Jack In The Box

The record

Jack In The Box is j-hope’s first solo album, released on 15 July 2022 with ten tracks. The album introduction names two title tracks: MORE, which had come out two weeks earlier, and the closing track ‘방화 (Arson)’.

The same introduction says the title refers to the toy that springs a doll out when the box is opened. The record is built on old-school hip hop, and the opening ‘Intro’ is a narration track drawing on the Greek myth of Pandora’s box. The interlude ‘Music Box : Reflection’ joins the record’s first half to its second, the introduction adds. j-hope took part in planning every track, and in the concept, the design and the music videos.

Reviews

NME’s Rhian Daly gave the record five stars on the day of release. “‘Jack In The Box’ is smartly presented with a clearly signposted narrative,” she wrote. “It flows in a way that makes it a treat to enjoy from start to finish rather than dipping into songs at random.” Of the sound she wrote: “He largely works with old-school hip-hop but adds fresh ideas to the well-worn style.” The review closes: “Thought-provoking and full of fresh new flavour, ‘Jack In The Box’ takes the J-Hope the world has come to know and love over the last nine years and sets that figure alight.”

Clash marked it seven out of ten the same day. “Through a blend of grunge, hip-hop and pop, J-hope provides an insight into his inner monologue,” the outlet wrote, and: “It is refreshing to see J-hope experiment with genres not normally associated with his artistry.”

Idology (아이돌로지) ran two writers on the record in its page covering the albums of July 2022. Jo Eun-jae wrote that the heavy hip hop sound running through the album recalls BTS’s own B-sides, particularly those of the school series and The Most Beautiful Moment in Life series, and that j-hope’s storytelling and sense of rhythm bring his BTS character and his own together in one piece. Yemi wrote that despite a running time of 22 minutes each song is given enough weight to leave nothing wanting.

IZM’s Jang Jun-hwan wrote that the record draws attention for a manner of expression that takes in different generations and countries, and for its easy exchange with pop. The same review said that rhyme placed for cadence rather than for difficulty raises the legibility of the rap that carries the message, and lowers the barrier to entry.

Among the tracks

Two outlets put the closing track ‘방화 (Arson)’ first. “It’s ‘Arson’, though, that feels like the most accomplished piece of work here,” NME wrote, calling it “a masterful, addictive end to the record that begs you to hit play over and over”. Clash called the song “an explosive finale”. IZM’s Jang Jun-hwan wrote that DJ Clams Casino’s dark, weighty beat, j-hope’s elastic rapping and the performance around it stand for a curious meeting of force and popular appeal.

Of the pre-release MORE, Clash wrote: “Being the first single we were introduced to from ‘Jack In The Box’, ‘MORE’ boasts a heavy rock influence, with J-hope’s shouts haunting an almost melancholy chorus.” Idology’s Yemi wrote that ‘MORE’ and ‘방화 (Arson)’, which carry a passion for music through their large-scale staging, are where the record’s feeling is strongest.

Clash worked through the rest of the tracklist too. On ‘STOP (세상에 나쁜 사람은 없다)’: “With ‘STOP’ a hip-hop element is continued. A repetitive drum and bass beat carries J-hope’s expressive rap as it hops through each bar.” On ‘Safety Zone’: “A surprising piano riff introduces the sentimental ‘Safety Zone’.” And of ‘= (Equal Sign)’ it wrote that “a glistening synth alleviates the grunginess”.

Numbers

Idology counted 984 idol records released in 2022 and picked 20 of them by a vote of its eight writers and four guest judges, with Jack In The Box among them. That page set no ranking and listed the records in order of release.