Do you by RM; an explanatory thread
(explanation is based upon admin's interpretation)

Do you starts off powerful, to the point. The whole song there is no drop in power or energy. His voice sounds like its full of determination and full of thought. The background music sounds rushed but also to the point and straightforward. +

the sound of pendulum is emulated by using a metronome

[verse 1] :
As soon as the verse starts he gets to the point that he hates self-help books the most in the d whats the world,he most probably wanted to convey how self help books tell you what to do and whats best for you. +

He states how people don’t have their own principles of how to tackle a situation they are present in . he critizes how people rush to find the solutions in these self help books instead of trying to find one on their own. +

. He says how these books make the best sellers eventhough the people writing it don’t even know what the other persons dream or hobbies or passions are. The continues to say how being a little less conscious of others can change ones mindset. +

“why do you try to become a slave, when you are born as an owner (of your life)”
This line conveys how everyone is born to be an owner of their life but still follow someone else path instead of making one on their own because its more risky and they don’t know what might happen

“its youth because it hurts” here namjoon is criticizing a book written by kim nando, this was originally published in hopes of comforting the youth and their pain of their uncertain future but it was heavily critized for normalizing the pain youth goes through.

He states that life is like music and the genre is trap. Here by trap he means that life tricks people and people who don’t get tricked by it make their own path, he continues to bring confidence by saying that you are only one of a kind and a limited edition.

“in the end, theres going to be someone who’ll want you”
This line means that even when the world turns their back towards you, there will always be one person who will love u no matter what so be you and just do you!

[verse 2] :
“im not pop, im not rock, im not funk, im not R&B or hiphop”
From the second verse he starts to rap about the stereotypes he has received since he has started rapping in bts as an idol. He says how he is not any of those genres but only makes music which he likes .

“all the kids who don’t know what they are yet, clean your ears”
He says that kids who listen to music of a particular genre should realize there shouldn’t be any specific stereotypes tied down to the genre and +

also realize that the music that they make don’t have to come down a certain genre for it to be called music.

“Skirt and skinny jeans? That’s not hip hop!”
Does that mean A$AP is not hip hop?
Are you more hip hop than A$AP and Kanye?"

Here, we can see that hiphop has always had a keen stereotype of being “masculine” or “gangster” type.

Here he disses how wearing a skirt or skinny jeans wont make u less hiphop or the music u make less hiphop. This is also seen as a subtle diss towards the rapper “BFREE”. In an interview with RM and yoongi , he called them girls since they are idols, wear makeup and also wear +

“feminine” fashion.
He also said they aren’t hiphop and this can be seen as a response for his insult. In the next few lines he asks if a$ap and Kanye are less hiphop just cause their style is different. He asks if they are anymore hiphop than a$ap and Kanye.

"I say, fashion is passion
Written in Korean, they’re spelled the same “paesyeon”
Instead of becoming one of those sagging their pants for no reason when they go to Hongdae,
just wear however you like, that’s swag that’s it"

in this following lines we can truly see his wordplay shine through, in Korean fashion is spelled as 패션 (pas-syeon)
which has a close pronunciation to passion in English. Here he says fashion shouldn’t be tied down to a genre but to ones creativity and originality

he then continues to say that the people who think pulling their pants down to go to Hongdae is “cool” and “hiphop” are very worng. Here there is an double entendre where pulling their pants down can also mean engaging in sexual activities where which can be seen as “cool”.

Swag shouldn’t show a certain genre but showing ur own style is more swag. Swag is doing or wearing where It shows ur originality or show that ur confident.

In these lines he states how every individual is different with different tastes and different likes, if you follow trends then that is good, if u don’t then that’s okay too!

He says nothing is right and nothing is wrong. Every person has their own individuality and originality. Fashion is also supposed to be a medium where u can express yourself freely, tying it down to a genre is not right. the next lines are pretty straight forward .

[verse 3] :
Having been told to do whatever they want,
They are now adults in their thirties who can't hold in their shit *
They clamour for “respect” with their own mouths
But even they do not know the meaning of that word

The phrase "can't hold in their shit" means: "Can't mind their own business"

In these lines, he states that the adults who've had the freedom to do whatever they want without any rules or morals, can't mind their own business and are nosy.

"Freedom and self-indulgence, they’re obviously different"
There's a time and place for both of these things
In these lines, he says that freedom shouldn't be confused for self-indulgence .

Suckers who copy music and package it up as if they haven't copied
At least my music is better than their's
"Who raps better than anyone?"
"Who does this better than anyone"
F*** that, I am just doin' my thang

The beginning two lines are obvious. The last 3 lines state that RM doesn't care if someone raps better than him or is better than him in general because he's just being himself and doing what he wants to do.

OUTRO :
I’m doin' me, just doin' me
Who were you so far
That’s right, we were friends
Nothin’s everything, everything’s nothin' x4

in my opinion these are pretty straightforward! in all do you is a really powerful song with its own interpretation and meaning. this song can be taken by many people in many other ways.

im sorry this thread is so long!! i had a lot to say for this beautiful song

lyrics translation credit to : @doolsetbangtan

i hope u enjoyed reading through this and my opinions and interpretations !! please listen to do you in soundcloud!!

stream do you on youtube!! and im extremely sorry if i do make any mistakes !