BTS arrived at Sol∂ιєr Field for two nights of concerts as part of their “ARIRANG” World Tour on August 27 and 28 (local time). BTS took over the full capacity of Sol∂ιєr Field with a 360-degree stage, welcoming around 60,000 fans. This marked BTS’s second return to Sol∂ιєr Field and their fifth time visiting Chicago. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker even declared August 27 and 28 as “BTS Day in Illinois,” welcoming BTS and tens of thousands of fans who flocked to the city.
The fans’ anticipation after 7 years and 3 months since BTS first set foot at Sol∂ιєr Field in 2019 turned into deafening cheers and nonstop fanchants. In return for that overwhelming love, the seven members of BTS gave it their all on stage, constantly sharing warm glances, smiles, and interactions with the au∂ιєnce, turning the night into a music festival filled with joy and priceless memories.
However, amid all the excitement, a notable incident occurred, and the reason behind it left many other fans completely ѕнσ¢кed!
An ARMY in the stands was reportedly seen suddenly fainting on the spot while the concert was underway. Staff even quickly brought a stretcher to the section where the incident happened to prepare for emergency medical measures. Fans fainting at concerts is not particularly uncommon and can often be related to exhaustion, dehydration, crowded conditions, or prolonged physical exertion.
However, what caught the internet’s attention was the “bittersweetly hilarious” reason this ARMY “pαѕѕed out”: HIP HOP PHILE was played as BTS’s surprise song at today’s concert. Fans who were nearby jokingly recalled that the moment the first notes of this legendary song rang out during the surprise song segment, the fan simply could not handle the excitement and pαѕѕed out right there.
The reason “Hip Hop Phile” could trigger such a strong reaction is because it is a very important song in BTS’s history. Released in 2014 as the fourth track on the DARK&WILD album, the song deeply showcases BTS’s hip-hop identity during the early years of their career, particularly reflecting the group’s deep connection with the genre that helped shape them before they transitioned into their global K-pop image.
“Hip Hop Phile” can be seen as a declaration of BTS’s love for hip-hop. The members do not simply say that they love the genre; instead, they tell the story of how hip-hop entered their lives, influenced who they became, and eventually became an inseparable part of their journey as artists.
RM’s verse recalls how he used to write “16 bars” in the corner of his textbooks when he was young, before eventually giving up a stable path to pursue music. For SUGA, hip-hop was closely tied to his journey from Daegu and his decision to pursue rap. Meanwhile, j-hope also highlighted the influence of artists such as J. Cole, Mac Miller, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar on his music. The song also serves as a tribute to many artists who inspired BTS, including Epik High, Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, CL Smooth, and Eminem.
Because of its special meaning, combined with the fact that BTS had not performed the song for more than a decade, “Hip Hop Phile” has long been one of the songs many ARMYs have desperately wanted to hear live again. So when the song finally played, there was hardly a fan who wasn’t excited, although thankfully, not everyone fainted like this particularly unfortunate fan.
After witnessing the hilarious anecdote, some fans couldn’t help but laugh and took to social media to share their reactions: "THAT SHOULD BE ME IDC IF I ENDED UP IN THE ER IF I HEARD HIP HOP PHILE LIVE", "I’m cruingnfjenddjebsja are they okay", "It’s just THAT powerful, hip hop phile channels its MJ energy when played", "I literally told my sister before my concert if I pαѕѕ out don’t call anyone just wait for me to wake back up bc if I wake up outside the venue im kms lol", "That was for me dw i survived it", "I hope they are okay but this is fcking me up",...
