As one-seventh of BTS, arguably the most influential K-pop phenomenon of the 21st century, j-hope has long mesmerised global audiences with his insane charisma and, without a doubt, kinetic dance mastery. From stadiums packed with ARMYs to solo headliner sets at Lollapalooza, the South Korean rapper, dancer, and producer has continuously reshaped the possibilities of pop stardom. But this April, j-hope not only performed, he made history.

And there is no need for introductions – whether you’re an ARMY or not, j-hope and BTS are global icons. On April 4 and 6, j-hope triumphantly concluded the North American leg of his inaugural solo world tour HOPE ON THE STAGE with a spectacular two-night run at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium. In doing so, he became the first South Korean male soloist ever to headline a stadium concert in North America.

As the lights dropped and the beats of Pandora’s Box swam through the stadium, j-hope showed what he is made of. Surrounded by a sea of ARMY BOMBs lighting up the night, the artist set fire to the stage with tracks from Jack In The Box (2022), kicking off the performance with an intense mix of perfect precision and untamed energy. The energy reached another level when Grammy-winning R&B icon Miguel stunned the crowd with a surprise appearance, joining j-hope for a performance of their March 2025 hit Sweet Dreams.

Later, j-hope slipped into his sultrier side with MONA LISA. The show’s encore, featuring = (Equal Sign), Future, and the celebratory closer NEURON with special guests Gaeko and yoonmirae, was given a fresh take with a nostalgic New Jack Swing vibe.

True to its name, HOPE ON THE STAGE was a theatrical manifestation of dreams and ambition. Divided into five acts: Ambition, Dream, Expectation, Fantasy, and Wish, each section offered something special, a sublime preview into j-hope’s personal and artistic journey since BTS’ debut over a decade ago.

Technically stunning and emotionally immersive, the production featured shape-shifting stages that morphed in real-time, sometimes enclosing him in a symbolic box, other times lifting him high like a god of rhythm. Performances from his HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1 special album transformed the stage into a vibrant retro dance haven, where he presented the street dance roots that first sparked his passion for music.

The North American leg began on March 13 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, where j-hope debuted MONA LISA, instantly sparking viral dance trends across social media. The tour blazed through major cities including Chicago, San Antonio, Oakland, and Mexico City before concluding in the history-making shows in LA.

With 31 shows across 15 cities – from Seoul, Singapore, and Jakarta to Osaka, Bangkok, and beyond – HOPE ON THE STAGE was a magical tour, with j-hope stealing the hearts of everyone, regardless of their love for hip-hop or K-pop.

Featured image courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}