BTS members V and J-Hope expressed shock on social media after rapper Drake referenced the group in his song “Make Them Cry” [1].
The interaction highlights the intersecting global influence of K-pop and Western hip-hop, signaling a rare moment of direct acknowledgement from one of the world's most successful rappers to the global music phenomenon.
The shoutout occurred on the track “Make Them Cry,” part of the surprise triple album titled Iceman [3]. The album was released June 30, 2023 [1, 2]. In the lyrics, Drake said, "I'm feeling like BTS 'cause it took the whole career for me to be so discovered" [1].
V and J-Hope shared their reactions across social-media platforms, including Twitter/X [2, 4]. The members had not expected a reference from the rapper, leading to their public displays of surprise [1, 3].
Drake's decision to include the group in his lyrics follows a trend of increasing collaborations and mutual respect between the U.S. music industry and South Korean artists. The surprise release of the triple album [3] added to the unexpected nature of the lyric, as neither the group nor their fans had been alerted to the mention prior to the June 30, 2023, launch [1].
Reports from entertainment news sites indicate that other celebrities and figures, including Adin Ross, also reacted to the drop [3]. The mention of BTS serves as a bridge between two distinct fanbases, the ARMY and the massive following Drake maintains in the global rap scene.
“"I'm feeling like BTS 'cause it took the whole career for me to be so discovered,"”
This moment underscores the normalization of K-pop within the highest tiers of Western popular music. By comparing his own career trajectory to that of BTS, Drake acknowledges the group's global scale and the specific journey of achieving universal recognition, further cementing the group's status as a permanent fixture in the global cultural zeitgeist.
