UNBOXING THE TRACKS AND LYRICS FROM J-HOPE’S “JACK IN THE BOX”

BTS has entered a new chapter. During their ninth-anniversary celebration, the sensational K-pop group announced that for a while they’d be focusing on more solo albums and activities from the members, rounding off the first chapter of their careers with an anthology album and three new tracks that promised their return as a group, reflected on their past and future, and acted as an ode to their fanbase. 

They’d kick off a new chapter with an album from one of the group’s rappers and lead dancer, J-Hope, with an album titled ‘Jack in the Box’. 

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, J-Hope said that it was never planned for him to be the one to kick off the new chapter, but it couldn’t have been more fitting: what better way to start a new chapter of BTS, one that seemed uncertain to the members and fans alike, than with hope?

“Hope” is a word that J-Hope has always used to describe himself and his perspective on life, and pretty much everything we know about J-Hope and associate with both him and the idea of “hope” coincide: brightness, positivity, optimism, selflessness… It is why the aesthetic of J-Hope’s new album was so surprising to fans at first (who had been preparing for J-Hope’s fantastic set at the US music festival Lollapalooza with rainbow and smiley-faced adorned attire and merchandise, all of which line up with the aesthetic of “the J-Hope we used to know”. But our expectations were bested when we got a glimpse of the album and its lead single, “More”. Rather than the bright colors and upbeat melodies we expected, More is more along the lines of what some might dub an “emo track” (at least in comparison to J-Hope’s previous works), with pop-punk elements and aesthetics and a dark, almost creepy yet thrilling music video. And it was the perfect teaser for his upcoming album and what was to come from J-Hope. As in his new album, J-Hope destructs and dissects everything that makes up “J-Hope”, in his own words and on his own terms. Let’s open up the jack’s box…. 

In More, J-Hope combines elements of hip-hop and alternative/punk-rock genres - the latter of which is definitely uncharted territory for the artist… and he pulls it off brilliantly. The lyrics offer a perfect introspective look into his mentality and relationship with his career after the members’ admittance of their need for something new, being the current chapter of BTS - and More shows us that it’s both reassuring and exciting. As mentioned, the genre or “vibe” of the song is new and unexpected from J-Hope, yet he mentions early on in the song that he is “in his element” a perfect early heads up to fans prior to the album’s release that though this version of him seems different on the surface, he feels like himself and this is still him - and the rest of the album proves it later on.

The opening words of the song - “I’m thirsty” - along with J-Hope’s delivery of them, encapsulate the rest of the song extremely well. Through “More”, J-Hope reflects on the relationship he has with his career, particularly the success of BTS and the personal impact it had on his mentality and work ethic - this later proved to be a running theme across the album, and a perfect foundational layer of understanding and insight for fans who are curious of the members’ states/mentality during this period.

J-Hope expresses how his work fuels him and acts as a driving force in his life, expressing a need to achieve more and work harder in his career. Yet when he does express such feelings, he repeats the lyrics “I’m still not enough” with the lyric even closing out the song. By doing so, he’s recognizing his passion for his work but also the toll it took on him; despite his almost mythological level of fame and success, he still doesn’t feel “enough” either for himself or the general public, who are constantly questioned “what BTS will do next” in regards to their career as if they haven’t achieved astronomical levels of success already. As conveyed through the song, he knows one’s career, fame, and financial status aren’t “everything in life” yet he wants to strive for more and work harder. It’s a complex many of us grapple with, making the song brutally honest and relatable, just as the rest of the album proved to be later on. 

It’s worth noting that this honest commentary on the relationship one has in regards to their career is something that BTS has not shied away from discussing in their albums, most notably in their fan-favorite B-side track ‘Paradise’ and more recently the track ‘Dis-ease’, on which J-Hope is also a songwriter, noting it is a song through which he could express negative emotions as well as the honest nature of his relationship with his work (likening it to a type of disease and feelings of uncomfortableness). ‘More’ and the album act as the next steps in allowing him to do so.

But I might be getting ahead of myself. Though More is the first song that was released, it’s the third track on the album, preceded by “Intro”, an introduction to the album that briefly details the story of “Pandora’s Box”, which is the title of the second track. In recent interviews with J-Hope he notes how much he valued the concept and story of Pandora’s Box from mythology. After coming up with the stage name J-Hope (getting there by wanting to include his family’s initial “J” and the first syllable of his first name), the artist associated further meaning to his stage name, which includes the story of Pandora’s Box and hope being the last thing to escape Pandora’s box according to the myth… So he would take on the role of being “the hope of BTS”.... which is exactly what the track focuses on. Pandora’s Box discusses similar career-related themes presented in “More” which run throughout the album, yet it specifically focuses on the weight of his role as “J-Hope”.

In contrast to the rest of the BTS members, J-Hope is the only member who currently has an English word as a part of his name (after member RM changed his stage name from ‘Rap Monster’). Once fans, especially international fans, hear his name and see his sunny disposition the image he imprints on them is almost immediate and even truthful, as mentioned with him actually lining up with imagery associated with the word “hope”.

Yet it’s a different discussion when we look at it from the angle presented in Pandora’s Box, of J-Hope actually defining the world to himself and MILLIONS across the world, to whom he acts as a source of hope and inspiration - it proved to be a huge responsibility. He notes that even at a young age he had to deal with being “someone’s light, someone’s smile, someone’s hope” - that responsibility coupled with his fear of failure (among other negative emotions) overpowering him and the clash between that feeling and him “embodying hope”…. It’s almost a burden, but instead, he sees it as a role he has to live up to. He wonders if he could actually believe in “his name”, meaning believing in himself as J-Hope, and also hope as a whole. He notes that he is able to do so at the end of the song after ‘opening the box’ by working on himself outside of his comfort zone, and also by realizing the need we all have for both hope and the fans’ need for J-Hope (as expressed in More). That deep dive into the idea of hope, the role he has, and the intersection and difference between those two ideas is nothing short of brilliant. It remains honest and extremely insightful, the song that probably forces us to step into his shoes most due to its specificity, yet it also remains relatable, with J-Hope closing out the track by stating everyone can take up such a hopeful and inspiring role, shows his humility and modesty. It proves to be as inspiring as the rest of the tracks, a perfect way to round out this mini chapter.

I say that because the arrangement of the tracks on the album is very precise, with J-Hope previously mentioning that the album almost tells a story, and when studying the album intensely, the story becomes crystal clear. These first three tracks on the album - “Intro”, “Pandora’s Box” and “More” - make up one mini-chapter in the story of Jack in the Box. In this first chapter, J-Hope looks at the way the world views him - commenting on his external image and the responsibilities and career. And the next mini chapter or collection of songs within the album turns that perspective around...

The next two songs on the album - “STOP (There Are No Bad People In The World)” and “= (Equal Sign)” showcase the way J-Hope sees the world in turn and human nature, as a result of who he is and who has grown to be. And though entirely different in terms of the musical genre, they complement each other extremely well and are two of the artist’s most intelligent works, deliver J-Hope’s POV clearly.

In STOP, a classic track reminiscent of 90s hip-hop tracks, J-Hope describes everything that could cause one to lose hope in the world and adopt a pessimistic mindset - everything from doubts and differing values among friends to crime, the injustices of this world, and the constructs of society. Yet he doesn’t simply blame the world around him and criticize those things while saying “be happy”, as the majority of modern chart-topping ‘feel-good’ songs would. Instead, J-Hope analyzes the nature of those subjects and their constructs, taking a deeper look into how and why they exist and have the ability to influence one’s mindset and way of living based on the experiences he has had in his life so far. (Yes, go back to the very beginning / Look at them again / Living environment, education, system / What is different from mine?). And in Equal Sign (=), a song where J-Hope shows off his singing skills, J-Hope reflects on the positive attitude we should pursue DESPITE those constructs discussed in STOP, which’s full title includes the phrase “there are no bad people in the world”. Despite the actions of many, everyone is worthy of love and people are good at their core. Though we’re all different as humans, we’re actually all the same too. It’s contradictory, but it’s a fact. Though we come from different backgrounds, we’re all humans with the capability to love, and that’s what we should lead with and pursue.

Overall, this chapter is an emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and even hopeful take on human nature and modern society rather than the “naive” mindset some people might attribute to this mentality. I personally think that being able to adopt such an outlook is an indication of incredible maturity, as it shows a strong willingness to see beyond the material surface and what the world might present itself as to someone who has struggled deeply.

“Music Box: Reflection” is next on the album, which isn’t a song, but a track that features a J-Hope’s heavy breathing over a creepy melody reminiscent of jack-in-the-box toys. It is an interlude that also acts as a narrative shift in the album - we are moving from J-Hope to Jung Hoseok.

Through the chapter consisting of the next couple of songs, “What If” and “Safety Zone”, J-Hope shares deep-rooted fears. “What If” focuses on fears linked to his career, specifically those regarding his own success and future, but also fears linked to his authenticity, abilities, and the status of his passions and dreams… he even questions the possibility that he doesn’t actually have any of those things or that he ends up with nothing. Many of the fears he expresses can be linked to what is known and associated with imposter syndrome, including the lyrics that indicate many of those fears were repeated back to him by those who criticize him and BTS. But once we get to this track it’s clear that J-Hope is more vulnerable than ever, peeling back all his layers and openly discussing fears and worries people rarely discuss with others… and he’s sharing it with millions. 

Safety Zone is just as personal a song. While one might assume it links back to the comfort zone he’s stepping out of with this album, it actually refers to him not having a safe mental space and his search and need for one. Through the album, we have been offered a study into J-Hope’s mind, his relationship with his work, his fears, and the way he views the world - he has a lot to say and when those thoughts overwhelm him he needs a safe mental space to go to. And through this song, J-Hope expresses loneliness and his fear that finding such a space would be an impossibility despite his desperate need for it, due to the nature of the relationship he has with his career, the world, and himself that we have come to understand. In an industry that has demanded so much from him, no one knows exactly what he has gone through except the other BTS members, and while performing the song as Lollapalooza, it was touching to see J-Hope turn to look at his fellow member Jimin in the wings of the stage. That same week, member Jin asked ARMYs to show up at a premiere he was attending so he would be less nervous knowing he has people around him that support him. And it goes without saying that BTS and their music are safe zones for their fans worldwide. As a lifelong fangirl, I was never a part of any fandom prior to ARMY where we the fans were as much of a “safe zone” for the people they were a fan of, as they are to the fans. It’s incredibly touching.

Most of the album is this way, but this mini-chapter specifically is incredibly raw and truthful as Jung truly puts his deepest vulnerabilities on full display, which is why it resonates. Imposter syndrome, doubts, and loneliness plague most twenty-somethings such as Hoseok nowadays, regardless of who they are or where they come from. Him expressing those feelings reminds us that he’s still a regular person despite his almost mythological level of success - though we might not relate in terms of our specific struggles, we have the same fears and feelings. It connects us as humans and that reminder on its own is reassuring and feels like a hug.

The two songs that close out/conclude the album are “Future'' and “Arson” - another set of songs that are entirely different but work well together to conclude the album. Future is an upbeat, positive track where J-Hope expresses his humility and gratitude. J-Hope mentions in this song, in “What If”,  and in a previous interview that he fears his future - and a fear as profound and daunting as that doesn’t go away easily. Yet while that fear may or may not remain, J-Hope offers a new, more positive outlook on his own future in this song with (almost) post-pandemic realizations, one that is incredibly refreshing. Rather than conveying a message of resistance, J-Hope encourages a mindset of “going with the flow” and having adaptability with the right mindset - that is “with courage, faith, and hope.” The pandemic has made us all realize we might not be as in control of our lives as we think we might be, sometimes we have no choice but to adapt, a skill that has always been a key to success. Though we cannot decide and outline every aspect of our future, we can decide how to progress with our changing capabilities. It’s also a song and message that helps put things into perspective as most of us reflect on the past two years. In BTS’s case, their long-awaited world tour was cancelled at the start of the pandemic in 2020, but during the time they were set to be on tour, they personally produced a new album that expressed their feelings at the time and put out their biggest hit yet, Dynamite, which propelled them to even greater heights. They have expressed how hard the tour cancellation was on them, but at the same time their adaptability made them bigger than ever. 

If Future acts as the story’s final paragraph, Arson is its epilogue. The album’s second single is also its last track, and J-Hope specifically placed it last as he felt it encompassed the entire album. I have to admit, Arson was the hardest track for me to understand. Upon reading the lyrics, I think I initially interpreted it in an incorrect way, one that J-Hope hadn’t intended, as I felt it wasn’t in line with the rest of the album. But since music is art and art is subjective, I thought I’d discuss it anyways as it was insightful for me to understand the song in different ways.  The musical feel of “Arson” is most similar to “More” - the two singles from the album are the only pop-punk type of songs on the album as the rest are more linked to hip-hop and rap, and the in “Arson”,  J-Hope tells his passion, hopes, and life to “burn”. With that musical aesthetic and the music video in mind, at first, I understood it to be J-Hope letting go of those things - intentionally setting ablaze his passions and hopes as an arsonist would, to see the ruins that would remain. In other words, letting go of those things to see the remains, which would be who he really is as a person and his soul or core being, as he speaks of perhaps having ill intentions in the past, prioritizing fame, money, and popularity. Many of us tie our identity and who we are into our passions and hopes, and sometimes we can get lost in them and cannot differentiate ourselves from them. 

That was the only meaning I had taken away from the song until I began writing this article, which was when I realized the song had another meaning to it - one that was probably more obvious, more accurate, and more positive. And I assume J-Hope might’ve intended for the true message to be a combination of both, which is why it encapsulates the album really well. Instead of telling his passions, hopes, and life to burn away to ruins, he’s igniting them in a bid to keep them and himself alive (as backed up by the previous tracks and especially “More”, with igniting his passions meaning further pursuing and developing them). In the song Hoseok also asks, “Now I ask myself, choose what / Do I put out the fire, or burn even brighter?”. With the song titled Arson and the rest of the lyrics, it’s evident what he has chosen, but it’s noteworthy that he says that this was something he did for himself. He is no longer doing it due to the pressures of the world and its trivial rewards, and in doing so, by further pursuing his musical passions and stepping out of the metaphorical box he was in and his comfort zone, his “fire” or drive is larger than ever, and he can finally see himself and the core that was previously mentioned - and it isn’t in ruins.

The track goes really well with “Future” because in a way, “Arson” is almost a promise that this isn’t the end for J-Hope or BTS, while still remaining in line with the fears and themes J-Hope expresses in this album as well as the hidden optimism and hopefulness laced within the tracks as well as the positivity of J-Hope’s pre-Jack in the Box aesthetic.

Once I deconstructed the album, J-Hope’s messages became so clear to me, but even more so did Jung Hoseok. BTS’s J-Hope had been known for his amazing dance and rap skills, and it seems as though he felt limited by such a label, and his growth and maturity really shine through the album. He wanted to see what he was capable of, and he proved to both himself and his fans his ability to do the sensational with Jack in the Box - stepping out of his comfort zone with the album of the summer - one that is still upbeat and fun to suit the season, yet is honest, raw, and has practically no dance tracks - what he is best known for…. 

It’s safe to say he will never be put in a box again.

J-Hope. Jung Hoseok. The Jack of All Trades.