Jung Ho-seok (Korean: 정호석; born February 18, 1994), better known by his stage name J-Hope (stylized as j-hope), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. He made his debut as a member of South Korean boy band BTS in 2013, under Big Hit Entertainment.
J-Hope released his first solo mixtape, Hope World, in 2018. The album was met with a positive reception from critics, and peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, making him the highest-charting solo Korean artist on the ranking at the time. He became the first member of BTS to enter the Billboard Hot 100 as a soloist in 2019, when his single "Chicken Noodle Soup", featuring singer Becky G, debuted at number 81 on the chart. J-Hope released his debut studio album Jack in the Box (2022).
Career
1994–2012: Beginnings
Before debuting with BTS, J-Hope was part of an underground dance team called Neuron, and took dance classes at Gwangju Music Academy for six years, from fourth grade to his first year in high school when he signed with Big Hit Entertainment.[3] He was relatively well known for his dance skills, and won various local prizes, including first place in a national dance competition in 2008.[4] His dancing eventually led to an interest in singing, and he auditioned to become an idol trainee.[1] While a trainee, J-Hope appeared as a featured rapper on singer Jo Kwon's song "Animal", released in 2012.[5][better source needed]
2013–present: BTS
On June 13, 2013, J-Hope made his debut as a member of BTS on M! Countdown.[6] He was the third member to join the group as a trainee after RM and Suga.[7] On June 14, 2019, J-Hope, together with fellow BTS member V, collaborated with Zara Larsson on a soundtrack called A Brand New Day for a mobile game BTS World.[8]
2018–present: Solo activities
J-Hope released his first solo mixtape, Hope World, worldwide on March 1, 2018. It was accompanied by a music video for the lead single "Daydream".[9] A music video for the B-side single "Airplane" was released on March 6.[10] The mixtape debuted at number 63 and peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200, making him the highest-charting Korean solo act on the ranking up to that point. Hope World also peaked at number 35 on the Canadian Albums chart, and number 19 on the US Top Rap Albums chart. Three other tracks, "Daydream", "Hope World", and "Hangsang", entered the World Digital Song Sales chart, at numbers 3, 16, and 24 respectively.[11] The following week, the tracks peaked at number 1, 6, and 11, with three additional tracks, "Airplane", "Base Line", and "P.O.P (Piece of Peace) pt. 1" entering the chart at numbers 5, 6, and 12, respectively. "Daydream" peaking atop the chart made J-Hope one of only ten Korean artists, including BTS, to reach number one.[12] The success of his solo debut lead him to rank at number three on the Emerging Artists Chart, and 97 on the Artist 100 Chart for the week of March 10, later peaking at number 91 for the week of March 17.[13] He is the fifth Korean artist, and the second Korean soloist after Psy, to place on the Artist 100.[11] The mixtape charted in ten countries worldwide, with "Daydream" charting in three.[14][15] It ranked at number five on Billboard's year-end World Albums Chart for 2018.[16] For the three-year anniversary of Hope World, J-Hope released a full, three-minute long version of its closing track "Blue Side (Outro)", on March 1, 2021—it was uploaded to the BTS SoundCloud page for free.[17]
In 2019, J-Hope released a free collaboration single, "Chicken Noodle Soup", on September 27, featuring American singer, Becky G.[18] The track debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, with 9.7 million streams and 11,000 downloads for the week ending October 4, making J-Hope the first member of BTS to chart on the Hot 100 as a solo artist outside of the group, the third Korean solo artist to rank on the chart (after Psy and CL), and the sixth Korean artist overall to do so. "Chicken Noodle Soup" also debuted at number one on the World Digital Songs chart and is J-Hope's second song to achieve this after 2018's "Daydream".[19]
On June 14, 2022, Hybe announced J-Hope as the first member of BTS to begin promotions as a solo artist.[20] His debut solo album Jack in the Box, released on July 15, was preceded by the lead single "More" on July 1.[21][22] J-Hope will make his performance debut at Lollapalooza on July 31, as the headlining act for the final day of the festival. He is the first South Korean artist to headline a main stage at a major United States music festival.[23]
Name
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His stage name, J-Hope (제이홉), comes from his desire to represent hope for fans, as well as to be "the hope of BTS".[24] It is also a reference to the myth of Pandora's box, as after the box was opened and all the evils inside were released to the world, the only thing left was hope.[25]
Artistry and public image
J-Hope has been described as having an upbeat and energetic tone to his music and performances.[26] His mixtape, Hope World, was described as having a fun nature and variety of musical genres, including synth-pop, trap, house, alternative hip hop, funk-soul, and retro elements.[9][27] In a review published by The 405, Emmad Usmani praised the mixtape's concept and production, writing "J-Hope showcases exceptional creativity, genuine personality, and a cohesive sense of direction over the 20 minutes of the project".[28] Jeff Benjamin of Fuse wrote that the atmospheric style of "Blue Side", Hope World's outro track, "leaves the listener curious for what's coming next from J-Hope".[29] The lyrical elements of the mixtape, notably the lead song "Daydream", was praised by Billboard magazine for its discussion of the difficulties an idol faces in their career, various literary references, and fun presentation of the serious subject matter.[9]
J-Hope cites the adventurous nature of Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and the works of Kyle, Aminé, and Joey Badass as influencers on his style and work on Hope World. The idea of peace has also provided a basis for much of his lyrics, stating that "it'd be fantastic to become a part of someone's personal peace through my music" in an interview with Time magazine.[30] The idea of "representing the modern generation" has also influenced his work on BTS' music.[7] There was also a reference to Douglas Adams' science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.[31]
In January 2020, J-Hope was promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association.[32]
Impact
In 2018, he was awarded the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit by the President of South Korea along with the other members of the group.[33] He had the most liked tweet in the world for 2018 when he posted the "In My Feelings Challenge".[34]
In July 2021, he was appointed Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture by President Moon Jae-in, along with the other members of BTS, to help "lead the global agenda for future generations, such as sustainable growth" and "expand South Korea's diplomatic efforts and global standing" in the international community.[35]
Personal life
In 2016, J-Hope purchased an apartment in South Korea worth US$1.6 million for his personal use.[36] As of 2018, he lives in Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea with his bandmates.[37]
Philanthropy
J-Hope has been a member of the "Green Noble Club", which recognizes high-value donors of Child Fund Korea,[a] since 2018. On February 18, 2019, he donated ₩100 million (US$90,000) to the organization in support of those attending his high school alma mater in Gwangju. He previously donated ₩150 million ($135,000) in December 2018, but requested the donation be kept private at the time.[38] In December 2019, he donated another ₩100 million.[39] On November 17, 2020, he donated ₩100 million in support of children experiencing economic difficulties amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[40][41] On February 18, 2021, he donated ₩150 million to support children with visual and hearing impairments.[39] On May 4, for Children's Day, he donated ₩100 million for children affected by violence in Tanzania, Africa.[42] In December, he donated another ₩100 million, to cover heating expenses for children in low-income families and childcare facilities, and for medical expenses of pediatric patients. J-Hope has donated a cumulative total of ₩800 million to Child Fund Korea since 2018.
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