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Kicking off "BTS' Chapter 2," j-hope will release his debut solo album on July 15. Find out more about the upcoming project, including tracklist and cover art.

Global hitmakers and South Korean sensations BTS recently announced a new chapter of their careers. Aptly titled "BTS' Chapter 2," it's an exciting time for the septet to better explore their own individual music tastes. And kicking off this new era is the group's rapper and dancer j-hope .

So far, j-hope's solo discography includes 2018's acclaimed mixtape Hope World and the chart-topping trilingual single "Chicken Noodle Soup" (featuring Becky G) from 2019. But on July 15, he'll break new ground as a solo artist with his highly anticipated debut studio album, Jack in the Box .

Fans got a first taste of what's to come with the single "MORE," which teases a different musical direction than his previously high-energy and pop-leaning songs. On July 7, j-hope revealed the album's tracklist, giving fans lots of interesting song titles to analyze.

With the release of the album right around the corner, here's everything we know about j-hope's new solo album, Jack in the Box .

The album date is sneaking up on us as we speak. With not a lot of time left until release, we won't have to wait long to hear what j-hope has in store for ARMY. 

Though the announcement of Chapter 2 was referred to as "an indefinite hiatus," the septet insisted that they are still very much together — but for now, they're giving themselves a chance to explore and release solo music. 

Shortly after this announcement, j-hope's album release was also announced. Jack in the Box will allow us to see how much the star has grown since the release of his debut mixtape, while also feeding fans with new content.

If the first single is any indication, j-hope is ready to show a new and more mature side of himself. On July 1, the singer dropped "MORE," a alt-rock and hip-hop-tinged song with a dark and moody aesthetic. 

With lyrics that touch on his successful career as an artist, j-hope gets real about how money and fame aren't everything. His emotions are clear through his tone and the visuals, and show great promise for the rest of the project's depth. 

As j-hope revealed on July 7, the Jack in the Box tracklist will include 10 songs: "Intro," "Pandora's Box," "MORE," "STOP," "= (Equal Sign)," "Music Box : Reflection," "What if…," "Safety Zone," "Future," and "Arson." 

The singles will be the previously released "MORE" and new track " Arson ." The meaning of "Arson" is described as a j-hope experiencing the world outside the box, and choosing which path to take.

A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope)

In an interview with Weverse Magazine , j-hope divulged his desire to show "an extremely dark, raw side" with his current music. It'll be exciting to see how this manifests through the rest of the album, as we've already seen a glimpse with "More." 

This will be a major contrast from the bright and airy aesthetic j-hope has previously brought in his music, fashion and personality. While Hope World was overall a feel-good project, Jack in the Box can show us just how multi-faceted j-hope truly is.

Though the hip-hop vibes are apparent on the rapper's tracks regardless of genre, this album is a chance for him to experiment with other genres as well. The teaser video j-hope released on Instagram has jazzy beats, which hint at the new sounds we might hear.

Though we know j-hope is skilled in lyric writing and producing, it's cool to know he worked on composing and conceptualizing his debut album as well. This means that his own flair will be apparent throughout the project, and should be an accurate representation of how the artist has evolved as a soloist.

A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope)

j-hope announced on his instagram that he worked with designer KAWS on the album cover. In his post, he called KAWS a great collaborator and friend, as the rapper has supported the designer often over the years. Back in 2020, he even displayed KAWS figurines on Twitter   made exclusively to support BLM. 

There have been loads of fan theories online about what the concept images may mean. From jester hats, black-and-white coloring, checkers, and doors, there's a lot that hints to the theme of the album, also tying into its title. We'll just have to wait and see how it all connects to the lyrics and overall vibe once it drops.

A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope)

Just as 2018's Hope World never got a physical album release, similarly, Jack in the Box will only be available online and not via CD. Despite the music not having a physical release, there  will still be physical inclusions like photo cards, a card holder, and a scannable QR code to access the album on Weverse. Statements made by HYBE revealed this decision was made to reduce plastic waste and be more eco-friendly.

j-hope will become the first South Korean artist to headline a major US music festival when he takes the stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago on Sunday, July 31. With the album arriving two weeks prior, it's safe to bet that he'll be performing new songs off of Jack in the Box when he takes the stage. No matter what he has prepared, it's sure to be a hit, and will hopefully lead to more performances in the future — and more exposure for j-hope and BTS as a whole.

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BTS - "Black Swan" Music Video

The striking visual is the latest offering from the South Korean septet's chart-topping album

BTS are back with another stunning music video off their newly released, chart-topping album Map Of The Soul: 7. Today (March 4), the global pop superstars released the official music video for "Black Swan," the first single off the album.

Simple yet striking, the "Black Swan" video shows the South Korean septet deliver a gorgeous dance performance inside an equally beautiful theater. Directed by YongSeok Choi and co-directed by Guzza, both from the Lumpens creative collective, the visual depicts the members of BTS transforming from swans into the song's eponymous black swans onstage. 

The "Black Swan" video follows the group's recent cinematic visual for Map Of The Soul: 7 single "ON," which last week (Feb. 28) broke YouTube's record for most views for a video premiere. Last month (Feb. 21), BTS released the Kinetic Manifesto Film: Come Prima, the first visual for "ON" that unfolds like a short film.

Released last month, Map Of The Soul: 7, BTS' fourth studio album, is breaking records around the world. Already the best-selling album of the year worldwide, the album topped the Billboard 200 chart, their fourth No. 1 album in the U.S., while lead single "ON" currently sits at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking their highest record on that chart to date.

Read: BTS Talk New Album 'Map Of The Soul: 7': "The Genre Is BTS"

In an interview with the Recording Academy last month, BTS explained their creative approach to Map Of The Soul: 7, which sees the group exploring everything from pop ballads to hip-hop jams.

"I think it's less and less meaningful to divide music into genres now," BTS member Suga said. 

"The genre is BTS. That's the genre we want to make and the music that we want. New genre," the group's Jungkook, V and J-Hope added. 

Map Of The Soul: 7 follows a dazzling performance from BTS at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards last month. They joined Lil Nas X in a star-studded performance of "Old Town Road" that also featured Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo and Mason Ramsey. 

Map Of The Soul: 7 marks BTS' first full-length project since their 2018 album, Love Yourself: Tear, which topped the Billboard 200 chart and solidified the group as the first Korean act to accomplish that record-setting feat. It's also the second installment in BTS' ongoing Map Of The Soul series, which launched with the chart-topping Map of the Soul: Persona EP last April.

Why is K-pop's popularity exploding in the United States?

Photo: Emma Mcintyre/Getty Images

From Lizzo’s classic Hollywood gown to Ariana Grande’s puffy grey dress, who wore your favorite red carpet look?

The 62nd GRAMMYs red carpet didn’t disappoint. Every color, pattern, style and texture under the rainbow was represented.

Take, for example, Lizzo’s elegant white classic Hollywood-inspired gown or Lil Nas X’s hot pink cowboy suit. Shawn Mendes opted for a vibrant purple suit and Tyler, The Creator made a splash with a light pink bellboy outfit. Billie Eilish homed in on the color green for the evening while Yola rocked hot pink.

With so many great looks to see on Music’s Biggest Night, we wanted to know, which artist wore your favorite look?

Check out the complete 62nd GRAMMY Awards nominees and winners list here.

Source Photos (Clockwise L-R): The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images; Rick Kern/WireImage; Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella; Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella; FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Outside Lands; Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella

As we celebrate the contributions of AAPI artists throughout the month of May, GRAMMY.com presents a genre-spanning playlist of emerging and established artists you should know, including BTS, Jhené Aiko, B.I, TWICE, Arooj Aftab, and many more.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) musicians have created a plethora of transformative art, which is ripe for exploration. To help you do it, GRAMMY.com has put together a 30-song list with music from AAPI musicians including Luna Li, Wallice, Weston Estate, Kainalu and OHYUNG, along with other AAPI artists you should know like Deb Never, Lucy Liyou and Sunset Rollercoaster. You may even find your new favorite artist along the way.

This playlist spans genres and moods, and its primary goal is to expose you to fantastic new AAPI artists you might not find in less curated places, like your motionless Spotify algorithm or crooning through your car radio. You can think of this playlist as a first-rate tasting menu of what AAPI-made music has to offer — something to turn to when you’re looking for solidarity, inspiration or just some really good music.  

Listen to GRAMMY.com’s official 2022 AAPI Month playlist below and follow the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs on Spotify , Apple Music , Amazon Music and Pandora .  Playlist powered by GRAMMY U.

5 Emerging AAPI Artists You Need To Listen To: Luna Li, Wallice, OHYUNG & More

Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Later in 2022, BTS will release a three-part anthology of key tracks, new songs, and previously unreleased rarities. Here's everything to know about 'Proof.'

There's a new stirring in the fabric of the BTS universe — a big one.

On June 10, the GRAMMY-nominated pop juggernauts will release Proof , a collection of tracks from throughout their discography, as well as brand new tracks, never-before-heard demos and more.

Spanning three discs, Proof promises to celebrate the band's past, present and future through a lovingly curated song cycle. If members of the BTS Army ever wanted to hear demos of tracks like "Jump," I Need U" and "DNA" — as well as an a cappella version of Jungkook's "Still With You" — they're in luck.

In the wake of Proof 's recently released tracklisting — featuring well-known tunes like "Dynamite" and "Butter" (and so much more), here's everything GRAMMY.com could find about the career-spanning compilation by a giant of 21st-century pop.

That's according to the official press release.

According to said press release: "The new album consists of three CDs that contain brand new tracks, members' selections, demo versions, unreleased tracks and more."

The first disc begins with a remastered version of "Born Singer," from all the way back in 2013, which the press release describes as "BTS' candid emotions they felt after one month of their debut." The disc ends with the lead single "Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)."

The second disc consists of "15 solo and sub-unit tracks," beginning with the new track "Run BTS," and highlights each BTS member's distinct tastes and personality.

The third disc, only available on CD, is said to be "dedicated to the fans," featuring unreleased tracks and demo versions that any fan will eat up — as well as a new fan song, "For Youth."

Read More: Smooth Like "Butter": How BTS' GRAMMY-Nominated Mega Hit Came To Be

Can you believe it's been almost a decade? Yet it feels like the Bangtan Boys are just getting started.

During their Permission To Dance Onstage concert in Las Vegas, BTS shared short clips with the text "We Are Bulletproof" and "2022. 06. 10." While this initially fueled speculation that a new album was coming, the release wound up materializing as Proof .

It's in the Highlights section of their Stories , where BTS also announced that "Yet to Come" will be the lead single.

See below — and watch this space as more details of Proof are unveiled!

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