MORE

The song

‘MORE’ is a j-hope single released on 1 July 2022. It came out ahead of the solo album Jack In The Box, which followed two weeks later on 15 July 2022, and is one of that record’s two title tracks.

The album introduction says the song sets out what is going on inside the box: the passion and ambition rising there, and a wish to show the world more sides of himself. The genre is old-school hip hop, the same introduction says, carried by a strong drum beat and guitar.

Reviews

IZM’s Kim Ho-hyun reviewed the song at release. He opened by calling it a step taken with courage at a moment that mattered for the group and for the person alike. The same review said that although the concept hints at a self divided by suppressed desire, the ending has the person in control and standing firm, so it is not tragic, and that the parts showing a plain urge to create stand out and point to growth ahead.

The outlets that reviewed the album two weeks later took the song up as well. “On ‘MORE’, he mixes in flashes of emo rock, shouting the chorus over heavy guitar chugs,” wrote NME’s Rhian Daly. 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.”

In Idology (아이돌로지)’s page on the albums of July 2022, 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. The same piece said the two videos hold a look that recalls the music videos of English-language superstars while keeping the force j-hope has as a dancer.

Around it

The music video was uploaded to the HYBE LABELS channel on the day of release. By the album introduction, j-hope took part in planning every track of Jack In The Box, and in its concept and its music videos.