J-Hope, Second BTS Member to Decorate Billboard Cover Following PSY… A New Milestone for K-Pop Solo Artists
BTS member J-Hope graced the cover of the May issue of the global music magazine Billboard, becoming the second male K-pop solo artist to do so following PSY.
On the 21st, Big Hit Music officially announced this, reaffirming J-Hope’s global influence. According to local time in the U.S., on the 20th, Billboard released an interview featuring J-Hope as the cover star on their official website and social media.
Billboard praised J-Hope as a key figure who has contributed significantly to BTS’s success with his powerful stage presence and unique performances, evaluating his musical identity and position highly.
This cover and interview focused on shedding light on J-Hope’s current activities, as well as his musical vision and worldview.
In particular, his journey as a solo artist, sense of responsibility, and the messages he aims to convey through his music were deeply explored.
In the interview, J-Hope expressed, “Just as the artists I loved gave me positIVE energy, I also want to become such a presence,” and stated, “I want to grow into an artist who can delIVEr light and courage anytime, anywhere.”
This highlighted a different aspect of J-Hope as an individual apart from his group BTS, showcasing his artistic direction and personal growth.
Currently engaging with fans worldwide through the ongoing HOPE ON THE STAGE world tour, J-Hope made history as the first Korean solo artist to successfully hold a solo concert at the U.S. BMO Stadium.
He shared, “While I have performed on numerous stages with BTS, this solo performance where I had to handle everything alone was a new emotional challenge,” and added, “Finishing the stage gave me great confidence from that experience.”
This journey, carrying more meaning than a simple performance, further solidifies J-Hope’s identity as a solo artist.
Regarding his recent releases “Sweet Dreams” and “Mona Lisa,” he evaluated them as “results that harmoniously blend popularity and experimentation,” and stated, “This is just the beginning, and I plan to showcase a wider musical spectrum in the future.”
This determination to continuously expand musically is interpreted as J-Hope’s intention to break genre boundaries, not simply remaining as a solo artist from an idol background.
Furthermore, being selected for the Billboard cover is considered a symbol of global influence within the music industry.
As a male K-pop solo artist, PSY was the first to grace the cover following the “Gangnam Style” craze in 2012, with J-Hope becoming the second protagonist thereafter.
BTS has adorned the cover of Billboard special issues in 2018 and 2021 as a group.
J-Hope is set to communicate once again with local fans through the world tour performance in Taiwan on the 24th and 25th.