Recognizing I.M as a MONSTA X member and a solo artist, US magazine Forbes has taken notice of the artist's stellar debut with "Duality."
Forbes shed its spotlight on I.M with an article titled "Monsta X's I.M Kicks Off His Solo Career By Dominating 20% Of The Entire World Songs Chart," published on its official website and also shared across its social networking sites (SNS). The article, written by Hugh McIntyre, recognizes how the rapper, whose real name is Im Chang-kyun, has focused his efforts to make sure that MONSTA X becomes a global sensation, and that it worked.
I.M Held One in Every Five Spots of the Billboard World Digital Songs Sales Chart
Noting how MONSTA X has established itself among the world's most successful K-Pop boy groups, McIntyre assesses that the time for I.M to break out on his own has arrived. He then noted the impressive achievement recently done by the MONSTA X maknae: all of his five tracks have debuted on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart - hence, the title of the Forbes article, since I.M has five songs out of twenty-five entries in the weekly all-genre chart.
Aside from the five tracks in Duality making their Billboard debut, MONSTA X has also sent a total of 21 tracks to the World Digital Song Sales Chart, with fourteen of these songs breaking through the Top 10 - and only one track to date sitting at the coveted Number 1 spot.
Helping the MONSTA X Presence in the US
This is not the first time I.M was singled out by the US-based Forbes publication. Back in August 2019, writer Jeff Benjamin penned that I.M deserves credit for the growing MONSTA X presence in the US. Noting how MONSTA X established a strong following in the West thanks to strategic radio deals, he emphasized the critical role I.M has played as the de-facto spokesperson for the group outside of their native Korea - being fluent in English thanks to the time he spent living in Boston, Massachusetts.
The group's efforts, plus the support of their MONBEBE worldwide, has led to the stateside success they now enjoy. Erik Bradley, the music director for one of Chicago's largest pop radio stations WBBM-FM, told Forbes that though their latest track back then "Who Do U Love?" is still developing, they were "happy to give it a shot" because of the work put in by the artist, their teams, and of course, their fans.
As for I.M, the 2019 Forbes article noted how the MONSTA X member handled himself during itnerviews, showing a "serious concentration" that allowed him to properly express himself and his group. Jeff Benjamin also believed that I.M's "smart and savvy guidance" have paved the way for MONSTA X to secure radio partnerships and enjoy the recognition and opportunities they now enjoy in the United States.
Furthermore, Benjamin asked the public to "keep their eyes on I.M," calling the rapper a "smart, multifaceted musician who has a skill not only in putting on great performances, but in helping connect and bridge people which only the best kinds of artists are able to do."
