Often nicknamed the "sunshine" of Korean septet BTS, rapper and dancer j-hope has officially shown us that it's possible to be a light without being limited to one emotion. His highly anticipated debut studio album, entitled Jack in the Box, dropped July 15.
The project was teased to show a darker and more mature side of j-hope, and the end result is just as enjoyable as one could imagine. The rapper's previous 2018 mixtape, Hope World, and 2019 single "Chicken Noodle Soup" featuring Becky G were high energy and danceable, but j-hope has graduated to a new level of artistry that transcends any limits previously placed on him.
The album contains 10 tracks, including the hip-hop-inspired and rock-infused lead single, "More." On his fiery second single, "Arson," j-hope poignantly tells haters to "f* off" and details his journey as a popular music act. He continues to explore various emotions with raw honesty throughout the rest of the tracks on Jack in the Box, including "Pandora's Box," "STOP" and "Future."
Just two weeks after the release of Jack in the Box, j-hope will bring the album to the stage at Lollapalooza on July 31. It marks a history-making performance, as j-hope will be the first Korean artist to headline a major music festival.
In the meantime, witness j-hope's growth on his new album, and check out 5 key takeaways from Jack in the Box below.
The Songs Are Short But Sweet
At exactly three minutes, "More" is the longest track on Jack in the Box.In total, the album is a concise 21 minutes and 41 seconds long, with most songs falling between 2 and 3 minutes. The shortest song is the intro, which is just below a minute long at 58 seconds. The length makes it extremely easy to stream over and over, while still packing a lot of gems.
j-hope Isn't Afraid To Take On Social Issues
On a standout track called "=(Equal Sign)," the message of equality is loud and clear. The song celebrates our differences and champions diversity, all while encouraging listeners to be aware of and fight against inequality. With lyrics like, "The world's so big/ But people's minds are narrow" and "Hate will paralyze your mind/ Gotta see the other side," the song makes a strong case for tolerance across age, gender, nationality, and anything else that sets us apart.
With the platform j-hope has, his choice to uplift different communities is admirable and will surely touch the hearts of many. Social change has always been at the core of BTS, so this is an unsurprising yet welcome message to receive.
He's A Student Of Hip-Hop, But Still Versatile
The influence of '90s hip-hop is apparent throughout the project, and feels very fitting for the rapper — despite differing sonically from his previous mixtape, Hope World. Take a deeper look, and it's clear from the production and lyricism that j-hope has taken note of what makes a great hip-hop album, with genres like R&B and rock sprinkled in.
He adds his own flavor, but tackles the rebellion and societal critique that is key in the genre, even more specifically from the '90s. On tracks like "=(Equal Sign)" and "Future", j-hope harmonizes like a natural born singer, further showcasing his versatility. His voice is laced with passion as he bounces between rapping and singing throughout the 10 tracks.
"What if…" Samples '90s Hip-Hop Legends
If you take a look at the credits for the song "What if…," you'll see the names R. Jones (Ol' Dirty Bastard) and R. Diggs (RZA) of Wu Tang Clan. That's because the song samples ODB's 1995 song "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," which the two co-wrote. The legendary artists are well respected for their contributions to music, and it's only fitting that j-hope would want to include a piece of that legacy on his debut album.
"Chapter 2" Is Officially Here
The release of Jack in the Box ushers in BTS's new era where they focus on individual projects. j-hope's maturity is exhibited in a compelling way on this album, and shows how much he's grown in confidence as an artist over the years.
After establishing a persona that's bright and cheery, j-hope took the leap of going in a completely different artistic direction for his debut project. The rapper showed that he's not going to let society or expectations affect how he makes the music he loves.
While there's something for everybody on the 10 tracks, ultimately, this project is a personal milestone and a re-introduction to j-hope's world. Thanks to Jack in the Box, it's clear that j-hope has a bright future ahead of him, both as a member of BTS and as a solo act.