K-Pop Spotlight: j-hope Takes a Departure From Being BTS' Sunny Rapper With Dark Debut Solo Album 'Jack in the Box'

On July 1, the first track from the album, 'MORE' was released, bringing j-hope to the top of Billboard's Emerging Artists chart.

By: Jul. 15, 2022
K-Pop Spotlight
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K-Pop Spotlight: j-hope Takes a Departure From Being BTS' Sunny Rapper With Dark Debut Solo Album 'Jack in the Box'
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j-hope, BTS' rapper typically known for his bright and cheery demeanor, has traded in his rainbow colors for a darker concept with his first full solo album 'Jack in the Box'. A departure from his first mixtape 'Hope World', songs like 'MORE' and 'Arson' delve into dark themes that j-hope says show a different side of himself that fans may not know.

On July 1, the first track from the album, 'MORE' was released, bringing j-hope to the top of Billboard's Emerging Artists chart. The track also debuted at No. 6 on Hot Alternative Songs, No. 9 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and No. 82 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.

Watch the music video For 'MORE':

The second single from 'Jack in the Box', called '방화 (Arson)' also has an accompanying music video, that features j-hope emerging from the scene of a fire, spitting powerful verses about having a surplus of passion and achieving his dreams.

Watch the music video for 'Arson':

K-Pop Spotlight: j-hope Takes a Departure From Being BTS' Sunny Rapper With Dark Debut Solo Album 'Jack in the Box' 'Jack in the Box' Tracklist

1. Intro
2. Pandora's Box
3. MORE
4. STOP (세상에 나쁜 사람은 없다)
5. = (Equal Sign)
6. Music Box : Reflection
7. What If...
8. Safety Zone
9, Future
10. 방화 (Arson)

Who is j-hope?

Jung Hoseok (Korean: 정호석), better known by his stage name j-hope, is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, dancer, and record producer. He made his debut as a member of South Korean boy band BTS in 2013, under Big Hit Entertainment.

j-hope released his first solo mixtape, Hope World, in 2018, which peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, making him the highest-charting solo Korean artist on the ranking at the time. He became the first member of BTS to enter the Billboard Hot 100 as a soloist in 2019, when his single "Chicken Noodle Soup", featuring singer Becky G, debuted at number 81 on the chart.

Up next for j-hope is headlining the music festival Lollapalooza in Chicago on July 31, making him the first South Korean artist to headline a major American music festival!



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