'BTS in the flesh while they flop'! J. Cole name-drops K-pop icons in Tee Grizzley's 'Blow for Blow', ARMY cheer

On September 27, American rapper Tee Grizzley dropped his latest song "Blow For Blow" in collaboration with American rapper and record producer J. Cole. In the music video, the two rappers are seen performing on a rooftop while Grizzley shares wisdom (and hundred-dollar bills) with his community, J. Cole, on the other hand, name-dropped K-pop superstars Bangtan Sonyeondan aka BTS during his verse.

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In the first verse, Cole raps, "I stay hot, doin' numbers like K-Pop...BTS in the flesh while they flop." According to Genius, J. Cole draws a comparison between his success and the massive global popularity of BTS, who are known for breaking records with their hits. This line carries extra weight for those familiar with Cole's collaboration with BTS rapper J-Hope on the 2023 track "on the street."

After the lyric dropped, fans—especially BTS fans called ARMY—celebrated, with many trending the line "BTS PAVED THE WAY" on X (formerly known as Twitter). For ARMY, a shoutout from a renowned rapper like J. Cole is a significant nod to the group's impact.

BTS' love for J.Cole:

The members of BTS have always praised J. Cole even before they made their music industry debut. BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook continuously expressed their gratitude on multiple platforms, whether it was by covers, lyrical shoutouts, or sharing his music in playlists. J. Cole and his group showed their mutual admiration for each other by returning the respect.

Where is BTS?

Currently, six of the seven BTS members are fulfilling their mandatory military service in South Korea. Jin, the eldest, enlisted first in 2022 and was discharged on June 11. J-Hope and Suga followed him into service. 

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The remaining members—Jung Kook, V, Jimin, and RM—began their enlistment in December 2023. J-Hope is expected to be the next to complete his service and be released in October 2024.

The group has promised fans a grand comeback, potentially aligning with their debut anniversary in June 2025. The members have also renewed their contracts, ensuring a bright future for the group.

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