As BTS member j-hope kicked off the North American tour, overseas media have been praising his overwhelming performances.
j-hope successfully held his solo concert "j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' in BROOKLYN" at the Barclays Center in the U.S. from 14th to 15th (Korean time). This performance sold out both days. The area around the venue was buzzing with ARMYs, and j-hope met fans' expectations with explosive energy, pouring everything into his performance.
The U.S. music media Consequence of Sound noted in a review that "one reason why j-hope's performance is special is that he does not seem to struggle at all, despite the enormous effort he must have put into preparing for the stage."
The media reported, "Starting with the opening stage under intense red curtains, j-hope showcased delicate performances and immersive direction in over 20 songs, and he handled all of this with ease. As the tour name 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' suggests, he has returned to where he belongs."
The media also praised, "To the public's eye, j-hope has always presented a confident performance. As the Director General of choreography for BTS, he is detail-oriented and diligent. Drawing from a variety of street dance experiences, j-hope has created his own smooth and attractive style by combining it with the intricate performance methods of K-pop. It's unimaginable for j-hope to be anywhere other than on stage."
Billboard highlighted seven top moments from the concert, including j-hope's stage direction, street dance, and the debut of a new single. The media commented, "j-hope showcased everything he has, like a fish brought to water, presenting his early mixtapes and SoundCloud tracks, BTS's chart-topping hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and his new solo single. He fully revealed his own domain on stage, clearly demonstrating qualities such as hope, optimism, and passion."
U.S. magazine Stylecaster described, "This tour marks a new era for j-hope. His creative talents stand out as he is already a versatile artist with a solid solo career." The magazine noted, "He generously showcased his roots and incredible talent, using the stage like his personal playground."
This is not the first time that overseas media have praised j-hope's solo concert. The 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' concert held in Seoul's Songpa District at KSPO DOME from February 28 to March 2 received a perfect 5-star rating from British music magazine NME.
j-hope will continue his North American tour on the 18th and 19th at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. He will also release a new song titled 'MONA LISA' at 1 p.m. on the 21st and will hold solo performances as the first Korean solo artist at Los Angeles' BMO Stadium on April 5 and 7.
[Photo] Big Hit Music
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