> audition, photos of Namjoon and Iron were released along with two solo tracks from each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Namjoon<\/strong>: \u201cSeventeen<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and \u201cDreaming<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iron<\/strong>: \u201cShow<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and \u201cING<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The contestants had to pick one of these four tracks, write an original rap and perform it, covering themes like school life or social issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hit It! audition was one of BTS’s first big steps toward the group’s final lineup, establishing Namjoon as the centerpiece of the project from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInstructions for joining the first Hit It! auditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Join the Hit It! Online Audition<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 0: Check the video. Watch the Bangtan Sonyeondan reference video!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Check the Bangtan Sonyeondan sample performance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Download the track. Download the track you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can choose from four tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Write a rap. Write a rap about your school life or a social issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Show your style and confidence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Record a video. Record a UCC* video of yourself performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(*UCC: User Created Content)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Send your application. Fill in the application form and send your material<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOnce the Hit It!<\/strong> audition opened, contestants had two ways to take part: upload a video performing their song to Daum TV<\/strong> (a platform that was shut down last year, wiping out all the old videos) or attend<\/strong> one of the in-person auditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmong the participants, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> stood out. For his entry, he chose Namjoon’s track \u201cSeventeen\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Voting and Ranking Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter the performances, the contestants’ videos went up for a vote on a site\/app called Love Beat<\/strong>. Yoongi’s performance got a lot of attention and finished in first place<\/strong> in the vote. Besides him, two other participants who also stood out on Love Beat<\/strong> were picked by the judges to move on to the Hit It! finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRecognition in the Finals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the official poster for the finals, Yoongi was credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- \u201cLove Beat First Place Winner \u2013 Min Yoongi\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Another name that appeared was Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong>, credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- \u201cDaum TV Winner\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This moment was crucial for Yoongi, marking the start of his journey toward BTS and establishing his talent and recognition on the music scene while the group was still in its early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHit It! Final poster \u2013 Yoongi is credited as \u201cLove Beat 1st place Min Yoongi\u201d (top left corner, under the Rap Battle Tournament title).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Hit It!<\/strong> finals took place on October 24, 2010<\/strong> at club NB2<\/strong> in Hongdae. The competition followed a rap battle<\/strong> format, putting the finalists head to head. According to the event poster, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> and Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong> were placed on opposite sides, facing each other in the final round.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe event featured Big Hit Entertainment artists, including the group 8eight<\/strong> (made up of Lee Hyun, Joo Hee and Baek Chan<\/strong>), rapper San E<\/strong> and Bangtan<\/strong> itself. At that point, Bangtan had three members<\/strong> \u2013 Namjoon (RM), Iron and Supreme Boi<\/strong>, the last one a recent addition. After the competition, Bangtan gave a special performance on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The beginning \u2013 B.P.B., the first name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- The group’s first appearance<\/li>\n\n
- The origin of the name: B.P.B., from Bullet Proof Boys<\/li>\n\n
- The original lineup, with the rap line<\/li>\n\n
- The first songs, like \u201cWe Are Bulletproof Pt.1\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Read all<\/summary>\n\n\n1. The First Appearance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBTS officially appeared for the first time in August 2010, with only Kim Namjoon (RM) and Jung Huncheol (Iron) revealed as members. Namjoon joined Big Hit Entertainment in May 2010. There is no precise information about when Iron joined, only that it was after Namjoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Origin of the Name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt first, the group was abbreviated as B.P.B<\/strong>, a reference to the English name \u201cBullet Proof Boys<\/strong>\u201d. At that point, the term \u201cboy scouts\u201d was not yet part of the name. The abbreviation changed to BTS<\/strong> in mid-2011, around the release of the song \u201cSatoori Rap\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. The Original Lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring the trainee period, around 30 people went through the selection process for BTS, but not all of them made it to the official lineup. The members confirmed at the time were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Kim Namjoon (RM)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jung Huncheol (Iron)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shin Donghyuck (Supreme Boi)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Park Yeong-man<\/strong> (little is known about him, except that he was older than the 1994 line members).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4. The First Features<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBetween 2010 and 2011, BTS took part in five official tracks, always credited as Bangtan<\/strong>, with no individual mention of the members. Namjoon was on all of these tracks. In 2012, Hoseok also featured on Jo Kwon’s song \u201cAnimal\u201d, credited as \u201cJung Hoseok of BTS<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. First Songs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring this period, BTS released a few tracks of their own, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- \u201cWe Are B.P.B\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 later re-recorded as \u201cWe Are Bulletproof Pt. 1<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u201cHook Gayo\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These first steps were crucial in shaping BTS’s identity, molding the group that would later conquer the world.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n2010 \u2013 The first Hit It! audition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Big Hit opens the first Hit It! audition<\/li>\n\n
- The first days of training<\/li>\n\n
- Recruitment: Hoseok comes from Gwangju, and Yoongi joins the project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Read all<\/summary>\nBTS’s story began unexpectedly, after a night out drinking between Pdogg, a producer at Big Hit Entertainment, and Sleepy, a rapper from the duo \u201cUntouchable\u201d. Pdogg, who was also a rapper (although he stopped performing as one after BTS debuted), was introduced to Kim Namjoon (RM) through Sleepy. During the conversation, Sleepy asked if Pdogg would like to hear a young, talented high school rapper he knew. Pdogg agreed, and Sleepy played some of Namjoon’s underground tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time, Namjoon had paused rapping to focus on his studies. Still, the songs impressed Pdogg, who quickly showed them to Bang Si-hyuk (Bang PD), Big Hit’s CEO. Bang PD asked Namjoon to audition. After the audition, Namjoon signed the contract right away, marking the start of Bangtan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No Clear Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the beginning, there was no structured plan for the group. In old interviews, Bang PD revealed that Big Hit had no formal trainee system, evaluation periods or even dorms. Signing Namjoon was the starting point for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a 2017 interview, Bang PD said his initial idea was to form a hip hop group with Namjoon at the center. That vision gradually evolved into an idol group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are old rumors suggesting that Iron might have been the group’s original leader, but there is no concrete evidence to support that story. From the start, Namjoon was recognized as the leader by Jihoon, a former Big Hit trainee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First Days of Training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBetween May and August 2010, Namjoon went to Big Hit after school and went home at the end of the day. In August that year, Big Hit got its first dorm, and Namjoon was the first trainee to move in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there are no records confirming whether Iron also lived in the dorm, we know that Supreme Boi was already part of the group from September 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This period marked the start of BTS’s journey, still under the name B.P.B (Bullet Proof Boys)<\/strong>, planting the seeds of what would become a global phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBang PD’s tweet: \u201cThe future of BigHit! Good-looking and with perfect skills! Here come the \u201cbulletproof boys\u201d!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe First Hit It! Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBTS was revealed to the public for the first time on August 30, 2010<\/strong>, during the promotion of the first Hit It!<\/strong> audition. On that occasion, two members were introduced: Kim Namjoon (RM)<\/strong> and Jung Huncheol (Iron)<\/strong>. Along with the reveal, the group’s official fancafe<\/strong> was opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNamjoon and Iron were promoted as rappers with experience on the underground scene, and Bangtan was first announced as a hip hop crew. However, judging by the comments on the HipHopPlaya<\/strong> community, Namjoon seemed to be the only name the public already knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConnections and Recruitment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIron came from the same dance academy in Gwangju<\/strong> as Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)<\/strong>, which suggests Big Hit may have recruited him through that connection. After Namjoon joined, Pdogg mentioned that Big Hit considered other well-known underground hip hop artists, like Beenzino<\/strong> and Basick<\/strong>, before deciding to hold an open audition to form the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTrack Releases and the Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTo promote the Hit It!<\/strong> audition, photos of Namjoon and Iron were released along with two solo tracks from each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Namjoon<\/strong>: \u201cSeventeen<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and \u201cDreaming<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iron<\/strong>: \u201cShow<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and \u201cING<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The contestants had to pick one of these four tracks, write an original rap and perform it, covering themes like school life or social issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hit It! audition was one of BTS’s first big steps toward the group’s final lineup, establishing Namjoon as the centerpiece of the project from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInstructions for joining the first Hit It! auditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Join the Hit It! Online Audition<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 0: Check the video. Watch the Bangtan Sonyeondan reference video!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Check the Bangtan Sonyeondan sample performance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Download the track. Download the track you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can choose from four tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Write a rap. Write a rap about your school life or a social issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Show your style and confidence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Record a video. Record a UCC* video of yourself performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(*UCC: User Created Content)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Send your application. Fill in the application form and send your material<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOnce the Hit It!<\/strong> audition opened, contestants had two ways to take part: upload a video performing their song to Daum TV<\/strong> (a platform that was shut down last year, wiping out all the old videos) or attend<\/strong> one of the in-person auditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmong the participants, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> stood out. For his entry, he chose Namjoon’s track \u201cSeventeen\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Voting and Ranking Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter the performances, the contestants’ videos went up for a vote on a site\/app called Love Beat<\/strong>. Yoongi’s performance got a lot of attention and finished in first place<\/strong> in the vote. Besides him, two other participants who also stood out on Love Beat<\/strong> were picked by the judges to move on to the Hit It! finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRecognition in the Finals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the official poster for the finals, Yoongi was credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- \u201cLove Beat First Place Winner \u2013 Min Yoongi\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Another name that appeared was Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong>, credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- \u201cDaum TV Winner\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This moment was crucial for Yoongi, marking the start of his journey toward BTS and establishing his talent and recognition on the music scene while the group was still in its early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHit It! Final poster \u2013 Yoongi is credited as \u201cLove Beat 1st place Min Yoongi\u201d (top left corner, under the Rap Battle Tournament title).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Hit It!<\/strong> finals took place on October 24, 2010<\/strong> at club NB2<\/strong> in Hongdae. The competition followed a rap battle<\/strong> format, putting the finalists head to head. According to the event poster, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> and Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong> were placed on opposite sides, facing each other in the final round.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe event featured Big Hit Entertainment artists, including the group 8eight<\/strong> (made up of Lee Hyun, Joo Hee and Baek Chan<\/strong>), rapper San E<\/strong> and Bangtan<\/strong> itself. At that point, Bangtan had three members<\/strong> \u2013 Namjoon (RM), Iron and Supreme Boi<\/strong>, the last one a recent addition. After the competition, Bangtan gave a special performance on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read all<\/summary>\n\n\n1. The First Appearance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBTS officially appeared for the first time in August 2010, with only Kim Namjoon (RM) and Jung Huncheol (Iron) revealed as members. Namjoon joined Big Hit Entertainment in May 2010. There is no precise information about when Iron joined, only that it was after Namjoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Origin of the Name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt first, the group was abbreviated as B.P.B<\/strong>, a reference to the English name \u201cBullet Proof Boys<\/strong>\u201d. At that point, the term \u201cboy scouts\u201d was not yet part of the name. The abbreviation changed to BTS<\/strong> in mid-2011, around the release of the song \u201cSatoori Rap\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. The Original Lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring the trainee period, around 30 people went through the selection process for BTS, but not all of them made it to the official lineup. The members confirmed at the time were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Kim Namjoon (RM)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jung Huncheol (Iron)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shin Donghyuck (Supreme Boi)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Park Yeong-man<\/strong> (little is known about him, except that he was older than the 1994 line members).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4. The First Features<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBetween 2010 and 2011, BTS took part in five official tracks, always credited as Bangtan<\/strong>, with no individual mention of the members. Namjoon was on all of these tracks. In 2012, Hoseok also featured on Jo Kwon’s song \u201cAnimal\u201d, credited as \u201cJung Hoseok of BTS<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. First Songs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring this period, BTS released a few tracks of their own, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- \u201cWe Are B.P.B\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 later re-recorded as \u201cWe Are Bulletproof Pt. 1<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u201cHook Gayo\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These first steps were crucial in shaping BTS’s identity, molding the group that would later conquer the world.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n2010 \u2013 The first Hit It! audition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Big Hit opens the first Hit It! audition<\/li>\n\n
- The first days of training<\/li>\n\n
- Recruitment: Hoseok comes from Gwangju, and Yoongi joins the project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Read all<\/summary>\nBTS’s story began unexpectedly, after a night out drinking between Pdogg, a producer at Big Hit Entertainment, and Sleepy, a rapper from the duo \u201cUntouchable\u201d. Pdogg, who was also a rapper (although he stopped performing as one after BTS debuted), was introduced to Kim Namjoon (RM) through Sleepy. During the conversation, Sleepy asked if Pdogg would like to hear a young, talented high school rapper he knew. Pdogg agreed, and Sleepy played some of Namjoon’s underground tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time, Namjoon had paused rapping to focus on his studies. Still, the songs impressed Pdogg, who quickly showed them to Bang Si-hyuk (Bang PD), Big Hit’s CEO. Bang PD asked Namjoon to audition. After the audition, Namjoon signed the contract right away, marking the start of Bangtan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No Clear Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the beginning, there was no structured plan for the group. In old interviews, Bang PD revealed that Big Hit had no formal trainee system, evaluation periods or even dorms. Signing Namjoon was the starting point for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a 2017 interview, Bang PD said his initial idea was to form a hip hop group with Namjoon at the center. That vision gradually evolved into an idol group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are old rumors suggesting that Iron might have been the group’s original leader, but there is no concrete evidence to support that story. From the start, Namjoon was recognized as the leader by Jihoon, a former Big Hit trainee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First Days of Training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBetween May and August 2010, Namjoon went to Big Hit after school and went home at the end of the day. In August that year, Big Hit got its first dorm, and Namjoon was the first trainee to move in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there are no records confirming whether Iron also lived in the dorm, we know that Supreme Boi was already part of the group from September 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This period marked the start of BTS’s journey, still under the name B.P.B (Bullet Proof Boys)<\/strong>, planting the seeds of what would become a global phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBang PD’s tweet: \u201cThe future of BigHit! Good-looking and with perfect skills! Here come the \u201cbulletproof boys\u201d!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe First Hit It! Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBTS was revealed to the public for the first time on August 30, 2010<\/strong>, during the promotion of the first Hit It!<\/strong> audition. On that occasion, two members were introduced: Kim Namjoon (RM)<\/strong> and Jung Huncheol (Iron)<\/strong>. Along with the reveal, the group’s official fancafe<\/strong> was opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNamjoon and Iron were promoted as rappers with experience on the underground scene, and Bangtan was first announced as a hip hop crew. However, judging by the comments on the HipHopPlaya<\/strong> community, Namjoon seemed to be the only name the public already knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConnections and Recruitment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIron came from the same dance academy in Gwangju<\/strong> as Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)<\/strong>, which suggests Big Hit may have recruited him through that connection. After Namjoon joined, Pdogg mentioned that Big Hit considered other well-known underground hip hop artists, like Beenzino<\/strong> and Basick<\/strong>, before deciding to hold an open audition to form the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTrack Releases and the Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTo promote the Hit It!<\/strong> audition, photos of Namjoon and Iron were released along with two solo tracks from each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Namjoon<\/strong>: \u201cSeventeen<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and \u201cDreaming<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iron<\/strong>: \u201cShow<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and \u201cING<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The contestants had to pick one of these four tracks, write an original rap and perform it, covering themes like school life or social issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hit It! audition was one of BTS’s first big steps toward the group’s final lineup, establishing Namjoon as the centerpiece of the project from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInstructions for joining the first Hit It! auditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Join the Hit It! Online Audition<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 0: Check the video. Watch the Bangtan Sonyeondan reference video!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Check the Bangtan Sonyeondan sample performance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Download the track. Download the track you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can choose from four tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Write a rap. Write a rap about your school life or a social issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Show your style and confidence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Record a video. Record a UCC* video of yourself performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(*UCC: User Created Content)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Send your application. Fill in the application form and send your material<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOnce the Hit It!<\/strong> audition opened, contestants had two ways to take part: upload a video performing their song to Daum TV<\/strong> (a platform that was shut down last year, wiping out all the old videos) or attend<\/strong> one of the in-person auditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmong the participants, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> stood out. For his entry, he chose Namjoon’s track \u201cSeventeen\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Voting and Ranking Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter the performances, the contestants’ videos went up for a vote on a site\/app called Love Beat<\/strong>. Yoongi’s performance got a lot of attention and finished in first place<\/strong> in the vote. Besides him, two other participants who also stood out on Love Beat<\/strong> were picked by the judges to move on to the Hit It! finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRecognition in the Finals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the official poster for the finals, Yoongi was credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- \u201cLove Beat First Place Winner \u2013 Min Yoongi\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Another name that appeared was Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong>, credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- \u201cDaum TV Winner\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This moment was crucial for Yoongi, marking the start of his journey toward BTS and establishing his talent and recognition on the music scene while the group was still in its early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHit It! Final poster \u2013 Yoongi is credited as \u201cLove Beat 1st place Min Yoongi\u201d (top left corner, under the Rap Battle Tournament title).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Hit It!<\/strong> finals took place on October 24, 2010<\/strong> at club NB2<\/strong> in Hongdae. The competition followed a rap battle<\/strong> format, putting the finalists head to head. According to the event poster, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> and Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong> were placed on opposite sides, facing each other in the final round.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe event featured Big Hit Entertainment artists, including the group 8eight<\/strong> (made up of Lee Hyun, Joo Hee and Baek Chan<\/strong>), rapper San E<\/strong> and Bangtan<\/strong> itself. At that point, Bangtan had three members<\/strong> \u2013 Namjoon (RM), Iron and Supreme Boi<\/strong>, the last one a recent addition. After the competition, Bangtan gave a special performance on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BTS officially appeared for the first time in August 2010, with only Kim Namjoon (RM) and Jung Huncheol (Iron) revealed as members. Namjoon joined Big Hit Entertainment in May 2010. There is no precise information about when Iron joined, only that it was after Namjoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Origin of the Name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, the group was abbreviated as B.P.B<\/strong>, a reference to the English name \u201cBullet Proof Boys<\/strong>\u201d. At that point, the term \u201cboy scouts\u201d was not yet part of the name. The abbreviation changed to BTS<\/strong> in mid-2011, around the release of the song \u201cSatoori Rap\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. The Original Lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During the trainee period, around 30 people went through the selection process for BTS, but not all of them made it to the official lineup. The members confirmed at the time were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. The First Features<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Between 2010 and 2011, BTS took part in five official tracks, always credited as Bangtan<\/strong>, with no individual mention of the members. Namjoon was on all of these tracks. In 2012, Hoseok also featured on Jo Kwon’s song \u201cAnimal\u201d, credited as \u201cJung Hoseok of BTS<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. First Songs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During this period, BTS released a few tracks of their own, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These first steps were crucial in shaping BTS’s identity, molding the group that would later conquer the world.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n BTS’s story began unexpectedly, after a night out drinking between Pdogg, a producer at Big Hit Entertainment, and Sleepy, a rapper from the duo \u201cUntouchable\u201d. Pdogg, who was also a rapper (although he stopped performing as one after BTS debuted), was introduced to Kim Namjoon (RM) through Sleepy. During the conversation, Sleepy asked if Pdogg would like to hear a young, talented high school rapper he knew. Pdogg agreed, and Sleepy played some of Namjoon’s underground tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the time, Namjoon had paused rapping to focus on his studies. Still, the songs impressed Pdogg, who quickly showed them to Bang Si-hyuk (Bang PD), Big Hit’s CEO. Bang PD asked Namjoon to audition. After the audition, Namjoon signed the contract right away, marking the start of Bangtan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No Clear Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning, there was no structured plan for the group. In old interviews, Bang PD revealed that Big Hit had no formal trainee system, evaluation periods or even dorms. Signing Namjoon was the starting point for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2017 interview, Bang PD said his initial idea was to form a hip hop group with Namjoon at the center. That vision gradually evolved into an idol group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are old rumors suggesting that Iron might have been the group’s original leader, but there is no concrete evidence to support that story. From the start, Namjoon was recognized as the leader by Jihoon, a former Big Hit trainee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First Days of Training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Between May and August 2010, Namjoon went to Big Hit after school and went home at the end of the day. In August that year, Big Hit got its first dorm, and Namjoon was the first trainee to move in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although there are no records confirming whether Iron also lived in the dorm, we know that Supreme Boi was already part of the group from September 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This period marked the start of BTS’s journey, still under the name B.P.B (Bullet Proof Boys)<\/strong>, planting the seeds of what would become a global phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The First Hit It! Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n BTS was revealed to the public for the first time on August 30, 2010<\/strong>, during the promotion of the first Hit It!<\/strong> audition. On that occasion, two members were introduced: Kim Namjoon (RM)<\/strong> and Jung Huncheol (Iron)<\/strong>. Along with the reveal, the group’s official fancafe<\/strong> was opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Namjoon and Iron were promoted as rappers with experience on the underground scene, and Bangtan was first announced as a hip hop crew. However, judging by the comments on the HipHopPlaya<\/strong> community, Namjoon seemed to be the only name the public already knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Connections and Recruitment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Iron came from the same dance academy in Gwangju<\/strong> as Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)<\/strong>, which suggests Big Hit may have recruited him through that connection. After Namjoon joined, Pdogg mentioned that Big Hit considered other well-known underground hip hop artists, like Beenzino<\/strong> and Basick<\/strong>, before deciding to hold an open audition to form the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Track Releases and the Audition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To promote the Hit It!<\/strong> audition, photos of Namjoon and Iron were released along with two solo tracks from each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The contestants had to pick one of these four tracks, write an original rap and perform it, covering themes like school life or social issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hit It! audition was one of BTS’s first big steps toward the group’s final lineup, establishing Namjoon as the centerpiece of the project from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Join the Hit It! Online Audition<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 0: Check the video. Watch the Bangtan Sonyeondan reference video!<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Check the Bangtan Sonyeondan sample performance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 1: Download the track. Download the track you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can choose from four tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 2: Write a rap. Write a rap about your school life or a social issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Show your style and confidence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 3: Record a video. Record a UCC* video of yourself performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (*UCC: User Created Content)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 4: Send your application. Fill in the application form and send your material<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the Hit It!<\/strong> audition opened, contestants had two ways to take part: upload a video performing their song to Daum TV<\/strong> (a platform that was shut down last year, wiping out all the old videos) or attend<\/strong> one of the in-person auditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the participants, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> stood out. For his entry, he chose Namjoon’s track \u201cSeventeen\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Voting and Ranking Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After the performances, the contestants’ videos went up for a vote on a site\/app called Love Beat<\/strong>. Yoongi’s performance got a lot of attention and finished in first place<\/strong> in the vote. Besides him, two other participants who also stood out on Love Beat<\/strong> were picked by the judges to move on to the Hit It! finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recognition in the Finals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the official poster for the finals, Yoongi was credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another name that appeared was Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong>, credited as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This moment was crucial for Yoongi, marking the start of his journey toward BTS and establishing his talent and recognition on the music scene while the group was still in its early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hit It!<\/strong> finals took place on October 24, 2010<\/strong> at club NB2<\/strong> in Hongdae. The competition followed a rap battle<\/strong> format, putting the finalists head to head. According to the event poster, Min Yoongi (SUGA)<\/strong> and Choi Ikje (i11evn)<\/strong> were placed on opposite sides, facing each other in the final round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event featured Big Hit Entertainment artists, including the group 8eight<\/strong> (made up of Lee Hyun, Joo Hee and Baek Chan<\/strong>), rapper San E<\/strong> and Bangtan<\/strong> itself. At that point, Bangtan had three members<\/strong> \u2013 Namjoon (RM), Iron and Supreme Boi<\/strong>, the last one a recent addition. After the competition, Bangtan gave a special performance on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
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2010 \u2013 The first Hit It! audition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Read all<\/summary>\n
![\"Bang](\"https:\/\/preview.redd.it\/lox54r23wvu21.png?width=1115&format=png&auto=webp&s=31901809a98dac4ae975339b481051e6f70e9b1b\")
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![\"Instructions](\"https:\/\/preview.redd.it\/13bs2coowvu21.jpg?width=306&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8fa4ec221ca3a0550ed2fab80cb953b29fe6847\")
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![\"Hit](\"https:\/\/preview.redd.it\/py6lbv6xwvu21.jpg?width=650&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c71afe2270651612e93a3a14dad417a3e3ead2b5\")