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Hope on the Street Is BTS' j-hope's Ode to His First Love: Dance

The rapper and choreographer chronicles a rekindled passion for dance via a six-part docu series and accompanying mini album

Article (news)

MJ Jose

<p>“I used to love dancing so much, but I had forgotten all about it.” </p><div><br/></div><p>This quiet, sobering admission in the first episode of the <strong>Hope on the Street </strong>docuseries sets the tone for Jung Hoseok’s—aka <strong>j-hope</strong> of <strong>BTS</strong>—quest in furthering his craft as a performer. It’s odd to hear such a thing from an artist, especially one who’s been dominating the stage with his bold, fearless moves and strong presence since Bangtan Sonyeondan’s debut. But when you’ve been choreographing and dancing because your job demands it for years and years on end, you can lose a bit of who you are in the whirlwind of fame. This is the dilemma that j-hope finds himself facing throughout this documentary, and we join him on his journey as he travels around to refine and learn new techniques in dance, hoping to get that spark back.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5BaC8XSYjI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5BaC8XSYjI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 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style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"> <div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5BaC8XSYjI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by BTS official (@bts.bighitofficial)</a></div></div></blockquote> </div><div><br/></div><p>j-hope has always placed immense value in staying true to his roots. Early works under the BTS banner such as “Mama,” “Ma City,” and “ Outro: Ego” are tributes to his mother, his hometown of <strong>Gwangju</strong>, and the dichotomy between his idol persona and birth identity, respectively. As an artist, his roots are in dance. Before he joined BTS, j-hope took six years of dancing lessons at Gwangju Music Academy and was part of an underground dance group called Neuron, which plays a prominent role in the documentary. Well-known among his industry peers for his expertise in hip-hop and street dance, he has consistently received praise for his ability to stay in control while making every move seem effortless. Hope on the Street shows us a Jung Hoseok who is on a quest to learn, exploring Gwangju, Seoul, Osaka, Paris, and New York, connecting with fellow dancers, each one specializing in a particular style. Along for the ride is <strong>World Fame Us</strong> dance crew member popping legend <strong>Boogaloo Kin</strong>, his former instructor and longtime mentor.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/80ed9ddb-4f0e-40d5-92fb-01de73659102_hope on the street.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/culture/film-tv/j-hope-in-the-box-disney-plus-review/34922" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">We Got A First Look At J-Hope In The Box, Out Now On Disney+! </a></div><p>And because this is j-hope, where there’s dance, there’s also music. The docuseries is accompanied by a special album with six tracks, each one a testament to just how largely the art of dance looms over Hoseok’s life. It’s not a groundbreaking release, but that’s not the artist’s goal this time around. While not exactly an antithesis to its predecessor, <strong>Jack in the Box</strong>, which was unapologetically j-hope with its potent hip-hop flavor, <strong>Hope on the Street Vol. 1</strong> is a thoughtful, stripped down record. It adds a layer of authenticity and vulnerability to j-hope’s artistry, giving us a better glimpse of who Jung Hoseok is behind his ebullient firecracker stage persona. There’s a story to it, and it is deeply personal.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/a80f4a8a-6e88-4210-b933-bb40024dfeab_hope on the street album.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>The album opens with a J.Cole-less version of “on the street,” followed by the funk-inspired “i wonder…”, a collaboration with fellow BTS member <strong>Jungkook</strong>. Fittingly enough, it’s a song the rapper wrote for their fanbase ARMY, and having Jungkook with him gives it a sincerer feel, especially now that all seven boys are serving in the military. <strong>Huh Yunjin</strong> of <strong>LE SSERAFIM </strong>lends her vocals to the house track “i don’t know,” while <strong>Nile Rodgers</strong> and <strong>Benny Blanco</strong> join in on the electro funk beats of “lock / unlock.” The high point is, of course, the title song, which closes the album. “NEURON” is pure old school hip-hip, and the cleverly repeated runs of “NEURON, NEW RUN” signify j-hope connecting his past with his future. <strong>Dynamic</strong> <strong>Duo’s Gaeko</strong> and <strong>Yoon Mirae</strong>’s presence on the track tie everything together perfectly. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/1b5c9c8b-6eee-4064-9a0a-aa9dcaafcb94_jhope.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>Still very much a part of j-hope’s chapter two solo journey, Hope on the Street marks the turning of a page, or a checkpoint in his story. What’s remarkable about this output is that it is showcasing a version of j-hope that will always exist. The trainee that once popped and locked his way through the underground scene of Gwangju has resurfaced, slowly and steadily grooving into the next phase of his life as both Jung Hoseok and j-hope.</p><div><br/></div><p>Stream &#x27;Hope on the Street&#x27; on Prime Video now</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/fitness/jungkook-fitness-workout-secrets/37568" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Global Pop Superstar and Fitness Addict Jungkook of BTS Is Body Goals</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/fitness/bts-rm-namjoon-fitness-secrets/37366" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Miss BTS? Find out How Their Leader RM Stays in Shape</a></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>