BTS’ J-Hope to kick off solo venture with ‘Jack In The Box’

Unlike the hopeful messages and bright tunes BTS is known for, J-Hope is expected to bring a new side of him, shedding his sunshine personality. Photo: Handout

J-Hope, the rapper and dancer of boy band BTS, will launch his much-anticipated debut solo studio album “Jack in The Box” on Friday (July 15) on global music platforms.

Days after the K-pop juggernaut released its anthology album Proof, the septet’s agency Big Hit Music announced that J-Hope would expand his musical horizons with a new solo project.

Jack In The Box reflects his “aspirations to break the mold and grow further”, said the agency. Unlike the hopeful messages and bright tunes BTS is known for, J-Hope is expected to bring a new side of him, shedding his sunshine personality.

Leading the album are two title tracks: Arson and prerelease single More, which dropped July 1.

More is an old-school hip-hop song interweaved with frenzied drum beats and guitar sounds that convey J-Hope’s ambition and passion for showing his various sides to the world. The other main track, Arson, is a story about confronting the world outside the box and standing at a crossroads.

With More, J-Hope topped the iTunes music charts in 84 countries, including the United States, Canada, Spain and France. The music video for “More” also racked up 10 million views on YouTube just 10 hours after its release.

The new album will be available digitally through the Weverse Album app.

While Jack In The Box marks the musician’s first solo studio album, J-Hope has previously given fans a glimpse of his own personal style through mixtapes.

In 2018, the rapper released his first solo mixtape, Hope World, led by Daydream and Airplane, which charted at No.19 on Top Rap Albums and No.38 on the Billboard 200. In 2019, J-Hope dropped a collaborative single titled Chicken Noodle Soup with American singer Becky G, creating a viral dance challenge on social media.

J-Hope is the first member to go solo from BTS. Last month, the band announced it would go on temporary hiatus from full group activities while the bandmates would pursue solo endeavours.

Big Hit Music said each member would be “taking the time to mature, which will help the band to have prolonged success in the future,” and dismissed rumors about the group’s disbandment.

The remaining BTS bandmates - Jin, RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jungkook - are poised to embark on their individual activities. Their previously released mixtapes will also be available on music platforms in the future, according to the members.

Meanwhile, J-Hope will fly to the US after dropping his solo album. The soloist will grace Chicago’s four-day Lollapalooza on July 31, becoming the first South Korean artist to headline the main stage at a major music festival in the US. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network