O!RUL8,2? (Oh! Are you late, too?)[2] is the first extended play by South Korean boy band BTS. It was released on September 11, 2013[3] as the second album after 2 Cool 4 Skool. The album consists of ten tracks, with "N.O" (also known as "No Offense") as the lead single. The group later promoted "Attack On Bangtan (진격의 방탄)", another track from the album.

O!RUL8,2?
EP by
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2013
Recorded2013
Genre
Length30:36
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
BTS chronology
2 Cool 4 Skool
(2013)
O!RUL8,2?
(2013)
Skool Luv Affair
(2014)
Singles from O!RUL8,2?
  1. "N.O"
    Released: September 11, 2013

Background and release

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On August 27, 2013 Big Hit Entertainment launched a countdown clock[4] on BTS official website and uploaded a comeback trailer[5] on YouTube in preparation for O!RUL8,2? and comeback promotions. It featured a monologue by Rap Monster as different 3D images related to BTS floated in space before shattering into the ground[6] and starts off with a voice-over narration that talks about how one should pursue his or her dream.[7] Three days later, they revealed the O!RUL8,2? track list[8] and concept photo[9] of the album on their official Twitter account and Facebook page. They also released the design and details of the physical album, along with its photobook, photocard and poster.[10] Big Hit Entertainment then released a special trailer for the album's concept.[11] They later released the first teaser, revealing that "N.O" would be the lead single.[12] On September 8, 2013, BTS dropped an audio preview[13] prior to the actual release of the album.

Music video

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The music video for the lead track, "N.O" (an acronym for "no offense"),[14] was released on September 10, one day before the release of the album. The music video featured the members dressed in uniforms, and rebelling against their teacher in what appears to be a dystopian classroom.[15] Their dance was choreographed by Son Sungdeuk and the music video was directed by Zanybros.[16]

Composition

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Musically, BTS did not fundamentally change their sound as compared with 2 Cool 4 Skool, utilizing fiery rapping along with trap beats, brass, and soulful melodies. Lyrically, the EP expanded on the theme of dreams and happiness, revealing their frustration under the harsh Korean education system and their determination to confront the struggle of proving themselves.[17]

Promotions

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BTS made their comeback with "N.O" on September 12, 2013, on Mnet's M Countdown music program.[18] The group went on to promote on KBS's Music Bank, MBC's Music Core, SBS's Inkigayo and Arirang TV's Simply K-Pop. In November 2013, BTS proceeded with follow-up promotion of the album with "Attack on Bangtan" on various South Korea music programs.[19] Much later in 2015, BTS held a special concert[20] in support of the album. 2015 BTS Live Trilogy Episode I: BTS Begins was held for two days at Olympic Hall starting from March 28, 2015, with BTS performing songs from 2 Cool 4 Skool and O!RUL8,2?.

Commercial performance

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O!RUL8,2? debuted at number four on the Gaon Weekly Chart in the second week of September 2013.[21] The album also debuted at number 11 on the September Gaon Monthly Chart.[22] It was ranked the 55th best-selling album of South Korea on the Gaon Album Chart in 2013.[23] As of 2019, it has sold over 200,000 copies.[24]

Track listing

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All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database, unless otherwise noted.[25]

No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Intro : O! RUL8,2"
  • Pdogg
1:11
2."N.O"
Pdogg3:30
3."We On"
Pdogg3:51
4."Skit: R U Happy Now?" Pdogg2:28
5."If I Ruled the World"
  • Pdogg
  • RM
  • Suga
  • J-Hope
Pdogg4:07
6."Coffee"
  • Pdogg
  • Slow Rabbit
4:20
7."BTS Cypher Pt.1"
  • Supreme Boi
  • RM
  • Suga
  • J-Hope
Supreme Boi2:11
8."진격의 방탄" (Jingyeogui Bangtan / Attack On Bangtan)
  • Pdogg
  • RM
  • Suga
  • J-Hope
  • Supreme Boi
Pdogg4:07
9."팔도강산" (Paldogangsan / Satoori Rap)
  • Pdogg
  • RM
  • Suga
  • J-Hope
Pdogg3:25
10."Outro: Luv in Skool"
  • Slow Rabbit
  • Pdogg
  • Slow Rabbit
  • Pdogg
1:26
Total length:30:36

Charts

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Year-end charts

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Year-end chart performance for O!RUL8,2?
Chart (2013) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[23] 55
Chart (2014) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[28] 92
Chart (2015) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[29] 87
Chart (2016) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[30] 86
Chart (2017) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[31] 99
Chart (2018) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[32] 82
Chart (2019) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[33] 81
Chart (2021) Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[34] 85

Sales and certifications

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Chart Sales
South Korea (Gaon) 319,951 [24]

Release history

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Country Date Format Label
South Korea September 11, 2013 CD, Digital download Big Hit Entertainment
LOEN Entertainment
Various Digital download

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "COOL 4 SKOOL / O! RUL 8, 2? [2CD+DVD] - BTS (防弾少年団)". Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "O!RUL8,2? | BTS | Big Hit Entertainment". www.ibighit.com. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  3. ^ "O!RUL8,2? by BTS on iTunes". iTunes.
  4. ^ jennywill (August 27, 2013). "BTS release a mysterious countdown on their official website". Allkpop. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  5. ^ "O!RUL8,2? Comeback Trailer". YouTube. 27 August 2013.
  6. ^ Grace Danbi Hong (August 29, 2013). "BTS Signals Comeback with Shattering Images in Video Teaser". Mwave. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  7. ^ J. Kim (August 28, 2013). "BTS Announces September Comeback with a Trailer Video". Soompi. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  8. ^ C. . (September 3, 2013). "BTS Releases Track List and Concept Photos for Upcoming Mini Album "O! RUL8,2?"". Soompi. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  9. ^ Grace Danbi Hong (August 30, 2013). "BTS Members Transforms into Hip-Hop Boys in White". Mwave. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  10. ^ "O!RUL8,2? on BTS X OFFICIALSHOP". BTS OFFICIAL SHOP. Archived from the original on 2019-02-08. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
  11. ^ *Grace Danbi Hong (September 5, 2013). "BTS Has Jaws Dropping with Intense Concept Trailer". Mwave. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  12. ^ *C. . (September 5, 2013). "BTS are Rebellious Dystopian Students in "N.O." Music Video Teaser". Soompi. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  13. ^ *G. Jeong (September 8, 2013). "BTS Drops Audio Preview of "O! RUL8,2?" Mini Album". Soompi. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  14. ^ I'M(아이엠): BTS(방탄소년단)_N.O(엔.오) [ENG/JPN SUB (1thek Interview)
  15. ^ *G. Jeong (September 10, 2013). "BTS Blasts Back with "N.O" MV for "O! RUL8,2?" Mini Album". Soompi. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  16. ^ "Zanybros work 2013". Zanybros.com. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  17. ^ Kim, Youngdae (2019). "Review 02". BTS - The Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Music of BTS. RH Korea. ISBN 9788925565828.
  18. ^ *carolineiswickedcool (September 12, 2013). "M! Countdown 09.12.13 – G-Dragon Wins with "Black"". Soompi. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  19. ^ *Grace Danbi Hong (November 5, 2013). "BTS to Start Promoting 'The Rise of Bangtan'". Mwave. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  20. ^ sara326 (February 9, 2015). "BTS, will hold their 2nd exclusive concert in March 'BTS Begins'". Naver. OSEN. Retrieved 2017-09-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ a b 2013년 38주차 Album Chart [Album Chart – Week 38 of 2018]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  22. ^ a b 2013년 09월 Album Chart [September 2013 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  23. ^ a b 2013년 Album Chart [2013 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  24. ^ a b Gaon Chart Sales:
  25. ^ "Songs Registered Under "O!RUL8,2?"". komca.or.kr. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – BTS – O!RUL8,2?". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  27. ^ "World Albums (Week of December 30, 2023)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  28. ^ 2014년 Album Chart [2014 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  29. ^ 2015년 Album Chart [2015 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  30. ^ 2016년 Album Chart [2016 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  31. ^ 2017년 Album Chart [2017 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  32. ^ 2018년 Album Chart [2018 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  33. ^ 2019년 Album Chart [2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  34. ^ "2021년 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
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