'Jack In The Box': BTS' J-Hope goes solo, lays bare ambitions, anguish
A teaser image for BTS member J-Hope's solo album, “Jack In The Box” / Courtesy of Big Hit Music
J-Hope becomes first BTS member to release solo album
By Dong Sun-hwa
When J-Hope of K-pop sensation BTS revealed the title of his debut solo album, “Jack In The Box,” many people guessed it would give off a fun and playful vibe that suits his bright and positive image.
However, the 28-year-old singer defied all expectations. “Jack In The Box,” which came out at 1 p.m., Friday (KST), turned out to be a dark and weighty album with profound resonance, which highlights his anguish and struggles.
“'Jack In The Box' zooms in on my authentic thoughts, ambitions and passion,” J-Hope said in a video released by his record label Big Hit Music a few hours ahead of the album's release. The singer did not hold a press event to promote the album.
“It carries two lead singles, 'MORE' and 'Arson.' The former is a song about my ambitions and greed hidden inside a box, while the latter is a tune about myself agonizing at a crossroads after getting out of that box. I tackled a lot of new challenges to make this album, trying to showcase my unexplored side,” he explained.
J-Hope asked people to listen to the tracks in the order listed, as they are organically connected.
“'Intro' and 'Pandora's Box' are the songs about J-Hope's birth (as an artist) and they explain how this album has come to life,” he added. “'Music Box : Reflection' is crucial in terms of the album's flow, which centers on my hidden shadow.”
Big Hit Music elaborated that “Jack In The Box” is a testament to J-Hope's musical maturity.
“The album sheds light on his passion, as well as the shadow of his life,” the company said in a statement. “It shows the growth he has achieved while capturing the essence of BTS' music.”
The singer actively took part in the album's creative process as well, collaborating with American artist and designer KAWS to make its cover.
“Since J-Hope values the visualization of music, he first got hold of KAWS to work together and the two succeeded in designing an album cover depicting J-Hope at a crossroads,” Big Hit explained.
BTS fans are reacting wildly to “Jack In The Box.” The music video for “Arson” has already surpassed 2 million views on YouTube as of 3 p.m., Friday. In the case of “MORE,” it hit multiple streaming charts on July 1 and ranked 82nd on Billboard's main singles chart.
“I love the fact that J-Hope has walked out of the comfort zone to try something new,” a fan wrote on Twitter. “'Jack In The Box' is a masterpiece.”
J-Hope is the first BTS member to go solo. In the past, BTS members rolled out their solo material in the form of mixtapes, without releasing them on Korean music streaming platforms.
“I hope our songs become more accessible,” J-Hope said in the “Festa Dinner” video uploaded on BTS' official YouTube channel in June, in which the members announced they would take a break from group activity and instead start their solo ventures to restore their identities and seek personal growth.
On July 31, J-Hope is poised to appear as a headliner for popular music festival, Lollapalooza.