BTS Star RM Goes Dark On New Collaboration

Forbes

02-05-2025

RM and Tablo's new single 'Stop the Rain' debuts at No. 5 on iTunes, offering fans a raw, emotional ... More take on pain, guilt, and identity through old-school hip-hop. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 24: RM of BTS attends W Korea's 18th breast cancer awareness campaign 'Love Your W' event at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu on November 24, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)
2024 was a busy year for BTS star RM. The frontman of the globally-beloved group released his latest solo album Right Place, Wrong Person, pushed several singles from the set, and also delivered other tunes along the way, including one with Megan Thee Stallion. He's been quiet for several months now… but this Friday (May 2), he returns with a quick bestseller in America.
RM linked up with Tablo, known both for his solo output and as the leader and producer of the South Korean hip-hop outfit Epik High. The two delivered the collaboration "Stop the Rain," which fans of both artists were quick to not only stream, but especially purchase.
As of the time of writing, "Stop the Rain" is the third-highest rising debut on the iTunes Top Songs chart in America. At present, it lands at No. 5, but as the day progresses, it could continue to climb.
Only two new arrivals — "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts and the Backstreet Boys, and "Woke Up This Morning" by Forrest Frank and Nathan Davis Jr. — are currently ahead, sitting at Nos. 1 and 3, respectively.
Two holdovers, "Ordinary" by Alex Warren and "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan, dip slightly to Nos. 2 and 4, respectively, and are also beating Tablo and RM… but perhaps only for the moment.
"Stop the Rain" is a much darker type of track than fans are used to from RM — and certainly from the group that made him a superstar, BTS. It tackles themes like bullying, guilt, and low self-esteem. Both musicians open up in a way that followers may not be used to, which could be part of the reason the track is selling so well right out of the gate.
The cut features both musicians rapping to a simple, drum-based beat layered with a soulful, somewhat sorrowful guitar line. It leans more toward old-school rap than the modern-day hip-hop often produced by many artists. The throwback-style approach speaks to the love both stars have for the American-made genre.
Between the animated visuals in the music video and some of the lines in the chorus, the track even feels reminiscent of early Linkin Park — but without the heavy guitars or screaming. It's interesting to hear two South Korean imports borrowing from that playbook, putting their own spin on things, and doing so successfully, openly, and honestly.
2025 is the third year that's seen Tablo release new music, though so far, he's been fairly sparse with his drops. In 2024 he shared '1000 Years,' and the year prior, he unleashed 'Black Knight,' which came from the Netflix series of the same name. Before then, he hadn't shared solo cuts since 2017, though Epik High did drop a new album, Pump, in 2024.