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Why did RM call himself 'Runch Randa' prior to BTS fame? Rapper shares secret as Jin says 'Maplestory made band'

RM said that in 2007, while learning how to rap from a friend, he had shared a Maplestory account with him and a character called 'Runch Randa' was created in the game

RM, aka Namjoon, leader of world's biggest K-pop group BTS, had a quirky stage name, "Runch Randa" prior to the boy band achieved its huge fame. This revelation came to light during the first episode of 'BTSxMaplestory' series, a collaboration between BTS and gaming platform Maplestory, on YouTube.

Global gaming giant Nexon announced the collaboration on November 23. Over several episodes, Maplestory will release a few videos of seven BTS members playing games and sharing their Maplestory moments while growing up. In the first episode, RM shared "a secret", and after listening to it, Jimin said: “It’s because of Maplestory that BTS exists.”

RM shared that back in 2007, while learning how to rap from a friend, he had shared a Maplestory account with him. A character, namely "Runch Randa", was created in the game. The name eventually turned into his stage name before he started calling himself "Rap Monster", the stage name with which he debuted in the band. What is more hilarious is the way Jungkook and SUGA, aka Yoongi, tried to come up with a valid reason behind RM's name. Jungkook asked, “What does Runch Randa mean?” Yoongi replied, “Does it mean, it’s lunch?” Jin concluded, “You must have created the character during lunch.”

Here’s a clip of the episode shared by a fan.

Quite obviously, fans are coming with equally funny responses to RM's name revelation. A fan said, “Runch Randa description: GOD KING RUNCH RANDA A RAMPAGING SAVAGE WHO WILL TEAR YOU APART AND FEED YOUR ENTRAILS TO THE DRAGONS. Real Runch Randa: A soft round baby with dimples and cutie pie smile uwu,” referring to RM’s initial stage presence versus how he actually is in real life.

Another fan shared a pre-debut picture of RM, portraying how contrasting his personality in stage and real life was, “runch randa: [scared older rappers, had everyone wondering where he went when he left, even yoongi knew of him before joining bh and wanted to go against him in a rap battle] runch randa.” Yet another fan wrote, “Imagine being afraid of a boba ball.”

One excited fan shared: “NAMJOON WENT TO UNDERGROUND RAP BATTLES AT AGE 14 AND SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF OLDER RAPPERS WEARING VELCROED SHOES BECAUSE HE COULDN'T TIE HIS OWN LACES AND WITH A RAP NAME RUNCH RANDA THAT CAME FROM HIS MAPLE STORY CHARACTER  I'M ACTUALLY IN TEARS.” Another said, “he went to underground rapping at the age of 12, his first(?) collab being unknown and under his persona Stealo, and then for few years under the persona Largo and Runch Randa, according to his this old fan I found on YT, there is just so much hidden information about him!!”

BTS will continue their 'BTSxMaplestory' series for a few weeks and Maplestory has teased the fans saying there would be more in the store for them.