WEEK 60 | As Always, For Us

Monday Muster
Written By Quince

February 24-March 2, 2025

Rediscovery.

 

“Hope on the Street” Promotional Photo

In mid 2022, BTS announced an upcoming break from group activities. During the Festa dinner where this happened, j-hope explained:

We need time to focus on ourselves, and who we are outside of BTS. So we can come back together even stronger.

He took his own words to heart—releasing Jack in the Box the very next month. He then embarked on a whirlwind of promotions and appearances for the rest of the year, tapping heavily into the performer/entertainer side of j-hope. The dancing he’d gotten his start in was put on the back burner.


By the time the year was drawing to a close and he was getting closer to his military enlistment date, he was tired, and a bit lost—proud of what he’d accomplished, but unsure of who he was anymore and feeling disconnected. Not just disconnected from the joy of making music and performing, but also out of touch with his true self. He came to the startling realization that “j-hope” was spending a lot of time “going through the motions” and just pretending to enjoy some of his recent opportunities.


What had happened? What did he need to do to find his joy again? What would his future hold if he wasn’t able to? These were the questions he was asking himself in the final few months before his enlistment. He’d lost his rhythm. It left him yearning to get back to his roots—to ground himself in familiar movements from his past. It was time to rediscover Hoseok, the dancer who had existed before BTS.

It was time to get back “on the street”...


 
 
 
 

Skip to Content: Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five

 

DAY ONE:

 

There’s a moment in the “j-hope in the box” documentary when we see that headlining at Lollapalooza gave j-hope the opportunity to meet perhaps the single biggest influence on his music career—American rapper J.Cole. His joy is palpable as he tells J.Cole in very careful English, “You’re my muse” and “I love your mixtape Friday Night Lights.” For his part, J.Cole also seems happy to be meeting j-hope and delighted by his compliments. When Hobi walks away (with Jimin in tow, declaring how proud he is of his hyung), he literally squeals in elated disbelief that he just got to meet his hero.

Nine years earlier BTS had written a remix version of J.Cole’s “Born Sinner”, calling it “Born Singer”. Releasing it later in 2013, “Born Singer” told the story of the first grueling months of the group’s career after they debuted. And he continued to inspire them after that. We wouldn’t have “j-hope” or “Hope World” studio without the impression J.Cole’s work made on Jung Hoseok.


Months after they met at Lollapalooza, as the new year approached and 2022 became 2023, j-hope knew his military enlistment was approaching. As he was sending out New Year’s greetings to his friends and loved ones, on a whim he decided to reach out to J.Cole and wish him a “Happy New Year” as well. To his delight, Cole replied, and they struck up a conversation. Inevitably, they began to talk music, and tossing around the idea of collaborating on something.

 

J.Cole and j-hope film “on the street”

j-hope already knew he wanted to create a gift for ARMY before leaving for the military, so when he and J.Cole began talking about working together, the idea for how the other rapper could contribute began to take shape in Hobi’s mind. And that’s how “on the street (with J.Cole)” was born.

Every time I walk
Every time I run
Every time I move
As always, for us
Every time I look
Every time I love
Every time I hope
As always, for us (On the street, I'm still)

The song encompasses how j-hope feels about having both dance and ARMY in his life. Both are such an intrinsic part of him, everything he does is with both in mind. We didn’t know it then, but he was also recording Hope on the Street, Vol. 1 and shooting his docuseries at the same time. He was deep in his thoughts about what the trajectory of his career meant to him. Though always grateful for ARMY, he’d been feeling stagnant. Getting back to how he felt when dancing literally “on the street” was paramount, he believed, in finding his fire and passion again.

J.Cole’s verse, though written more personally to himself, still echoes j-hope’s sentiment. He talks about how the vast greatness of the universe can be broken down and understood through all the beautiful and small moments that make up the bigger picture. In the M/V, while he’s rapping, we watch j-hope dancing along, finding his own small moment, on a subway platform beneath New York City.

When the song released, it caught the attention of a lot of people who’d previously had no idea who j-hope or BTS were. They just came to listen because of J.Cole. Over and over again we heard “Who IS this j-hope guy? This is amazing!” A whole new generation of ARMY was born as a result of this collaboration. And given how it seemed to have been built up in legend—once only the dream of a young Jung Hoseok—it’s no surprise that it drew the attention that it did.

 

“on the street (with J.Cole)” Official M/V


 
 

"ON THE STREET" - J-HOPE (THE SEASONS)

 

BONUS: J-HOPE COMPILATION: "ON THE STREET" + "CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP" AND MORE (THE SEASONS)

 

BANGTAN BOMB: J-HOPE & JIMIN'S CHALLENGE VIDEO SHOOT SKETCH (FEAT. SUGA & V)

 

Fun Fact:

The HOTS Origin Story…


Though he did actually attend classes at a dance academy, j-hope considers the time he spent as part of the street dance crew NEURON as his real dance education.

His foundation was built on popping, locking, and hip-hop dance styles, and even though hip-hop choreography became his main focus after joining BTS and debuting as a K-Pop Idol, he always made sure not to let go of his roots completely.

Over the years since becoming a performer, j-hope has recorded himself dancing over and over again, both for himself and to share with fans. Once BTS got the ability to go LIVE through the V app, he began a segment called “Hope on the Street”, where he’d go LIVE and freestyle dance while ARMY hung out and watched.

The tagline “Hope on the Street” stuck with him, even when he had less time to go LIVE and freestyle. Eventually, he decided to use it as a way to get back to his roots when he released both an album and a docuseries under that name in 2024.

  1. 130406 J-HOPE & JUNG KOOK B-BOY (0:56)

  2. 141228 J-HOPE'S SOLO DANCE PRACTICE VER. (0:37)

  3. 150831 HOPE ON THE STREET | TWITTER (0:31)

  4. 150920 HOPE ON THE STREET | BANGTANTV (3:11)

  5. 151008 HOPE ON THE STREET - 1 | BTANTANTV (1:30)

  6. 151008 HOPE ON THE STREET - 2 | BANGTANTV (1:41)

  7. J-HOPE DANCE PRACTICE FOR 2015 BEGINS CONCERT (1:02)

  8. 160126 HOPE ON THE STREET LIVE | VLIVE (5:51)

  9. 160126 HOPE ON THE STREET LIVE - J-HOPE, JUNG KOOK | VLIVE (41:24)

  10. 160413 HOPE ON THE STREET - J-HOPE, JIMIN, V | VLIVE (46:12)

  11. HOPE ON THE STREET - BOY MEETS EVIL PRACTICE (3:35)

  12. 161124 BTS HOPE ON THE STREET - INTRO PRACTICE | VLIVE (3:35)

  13. 180223 J-HOPE & JIMIN DANCING IN HIGHLIGHT REEL (FOCUS VER.) (1:50)

  14. 180210 HOPE ON THE STREET WITH KAZANE KAZAI | TWITTER (1:18)

  15. 180623 HOPE ON THE STREET IN MY FEELINGS CHALLENGE | TWITTER (1:07)

 
 

DAY TWO:

 

j-hope & J.Cole filming “on the street”

Stepping into the “Way Back” machine to the end of 2023 when ARMY Project 529 was just starting to form and get its legs underneath, those of us working tirelessly to get it up and running thought, “This will be great. We’ll have something to do while BTS is enlisted, because they won’t be able to release anything while they’re in the military.”




Silly us.




Almost as soon as 2024 arrived, we began receiving new content here and there from various members. We were floored and had no idea what to expect from any of them, and the guessing game became a huge part of the fun. When it was announced around his birthday that a NEW j-hope album would be dropping soon, ARMY was in disbelief. Double that when we found out that there was a docuseries coming out at the same time that accompanied the album.



The EP, Hope on the Street, Vol. 1 released on March 29, 2024 and with it came a return to what I think of as the “quintessential Hobi sound”—very 90’s hip-hop inspired. But even though it was reminiscient of his previous work, everything still sounded fresh, and modern. The very first song on the EP was “on the street”, but this time it was a solo version, without J.Cole. In it, j-hope expanded on his lyrics from the first version of the song.




Seasonal dissonance
What the hell is time?
Is it weak, is it evil, is it a fate-like loop?
Knowing the path and walking it are different, for us
I'm just walking all night, all night (Alright)
The streets of the whole world, the distance between us
Our street filled with piles of stories
So just walk lightly, when we wanna
Wherever, when we wanna…


No matter how far away we feel from our goal, or our loved ones, we keep going, because we know we’ll get there eventually. It’s hard, and we can often feel lost, but it’s important to keep going. I imagine that while the version of “on the street” that featured J.Cole was the one j-hope wanted to give ARMY as a “see you later” present, it’s this solo version that probably more accurately represents how he was feeling inside about himself and his upcoming time in the military.


This point segues right into the next track, which is “i wonder… (with Jung Kook of BTS)”. As he ruminated on where he was at the time just before he enlisted, and how he got there, j-hope’s thoughts naturally turned toward the future as well. What did it hold in store for him? Would he still like the same things, would he still be interested in his career? “i wonder…” (which is both my favorite song on the album, and also criminally short) evokes a soft and fanciful tone as it muses on these questions.

 

Promotional still with Bugaloo Kin for HOTS Docuseries


Tell me what we do
I wonder what we'll be like
I don't know what it'll look like
And how we be livin' our lives
In the face of the darkness of time
On the same map
I'm so curious
(I wonder everything about us)


He, along with the other members, had voiced several times that he wondered what they would be like when they came back together after the military. Would ARMY still be there for them? (A dumb question. I mean, REALLY?) What would he look like, feel like, and want to do after he was back? Would he even want to be j-hope of BTS anymore? (Another dumb question, but look, we all ask them sometimes.)



In the end, he invites us (and himself) to not worry so much. We can ask all the questions about the future that we want, but we can’t know the answers until said future arrives. So sometimes, it’s best to just enjoy the present moment and be happy with what we have.

This love, right now
It's all we got, all we need
We're happy right now
So why don't we ride this feeling?
Just dance right now
But don't you stop lookin' forward
Just enjoy it, this love
We can keep forever falling


It’s a nice thought. And an important lesson for all of us to keep in mind. Making the best of the present can only have a positive impact on what happens down the line.

 

"I WONDER…" (WITH JUNG KOOK) DANCE VIDEO | HOPE ON THE STREET EP 2 HIGHLIGHTS

 
 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: What is it that makes you feel most like yourself?

 
 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 

DAY THREE:

The bulk of Hope on the Street, Vol. 1 is j-hope exploring some of his vulnerabilities with us. The album is tied to his journey with dance, and it is within dancing that he feels most himself. In the freedom of that feeling, he lets himself be more honest.

In “lock/unlock (with benny blanco and Nile Rodgers)”, j-hope talks about the complexities of connections and relationships. The nature of love is push and pull, which is represented by the words in the title. Sometimes we can feel restricted or put upon by love/relationships (lock), and other times, when approached carefully and with good intent, it helps us find freedom or a greater understanding of ourselves (unlock).

The lyrics of the song are kept simple so the focus is on the music. With legendary writer/producer Nile Rodgers on the base, the funky electronic sounds make you groove right along… no matter how conflicted you’re feeling about love or relationships.

The following song, “i don’t know (with HUH YUNJIN of LE SSERAFIM)”, continues that good feeling. As the house beats come in and bounce you along, you can’t help but think that only j-hope can make us question ourselves and the uncertainty of our lives while also making us want to hit the dancefloor.

Guess we're on the edge
Tryna figure out
What's really on your mind
Don't take it for granted
You believed that I would
Never leave your side

This is also about relationships, and how they can cause anyone to grapple with doubt and confusion. We have all struggled at least once or twice in our lives trying to understand the dynamics of relationships (be they romantic, or otherwise). Having a female vocal on this song (HUH YUNJIN of LE SSERAFIM) adds an important layer, as it creates a back and forth conversation. This is something that happens often in actual relationships, so to see it play out in song, lends an air of authenticity to the experience of the track.

Next on the album is a remix of a song that originally appeared on Jack in the Box, but this time it’s a dance version. With the change in beat and instrumentation, “what if… (dance mix with JINBO the SuperFreak)”, which previously felt very angsty and grungy, now feels more approachable. Like the questions are less existential and can be answered if given enough thought.

(Can I do this?)
Let me think
(Can I do it?)
Even in this case

What j-hope was really doing with these songs is questioning what’s going to happen next on his journey, and will his relationships survive the uncertainy he faces in the coming years? Knowing that he was about to enter his military service, he likely was anticipating change to happen—both in himself, and to the outside world. How would he navigate the changes, and would those he cared about (including ARMY) stick around and still be there when he came out the other side?

 

"LOCK/UNLOCK" (FEAT BENNY BLANCO & NILE ROGERS) DANCE VIDEO | HOPE ON THE STREET EP 3 HIGHLIGHTS

 
 

‘HIP-HOP’ ON THE STREET

 
 

Fun Fact

The j-hope WE-LIVEs 2023-2025…

When j-hope goes LIVE it’s always a mood lifter, full of laughs and fuzzy good feelings. (I mean, except for link #4 below… but it’s FINE. He’s already back!)

Enjoy him sharing his excitement for Hope on the Street, Vol. 1 and his collaboration with his “muse”, J.Cole, and then the joy when he finally returned to us after his discharge from the military.

Here we have the unique perspective of viewing j-hope just before he went into the military vs right after he got out. The Hobi we knew back in 2023 is NOT the Hobi we got back post-enlistment. I don’t know who this new creature is, but his confidence is off the charts!

ARMY might not survive this new j-hope…

  1. 230303 HOPE, ON THE STREET | WE-LIVE (30:44)

  2. 230316 HOLD ON! I'M HERE. ~ONE MINUTE!! ARE YOU HERE~ | WE-LIVE (40:12)

  3. 230408 HELLO - J-HOPE, V, JK | WE-LIVE (2:12)

  4. 230414 EVERYONE! | WE-LIVE (38:07)

  5. 241017 J-DAY | WE-LIVE (28:32)

  6. 241112 FORREAL | WE-LIVE (39:32)

  7. 241120 CAN'T YOU REALLY ACCEPT MY LOVE | WE-LIVE (33:29)

  8. 241223 JIN AND JHOPE LIVE 🐹🐿 | WE-LIVE (46:39)

  9. 250124 AFTER | WE-LIVE (19:23)

  10. 250218 💜HAPPY HOPEDAY💜 | WE-LIVE (53:51)

 

DAY FOUR:

 

"NEURON" (WITH GAEKO & YOONMIRAE) | OFFICIAL MOTION PICTURE

NEURON, as you may already know, is the dance crew in Gwanju that j-hope got his start with before he joined Big Hit and became a member of BTS. When he was a young teenager, he saw members from the crew dancing in different competitions and was very impressed. He began hanging out at their practice space, watching them, taking lessons and dancing whenever he could. After awhile, they asked him to join.

It was his time with NEURON that not only increased his dance skills, but also his love of music. Gradually, the more he kept dancing, the more he fell in love with the music that fascilitated it, deciding eventually that he wanted to pursue a career as a singer. It’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for that crew of dancers, BTS wouldn’t have come together as we know them (or even at all) today.

If I didn’t have dance, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Me without dance doesn’t make sense… j-hope would not exist.

j-hope with the NEURON Crew

The final song on Hope on the Street, Vol. 1 is called “NEURON (with Gaeko and yoonmirae)” as an homage to j-hope’s former crew. He incorporates some of the lessons he learned while with them into the theme and lyrics of the song.

Get my nerves working again, just like the younger me, dive
My body’s freestyle, still freestyle
My timeless soul, a whole new type
Such a deep-rooted tree, like deep-spring water
'Cause these neurons are the cells that awakened me

We already explored uncertainty and vulnerability on the rest of the album. Here is where we find affirmation. Here is where we underline the importance of endurance and commitment when on a journey. The images of neurons and nerve cells (which power our bodies) serve as metaphors for how our thoughts and actions connect to give us the drive to keep moving forward in life.


j-hope tapped two legends in the Korean hip-hop community—rappers Gaeko and yoonmirae. Their verses deepen the exploration of life’s journey as they speak respectively about the worth of effort over the passage of time, and the celebration of love, family, and passion as motivators through tough times.

The song, which served as the title track on the album, is a study in resilience. After questioning all the different aspects of the relationships in our lives, now it’s time to champion the vital connections that keep us moving forward, no matter what obstacles we face along the way. Our experiences in life shape who we are, therefore we should always embrace our passions and lean into what makes us happy. If we stay on that path, we can remain clear in our goals, no matter what they may be.

 
 
 
 
 

HOPE ON THE STREET DOCU SERIES MAIN TRAILER

 

Fun Fact:

Seeing j-hope’s six month post-enlistment plan come to fruition…

When j-hope appeared on SUGA’s interview show “Suchwita” before joining the military, his bandmate asked him, “Didn’t you tell me you have a six-month post enlistment plan already?”

Though j-hope laughed in response, he did make it clear that he had some plans in the works. ARMY was extremely curious what those plans could be, espeically after Hope on the Street, Vol. 1 and its accompanying docuseries dropped in early 2024.

What could be next? There would have to be a HOTS VOL 2, right?! Well, we still don’t know, but a few months post j-hope’s discharge, we’re beginning to see a lot of his plans coming to fruition… including new music AND a whole ass WORLD TOUR.

Back when we were watching his “Suchwita” episode, did any of you have the “HOPE ON THE STAGE” tour on your 2025 j-hope Bingo Card?

Yeah, me neither. But we’re here for it.

  1. J-HOPE - "MIC DROP", "MORE", "ON THE STREET" LIVE | GALA DES PIÈCES JAUNES 2025 (10:04)

  2. J-HOPE "ON THE STREET" & "MORE" & "MIC DROP" LIVE PERFORMANCE PRACTICE | LE GALA DES PIÈCES JAUNES (9:45)

  3. "ON THE STREET" - SYMPH. ARR.: PIERRE BERTRAND - ORCH. LAMOUREUX | PIÈCES JAUNES 2025 (2:03)

  4. "MORE" - SYMPHONIC ARRANGEMENT: PIERRE BERTRAND - OCHESTRE LAMOUREUX | PIÈCES JAUNES 2025 (3:08)

  5. "MIC DROP" - SYMPH. ARR.: PIERRE BERTRAND - ORCH. LAMOUREUX | PIÈCES JAUNES 2025 (4:01)

  6. BTS J-HOPE INTERVIEW WITH GALA DES PIÈCES JAUNES & J-HOPE UNSEEN BACKSTAGE MOMENTS 2025 (10:11)

  7. 250124 AFTER | WE-LIVE (19:23)

  8. J-HOPE 'BEGINNING OF A NEW DREAM' (0:54)

  9. BTS' J-HOPE ANNOUNCES ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ TOUR & TEASES NEW MUSIC | BILLBOARD NEWS (0:58)

  10. HOPE ON THE STAGE TOUR INFO | IBIGHIT

 
 

DAY FIVE:

Did any of us really know what to expect when j-hope was discharged from the military? We’d obviously seen Jin immediately hit the ground running as soon as he walked out of those gates on his base—taking no time for himself—but would it be the same story for Hobi?

j-hope performs in Paris at the “Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes” charity event

A lot of speculation swirled around on social media. Would he jump right into making new music? Would he go on tour? Would he take an extended vacation?

The answer to all of the above was… yes? Sort of.

Not too long before j-hope’s actual discharge date, Jin started getting very excited to have one of his fellow members back with him soon. As such, when ARMY said they wanted to see j-hope appear on “Run Jin!” he got caught up in their schemes and speculations. He vowed to kidnap the unsuspecting rapper, the moment he was free.

And Jin made good on his promise. Not only did he kidnap j-hope directly from a “meeting”, but he forced him to film all kinds of content with him, not just “Run Jin!” (For which ARMY is eternally grateful.) Thanks to Jin, we now know that should his career in music/dance not work out for some reason, Hobi could have a fine secondary career as a narrator for nature documentaries.

After finally escaping Jin’s wily clutches, j-hope took an extended trip to the U.S. which served as both a way to reacclimate himself to civilian life and to dip his toes back into work. He recorded music while out there, though we still don’t know all of what that entailed. What was becoming more and more clear though, was that the j-hope we thought we knew—the j-hope that smiled brightly as he went into the military in 2023—is not quite the same j-hope that came back out at the end of 2024.

Suddenly, his Instagram photo dumps started to feel very personal. And when he went live on Weverse, his attitude seemed more teasing, and flirty. Recently, he created his own TikTok account, and that’s been… enlightening. We’ve always known that j-hope is a sucker for dance challenges, but now he seems to use them to challenge US.

Last, but not least, 2025 has brought with it the announcement of a few things we’d kind of been suspecting were coming for awhile but it’s been nice to get the confirmation—NEW music AND a world tour, both starting soon! Plus, he continues to rattle us with sponsorships, magazine spreads, and features with other artists. In January, he had his FIRST performance since his discharge in Paris at “Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes” charity event, and his confidence rocked our world. No matter what’s up next for j-hope, ARMY is here for it. We can’t wait to see him continue to thrive.

 
 
 
 

BANGTAN BOMB: "RUNNING WILD" CHALLENGE SKETCH WITH JIN AND J-HOPE

 

YOU'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED | RUN JIN EP 15

 

BANGTAN BOMB: J-HOPE JOINS 'BEST FRIEND, LEE HYUN' AS GUEST

 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: What’s been your favorite j-hope post-military moment so far?

 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 
 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Can you believe we’ve reached the end of Hosebruary? I can’t. That’s our final rapper explored. What part of j-hope’s journey resonated the most with you? I think what I admire the most about him is his determination to always be unique, and to find the rhythm in life that best suits him. He’s never changed to please anyone, and it’s only served to make him stronger as the years go on.

Buckle up, friends, because from here on out… IT’S MAKNAE LINE TIME. Next week we begin our exploration of all things Mochi…

 

 
 

Side Quest

j-hope’s quest to destroy us through all of his ambassadorships and magazine spreads…

He was already something to behold back in 2023 with all of the campaigns and ambassadorships he was part of. But there’s just something EXTRA about post-military Jung Hoseok…

Whether it’s the continuation of his relationship with Louis Vuitton, or the devastating havoc he’s leaving in his wake with various appearances in Weverse Magazine or W Korea, Hobi clearly has no chill these days.

ARMY. Is. Suffering.

 

JHOPE INTERVIEW | WEVERSE MAGAZINE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CREDITS:

YouTube/Web

BANGTANTV, HYBE LABELS, Asian Mania, Bangtaned Army, BILLBOARD, BTS Fact Zone, BTS LIVE ARCHIVE, BTSKISMILE, Dance Height, DocoEditivity, dollybtsarmy7, elisssa, ENJOY BTS MORE, ESQUIRE Korea, EUNBIASED, FAN DE UNBOXING, france tv, Goldenwingz, Hidden Vocals World, iamurhope, JAEGUCHI, KBS WORLD TV, La niña Bangtan, LOUIS VUITTON, MBC RADIO, Pierre Bertrand, PRIME VIDEO, PRIME VIDEO MALAYSIA, Purple Family, SAMSUNG, ShadowByYoongi, Suga plum, TaeLove1295, Today's News, UARMYHOPE IG, W KOREA; Web: IBIGHIT.COM, BILLBOARD

ARMY Project 529 Volunteers

Research Team: Angel (TikTok: Lilangel2828), Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day), Merry (TikTok: merryj67), Sam T (TikTok: samt_26), Shelley (TikTok: shels167), Trudy (TikTok: theeducationmommy), Viv (TikTok: VivEliz); Video Team: Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day), Namz (TikTok: Namz07)

 
 

Join us LIVE every Sunday evening at 8pm ET for #the529live, a wrap up of each week's “Monday Muster”, thoughtful discussions, and tons of laughter! And catch us every Wednesday night at 9pm ET for #the529tea, when we dish about all the news going on with Bangtan. 

Both live streams are hosted on ARMY Project 529’s YouTube channel: (@ARMYProject529)


Quince
Next

WEEK 59 | Gotta See the Other Side.