J-Hope Burns Brighter Than Ever Through His "Arson" Lyrics

BTS's J-Hope has dropped his eagerly anticipated debut solo album, "Jack in the Box," and the second single off the EP, "Arson," is everything we hoped for and more! A follow-up to the full-length album's gritty lead single, "More," "Arson" sees J-Hope lay bare a different side to his artistry, coupled with his foray into darker synths and an even grungier hip-hop sound.

With this latest release from the 28-year-old rapper, BTS have officially embarked on a new exciting chapter of their musical careers, as they each focus on solo activities following their recently announced hiatus from making music as a group. Though the septet have previously released solo singles, collaborations, and mixtapes, J-Hope's newly released 10-track studio album kicks off the era of full-length individual album releases from every BTS member.

Read on for the English translation of J-Hope's latest track ahead, followed by a full breakdown of the thought-provoking lyrics and the meaning behind "Arson."

J-Hope's "Arson" consists mainly of Korean lyrics. Check out the English translation of the single via Genius below.

INTRO
(Arson)
Let's burn, burn, burn, burn
Burn, burn, burn, burn (No)
It's done, done, done, done
Done, done, done, done
(Arson)

VERSE 1
Let's burn To my passion, burn To my
hopes, burn My life, burn Every day I ran Couldn't stop Back then I burned it
all And I wanted it all Fame came first (First) Money? Of course (Got it up)
Popularity too (Woo) Couldn't help but go into overdrive The motivation behind
my thoughtless ambition When I sweat, ooh

VERSE 2
I shower in petrol (Oh)
To set a fire (Oh)
On my feet, on my legs (Oh)
Even hotter, run my way (Oh)
Records heating up (Oh)
My popularity at the top (Ayy)
And up goes my born haters (Ayy)
Horns that ring every time (Woo)
But even this, I like (Woo)
'Cause with my fans
With my label
With my fellaz
We burn bright together
All day
Rational accomplices
Arsonist was fun (Heeh)
Got nothing to fear
One second ahead, fuck off (Fuck off, fuck off)

CHORUS
If anyone asks me
"Right, I lit the flame"
Now I ask myself, choose what
Do I put out the fire, or burn even brighter, yah, yah, yah, yah
(Arson)

VERSE 3
It's done
My dreams, done
Success, done
My part of the job, done
What else, none
Less is more
Leaving when there's still
Applause, that's the style
Setting the fire
Is something I did for myself
Who knew the world
Would go up in flames
I see my marks after things cooled down
Fire too big to put out, it was serious arson
Oh shit

VERSE 4
It's too hot, no
I wake up from the pain
Contact my inner self
Enveloped in fear
Nobody can't, nobody stop, shit
Putting out the fire
Only I can do that (Yeah)
A fireman of chaos
Oh, a dark path like soot awaits even when the fire is out
Tell myself
The huge hurdle ahead, what's my move
To sidestep the game board that casts my stone

CHORUS
If anyone asks me
(Let's burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn)
"Right, I lit the flame"
Now I ask myself, choose what
Do I put out the fire, or burn even brighter
It's done
If anyone asks me
(It's done, done, done, done, done, done, done, done)
"Right, I lit the flame"
Now I ask myself, choose what
Do I put out the fire, or burn even brighter

"Arson" echoes the album's overarching theme of J-Hope's desire to reveal himself unfiltered and uncensored. "Let's burn / It's done," the singer-songwriter opens the track, repeating this phrase over ominous siren-like sounds and a simple, grungy drumbeat. The song, which fuses elements of electronica with hip-hop beats, finds the artist at a crossroads in his uber-successful musical journey, reflecting on where to go from here. "If anyone asks me / 'Right, I lit the flame' / Now I ask myself, choose what / Do I put out the fire, or burn even brighter," J-Hope ponders in the chorus.

As the song progresses, J-Hope begins to come to terms with the inevitable pressures and anxieties that come from the amount of success he's achieved. "My dreams, done / Success, done / My part of the job, done / What else, none / Less is more / Leaving when there's still applause, that's my style," he raps in the third verse.

Though being a part of BTS has earned J-Hope immense success and popularity with legions of fans, the singer briefly touches on the group's decision to take a break instead of burning on both ends. "Setting the fire / Is something I did for myself / Who knew the world / Would go up in flames," he continues, suggesting that his tapping into his potential as a solo artist expanded his understanding of his artistry. While it must've been terrifying at first, embracing this side led him to meet endless possibilities as a musician even at the peak of his success.

The accompanying "Arson" music video starts with J-Hope slowly walking under a bridge, Joker style, with burning cars all around him. As the world surrounding him is engulfed in flames, the singer initially seems unscathed from the fire, dressed in pristine white overalls. However, as the situation escalates, billowing fire smoke overtakes the entire screen, later revealing the singer charred and blistered. The camera zooms inside the singer's body to show his beating yet scorched heart then zooms back out to show J-Hope smiling despite his wounds that glow like embers.

The chill-inducing visuals reflect the song's lyrics, which include, "'Cause with my fans / With my label / With my fellaz / We burn bright together." Here J-Hope is reflecting on how his fans give the group enough strength to endure even the harshest of haters and challenges. When the naysayers go low, J-Hope and BTS go higher.

However, it could also be interpreted as the singer breaking the public stereotypes placed on him as he sets those false perceptions on fire and comes out shining brighter than ever before.

As the revelation takes viewers aback, J-Hope is on the ground with the flaming shapes around him spelling out the word "arson."

Check out the mesmerizing music video below!