Courtney Lazore

Over the last several years, BTS, the seven-member pop ensemble from South Korea, has achieved unprecedented success on the global pop scene. ARMY, the group’s fandom, has a lot to be proud of: several Grammy nominations, multiple chart-topping albums, and a history of sold-out stadiums, among other accomplishments. While these accolades certainly don’t go unnoticed by ARMY, perhaps one of the most consistent lines of praise from fans acknowledges BTS’s dedication to music and lyricism. Hundreds

Released on November 30, 2015 as BTS’ second installment in their “youth” trilogy, The Most Beautiful Moment in life Pt. 2, commonly known as HYYH Pt. 2 in a nod to its Korean title, is both a celebration of adolescence and a consideration of its growing pains. With thematic expressions of restlessness, love, frustration, longing, and a healthy dose of the social commentary BTS is now well known for, HYYH Pt. 2 established itself as an album that many could relate to. Even today, five years late

A chapter I wrote for "Bangtan Remixed", book forthcoming from Duke University Press.

In BTS’ upbeat track “Ma City” from their HYYH pt. 1 album, J-hope’s verse ends with a phrase that may strike some international fans as strange: “Everyone press it, 062–518.” J-hope raps the digits as if they were a phone number or a postal code, but there’s much more significance to this short string of numbers.

Fans who are familiar with “Ma City” know the song pays homage to the BTS members’ hometowns. They proudly sing and rap about where they came from, a trend we’ve also seen in songs li

With the release of their newest album, Map of the Soul: 7, BTS once again solidified their status as global superstars. Upon release, the album shot to the top of music charts and set a new record for the highest first day sales in South Korea, selling a tremendous 2.6 million units in six hours.

Record-breaking sales, hundreds of sold-out shows and innumerable awards all speak to the magnitude of BTS’ success. Many have attempted to crack BTS’ code, usually overlooking a simple, but crucial,

BTS is known around the world for their relatable music, dynamic concert performances, and their passionate fanbase. But another large element behind this successful group of young men is the “BTS Universe” (BU), a fictional world with a narrative that depicts characters inspired by the BTS members. The BU started with just a handful of music videos, but it later went cross-platform with the introduction of the “HwaYangYeonHwa Notes,” small booklets of text included in the group’s Love Yourself

A chapter written for the book I Am ARMY: It's Time to Begin (Revolutionaries Press)