By Xu Aiying 
Video = Billboard's official YouTube channel

BTS member J-Hope has graced the cover of Billboard magazine of the U.S.

Billboard on May 20 released the cover of its May issue showing J-Hope.

"Best known as a dancer, rapper and singer-songwriter in BTS, J-Hope has long stood out, with a magnetic stage presence and captivating dance moves that helped propel the group to global stardom," it said.

"Just as I drew inspiration from the artists I admired growing up, shaping my own music through their influence, I'd be honored if my work could inspire others and pass on that same positive energy — that would mean the world to me," J-Hope said in the interview.

"Above all, I hope to continue growing into an artist who brings light and encouragement to others wherever I go."

On his solo world tour, he said, "Having performed at countless stadiums with BTS, I was always part of a seven-member team filling the stage. This time, I was on my own, and honestly, I wondered if I could handle that immense energy and pressure by myself. But I pulled it off and that means a lot to me — it's a milestone I'll always cherish."

Turning to two solo tracks he released this year, "Sweet Dreams" and "Mona Lisa," J-Hope said, "Both tracks are easy to connect with, yet they offer a glimpse into the broader, more evolved musical world I'm building. This is just the start — I have plenty more musical experiments in store."

J-Hope is the second male solo artist in K-pop to appear on the cover of Billboard, following rapper Psy in 2012. BTS appeared on the cover of the magazine's special edition in 2018 and the August 2021 issue.

J-Hope will continue his global tour in Taiwan from May 24–25, followed by Japan from May 31 to June 1. To mark the anniversary of BTS' debut, he will hold encore concerts from June 13-14 at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do Province.

xuaiy@korea.kr