Be:Max (Korean: 머스트비; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean boy band group originally formed by MustM Entertainment. The groups contract was terminated in November 2023 with MustM. In January 2024, the band announced they are coming back and restyled their name from MustB to Must.Be. The group is composed of five members: Taegeon, Wooyeon, Doha, Soohyun, and Sihoo. The group debuted on January 21, 2019,[1] with the release of their first single "I Want U".
Must.Be released the mini album Let Me Rise Again[2] in 2020, La Senorita in 2022, and Royalty in 2023.
Before debuting with MustB, Taegeon was a member of M.Crown from 2015 to 2016 and Challenger from 2017 to 2018. Doha was a member of Underdog from 2014 to 2016, under the name Baekjin. Sihoo is a former 1Million Studio dancer and was a backup dancer[3] in BTS's "Idol". In 2018, MustB recorded their single "I Want U", as well as an accompanying music video[4] with former member Chibin. A few months later, Chibin departed the company and was replaced by Soohyun.
MustB announced their debut showcase on January 21, 2019, held at the S-Plex Center[5] in Sangam-dong as a seven member group. On January 30, MustB released their first single album I Want U. On April 21, 2019, MustB was involved in a car accident.[6] Following the incident, Hawoon and Sangwoo both left the group.
On July 17, 2020, MustB released their first EP Let Me Rise Again, with their title song "Realize".[7]
MustB were appointed as ambassador for School Violence Prevention in April 2021.[8]
On December 24, 2021, the song "Finding the Hidden You", a collaboration of members Taegeon and Wooyeon, along with Pink Fantasy member, SeeA, was released. This release is part of a project created by K-Stage, a concert-like event produced by music distributor and music artist management company, Naturally Music.[9]
On August 11, 2022, MustB was appointed as an Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Volunteers Korea.[10]
On September 19, 2022, MustB released their second single album, La Señorita.[11] On September 30, 2022, MustB were joined on stage by Mexican band Grupo Control during their stop in South Padre Island, Texas[12] and performed the Tao Tao after going viral on TikTok recreating the Tao Tao dance. Grupo Control[13] also collaborated with MustB to create a Spanish version of "La Señorita".[14]
On April 17, 2023, MustB released their third single album, Royalty,[15] with their title song of the same name, and the second single from the album, "Memory". MustB was made Public Relations Ambassador for the National Committee of the King Sejong the Great on May 13, 2023.[16]
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with Korean Cultural Centre India hosted a seminar on Korean culture, including a K-Pop concert featuring MustB, along with Indian singer Neeti Mohan on August 25, 2023.[17] MustB also performed their newest single, "Rush" which was released on August 22,[18] and RRR's Naatu Naatu.[19]
MustB's music heavily features light, rhythmical beats, delicate bass lines and sensuous melodies, as they continue experimenting with various genres including hip-hop, EDM, and future house. Their songs focus on the message of spreading love. MustB believe that love is what heals wounded hearts. Because people are scared and feel discomfort in different ways, MustB wants to create music that brings comfort and heals these wounds for people all around the world.[20]
October 1, 2022