• Quick Take: Allowing fans a deeper look into the Jung Hoseok behind the j-hope persona, the rapper’s first solo studio album experiments with different tones while staying true to his sound. (No wonder the listening party was so hype)
• Notable B-Sides: “What If”; “Safety Zone”

BTS’ j-hope released his first full solo album “Jack In The Box”, his first solo release since the mixtape “Hope World”. I love it when artists experiment and show a different side of themselves, especially while maintaining their unique style that drew fans in the first place. “Jack In The Box” is a great example of this, a darker viewpoint into the rapper’s persona which defied my expectations of a bright and cheery follow-up to 2018’s mixtape “Hope World”. Playing off the myth of Pandora’s box, which releases a variety of evils into the world, the album contains themes of discontent with present injustices (“Stop”), disillusionment on past achievements (“More”), and uncertainties about the future (“Arson”). And yet, just like Pandora’s box also gifted hope, “Jack In The Box” remains loyal to the ‘hobicore’ persona with tracks rallying for fairness like “= (Equal Sign)”, striving to be a source of optimism in “Future” and “Pandora’s Box”, and the Chance-the-Rapper-esque “Safety Zone”. Despite the perhaps unexpected rawness, the album still very much sounds like it belongs to j-hope’s discography and does a great job of showing both new and long-time fans his growth. (Check out the English translations of the album tracks here.)

New Comebacks & Releases

• Notable B-Sides: “Crazy Like You (feat. BIBI)”; “Goodnight My Princess”
• Speaking of artists expressing new sides of themselves, how is it that CHUNG HA gets even more stunning every comeback? The singer released her second studio album “Bare and Rare Part 1” with the upbeat title track “Sparkling”. I’m in love with the summer mermaid vibes in the MV, and the soda-pop sound effect in the chorus makes you feel refreshed from head to toe. Although Chung Ha still delivers a flawless performance (with choreo by Street Woman Fighter dance crew LA CHICA), this album goes even further than previous releases with stunning vocals that remind us that she’s more than just a dancer.

• JYP’s ITZY released their 5th mini album “CHECKMATE” with the title track “Sneakers”.

• Super Junior released their 11th album “The Road : Keep on Going” with the title track “Mango”.

• Apink sub-unit Chobom (Chorong and Bomi) made their debut with the single album “Copycat“.
• SF9 released their 11th mini album “The Wave of 9” with the title track “Scream“.
• Girl group Busters released the single “Tropical Romance“.
• Jay Park released the single “Need To Know“.
• Billie released a cover of Yoon Jong Shin’s “Patbingsu“.

Top Headlines

• Co-ed group KARD released dates and venues for their upcoming “Wild Kard” North American tour. The group recently made their first comeback following member J.seph’s return from the military, and renewed their contract with their agency.
• Speaking of renewals, JYP Entertainment announced that all members of TWICE have renewed their contracts with the agency ahead of their expiration. We just love to see groups breaking the 7-year curse.
• WEi announced dates for their first world tour “First Love”, kicking off in September.
• Street Man Fighter confirmed Kang Daniel as a host. The fourth spin-off of the popular Street Woman Fighter, the show will feature competition between 8 dance crews including Mbitous (formed on the prequel show with two idol members). Street Man Fighter will air starting August 16.
• HBO confirmed that BLACKPINK‘s Jennie will star in the upcoming series The Idol. The drama, starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, is about an aspiring pop star who falls for a cult leader. And if that sounds trippy, just remember that it’s the brain-child of The Weeknd and the creator of HBO’s hit series Euphoria.
• YG Entertainment announced that boy group TREASURE will continue as a 10-member group with members Bang Ye Dam and Mashiho on hiatus until the end of the year.
• KM Entertainment announced that member Sohee has left the group ICHILLIN, less than a year after their debut. The group will continue with 6 members for now.
• COVID-19 strikes K-pop again:
  • WINNER‘s Kim Jin Woo tested positive and has canceled all scheduled appearances. While the remaining 3 member tested negative, the news comes just one week into promotions for the group’s latest album release.
  • Kep1er‘s Kang Ye Seo tested positive. The rest of the group has tested negative, but have cancelled upcoming schedules as a precaution.

K-Drama Corner

• Ji Chang Wook (Healer; Suspicious Partner) and are back in new stills and teasers for the upcoming drama If You Wish Upon Me. The drama features a disillusioned man who goes to work at a hospice that centers on fulfilling patients’ last wish, where he meets a fitness-obsessed nurse played by Girls Generation’s Sooyoung (Run On; So I Married The Anti-Fan) and the volunteer team leader played by Sung Dong Il ( Reply and Hospital Playlist series; Sisyphus). Wish premieres August 10 on KBS.
• Netflix’s Squid Game and the Emmys are ggangbu: the hit drama has 14 nominations including some of the top awards like Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Otstanding Writing for a Drama Series. The Emmy Awards will air in September.
• Upcoming two part sci-fi film Alienoid released a new trailer featuring the star-studded cast. The film follows what happens when Taoists from the Goryeo dynasty searching for a legendary sword meet a group from the present day hunting down an alien imposter when a portal connects the two time periods. The cast includes Kim Woo Bin (Our Blues; Uncontrollably Fond), Kim Tae Ri (Mr. Sunshine; Twenty Five Twenty One), Ryu Joon Yeol (Reply 1988; Lost), and So Ji Sub (Doctor Lawyer; Oh My Venus). Part 1 premieres July 20. Check out the trailer here.
• Extraordinary Attorney Woo is in talks for an American remake. The currently airing drama stars Park Eun Bin as a lawyer on the autism spectrum and fellow lawyers played by Kang Tae Oh (Run On) Ha Yoon Kyung (Hospital Playlist), Kang Ki Young (At 18), and Joo Jong-Hyuk. As much as I love this drama, I’m a bit hesitant to celebrate because I’m usually disappointed by American remakes of K-content. Still, it’s nice to see the show get recognition from western vultures a wide audience.

Currently Watching

• Extraordinary Attorney Woo (episodes 5-6)
  • I continue to fall hopelessly in love with this drama. I’m a sucker for well-written women friendships (especially since second female leads tend to be written as catty mean girls), and the at first reluctant bond between Young Woo and Soo Yeon was heartwarming. I felt from the first few episodes that Soo Yeon begrudgingly helped Young Woo out of a sense of superiority or wanting to be labeled a ‘good person’, but this week showed a new layer of their relationship that even took Soo Yeon by surprise. (Fingers crossed that she doesn’t turn bitter when she realizes that Jun Ho is crushing on Young Woo- sisters before misters!) I also love how the show sorta poked fun at the ‘geeeenius’ main character trope, because no matter how good you are sometimes experience really is the best teacher. Also, I know Young Woo’s friend has a crush on him, but can we stuff her ableist colleague Min Woo in the nearest garbage can?

What were your favorite releases/headlines this week? Let us know in the comments!