WEEK 59 | Gotta See the Other Side.
February 17-23, 2025
Let’s burn.
Lollapalooza 2022
In the “Intro” to Jack in The Box we learned that j-hope sees himself as the ‘hope’ left at the bottom of Pandora’s Box. He sees it as part of his destiny to combat all the negativity in the world. But in mid 2022, as he was getting ready to release the album, j-hope found himself reflecting on what else its theme meant.
Aside from representing ‘hope’, he also felt that he was the doll (the “Jack”) previously trapped inside the box, making music from inside. But now that the box was opened, he was able to spring free and make a different kind of music—one that allowed him to express his feelings more freely.
It was something he’d been working on for years. The image he cultivated as j-hope of BTS was one of laughter, positivity, and bright music. But as the group announced a break in their activities during that year’s FESTA, so the members could focus on solo efforts for a while, Hobi knew it was his time to step away from that image, and show his fans that there was more to j-hope than meets the eye. He wanted to show us that his ‘hope’ had evolved.
Weeks later, and just days before he was set to take the stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago, j-hope arrived at the Rosemont Theatre, just outside downtown Chicago. The venue had been booked as a rehearsal space for himself, the band, and the dancers. As he walked around, and made his way into the green rooms, a slow smile of recognition spread over his face, and he began to question his staff and crew members. ”Why does this feel so familiar? Have I been here before?”
The more he looked around, he knew he was right. He realized BTS had performed there before—all the way back in July of 2015 (seven years earlier, almost to the exact day) on The Red Bullet Tour—the group’s very first world tour.
“It was a Red Bullet Concert, right? And now I’m rehearsing here… Wow. I’ve come a long way.”
The Rosemont Theatre seats 4,400 people. A few days later, he burst onto the stage at Lollapalooza, as the first South Korean artist to EVER headline a major U.S. music festival, and performed for a crowd of over 100,000.
A long way indeed…
Playlists & Lyrics
DAY ONE:
And speaking of “a long way”…
Last week when we covered “MORE”, Jack in the Box was definitely a long way from sounding like j-hope’s previous solo project: HOPE WORLD. As he was creating the album, he reflected on the differences between it and his earlier mixtape. While he was adamant that HOPE WORLD did accurately represent a part of him, it wasn’t the whole picture. He was ready to show the world a more mature and experimental side of j-hope.
The message of HOPE WORLD had been very “me” centric. It was a lot of j-hope telling his audience what he wanted to do for us. He wanted to be our “Piece of Peace” and welcome us into the “Daydream” of his “Hope World”. But on "Jack in the Box, an older and wiser j-hope, with more world-experience under his belt, emphasized the role that we ALL needed to play in order to bring his utopian dreams to fruition.
Songs like “STOP” and “= (Equal Sign)” both explore the importance of humanity’s perspective, and how it affects the state of the world. While action taken toward a greater good is the ultimate goal, none of us can reach the point of action without already achieving the right perspective. “STOP” is inspired by a book by Won Jae-hoon called There Are No Bad People In The World, which explores society’s tendency to assume the worst in other people.
Performing “Equal Sign” on IU’s “Palette”
Though I feel hurt and bitter, I think about it again
How would it be even possible that everyone is similar and everyone is the same
One’s essence cannot change, I come to realize it, be myself
It’s the single grain of faith that governs me‘There are no bad people in the world’
Essentially, though we will all likely make mistakes in our lives—some worse than others. Those mistakes do not define who we are as individual people. Inherently, there are no bad people—just bad actions. “STOP” invites us all to reflect on the fact that no matter who we are or where we come from in the world, we’re all relatively the same, and have the same needs.
In “= (Equal Sign)”, j-hope takes that idea a step further. Though we all look different, inside we’re not. It’s a song about (in case the title didn’t give it away) equality. And though fundamentally we are all the same, our differences should be acknowledged and celebrated.
Hate’ll paralyze your mind
Gotta see the other side
It costs ya nothin’ to be kind
Not so different you and I
Lookin’ for love in a different light
Until we find that equal sign
He chose to write the chorus of the song in English to highlight how our differences can still bring us together. Though he doesn’t think his English skills are very good, he uses them anyway. It’s meant to serve as a rallying cry, bridging the gap between those who speak different languages—helping us to all understand each other more, and find a way to be better, together.
"STOP (THERE ARE NO BAD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD)" | VISUALIZER (2:05)
"STOP (THERE ARE NO BAD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD)" | LYRICS (2:46)
"STOP (THERE ARE NO BAD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD)" LIVE | LOLLAPALOOZA 2022 (2:10 - as shown)
"= (EQUAL SIGN)" | LYRICS (2:04)
J-HOPE X IU "= (EQUAL SIGN)" LIVE | J-HOPE IN THE PALETTE (2:19)
"= (EQUAL SIGN)" & "STOP (THERE ARE NO BAD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD)" | LOLLAPALOOZA 2022 (4:10 - as shown)
BANGTAN BOMB: "= (EQUAL SIGN)" & "CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP" & "BUTTER (HOLIDAY REMIX)" STAGE CAM | NYRE 2023 (5:15 - as shown)
BTS J-HOPE SOLO JACK IN THE BOX INTERVIEW | TONG TONG (8:50 - as shown)
BONUS: BTS J-HOPE VIEW RADIO | PARK SO-HYEON'S LOVE GAME (1:08:59)
Fun Fact:
When a wedding leads to a very different kind of collaboration…
In early 2021, Jung Jiwoo, j-hope’s older sister (an entrepreneur and celebrity in her own right), got married in a private ceremony attended by family and close friends. Her little brother did her a solid and secured some entertainment for the occasion by reaching out to an artist they both admired and enjoyed and asked him to perform.
The artist was South Korean singer Crush, and he agreed. Some time later, j-hope visited the singer at his studio to say thanks. The two shared some drinks and a meal, during which they chatted about many different things, including music. They both played some of their respective tracks for each other—Crush played an almost complete song, called “Rush Hour” and j-hope enjoyed it so much, that Crush asked him right there on the spot if he’d like to feature on it. The answer was a resounding “Yes!”
Though the song was written before j-hope was added as a feature, it’s easy to think that it might have been written with him in mind, as it fits his style so completely. “Rush Hour” is a jazzy hip-hop tune that’s brings a 90’s nostalgia to a still very modern-sounding track. It’s upbeat and fun, and it makes you want to dance, all the hallmarks of a quintessential j-hope track. And even though he’s just featuring, it really does feel like it could have easily been his own song.
DAY TWO:
Lollapolooza 2022 - “Music Box: Reflection”
Despite the immediate warmth and vibrant impulsiveness we often feel from j-hope’s personality, he has also proven time and time again to be very ambitious, and a forward-thinking planner. From HOPE WORLD to Jack in the Box, he wanted to show his maturity and growth—he felt that he absolutely needed to make that album. But even as he was working on JITB, he was cognizant of looking to the future beyond it as well.
I think this album will serve as an important stepping stone that leads me to my next chapter…
The next song on Jack in the Box, “Music Box: Reflection”, also served as a connector—meant to bridge the gap between the first half of the songs, which go outside the box and contain the message j-hope is trying to convey, and the second half of the songs, which melt away j-hope's shadow and his worries.
Though there are no lyrics, the music builds up a sense of gentle anticipation. As though it’s promising, “Okay, you had the warm up, now pay attention, because this is where it gets serious.”
The following song, “What If…” delivers on that promise. I mean, the very first line begins with “Incoming…” so if that doesn’t pique your attention, I don’t know what will.
He then asks himself a series of questions based on the persona of “j-hope” that he’s created over the years. He wonders, “Am I really like that?”. It gives a sense of him needing to reconcile his public life as j-hope with Jung Hoseok, his private self. Is he living authentically?
“More” Promotional Photo
What if, what if, what if, what if
What if I have no hope?
What if, what if, what if, what if
What if I have no dream?
What if, what if, what if, what if
What if I have no passion?
What if, what if, what if, what if
What if I have no vision?
Is the image of “j-hope” built on reality, or would his ideals still survive if his world was stripped of all the privileges of celebrity and wealth? While he delves into the process of his creative passion, he questions if he can live up to the idea of “j-hope”. This is something I think we all can relate to on some level. We often show a different side of ourselves, sometimes idealized, on social media and/or in public, and it can be difficult to reconcile and be comfortable with the fact that both public and private are very much a part of our whole selves. This was j-hope’s intention with the creation of Jack in the Box—letting Jung Hoseok out to become one with j-hope, allowing him to be more authentic with himself and his fans.
DISCOVER ALL OF J-HOPE'S FAVORITE THINGS IN HIS BRAND NEW KTOPS INTERVIEW | DEEZER (1:19)
"WHAT IF..." | VISUALIZER (2:17)
"WHAT IF..." | LYRICS (3:00)
SUCHWITA EP.14 TEASER (0:58)
SUCHWITA EP.14 SUGA WITH J-HOPE (36:04 - as shown)
BONUS: BANGTAN BOMB: J-HOPE JACK IN THE BOX LISTENING PARTY EVENT SKETCH (11:02)
BONUS: THIS IS WHY J-HOPE WANTS TO STAR IN "STARRY NIGHT"! | MBC RADIO HIGHLIGHTS (23:10)
BONUS: LET'S BURN🔥 J-HOPE APPEARED IN A STARRY NIGHT | KIM INA'S STARRY NIGHT (1:25:04)
Bangtan Bubble: What’s your biggest “what if” that you ask yourself?
Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!
DAY THREE:
Jack in the Box Promotional Photo
After j-hope let himself “out of the box” (so to speak) in order to be more mature and authentic, he had to face the realities of what life would bring as a consequence. The rest of Jack in the Box shares him dealing with that process.
The next song, “Safety Zone” explores the struggle of finding oneself—finding solace and comfort—amidst the chaos of the ever-changing world in which we live.
As if it’s for everyone to look at, I respond, but,
as if it’s telling me I should look back into myself, the ringing in my ears becomes louder
The world changes fast,
and at every moment, a different feeling of loneliness hits me
It’s painful, like there’s no ally,
my life gets lonesome
We’ve heard other members of BTS, RM most often in particular, sing about loneliness before—about how the pressures of fame and maintaining a public image can lead someone to question what’s real in their life versus what isn’t. In “Safety Zone”, j-hope seeks a balance between the two along with a way to not become stuck too deeply in lonely introspection.
“Future”, the penultimate song on the album, moves on from loneliness to embrace hope again, and resilience—looking toward the future, despite any uncertainty that lies ahead.
I always lead the fight as my own boss
In the end, my heart is covered in bruises
Like how I’d put on different clothes, try on
Like how I’d do on a leisurely drive,
I go with the flow, stepping on the accelerator
Why would it be that my blood circulates?
Why would it move?
Everything eventually changes, and
there’s nothing that lasts foreverYou know, we know, I know
Some parts of life will remain outside of our control no matter how hard we work, or how far in advance we make plans—part of embracing ourselves and our future is learning to accept that fact, and even enjoying it when possible.
"SAFETY ZONE" | VISUALIZER (2:47)
"SAFETY ZONE" | LYRICS (3:02)
"SAFETY ZONE" |J-HOPE IN THE PALETTE (3:14 - as shown)
"BLUE SIDE (OUTRO)” & “SAFETY ZONE’ | LOLLAPALOOZA 2022 (4:32)
"FUTURE" | VISUALIZER (2:18)
"FUTURE" | LYRICS (2:37)
"FUTURE" | LOLLAPALOOZA 2022 (4:16 - as shown)
"FUTURE" | MAMA AWARDS 2022 (3:22 - as shown)
LOVE YOUR W BTS RM J-HOPE | W KOREA BREA AWARENESS CAMPAIGN CHARITY EVENT (1:43)
HERE’S A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF LOVE YOUR W! | W KOREA (4:04)
BTS RM AND J-HOPE LOVE YOUR W 2022 | MINI INTERVIEW (2:16 - as shown)
W KOREA - LOVE YOUR W PARTY - JHOPE & RM | KUSAZU UPDATE COLLECTION (5:11)
Fun Fact
Showing us the process and giving us a greater understanding…
On February 17, 2023, one day before j-hope’s 29th birthday, a documentary entitled “j-hope in the box” was released on Disney+. It chronicled his process making and releasing the Jack in the Box album, as well as his preparation for and perfomance as the headliner for the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago in August of 2022.
While we’ve had several documentaries and docuseries released since then about some of the other members and their solo projects, this marked the first of its kind. And just as j-hope set the precedent by being the first member to release a studio solo album, so to did he set the precedent with his documentary.
It’s equal parts sweet, serious, and unapologetic—much like j-hope himself. ARMY has been used to seeing RM talk about the process of album-making over the years, so getting to see another member dive so deeply into it was immensely satisfying. And so too was it reassuring to see Hobi take the first steps out into solo territory in BTS’ Chapter Two. He honestly shared his worries and fears about performing alone, but tackled it head-on at the same time. A valuable lesson that is always worth learning: it’s okay to be afraid. Anything worth doing is worth being afraid of. That means you’re on the right track…
THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROJECT? [J-HOPE IN THE BOX] | DISNEY+ TEASER TRAILER (0:47)
J-HOPE IN THE BOX HIGHLIGHT: J-HOPE AT LOLLAPALOOZA 2022 (2:17)
THIS GUY LOOKS STRANGELY FAMILIAR! J-HOPE MEETS JUNG HOSEOK | DISNEY+ (12:42)
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED, EVEN TMI! WHAT'S IN THE J-HOPE BOX | DISNEY+ (9:14)
J-HOPE AND MUSIC ARE ALWAYS RIGHT! MUSIC KEYWORD INTERVIEW | DISNEY+ (17:17)
J-HOPE IN THE BOX & SUGA: ROAD TO D-DAY IN CINEMAS WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCEMENT (1:05)
J-HOPE IN THE BOX | DISNEY+ (1:25:00)
J-HOPE IN THE BOX | COMMENTARY TRAILER (ONLY ON WEVERSE) (0:27)
J-HOPE IN THE BOX | WEVERSE (INCL EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY) (1:30:00)
DAY FOUR:
The final song on Jack in the Box also served as its title track. “Arson” was meant to be a culmination of the entire project—a period on the end of the sentence. But it’s also meant to leave us with a bit of a question as well. One that j-hope asks of himself, but it feels as though it’s meant for us all.
“Arson” Promotional Photo
If anyone asks me
‘Right, I’m the one who lit up the flame’
Now I ask myself, choose what
Do I put out the fire,
or make it flare up even stronger(Arson)
The song showcases the zenith of his emotions on this album. Through his entire career, leading up to this point, he’s poured gasoline on the fire of his passions—and they’ve burned brighter then he ever dared to dream they would. Mostly it was a good thing, but he acknowledges that maybe the fire has burned a little too much. He’s at a crossroads. Does he continue moving forward at the same pace and let the fire consume him, or does he reevaluate, take a step back, and dampen the flames surrounding himself?
This, I think, is the crux of what j-hope wanted to figure out for himself during BTS’ Chapter Two and the break from group activities. How much farther did he want to go? And why was he doing it? Had he lost sight of j-hope and his message, or had the message changed? This is what he meant when he said that he NEEDED to make Jack in the Box in order to be able to figure out how to move forward to the next stage of his career. He had to examine himself and ask all these questions.
"ARSON" | OFFICIAL TEASER (0:30)
"ARSON" | OFFICIAL M/V (2:59 - as shown)
EPISODE: J-HOPE "ARSON" MV SHOOT SKETCH (10:42 - as shown)
"ARSON" | VISUALIZER (2:38)
"ARSON" | LOLLAPALOOZA 2022 (3:33)
"MORE" + "ARSON" | MAMA AWARDS 2022 (6:51 - as shown)
"ARSON (ROCK VER" | LYRICS (3:17)
BONUS: EPISODE: J-HOPE'S YEAR-END AWARD SHOWS SKETCH (18:39)
BONUS: 220715 CHECK OUT WHAT'S IN JACK IN THE BOX | WE-LIVE (1:35:34)
Fun Fact:
A collaboration close to home…
No one loves BTS more than BTS loves BTS. And there’s nothing ARMY loves more than when BTS members collaborate together on their solo projects.
The screams of delight were plentiful and LOUD when we found out that j-hope would be featuring on one of the songs on AGUST D’s first studio solo album, D-DAY, which released in April of 2023.
The song is “HUH?!” and it’s a perfect blend of SUGA and j-hope: intimidating and condescending, but also cool and swaggy. It invites you in, just to tell you how you don’t deserve to hear what they have to say. It’s a beautiful middle-finger to all the haters out there, delivered by two amazing rappers at the top of their game.
Huh (see what I did there)… it’s almost like they should be in a group together or something…
DAY FIVE:
I think we can safely call 2022 the year of j-hope. Not only did he release Jack in the Box and filmed a documentary about it at the same time, but he began popping up everywhere, showing that BTS members would be just as big of a force to be reckoned with on solo projects as they were together as a group.
MAMA 2022 Awards
We’ve already talked extensively about how he headlined the Lollapalooza music festival that summer in Chicago. Originally he thought he would just be a performer on one of the days. He was floored when they clarified that they wanted him to headline—making him the first South Korean artist to EVER do so—to ever headline ANY American music festival.
While it may seem like just one music festival amongst the many that happen across the globe every year, the lasting impact of j-hope’s blistering performance cannot be overstated. While some of the people in that crowd of more than 100,000 were likely not there specifically to see him (some may not have heard of him at all), by the time the night was over, they were fans. He commanded the stage so well that everyone started affectionately referring to the festival as “Hobipalooza”. Not only did j-hope put himself and BTS on the map in a more major way, but it opened the door for all of the K-Pop artists who have gone on to headline festivals in the two years since then.
Later that year, j-hope was asked to perform at the 2022 MNet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) ceremony. And perform he did—once again showing that just one member of BTS was as big a force on stage as the entire group. At both Lollapalooza and the MAMAs, he showcased a new look—mostly black, a little dirty, very sexy—and very different from the j-hope we were familiar with from BTS and HOPE WORLD. As he strutted down the red carpet and exploded onto the stage, he looked like a larger-than-life rock star. Where had the “sunshine” of BTS gone? But as he accepted both his award for “Most Popular Male Artist” and the “Artist of the Year” daesang for BTS, back was his dazzling smile. He called Jin (who was already enlisted by that point) during his speech so he could thank ARMY and say hello, and Hobi laughed brightly at his hyung’s terrible jokes. The look was different, but it was still very much j-hope.
And when he wound up the year by performing in Times Square for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” (with Ryan Seacrest), we saw him return to more of his colorful, off-the-wall fashion. Even so, he carried himself with a newfound confidence. Though BTS had performed at the same New Year’s celebration three years previously, j-hope showed no signs of feeling incomplete or not up to the task individually. With half a year of solo promotions behind him, it was clear to see that he was ready to face any new opportunity on his own, but still confident and happy to be one piece of the puzzle—happy to be j-hope of BTS.
J-HOPE - LIVE AT LOLLAPALOOZA 2022 (FULL PERFORMANCE) (1:16:30)
J-HOPE TALKS PERFORMING AT LOLLAPALOOZA, RAP INFLUENCES AND MORE | 1035 KISSFM (4:21)
J-HOPE ON JACK IN THE BOX TOPPING THE CHARTS, MAKING FESTIVAL HISTORY AND WHAT’S NEXT FOR BTS | NME (3:49 - as shown)
J-HOPE NEW YEAR ROCKIN EVE TIMES SQUARE 2023 FULL PERFORMANCE (5:06 - as shown)
RYAN SEACREST INTERVIEW WITH J-HOPE IN TIMES SQUARE | NYRE 2023 (0:51)
NEW YEARS ROCKIN’ EVE X BTS J-HOPE INTERVIEW | NYRE 2023 (0:30)
"CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP" AND "BUTTER (HOLIDAY REMIX)" REHEARSALS | NYRE 2023 (2:59)
BONUS: EPISODE: J-HOPE @ DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE 2023 (17:54)
Bangtan Bubble: What do you think the lasting impact of “Hobipalooza” will be for j-hope?
Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Sometimes it seems strange that j-hope somehow ended up conquering a lot of “firsts” for the members of BTS as they began their Chapter Two with a focus on solo projects and activities. He’s not the group’s leader, nor is he the oldest. But on the other hand, as we’ve discovered over the past few weeks, j-hope never dances to anyone’s rhythm but his own. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that he’d be the member to test out the water first—find out how to make it work, and lay the groundwork for the rest of the group.
Next week we will wrap up Hosebruary and our celebration of j-hope from 2023 to present day. We’ll cover everything that happened both during and post his enlistment. Don’t miss it as we discuss Hope on the Street to on the Stage…
Side Quest
j-hope’s VLIVEs and WE-LIVEs (2022-2023)
What can I say? There’s nothing but joy, love, laughter, and okay, maybe a tiny bit of sadness, here. But it’s okay, because he’s already back! So no dwelling!
These are j-hope’s LIVEs from 2022 all the way up until his enlistment in March of 2023. We’ve got some group shenanigans, Jack in the Box fun, Hobipalooza, birthday joy, and Hobi saying “See you later” to us.
220306 JWEJJWANBBOOGGWEO - JIN, J-HOPE, V, JK | VLIVE (1:09)
220307 JWEJJWANBBOOGGWEO2 - JIN, J-HOPE, V, JK | VLIVE (40:58)
220708 SAYING HELLO 🔥| VLIVE (37:54)
220715 CHECK OUT WHAT'S IN JACK IN THE BOX | WE-LIVE (1:35:34)
220725 HI 👋 CHICAGO | WE-LIVE (18:05)
220801 HOBIPALOOZA | WE-LIVE (21:26 - as shown)
221015 BTS LIVE AFTER BUSAN CONCERT - J-HOPE, JIMIN, V, JK | WE-LIVE (19:26)
221130 I JUST FINISHED MAMA😉 (24:40)
230101 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! (21:05)
230217 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JJWEHOPE ~HAPPY BIRTHDAY JJWEHOPE~ (1:01:29)
230226 I CAME FOR A BIT ~I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE~ (18:28)
CREDITS:
YouTube/Web
BANGTANTV, HYBE LABELS, 1035 KISSFM, AUDACY MUSIC, BTS LIVE ARCHIVE, CRUSH, D. Jimin Park, Dance Height, Disney Plus Korea 디즈니 플러스 코리아, DISNEY+, ENJOY BTS MORE, Epiphany, FANDOM BTS, Fiama Guzmán Martín, Hansa Creative, Hello JISOO 2, Izzy, jeonvsubs, JHOPE VERSE, 𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐂𝐘𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑⁷, LEMORING, MBC RADIO, MLB KBO, Mnet K-POP, Mnet Plus, NME, PICKCON / 픽콘, S w e e t h . v, taesflurrry, THE SEVEN, theultimatedodo, W KOREA, WEVERSE, Zaty Farhani, 갱아, 미미⁷, 이지금 [IU Official], 통통컬처, 世界日報記者; Web:
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