j-hope

South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer, and producer J-Hope is best known as a member of the global K-pop phenomenon BTS. In 2018, he made his official solo debut with the Hope World mixtape. The next year, he scored a hit with his single “Chicken Noodle Soup” with Becky G. In 2022, he issued his first official solo album, Jack in the Box, before pairing with J. Cole for 2023′s “On the Street.” Born Jung Ho-seok in Gwangju, he developed a love of dance at a young age, later delving into singing and rapping. He made his debut in BTS in 2013. The band went on to become one of the biggest K-pop acts of a generation, breaking into the U.S. market with their hip-hop-influenced dance sound. In 2018, Jung became the third BTS member to embark on a solo career with his debut mixtape, Hope World. In addition to becoming just the fifth Korean artist to chart on the Billboard 200 (following BoA, Taeyang, Jonghyun, and G-Dragon), he also became the highest-charting solo K-pop act on the Billboard 200 to date. Landing at number 63 on the main chart, Hope World also topped the World Albums chart. That same year, he hit number one on the Billboard 200 twice with BTS for Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer. In 2019, a duet with Becky G, “Chicken Noodle Soup,” shot up the charts across the globe. Popularized with a social media dance challenge, the track topped the Billboard World Digital Songs chart and even edged into the Hot 100. Meanwhile, activity with BTS continued into the 2020s, with more number one singles and albums pushing the group further into record-breaking territory. After the release of their 2022 compilation Proof, Hybe announced J-Hope’s official solo debut album, Jack in the Box, which arrived that July. The same month, he became the first South Korean artist to headline a main stage at a major U.S. festival with his Lollapalooza debut. In early 2023, while BTS took a break for members to enlist in mandatory military service, Jung continued with his solo endeavors, which included becoming a fashion brand ambassador. He also teamed with one of his major influences, J. Cole, for the single “On the Street.” In 2024, he issued street dance docuseries Hope On The Street, accompanied by a 6-track special album (Hope On The Street, Vol. 1) featuring collaborations with Jung Kook, Nile Rodgers, and Huh Yunjin. ~ Neil Z. Yeung