"Hope World" may be out to the world now, but J-Hope is certainly still in BTS. The rapper and dancer for the group, talking to Time magazine, revealed what the seven-piece K-pop group is up to next, and how his brand of music is different.
Working amid a busy schedule
"Hope World," earlier dubbed as "Hixtape" by the fans as a play on J-Hope's name and the word "mixtape," had been teased for a long time before its release on March 2. Dedicated ARMY members have been waiting for its release for two years, but according to J-Hope himself, the delay was not a delay at all.
Rather, it was because everyone was focused on BTS and their projects, which left him with little time to work on his solo project.
J-Hope reveals, "I focused on our projects as BTS and tried to make time in the hotel room, on the airplane, and whenever I could find a few minutes." One of the tracks in the mixtape, "Airplane," has allegedly been written in-flight. The rapper, who showcased his vocal range in the mixtape, called it his "calling card to the world." J-Hope, born Jung Hoseok, also emphasized that the group "comes first."
Not the end of BTS
Fans of the world-famous Korean group know that J-Hope's solo venture in the music industry does not spell the end of BTS. J-Hope is the third member to release his own mixtape after leader RM and Suga released theirs earlier in the group's career.
Each member of the group also expressed support for J-Hope's mixtape. The "Daydream" star also revealed that in the track "Airplane," RM contributed to the hook and the rest of the group contributed their vocals, as well. Though the final version of the song came out differently, J-Hope says he cannot wait to share how BTS helped with the track.
Delivering a message of hope and peace
J-Hope mentions that "Airplane", written while on a first class seat, is one of the songs that show how much his life has changed. Despite the lifestyle changes that he admits he has now gotten used to, however, he mentions that he is the same person deep down. Talking about "Daydream," whose music video earned six million YouTube views in eight hours, J-Hope says his desires and wishes are no different than a regular person's, but he has to cover them up because of his chosen career.
He effectively uses the power of music to "soften" the topic through an upbeat sound.
The "Hope World" cover art's design, as well as the vivid colors used on the video for "Daydream," also easily reveal J-Hope's view of the world. According to the former street dancer, it would be a comforting idea to be a "piece of peace" through his music.
With the success and positive reception for "Hope World," J-Hope undoubtedly got the message across.