- For the subunit of T.O.P Girls, see I&M.
I.M (아이엠) is a South Korean singer-songwriter, composer and rapper. He is the maknae of the boy group MONSTA X and a member of the project group, Y TEEN. He is also a former member of the pre-debut group Nu'Bility.
He made his official solo debut on February 19, 2021 with his first digital mini album Duality.
Career
Pre-debut
From 2013 to 2014, I.M was a member of the pre-debut group Nu'Bility, formed by Special K Entertainment. Though the group attended a few events and released content, it never made its official debut.[1]
2014–2015: NO.MERCY, MONSTA X
He participated in the Mnet reality survival show NO.MERCY. Introduced at the eighth episode, later than all the other trainees, he ended up being part of the final lineup and as a result debuted with MONSTA X on May 15, 2015, with the mini album Trespass.[1]
2016–2019: Mixtapes
Between 2016 and 2019, I.M released a few mixtapes. The first, called "Who Am I" and featuring YESEO, was released on May 5, 2016.[2] He also released "Fly With Me" and "Horizon" on February 20, 2018 and April 19, 2019 respectively, both with a music video.[3][4] In 2019 he also recorded an audiobook of Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince for NAVER.[5]
2020–2021: Solo debut with Duality
In June 2020, I.M mentioned he was interested in releasing a solo album eventually.[6] In January 2021, Starship announced that I.M would have his first official solo release at the end of February.[2] The first poster was released on February 7, revealing that I.M's solo debut would be on February 19 with a digital mini album titled Duality.[7] The album is deeply personal, and shows a side of him different to the one he shows when with MONSTA X. As its title hints, the songs evoke various kinds of duality, like, for example, the one between the illusion of happiness and trying to convince yourself you're fine when in reality you're in pain, and they explore intense feelings, both positive and negative.[8]
2022: Departure from Starship Entertainment
On August 8, Starship Entertainment released a statement announcing that all of the MONSTA X members, except I.M, renewed their contracts. I.M decided to not renew his contract but he will continue to participate in the group's future plans.[9]
Discography
Mini albums
- Duality (2021)
Mixtapes
- "Who Am I" (feat. YESEO) (2016)
- "Fly With Me" (2018)
- "Horizon" (2019)
Digital singles
- "Loop" (2021)
Collaborations
Features
Producing and writing credits
- All credits adapted from KOMCA, unless stated.[10]
| Artist | Song | Album | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | |||
| I.M (Him), Hyungwon, & Jooheon | "Interstellar" | "NO.MERCY Part.4" | Writing |
| MONSTA X | "No Exit" | Trespass | |
| "One Love" | |||
| "Steal Your Heart" | |||
| "Blue Moon" | |||
| "Rush" | Rush | ||
| "Hero" | |||
| "Perfect Girl" | |||
| "Broken Heart" | |||
| 2016 | |||
| MONSTA X | "Ex Girl" | The Clan Part.1 Lost | Writing |
| "All In" | |||
| "Stuck" | |||
| "Sweetheart" | |||
| "Unfair Love" | |||
| "Because of U" | |||
| "Fighter" | The Clan Part.2 Guilty | Writing | |
| "Be Quiet" | |||
| "Blind" | |||
| "Queen" | |||
| "White Love" | |||
| "Roller Coaster" | |||
| I.M (Him) and Brother Su | "Madeleine" | "Madeleine" | Writing |
| 2017 | |||
| MONSTA X | "Ready or Not" | The Clan Part 2.5: The Final Chapter 'Beautiful' | Writing |
| "Beautiful" | |||
| "Incomparable" | |||
| "Need U" | |||
| "Oi" | |||
| "Miss You" | |||
| "Calm Down" | |||
| "All I Do" | |||
| "Last Page" | |||
| "I'll Be There" | |||
| MONSTA X | "Shine Forever" | Shine Forever | Writing |
| "Gravity" | |||
| "Newton" | "Newton" | Writing | |
| "Dramarama" | The Code | Writing | |
| "Now Or Never" | |||
| "In Time" | |||
| "From Zero" | |||
| "X" | |||
| "Tropical Night" | |||
| "Déjà Vu" | |||
| "Lonely Christmas" | "Lonely Christmas" | Writing Composing Arranging | |
| 2018 | |||
| MONSTA X | "Jealousy" | The Connect : Dejavu | Writing |
| "Destroyer" | |||
| "Fallin'" | |||
| "Crazy in Love" | |||
| "Lost in the Dream" | |||
| "If Only" | |||
| "Special" | |||
| MONSTA X | "Underwater" | Take.1 Are You There? | Writing |
| "Shoot Out" | |||
| "Heart Attack" | |||
| "I Do Love U" | |||
| "Mohae" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
| "Oh My! | Writing | ||
| "Myself" | |||
| "By My Side" | |||
| "Spotlight (Korean Ver.) | |||
| "Shoot Out (English Ver.) | "Shoot Out" | ||
| 2019 | |||
| MONSTA X | "Alligator" | Take.2 We Are Here | Writing |
| "Ghost" | |||
| "Play It Cool" | |||
| "No Reason" | |||
| "Give Me Dat" | |||
| "Turbulence" | |||
| "Rodeo" | |||
| "Stealer" | |||
| "Party Time" | |||
| I.M (Himself) | "Horizon" | "Horizon" | Writing Composing |
| "Scent" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
| MONSTA X | "Alligator (Japanese Ver.) | "Alligator" | Writing |
| MONSTA X | "Who Do U Love?" | "Who Do U Love?" | Writing Composing |
| "Breathe For You" | "Puppy Day (with TTG) OST" | Writing | |
| "Follow" | Follow : Find You | Writing | |
| "Monsta Truck" | |||
| "U R" | Writing Composing | ||
| "Disaster" | Writing | ||
| "Burn It Up" | |||
| "Mirror" | |||
| "See You Again" | |||
| "Middle of the Night" | "Middle of the Night" | Writing Composing | |
| 2020 | |||
| MONSTA X | "Beside U" | All About Luv | Writing Composing |
| Elhae | "Need to Know" | "Need to Know" | |
| MONSTA X | "Fantasia" | Fantasia X | Writing |
| "Flow" | |||
| "Zone" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
| "Chaotic" | Writing | ||
| "Beautiful Night" | |||
| "It Ain't Over" | |||
| "Stand Up" | |||
| MONSTA X | "Love Killa" | Fatal Love | Writing |
| "Gasoline" | |||
| "Thriller" | |||
| "Guess Who" | |||
| "Nobody Else" | |||
| "Beastmode" | |||
| "Stand Together" | |||
| "Night View" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
| 2021 | |||
| I.M (Himself) | "God Damn" | Duality | Writing Composing Arranging |
| "Howlin'" | |||
| "Burn" | |||
| "Happy to Die" | |||
| "시든 꽃 (flower-ed)" | |||
| MONSTA X | "Gambler" | One of a Kind | Writing |
| "Heaven" | |||
| "Addicted" | |||
| "Secrets" | |||
| "Rotate" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
| "Livin' It Up (Korean Ver.)" | Writing | ||
| "Kiss Or Death" | "Kiss Or Death" | ||
| I.M | "Loop" | "Loop" | Writting Composing Arranging |
| MONSTA X | "Rush Hour" | No Limit | Writing |
| "Autobahn" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
| "Ride with U" | Writing | ||
| "Got Me in Chains" | |||
| "Just Love" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
| "Mercy" | Writing | ||
| "I Got Love" | |||
| 2022 | |||
| MONSTA X | "Love" | Shape of Love | Writing |
| "Wildfire" | Writing Composing | ||
| "Love You" | Writing | ||
| "And" | Writing Composing Arranging | ||
Filmography
Dramas
- High-end Crush (MBN, 2015)
Reality shows
- NO.MERCY (Mnet, 2014–2015)
Trivia
- He’s known for his charming voice and can be considered the "voice" of the group.[1][5]
- He traveled a lot during his childhood as his father changed work.[1] He lived in Israel for four years and in the United States for three.[11]
- Fluent in English, he acts as the main representative when MONSTA X travels overseas to English-speaking countries.[1][12]
- He used to want to be a scientist, like his father.[1]
Gallery
- Main article: I.M/Gallery
References
Official links
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