BTS's J-Hope Expresses Feelings About Not Having A Physical Album For "Jack In The Box" In 2022

BTS‘s J-Hope made his official solo debut on July 15, 2022. While he’s currently completing his mandatory military service, he’s continued to keep ARMYs on their toes with pre-prepared content, including the announcement of a long-awaited physical copy of his debut solo album, Jack In The Box.

The album cover for BTS J-Hope’s “Jack In The Box” | *@uarmyhope/Instagram*

While discussing his post-military service six-month plan, J-Hope talked about a gift to ARMYs that is coming sooner, his physical album.

When J-Hope initially released Jack In The Box, it was only available as a Weverse album, and its lack of a physical album caused fans to question if HYBE had mismanaged J-Hope’s solo debut following the company using his promotions to test their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy.

Hybe used JitB to gain ESG points to help their corporate image and mismanaged the sales and distribution.
JitB had success despite HB not because of them,it would've done even better if HB did their job.
Hobi deserved HBs best.
This is not HBs best👇#JusticeForJitB #CDSforJHope pic.twitter.com/aVQQlgsvGJ

— hobipalooza fanbase – #OnTheStreet (slow) (@hobipaloozaFB) October 21, 2022

Its not okay that hybe used jitb to carbon offset the rest of their releases for the year. They got better ESG points instead of promoting their artist. Hybe didn't care about j-hope's art or career, they only cared about using jitb to make them appear sustainable.#JusticeForJitB

— red🦋 (@redwitx) October 20, 2022

ARMYs advocated for a physical release of J-Hope’s album over the last year, and the BTS member worked hard to make it happen. His agency stated:

J-Hope devoted himself wholeheartedly before his military enlistment to prepare this physical album. He actively participated in the overall planning of the album, incorporating his own style.

— BIGHIT MUSIC

In his Suchwita episode, J-Hope revealed how he really felt about the lack of a physical album for his solo debut.

Suga began by saying that he had encouraged J-Hope to release a physical album, telling him that ARMYs would love it.

J-Hope revealed that Jack In The Box originally began as a mixtape, and he had intended to release a Weverse album or an LP if it remained a mixtape.

Instead, the project turned into a full album, and J-Hope acknowledged there was a “bigger need” for a physical album than he had expected.

Suga noted that it’s rare these days for people to purchase physical albums to listen to them while observing that instead, people use them as merchandise.

For Suga, he values physical albums as part of his collection to serve as a memory, which was why he encouraged J-Hope to release a physical version of his debut solo album.

J-Hope acknowledged how much ARMYs wanted a physical copy and admitted the fact he didn’t have a physical copy of his album last year “bothered him a little.” He felt “really sorry” for not having a physical copy for fans who, “thought [he] should make one.”

Pre-ordering for J-Hope’s physical album, Jack In The Box (HOPE Edition), began on July 17, and the album will be released on August 18. Jack In The Box (HOPE Edition) will include three live and two instrumental tracks from J-Hope’s 2022 Lollapalooza performance.

Check out more about J-Hope’s future plans in the article below!