After the After Party with BM: Going Solo & Thriving in His Element
By now, you’ve probably come to know BM (or Big Matthew) as the unfiltered, easy-going, carefree leader of the K-pop group KARD. His presence in the industry is nearly impossible to ignore, with BM’s reach extending far beyond music to podcasts with his industry peers, fashion shows with some of the world’s top brands, and going viral for having some of the most raunchy and deliciously horny lyrics seen in K-pop yet. In his first EP titled Element and first solo tour, After the After Party, BM throws all his inhibitions out the window and encourages fans to do the same.
“This is the place where you can be as ratched, unhinged, and unfiltered as you want to f*cking be,” BM declared as he took to the stage in Chicago. But before that, EnVi reconnected with the rapper and songwriter backstage about his love for Afrobeats, the perks and setbacks of going solo, and why his fans’ desires and fantasies are always safe with him.
Stoke the Embers
In 2021, BM made his solo debut with The First Statement, which featured three eclectic tracks across three different genres: alternative electronic pop, hip-hop, and house. However, with the release of Element, the KARD rapper made it clear he wanted this new EP to encapsulate the sounds he’s been vibing with lately, including Afrobeats and throwbacks to the 2000s R&B/hip-hop era.
“The first time I listened to Afropop was when I was in Paris Fashion Week, I think a couple years back,” BM recalled. He’s sitting on a black sofa inside his dressing room, having just given himself another spritz or two of his favorite cologne, AnOther 13 by Le Labo. “It was a Burna Boy song, and I think it was ‘Last Last,’ which is a classic, and I’m like ‘Yo, this is so amazing. But then I realized, I’ve also been into dancehall and reggaeton, which are not necessarily the same, but they’re right in that same area…but Afropop and amapiano have their own color.”
For BM, discovering Afrobeats wasn’t just a casual, run-of-the-mill incident — it quite literally ignited a fire in his heart that only a few other genres have been able to do in his lifetime. “I’ve fallen in love with it and I feel like I love it so much because it’s like when I first fell in love with rap, hip-hop, and R&B,” he said. “It’s like you just can’t get enough of it and I didn’t feel that for a very long time until I found Afrobeats.”
It’s through this journey that BM feels like he’s finally found himself in the process, and while creative feedback is welcomed, the KARD leader is beyond the need to feel validated. “Within those three years, I was always listening to others and looking for the approval of others when I was in the studio, whether it was professional people or friends I had around me,” BM stated. “But right now, I’ve found a tone for myself that I like, and the fact it took three years as a solo artist — it took too damn long — but I’m glad I have it now, and I feel like the fans can definitely feel that, as well.”
If you follow BM closely on social media, or even in passing, you’d know the rapper is big on mental health and spirituality, taking the time out to post words of wisdom and encouragement, and even share his own struggles and triumphs over the years. But there’s a reason why he’s so beloved among the K-pop community. Peace, tranquility, and overall positive vibes radiate off of BM like a bat signal, inviting anyone in his proximity to feed off his good energy. And he’s become a lot more selfless because of it. “Just this year, I’ve let go of everything I wanted,” he told EnVi. “My ambition for money and fame and my caution that comes with it was really big prior to this year, but I had this epiphany that all I want to do is be comfortable with where I’m at and just do music…that’s all I need. I don’t need a bigger fanbase; I love the fanbase I have right now, so if I could stay here, in this headspace for the rest of my life, I would die a happy man.”
We Grown, We Outside
While BM is often an open book in terms of sharing his feelings and being vulnerable to the world, he’s also not shy when it comes to his sexuality and letting his freak flag fly. In 2023, the artist’s verse on KARD’s single, “ICKY,” became social media’s hot topic as BM rapped about “getting frisky” and giving someone more than just a tip — if you catch his drift. It’s a side of the Korean industry that not many artists — K-pop idols in particular — often have the luxury of embracing without incessant backlash and scrutiny; and it’s even worse for the women. But BM is ignoring the status quo and living life by his terms, putting on the first 21+ and phoneless K-pop tour (“After the After Party”) across the U.S. to coincide with his equally mature EP. One song of his on the set list, “Motion,” BM teased during soundcheck by playfully telling the audience it was inspired by “lots of sex” — and he’s not being coy about it.
“Konnect’d and HY Live are the promoters I’m working with and they’re doing an incredible job with taking care of me,” BM acknowledged. “A lot of what goes down at ‘ATAP 2024’ was their idea — like the 21+ age restriction and going phoneless — but that definitely inspired a lot of other ideas in my head because now I don’t have to be worried about any filters or not being grown on stage, so I feel like there’s a really good synergy right now.” When he talks about the naughty specifics of the show, there’s a slight air of reservation that escapes him, a stark contrast to the larger-than-life persona we’re used to seeing onstage and online — it’s just one of the many qualities that makes him so real.
But one thing the rapper isn’t afraid to do is play into the tropes of being known for his flirtatious nature, especially when it comes to engaging with his fans. Both online and in-person, BM embraces the parasocial aspect of it all, even going as far as instigating these interactions himself through flirty posts, shirtless photos, and lots of risqué lyrics and choreography. While some artists might feel uncomfortable being the object of desire for so many, BM isn’t bothered by it one bit. “If it creates a space in your heart and your head that makes you smile and laugh a little bit, and takes you out of the bullshit you have to worry about in your life, I love it,” he grinned. “I’ve been getting a lot of googly eyes on this tour, and I love making my fans smile, I like teasing them a little bit, so yeah, I’m cool with it.”
Fortunately, BM’s never worried about these interactions going too far, as he acknowledged the mutual trust both he and his fans have for one another. “It’s never gotten too serious or anything because my fans don’t cross any boundaries or lines, you know? Every tour I go on, let’s say there’s a rule, there’s always two or three out of 100 in their respective crowd that make sure everyone is following the rules. That’s how it is on social media as well, so it’s all good.”
However, that accountability is a two-way street that doesn’t just apply to other fans, but BM, as well. On Instagram, the artist unknowingly posted a tour photo of himself that had cropped out the photographer’s watermark and added his own filter over it, causing some controversy online. “When I first found the photo, it was already cropped in a story,” BM clarified. “But after the photographer reached out, I realized, ‘Yeah, this is fucked up, I should take this down.’” With his celebrity status and ego out of the way, BM knows there’s power in admitting when you’re wrong and apologizing for it; it doesn’t mean you need to shrink yourself. If anything, apologies are a symbol of maturity and compassion — two things Matthew has an abundance of. “I felt she deserved an apology because this is a means of taking care of herself — she makes money from this, you know what I mean? So if anything, I’m 100% in the wrong and I have to take accountability for all of that, but I hope she continues to make a lot of money because those were really beautiful photos.”
While BM has enjoyed every second of his first solo tour and spending time with fans, there is one irreplaceable piece of his life missing from the puzzle: KARD. The other three members of the co-ed group, Somin, Jiwoo, and J.Seph are the peanut butter to BM’s jelly and vice versa — a family away from family. “The first [show] was nerve-wracking [without them],” he confessed. “But more than that, it’s lonely. I’ve always heard from solo artists that the solo route is very lonely, and they all wish they had a group, so I’m able to get a taste of that this time.”
Nonetheless, BM’s just relieved he no longer has to be concerned about putting his members’ safety in harm’s way on this tour. “One thing I do like is not having to worry about Somin and Jiwoo being around me when I’m flailing my arms and being crazy because I’ve hit them way too many times,” he laughed. “They always get hit every stage when we have a portion where we’re not going to do choreography and just wild out — I always hit one of them!”
If Looks Could Kill…
When he’s not busy cooking up new music in the studio or performing sold-out shows, BM is also becoming quite the gem in the fashion industry. Within the last few years, the rapper has been chosen as the new face of Hugo’s global campaign, attended Paris Fashion Week with ACNE Studios, and most recently, the Gold Gala wearing Dolce & Gabbana. But what’s been his favorite look so far?
“My favorite was the Balenciaga fit I wore last year,” BM shared. “It was biker pants but went all the way down to the boots and on top, the coat was very formal. Some would say, ‘Why would you put those together?’ but they complemented each other so well.” In his eyes, the unexpected contrast is what makes Balenciaga’s brand so alluring and attractive in the first place. “It’s a mix-match of a lot of unique textures, colorways, and the way it’s put together, it just looks right.”
From just one look through his Instagram, it’s clear BM has an eye for avant-garde looks: from bleached eyebrows to neon green hair, and even more traditionally “feminine” silhouettes that exemplify his willingness to break boundaries and stereotypes. For his next goal fashion-wise, BM would love to bring some of that spontaneity and innovation to the world’s most glamorous annual event: the Met Gala. “My imagination for what I would wear to the Met Gala…I don’t know if there’s anyone who could bring that to life,” he laughed. “It’s going to look like something that needs CGI by Marvel or something, because it’s the Met Gala, you want to be the one everyone remembers and talks about. I don’t want to spill too much in case it happens one day, but I think I’m going to have something a little crazy for that — I’m just really grateful that this is my life right now.”
Be sure to check out BM’s new EP, Element, on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and other platforms. For all the latest updates on BM, don’t forget to follow him on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Want more EnVi exclusives? Check out our interview with KINO here!
