genre kpop

Before they reunite in 2025 after nearly two years apart, j-hope says that the members of BTS had to grow separately.
In a new interview on the Zach Sang Show posted Tuesday (May 6), the K-pop star opened up about how he and his bandmates had to go through the sometimes difficult process of evolving as individuals and solo artists amid BTS’ break, during which the guys enlisted in the South Korean military while releasing music independent of the band. “In order to make music as a team in a healthy way, as each of us are making their own music, we each go through personal growth and growing pains that come with it,” j-hope explained.

“We learn many things,” he continued. “And then when we reunite after doing our own things, these experiences will fill us with new strength and energy. And now that’s very soon. Everyone has grown while pursuing their solo projects. I think that will contribute to the music we create as BTS.”

The interview comes nearly seven months after j-hope was discharged from the military, becoming the second member of BTS to finish his service requirements after Jin. In the two years since the band announced that it would be taking a break as the members carried out their mandatory civic duties, j-hope has released an album, 2022’s Jack in the Box, as well as an EP, 2024’s Hope on the Street Vol. 1; both projects charted in the Billboard 200 top 10. His latest single, “Mona Lisa,” dropped in March.

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RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jung Kook are currently closing in on the end of their respective enlistments, after which the band is expected to reunite. “We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future,” j-hope recently told Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe of the band’s plans post-military. “I think it’s going to be a massive energy.”

On Zach Sang, the “Chicken Noodle Soup” singer also revealed the first thing he did after finishing his own time in the military. “I came to L.A. right away,” he said, laughing. “I wanted to get back into the groove right away. Since I was in a different environment, I wanted to quickly dive back into the places and the culture I loved. I wanted to have fun while gaining new experiences and making music.”

Watch j-hope’s full interview with Zach Sang above.

ROSÉ split the apple down symmetrical lines at Charli xcx‘s final Brat Tour show in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sunday night (May 4), with the BLACKPINK star performing the viral “Apple” choreography on the Jumbotron amongst thousands of fans at Barclays Center.  As is tradition on the “Von Dutch” singer’s trek, venue cameras singled out one guest […]

Maroon 5 and LISA‘s “Priceless” tops this week’s new music poll.
In a poll published Friday (May 2) by Billboard, music fans chose the collaborative song from the Adam Levine-fronted band and BLACKPINK star as their favorite new release of the week.

“Priceless” brought in nearly 58% of the vote, beating out new releases from artists like KATSEYE (“Gnarly”), TOMORROW X TOGETHER (“Love Language”), Ed Sheeran (“Old Phone”), Key Glock (Glockaveli), and more.

Released after days of teasing from both Maroon 5 and LISA, the funk-infused pop track sets the stage for the band’s upcoming eighth studio album, while also serving as a bold punctuation mark on the BLACKPINK member’s debut solo project, Alter Ego.

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“Priceless” marks Maroon 5’s first collaboration with a K-pop artist and features a guitar-driven sound that nods to the band’s early 2000s roots, complemented by LISA’s confident rap verse. The accompanying music video, shot on 35mm film and directed by Aerin Moreno, takes visual inspiration from the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

“It’s just a guitar-based song, which we haven’t really done in so long,” Levine said in a statement. “It happened first for us while recording the album. I think it’s the purest, and we’re so happy to have LISA on it.”

He added, “The guitar intro is literally me playing into an audio message on my iPhone with an unplugged guitar. I actually got a little emotional recording it because it felt like reconnecting with our roots — which a lot of our fans have been asking for. It’s been over 20 years, so I think it’s time for that sound to return.”

“Priceless” follows Maroon 5’s 2021 album, Jordi, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. For LISA, the track builds on her expanding portfolio of international collaborations as a solo artist, following the success of her 2021 debut single “LALISA,” and her continued work with BLACKPINK.

This week’s poll runner-up was KATSEYE’s experimental pop anthem ‘Gnarly,’ which earned 23% of the vote. It marks the group’s first new release since 2024’s “Touch.”

Check out the full results of this week’s poll below and visit Billboard’s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.