Tag: J-Hope

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J-Hope And J. Cole Score Billboard No. 1 With “On The Street”

J-Hope And J. Cole Score Billboard No. 1 With "On The Street"
J-Hope and J. Cole. Image source: @uarmyhope, Instagram.

“All hail the mighty survivor of hell,” raps J. Cole in “On the Street,” a collaboration with rapper J-Hope of BTS. In early March, it was announced J. Cole and J-Hope would be collaborating, causing commotion amongst fans of both artists.

Since its release, “On the Street” has steadily climbed the Billboard charts. The track earned the no. 1 spot on the R&B/ Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and the Rap Digital Songs Sales charts. Hope is now the second member of BTS to earn two no. 1 song on the latter chart, tying with bandmate and fellow rapper Suga. According to Billboard, this also marks J. Cole’s best charting song since 2021.

The song is a sentimental reminder of why both artists picked this genre. J-Hope laments that it’s the fans that have carried him to the top. In his verse, Cole explains that his talent is god-given and raps a vaguely existential verse about his future and whether or not he will continue rapping. The track ends with both artists harmonizing, and the video features a sweet moment between the two, meeting up on a rooftop in New York, overlooking the Manhattan Bridge.

An Idol Meets His Muse

As a rapper and K-pop idol in one of the biggest bands in the world, BTS, J-Hope is no stranger to praise or the Billboard charts for that matter. However, Hope saw this as an opportunity to pay homage to perhaps his greatest hip-hop influence, J. Cole. The pair met backstage when Hope headlined Lollapalooza. After J-Hope’s set, In a behind-the-scenes look at the music video, J-Hope expressed his feelings about making music with someone he respects so much.

“When I started listening to music, the first artist I listened to was J. Cole. Being able to work with J. Cole after 10 years as a fan, I’m so happy. It’s just all new, and I still can’t believe it.”

And the feeling is apparently mutual, as J. Cole was the one to reach out to the rapper after their initial meeting. Cole described working with Hope as a “blessing,” pleasing fans of both artists.

J-Hope chats it up with longtime inspiration, J. Cole at Lollapalooza 2022. Image source: @uarmyhope, Instagram.

It’s A Bittersweet Moment For Army

For those who may not know, South Korean men must serve mandatory military time. This is J-Hope’s, or Hobi as fans lovingly call him, way of saying goodbye for now before he returns as part of the pop sensation BTS in 2025.

Last year, the group’s oldest member Kim Seokjin began his service despite fans, or the army, half-joking about taking his place. And it’s likely when the other members go, they will be met with similar jokes, tears, and well wishes. Getting another Billboard hit for both artists not only further cements them as rap stars but is a full-circle moment for these artists to come together after years of mutual admiration.

You can also check out the video for the track below.

Written by Kimberly Stelly | Letterboxd | Instagram | Twitter

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J-Hope And The Future Of BTS

BTS J-Hope: His First Solo Album, Future Of BTS
J-Hope reveals where BTS stands as a collective and his creative process for the album "Jack in the Box." Image Source: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

On July 15, BTS (“Bulletproof Boy Scouts” or “Bangtan Boys”) member J-Hope released his debut album, Jack in the Box. A total of 10 tracks make up this album, resulting in 22 minutes.

While BTS is currently active, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook announced on June 14 during their Bangtan Dinner Party that they would focus on solo projects. This does not imply that the group is disbanding permanently; it is merely a break in communication. Fans reacted differently to the news, resulting in J-Hope’s surprised reaction.  

In an interview with PICKCON, J-Hope also briefly explains what Jack in the Box songs is about. “Jack in the box is an album that I prepared to show you something new,” he said. “It’s filled with my honest thoughts, worries, passion, and aspirations.”

Furthermore, he recommended that listeners listen to the album chronologically from 1 to 10. This suggestion would facilitate the understanding of the album.

“Let’s listen to the first track, “INTRO,” “PANDORA’S BOX,” and “MORE,” J-Hope also said in the interview. “Pandora’s Box talks about J-Hope’s birth and the background of the album.”

BTS Member J-Hope Believes In Experimenting With Different Approaches

According to him, the pause is intended to allow all group members the opportunity to hone their skills individually. In this way, they will be able to reunite and work more efficiently.

Variety reports that J-Hope is the first member of BTS to release a solo album. Therefore, it appears that J-Hope was confident in his ability to showcase his project for the world to see. However, despite his involvement in group projects, the rapper claims he regularly thought about the kind of music he could offer as a solo artist.

Moreover, BTS’ sustainability, open-mindedness, and health will be enhanced by taking the time to work on different projects separately. In addition, to raise awareness about the 2030 World Expo, there will be a concert in Busan, South Korea, in October.

What is “Arson” About?

Click this link to direct you to J-Hope’s Instagram account regarding his 2nd single from Jack in the Box called “Arson.” The song is a reflection of J-Hope’s passion for music. The emotional depth that J-Hope communicates throughout the song as he learns that success comes with demands and fears is also a crucial component. Furthermore, this track deals with his dilemma regarding whether he wishes to extinguish the flame he started or continue to fan it and feed it. 

Listed below are some tweets regarding J-Hope’s new album. 

 

 

Written by Nikiya Biggs

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Take A Peek Into J-Hope’s “Jack In A Box”: Album Review

“Jack In A Box” By J-Hope: Album Review
J-Hope. Image source: HYBE Labels on YouTube.

Korean rapper J-Hope gave fans a glimpse into his latest project, “Jack-In-A-Box.” The 10-track album dropped Jul 15, much to the delight of fans. The album not only lists the rapper’s accomplishments but also a record of his values and dreams. The entire album is chock-full of old-school hip-hop beats and references. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he explained that old-school hip-hop is essential because it’s what he would dance to. It’s J-Hope’s foundation as an artist.

The Record’s Highlights

The album starts off strong with “Pandora’s Box.” Arguably one of the best instrumentals on the album, Hope waxes poetic about the start and trajectory of his career. An early fan favorite, “= (Equal Sign),” is reminiscent of the Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is The Love?”, particularly in the song’s hook. The song’s message is also similar, but the rapper talks about the importance of kindness despite differences instead of looking for love. The track “What If…” samples ODB’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” a pleasant surprise for old-school hip-hop fans. The song unmasks the smiling rapper: what happens when he isn’t the happy-go-lucky person people need him to be? The album closes with a more hopeful, hip-hop fusion track, “Arson.” In the song, J-Hope brags about how he set the industry ablaze when he decided to make music and how he will always push himself to improve.

Hope switches flow throughout the album, which keeps the songs from melting into each other. Some tracks have a similar style of percussion and bass, but Hope’s cadence makes each track sound fresh. Each song’s lyrics parallel another song on the album, and some of them follow the theme from his 2018 EP, “Hope World.” Within the context of BTS, J-Hope, born Jung Hoseok, is the “sunshine” of the group. However, his solo songs have always been introspective and somewhat dark. With “Jack-In-The-Box,” the visuals match the lyrics and tone of the songs.

J-Hope Helps Set The Standard For Korean Hip-Hop

With the rising popularity of Korean pop, R&B, and rap in recent years, fans of those genres have often not seen eye-to-eye with Western hip-hop heads. Part of this is due to glaring examples of appropriation by non-black rappers. “Jack-In-A-Box” is an excellent example of what it means to appreciate a culture while incorporating your own voice. And he’s not the only rapper from BTS to do so. RM has collaborated with the artists like Warren G and Wale. He famously talked about a conversation with Warren G about what it means to be a proper rapper and hip-hop fan. Suga, also known as Agust D, has two hip-hop projects, the latter even more polished than the first.

Both Suga and Rm appeared in South Korea’s underground rap scene and received criticism from both rappers and K-pop fans. However, J-Hope had his challenges as well. He started out as a street dancer and had to learn to be a rapper after joining BTS. This project proves he made the right choice. While these three aren’t the only Korean artists to appreciate and participate in the culture (see Epik High and DPR Live), they are solid examples to follow.

The album came with accompanying visuals for “MORE” and “Arson.” You can watch “Arson,” which dropped on Jul 15, below.

Written by Kimberly Stelly | Instagram | Twitter

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J-Hope Releases First Single “MORE” From His New “Jack In A Box” Album

J-Hope "MORE" Single From The Upcoming Album Is Out
J-Hope. Image source: Instagram/ J-Hope.

The popular Korean boy group BTS is in chapter two of their almost decade-long career. Following a brief break from group activities came the announcement that each member would be working on solo projects. Up first is rapper J-Hope. Earlier this summer, it was announced he’d make history as the first Korean act to headline a major American festival. Since then, his album Jack In A Box received a release date. 

The first single, “MORE,” dropped Friday, along with an accompanying music video. The track is a hip-hop, rock & fusion composition. It’s also reminiscent of bands like Seo Taiji and The Boys and Korn. The song features a retro hip-hop beat contrasted against grunge percussion and distorted vocals.

Hope revealed the album art for “Jack In A Box” via Instagram. The cover is a collaboration with KAWS. The album will release July 15, a little over two weeks before his debut at Lollapalooza. 

The rapper is replacing Doja Cat while she recovers from throat surgery. Because he usually presents as one of the sunnier members of BTS, Hope wants to show fans a darker side of himself. The official statement from BigHit Music said, “”Jack-in-a-Box” represents his aspirations to grow further and break the mold.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope)

“MORE” Is Already A Success For J-Hope

The 28-year-old street dancer turned rapper has quite a few accomplishments under his belt as a member of BTS and as a solo artist. “MORE” adds just a few more to the list. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes Chart and currently has over 3 million views on YouTube.

Hope also scored No. 1s on the US, Peru, Egypt, and New Zealand charts. The video features J-Hope in a jumpsuit and jester’s hat, with heavy eye makeup. You can check out the MV below.

Written by Kimberly Stelly | Instagram | Twitter

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Rapper J-Hope Makes History As First Korean Act To Headline Lollapalooza

Rapper J-Hope Makes History As First Korean Act To Headline Lollapalooza

Another member of Grammy-nominated K-pop group BTS is about to make history. J-Hope, one of the group’s three rappers, will be the first Korean act to take the main stage at a major American festival. He will headline the last day of the festival. Lollapalooza and J-Hope made the announcement Tuesday, June 7. In the Instagram post’s comments, the reactions were overwhelmingly positive. This is partially due to BTS’ large fan base, also known as ARMY. Some social media users, however, weren’t so keen on the news. “This is just horrid,” one of them said. Despite some negative comments, ARMY is likely to follow J-Hope wherever he goes, proving the rapper deserves his spot on the Lollapalooza stage.

 

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A post shared by lollapalooza (@lollapalooza)

J-Hope, affectionately called Hobi by fans, made his own short but sweet Instagram post about the upcoming festival. “It’s a thrilling new challenge that I think will become a really memorable chapter in my musical history!” it reads. “I’m gonna give you guys a great show. Get ready to get crazyyyyyy!”

J-Hope’s Long Journey to Center Stage

J-Hope, who is from Kwangju, South Korea and whose real name is Jung Hoseok, has come a long way to international fame. He started out in a hip-hop dance crew, then debuted as a rapper and dancer with BTS in 2013. In addition to being part of a group that speaks at the United Nations and the White House, Hobi has quite a few accomplishments under his belt as a solo artist. According to Music Chart Archives, the rapper’s first mixtape Hope World peaked at no. 38 on the Billboard 200 in 2018. Six of the songs reached the World’s Digital Songs Chart, with “Daydream” debuting at no. 1. The following year, he became the first member of BTS to enter The Hot 100 after collaborating with Becky G on “Chicken Noodle Soup.” Hobi is also a philanthropist, donating to causes that help children affected economically by COVID-19 in South Korea and children facing violence in Tanzania. He’s also donated to Korean charities to help children with visual and hearing disabilities as well as low-income families.

Hobi’s HYBE labelmates Tomorrow x Together will make their US debut at Lollapalooza as well. Tickets for the festival are on sale now. The festival takes place from July 28 to July 31 at Grant Park in Chicago, IL.

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