Atop the Bud Light Seltzer Stage on the final day of Lollapalooza 2022, J-hope’s monumental set felt like a triumphant return and introduction. His headlining performance is the first live solo effort by a BTS member since they began the group’s “second chapter” in June. which will place greater emphasis on individual projects. If the second chapter is an opportunity for the seven members to prove themselves as individual artists as well as members of the biggest group in the world, tonight J-hope rises to the challenge. That he begins this next step by bursting out of a set made to look like a jack-in-the-box is symbolic – like he’s leaping into new, uncharted territory, but doing so explosively and confidently, rather than timidly tiptoeing out into the wider world . Fireworks fly off the stage as he stands and looks at the huge crowd gathered in front of him for a moment before launching into his recent rock-rap single ‘MORE’ and setting out to prove that he belongs on such a huge platform no matter what he’s achieved with his main team so far. Just as his debut solo album ‘Jack In The Box’ tells the story of its creator, so does his set tonight. The first half deals heavily with the newer material and its darker, grittier styles, but also with older tracks that fit a narrative of ambition, greed and fame. “HANGSANG” and its star-focused lyrics are showcased before “POP (Peace Of Piece)” showcases the star’s desire to become an artist who can deliver exactly what the title suggests. J-hope CREDIT: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic As J-hope runs further through the show, the story moves forward as well. The bright, slightly funky ‘= (Equal Sign)’ shares a message of love that sounds even more beautiful with a crowd singing along. After an incendiary ‘arson’ – which opens with a flame flashing above the jack-in-the-box on stage – the rapper returns to the inside of the giant toy box, only to break out minutes later in a new, white outfit. . What follows are sunnier songs from his catalog, starting with a tropical remix of BTS’s ‘Dynamite’ before moving into ‘Daydream’, in which he accepts that his dreams won’t last forever. Each is enhanced by the addition of a live band that makes the first part of the show hit harder and heavier, and adds more vibrancy to the latter part. Throughout, J-hope never forgets where he came from and often returns to his roots. During “Base Line,” the screens surrounding the stage show images of landmarks and streets in Korea, including the Sajik Park Observatory in his hometown of Gwangju. When he performs ‘Cypher Pt.’ of BTS. 1′, they show clips of him with his six teammates. His musical roots aren’t forgotten either – when he performs ‘Chicken Noodle Soup’ with special guest Becky G towards the end of the set, he makes sure to shout out DJ Webster and Young B, the writers of the original song. On the track. Regardless of whether the rapper is in dark or light territory tonight, though, he puts his all into every song. “I pour my heart and soul into my music,” he tells the audience early on, but that’s something you feel like stating the obvious when you watch him play. When J-hope launches into a cover of a slow-burning ‘Safety Zone’, he seems completely lost in the music, his every move intertwined with the music and the emotion and energy within it. His set also brilliantly showcases his versatility – from the rock star rapper who spontaneously screams lines on ‘What If…’ and ‘MORE’, a graceful dancer on ‘Dynamite’ and a dazzling performer with an infectious spirit on ‘Outro: Ego ” and “Hope”. World’. In the mere hour J-hope lights up the stage, he briefly talks to the audience, welcoming ARMYs and non-ARMYs alike and sharing his thoughts throughout (“What the hell…I’m like I’m gonna die,” declares after an energetic “World of Hope.”) Before saying goodbye, he takes a moment to speak in Korean, discussing his thoughts on his album and the honor of headlining Lollapalooza. J-hope CREDIT: Michael Hickey/Getty Images “To myself for being able to overcome this moment,” he begins at one point, referring to the insecurities he’s felt along the way, “I’m a little shy, but I want to tell myself that I’m really proud of you.” As the rousing opening notes of final track ‘Future’ kick in and the rapper impresses one last time, it’s a sentiment you can’t help but agree with. At Lollapalooza, J-hope makes history once again, but more than that, he proves exactly what he’s capable of with or without anyone by his side – true greatness.

J-hope played:

‘MORE” Pandora’s Box” Base Line” Cypher Pt. 1”HANGSANG”POP (Piece Of Peace)”= (Equal Sign)”STOP”’Blue Side”Safety Zone”What If…”Arson”Dynamite (Tropical Remix)”Daydream” Outro: Ego”Hope World”Trivia: Just Dance”Chicken Noodle Soup”Future’