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| Photo Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC |
Picture this: It’s been seven years since a BTS member perform in Europe. Of course that changed in January 2025 when j-hope made a return with a memorable mini-set at Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes, a charity event in Paris held by France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron. While it was iconic, it did leave fans wanting more. Many travelled to the US or Asia to see him perform his history-breaking shows for his first world tour, HOPE ON THE STAGE. The mind-blowing stage soared across 31 shows across 15 cities, which concluded with two final performances in Seoul, South Korea.
But now it was finally Berlin’s turn to get a slice of the rapper, dancer, and all-around extraordinaire as j-hope made history once again—this time at Lollapalooza. Who could forget watching him jump out of the box for his Lollapalooza debut back in 2022 in Chicago, where he became the first South Korean soloist to headline a stage? Weverse crashed for those of us watching around the world—14 million tuning into the livestream. But this time, viewers were well taken care of; Weverse live-streamed the event once again and this time added an additional watch over on channel BANGTAN TV.
The weekend itself was a buzz of happiness, overflowing with enthusiasm and pure joy that only comes from being part of fandoms. As always, fan projects lit up the festival, and plenty of freebies were handed out, creating nice moments of connection amongst all fandoms as they mingled, celebrating their favourite artists together. Despite Saturday’s wet and muddy conditions, the excitement never faltered, with festivalgoers dancing in the rain as Justin Timberlake headlined, and girl group IVE lit up the stage with their performance. But Sunday? Sunday belonged to one man: Jung Hoseok.
As we all know, ARMY is more than just a fandom; it's an organised, passionate collective that goes above and beyond in their unwavering support for all seven members of BTS. For this event, the dress code was clear and creative: either complete head-to-toe in purple or full-on Hobi-core, whether it be inspired by the grunge vibes from Jack in the Box, the burst of colour from Hopeworld, or dressed as a giant Mona Lisa. And now the time had come—it was time for Hobipalooza 2.0. Known for making his staging show-stopping this was another fine example of going on to deliver a show nothing short of legendary.
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| Photo Courtesy of © Pau Schu |
Opening with a powerful introduction of What If, Arson, Pandora's Box, and More. j-hope hit the stage with a live band behind him, bringing those burning lyrics to another level. His signature intensity was still there, unwavering and determined as always. However, this time his look was a different turn, choosing to lean into a more casual yet sensual vibe, sporting a sheer cropped shirt and baggy jeans, a nod to a cooler and more collected look, fully in charge. As he introduced himself, he hyped up the crowd, speaking in English, “Are you ready? Tonight is about to be a wild ride!” And he meant it. Stamina is a close friend of Hoseok’s, a clear strength flowing effortlessly from track to track into his standout 2024’s smooth grooves of Lock/Unlock.
While staying true to a setlist similar to his HOPE ON THE STREET world tour, j-hope added a new ingredient he’s been waiting to use: sexuality. It’s a side of j-hope he’s kept tucked away, waiting for the right moment to unleash. Recently, he’s been on a path of destruction with his provocative concept for his latest single, Killin It Girl. The visuals for the music video saw him confident in his artistry evolution, choosing to use it more as a statement. A very bold and confident one.
As I’ve mentioned previously during his shows in Seoul, one of the most impressive parts remained with the deep synergy between j-hope and ARMY. It’s a shared spark, with fan chants being the way to reciprocate it back to him. During Killin It Girl, ARMYs didn't miss a beat, chanting the Korean word for word, mirroring the energy of Seoul's promotions. From there the momentum kept going as he performed Mona Lisa and Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)(FNZ Remix.) For fans who had waited so long to see him live, it became a beautiful high point. As the purple heart project came to life, ARMYs held up cut-out purple hearts inscribed with messages of love and gratitude. Paired with the glow of ARMY bombs, blooming into a field of purple, a visual love letter to j-hope. Caught by surprise, j-hope, stunned, pointed to the crowd with wide eyes and smiled. “Oh my god, you guys, wow,” he exclaimed, clearly moved by the support and continued connection, showing the bond between fan and artist.
As always, j-hope’s shows feel like more than just a setlist, more like a story arc, with every transition deliberate in guiding the audience through their emotions. When it came time for the BTS segment, he switched things up by starting with Permission to Dance (tropical remix); the upbeat version was perfect for matching the weather. With a summer celebration in full swing and ironically bringing the sunshine that had been missing over the weekend, it was as if everyone's energy alone dried up the lingering puddles and replaced them with a sunny disposition. From there he flowed into Butter (Hotter Remix), carrying on the party as he was joined by a dance crew. And as if reading the crowd's reaction, he stepped back, letting the crowd take the lead, trusting them to sing every word. After years of waiting to share these moments with him, the chorus sang out like a giant karaoke session, all in unison together, all making new memories.
But there was one BTS song the crowd had especially been waiting for: MIC DROP. This was highly anticipated, and rightfully so. Not just because of what it stands for or the explosive energy, but because it’s also become a bit of an inside challenge throughout the tour of which city can scream the iconic line “미안해 엄마 (Mianhae eomma)” the loudest.
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| Photo Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC |
Once the strings for the electric guitar fired up and j-hope got into position, the entire crowd instantly knew what to do. A shift began with ARMYs kicking into an OT7 fan chant, igniting like a fuse across 60,000 people, building him up and ready to get to that line. And, as he always does now, j-hope paused, waiting for the volume from everyone as they roared out, “Mianhae eomma!” Not only did the fans feel pleased with the volume, but j-hope himself was caught off guard. You could not only hear it by him trying to suppress a giggle but also see that glint in his eye just showing how much he has enjoyed this moment. It’s these perfect fan-artist interactions that have been fun throughout this era of electric and fun exchanges.
He then launched into the Hope World segment, bursting into colour and love, and seeing him so in his element. Watching him perform these tracks now, it was clear just how much this era was needed.
Compared to his first Lollapalooza in 2022, which was his first performance completely solo, Sunday night showed how much he had grown and become comfortable in his artistry; it practically radiated from him. From the way the songs were arranged to how he moved and delivered them, everything felt more grounded, more assured. Back in 2022 he was confident, yes, but with a touch of caution not to put a foot wrong and for every detail to be abided by. Perhaps the trepidation and the weight of expectations of what lay ahead in his future were sitting behind him.
On Sunday, that fear—or even the natural nerves all artists feel, no matter their status or experience—was nowhere to be seen. In its place was an artist who had faced the unknown, grown through it, and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and stronger. This wasn’t just a performance; it was a statement—bold, joyful, and unapologetically j-hope.
The final encore was packed with emotion, featuring poignant tracks like the fan favourite Equal Sign and Future. These songs not only brought comfort and a little bit of reflection but also showcased how much j-hope’s vocal range has evolved—steady and expressive, bringing his heartfelt words to life beautifully.
Rounding off with Neuron, with a stunning nostalgic visual backdrop behind him, it felt monumental and big yet somehow intimate just being in that moment together. A spectacular firework display lit up the sunset into the night sky, marking the end of not only the end of his incredibly successful tour and headlining set but also closing out Lollapalooza’s 10th anniversary weekend in fashionable style.
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| Photo Courtesy of © Julius Hatt |
Though his English was top-tier throughout the show, j-hope humbly asked the crowd if it was okay for him to speak in Korean for a moment. He took the time to talk about his solo debut at Lollapalooza Chicago and how meaningful it was to be headlining in Berlin, especially since he couldn’t make it to Europe for his tour.
Hobipalooza 2.0 will always stand as a defining chapter in the shared story between artist and fan—a testament to the faith he placed in ARMY to stay and the deep, mutual love that is on full display. For those perhaps unfamiliar with his artistry or who the fandom are, it was a moving introduction. Above all, it also served as a powerful reminder that believing in yourself can lead to incredible things. That synergy that he hoped to show in 2025 didn't just appear, but it truly flourished, radiating through every note, step, and, once again, very Jung Hoseok.
j-hope’s Setlist:
What if
Pandora's Box
Arson
MORE
On the street (solo version)
lock/unlock
Trivia: Just Dance
VCR - ‘Charm of Hope’ concept film
Killin’ it girl (solo version)
MONA LISA
Sweet Dreams
Base Line
HANGSANG
MIC DROP
Dynamite (Tropical Remix)
Butter (Hotter Remix)
Outro: Ego
Daydream
Chicken Noodle Soup
Hope World
= (Equal Sign)
Future
NEURON
j-hope's set is available to watch on Weverse or on BANGTAN TV.