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BTS’ Map of the Soul: 7 was named the greatest K-pop album of the 21st century so far, surprising fans online. On January 10, 2025, Rolling Stone, a renowned music magazine covering several other beats including pop culture, politics, and more, dropped their list of ‘The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far.’
The K-pop septet's 4th Korean-language studio album was released on February 21, 2020. The album included hits like the title song ON and the pre-release single Black Swan, unit songs, and solo tracks by the members.
While describing the album placed at 132 on the list, Rolling Stone praised the boy band, saying:
“BTS blew up into a whole new kind of global phenomenon. The K-pop kings took the sound of Seoul to the rest of the world, without compromising any details in their own sound or style.”
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However, fans have shared their favorite albums that should have been on the list instead of Map of the Soul: 7. Some fans stated that this studio album was “not the best album” created by the Dynamite singers. They shared their honest reactions on X regarding the album being named the greatest K-pop album of the century.
"ARMY knows that's not their best album though. Can you imagine if Rolling Stone listened to Wings?” one fan said.
“Sorry this is objectively not correct because ly tear exists,” another fan added.
“…. Over tear? Don’t get me wrong I love MOTS:7 but LYT is really the like. Breakthrough album that brought all of Kpop over to the west,” another X user stated.
On the other hand, fans criticized others who undermined the talent of BTS while praising the album.
“And y’all said they stopped making good songs after 2019 when this was released in 2020, a full korean album with good discography,” another fan commented.
“It's crazy to collect so many unique songs in one album, it's not just kpop's best album, it's the best album in the world,” another fan commented.
“It literally is, ya’ll this Album got me into bts, mind you it was my first time listening to Kpop and I listen to that Album start to finish no skip,” another fan reacted.
Other fans also mentioned the artistry of the album track by track, expressing their happiness seeing their favorite album being listed as the greatest K-pop album of the century so far.
“This album genuinely altered my brain chemistry. like song after song it's just hit after hit. you feel pissed? UGH! you're an alcoholic? DIONYSUS. you wanna dance? EGO. you feel like crying? WAB:TE? LIKEEEE,” another X user said.
“Honestly? Deserved. When I was feeling like a failure, these seven boys reminded me that every new day is a new chance to be happy. Zero O' Clock you will always be my comfort song. The whole album is a no skip btw,” another fan stated.
“Yall really had to be there guys this isnt just the greatest kpop album its one of the greatest of all time actually and i am serious like black swan? on??? louder than bombs????? even jimin was in his bag!” one X user reacted.
BTS’ Map of the Soul: 7 — album tracks, music videos, concept, and achievements
On February 21, 2020, BTS dropped their 4th album Map of the Soul: 7 with 19 tracks in total. This album was a compilation album of their previous album Map of the Soul: Persona with additional songs. BTS featured American singer-songwriter Halsey on their track Boy With Luv and Australian singer SIA on the title song ON.
This album received appreciation from fans and listeners for the music concept based on Carl Gustav Jung's theory, and lyrics based on self-exploration and introspection.
Besides the official Black Swan MV (Mar 4, 2020), the group dropped the Art Film (Jan 17, 2020) performed by MN Dance Company which garnered praise for its contemporary choreography.
Meanwhile, the ON Kinetic Manifesto Film: Come Prima video (Feb 21, 2020) illustrated contemporary dance moves blending in with martial arts steps while also accompanied by dancers acting as a marching band. The official ON music video (Feb 27, 2020) depicted a cinematic storyline.
Map of the Soul: 7 tracklist:
- Intro: Persona (RM Solo)
- Boy With Luv (Feat. Halsey)
- Make It Right
- Jamais Vu (Unit: J-Hope, Jin, & Jungkook)
- Dionysus
- Interlude: Shadow (Suga Solo)
- Black Swan
- Filter (Jimin Solo)
- My Time (Jungkook Solo)
- Louder than bombs
- ON
- UGH! (Rap line: RM, Suga, & J-Hope)
- 00:00 (Zero O'Clock) (Vocal Line: Jin, Jimin, V, & Jungkook)
- Inner Child (V Solo)
- Friends (Unit: Jimin & V)
- Moon (Jin Solo)
- Respect (Unit: RM & Suga)
- We are Bulletproof: the Eternal
- Outro: Ego (J-Hope: Solo)
BTS’ Map of the Soul: 7 received several Album of the Year awards, aka Daesangs, at the esteemed South Korean award shows, including Mnet Asian Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and Melon Music Awards, in 2020.
The album also was named Global Recording Artist of 2020 by the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI), making BTS the first Asian act to receive this accolade.
