History[edit]
Pre-debut[edit]
J-Hope appeared on several music programs due to his feature in 2AM member Jo Kwon's single, "Animal". The rest of the members also appeared in Jo Kwon's "I'm Da One" music video. Producer Bang Si Hyuk held a hip-hop audition called HIT IT. The audition searched for members to join a hip-hop crew that Bang Si Hyuk was planning on debuting in 2011. Due to members leaving the group lineup, the debut was postponed. Rap Monster remains as the only member of the original group line-up. The group released two cover songs before their debut. Three members, Jin, Rap Monster and SUGA, produced and released a cover track of Kendrick Lamar's "Swimming Pools (Drank)", and titled it "School of Tears," a track delved into the workings of modern society, especially that of the school system, and its backward ways. Three other members, J-Hope, Jungkook and Jimin, produced "Graduation Song", a cover track of Wiz Khalifa's "Young, Wild, & Free". Despite being part of the group since 2011, member V was kept a secret until the initial release of their debut teasers for "No More Dream".