[MV & Album Review] j-hope � 'Hope World (HIXTAPE)' (MIXTAPE)

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J-HOPE � HOPE WORLD (HIXTAPE)

Track List:
1. Hope World
2. P.O.P (Piece Of Peace) pt.1
3. Daydream
4. Base Line
5. HANGSANG (Feat. Supreme Boi)
6. Airplane
7. Blue Side (Outro)

Following in Suga and RM's footsteps, BTS member j-hope has released a mixtape of his own: 'Hope World.' This not only his first solo effort, but it's the first BTS material of 2018. What's more, he released it free on Twitter. Free is always good. You can get it here:

Google: https://bit.ly/2ovoi8m
MediaFire: https://bit.ly/2owaKcq
Dropbox: https://bit.ly/2GPsNRB
Listen on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bangtan/sets/j-hope-hope-world

Obviously, you can drop money on this in the iTunes store to support the artist.�

"Hope World" is the opener, and is a song about being grateful for his life. It's delivered in a sing-song rap style that I'm not the biggest fan of. And there's an English fail in the chorus; it sounds like "whole world" rather than "hope world." Despite my misgivings about it, it's a decent track. In "P.O.P. (Piece Of Peace) pt.1" j-hope is saying he wants to be the guy who helps create peace in the world. This is more of a pure hip-hop song with lit rhythms and sick rhymes. "Daydream" is the title track, and here he rhapsodizes about resting and fantasizing. It's more a traditional pop song than hip-hop, containing (what else?) a rap line in the middle. This one is a fun listen. The BTS rapper lays out his hopes and dreams in "Base Line." This is probably one of my favorites on the whole mixtape, and clocking in at 1:29 is entirely too short. It's chock full of glitches and he just sounds like he's having fun.

"HANGSANG" means "always" but you knew that, right? The song features longtime BTS producer Supreme Boi, who was in BTS but left before debut. This tune is about hanging out with friends, and has the dubious distinction of rhyming "dawg" with "thug." It's a little slow for my tastes. "Airplane" is more complicated than it sounds -- it chronicles his wish as a child to take a ride in an airplane, from his nerves flying to Japan for the first time, to being�now comfortable flying from gig to gig. It's okay, but the only way you can tell the chorus from the rest is the overdubs. Other than that it's all one tune. It takes a little more than a minute to find its footing -- that's when I like it better. Finally, in a very calming piece, j-hope tells you he wants to hold you in his blue dream, going back to "Blue Side."

As usual for BTS, this is a more reflective take on life and has more gravitas than any of the flavors of love that a traditional pop tune covers. And j-hope does this as well as anyone. A mixtape is meant to show the influences an artist has, not to mention give you a little peep inside their soul. This glimpse tells me more than a bit about j-hope, and I would hope you like what you find.

MV REVIEW

The first thing you notice about this MV is that it's got eye-popping hues. The video is positively drenched in bright colors. They don't skimp on the effects in here, either. One of the�scenes I love is where a miniature j-hope sits on a larger, slumbering version of himself -- he jumps, and lands in a seat at the table and starts eating breakfast. It's a positively whimsical flight of fancy -- and perfect for an MV titled "Daydream."� �

There's very little dancing in this video, but it's not the point. The point is to showcase the talented star�and deluge you with animation, CGI, and interesting color effects. There's no plot, and there doesn't have to be.

Locations galore. A grip of CGI giving you tons of eye candy (if j-hope alone doesn't already fit that bill for you). Plus cute scenes to make you either gape or laugh. This is a perfectly awesome, turn-your-brain-off-and-just-enjoy MV.