BTS' J-Hope is building his solo empire and honestly, he's Killin' It

India Today

18-07-2025

If you've been watching BTS member J-Hope's solo career unfold, you'll agree that it's been nothing short of phenomenal. From the moment he stepped out on his own, the BTS rapper made it clear he wasn't just here to fill space between group projects. He was here to redefine what it means to go solo.You know that moment when someone completely surprises you, in the best possible way? That was 'Jack in the Box'. This wasn't your run-of-the-mill idol-goes-solo moment. The album came out swinging, gritty, raw, and laced with proper old-school hip-hop vibes. Tracks like 'MORE' and 'Arson' didn't hold back either, full of unfiltered truth and fiery ambition. And it didn't go unnoticed; 'Jack in the Box' charted in 17 countries, landed at No. 17 on the US Billboard 200, and sold over 470,000 copies in its first week. Not too shabby for a debut, right?advertisementThen came Hope on the 'Street Vol. 1' in 2023. Along with a short docu-series and a collaboration with J Cole on 'On the Street'. Who would've guessed it? The EP marked a new chapter for J-Hope just before his military enlistment. And even though he was busy with his military service, he didn't disappear from the charts (and our playlists for that matter).
In fact, the past year has been wild for J-Hope's solo era in the best way. His 2025 singles? Total game-changers. 'LV Bag', with none other than Pharrell and Don Toliver, slid onto the Billboard Hot 100 like it owned the place. Then there was 'Sweet Dreams' with Miguel, smooth as anything, and it went straight to No. 1 on the R&B charts in both the US and UK. But the real star of the show was 'Mona Lisa'. That track didn't just make waves, it caused a proper splash. It tied Jungkook's record on the UK Official Singles Chart, debuted at No. 9 on Billboard's Global excluding US chart, and racked up over 30 million streams in just one week. Talk about a power move. And then came 'Killin' It Girl' with GloRilla. Released in June 2025, the single cracked the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 40 and shot up to No. 2 on the Global, excluding the US chart. J-Hope's sound is evolving, sure, but it's also dominating. Tour-wise, he's been on the move. His 'Hope on the Stage' world tour ran from February to June 2025 with 33 shows across South Korea, North America, and Asia. Fans were treated to a full sweep of his solo work, from introspective tracks like 'What If' to full-energy anthems like 'Chicken Noodle Soup.' And let's not forget, J-Hope was the first K-pop soloist to headline Lollapalooza in 2022, and he took that crown again at Lollapalooza Berlin this July. It's kind of wild to think it's only been a few years, isn't it? J-Hope went from being 'that guy from BTS' to becoming a solo artist with a sound, and a voice, you just can't ignore. His music hits differently. There's grit, and there's honesty. Every track feels like a window into who he really is. And that's what makes it powerful.What stands out the most, though? He's not trying to chase anyone else's sound or success. He's carving his own lane, and doing it with quiet confidence. If this is just the start of our Hobi's solo era, then honestly, we're lucky to be witnessing it.And as ARMY, we're not just watching, we're with him. Every chart climb, every live stage, every beat that hits us in the gut. We're here for all of it. Because he's not just making music, he's making moments that stay with you. And the best is Yet To Come.- Ends