FIRST READ · MON 7 AM ETTHE WEEKEND LEXICON · SAT 9 AM ETj-hope
- Stage name
- j-hope
- Birth name
- Jung Ho-seok
- Born
- Feb. 18, 1994
- Hometown
- Gwangju, South Korea
- Position
- Rapper
- Agency
- BIGHIT MUSIC
- Fandom
- ARMY
- Debut
- 2013
- Generation
- 3rd gen
Where they grew up
The pages do not describe where j-hope grew up or his family life. They do say he came up as a competitive street dancer before entering the music industry. BigHit Entertainment founder Bang Si-hyuk noticed him because of his sharp moves, which led to his place in BTS. He has said he started with dance and only later felt he could tell his own story through music. As a kid he was also captivated by Jules Verne's novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, which later inspired the title track of his mixtape. In a 2025 interview he recalled following the Billboard charts while growing up to learn what sounds defined each era.
Birth details: famosix.com
In their own words
“The team always comes first”
“my calling card to the world”
“My fantasy had always been making a music video and performing with music that I had created. I also wanted to put my own story to music and share it with the world.”
“I just thought that I have to make music that can give consolation and a sense of hope to other people.”
“It'd be fantastic to become a part of someone's personal peace through my music.”
- RM Said his bandmate's mixtape was the motivation for his own project and that he has been deeply influenced by him. koreaboo.com
- SUGA Credited the mixtape released by this bandmate as the motivation for his own, and admired that he told personal stories in his own style. koreaboo.com
- KYLE Named as an artist he drew inspiration from for Hope World and would like to work with. koreaboo.com
- Aminé Named as an artist he drew inspiration from for Hope World and would like to work with. koreaboo.com
- Joey Bada$$ Singled out for a heavy influence on the mixtape. koreaboo.com
- Jules Verne His novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea inspired the Hope World title track, with j-hope casting himself as Captain Nemo. soompi.com
Timeline
- 2008Won a national dance competition
- 2010Signed to Big Hit Entertainment as a trainee
Auditioned around this time and became the third future BTS member to join the company.
- 2012Guest rapper on Jo Kwon's Animal
Appeared on the song while still a trainee, before BTS debuted.
- 2013Debuted with BTS
- 2018Released the mixtape Hope World
His first solo project came out March 1 and peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard 200. He described it as his calling card to the world.
- 2019Released Chicken Noodle Soup with Becky G
The single came out on September 27.
- 2022Debut album Jack in the Box and Lollapalooza headline slot
- 2023Released On the Street with J. Cole and began military service
The collaboration came out March 3, and he enlisted on April 18.
- 2024Hope on the Street Vol. 1 and military discharge
The EP came out March 29 and reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. He was discharged on October 17, the second BTS member to finish service.
- 2025Hope on the Stage World Tour
- 2026BTS comeback with ARIRANG and world tour
Latest
- BTS ARIRANG World Tour extended into first half of 2027
HYBE reported record third quarter earnings and said the BTS world tour will continue through the first half of 2027, with the group working on music and other projects alongside it. Its CEO also said group and solo activities are being prepared for after the tour.
billboard.com - HYBE confirms BTS group and solo plans for 2027
The HYBE CEO said additional tour dates will be announced and that the label is preparing for both group and solo activities once the tour ends.
iheartradio.ca
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- billboard.com: j-hope Says BTS Experienced ‘Growing Pains’ While Working on Solo Music Amid Military Service
- billboard.com: j-hope Teases What's Next For His Solo Career
- billboard.com: BTS Has New ARIRANG Tour Dates, Music & Solo Projects ...
- rollingstone.com: J-Hope on Growing Up in BTS, His Next Mixtape, and More
- time.com: J-hope of K-Pop Sensation BTS Discusses His New Solo ...
- iheartradio.ca: HYBE CEO Confirms BTS Group & Solo Plans for 2027
- nolae.eu: What you should know about BTS - an overview
- lareviewofbooks.org: BTS: Permission to Desire
- famosix.com: J-Hope biography - age, solo career and BTS in 2026 - Famosix
Last researched Nov. 12, 2026