Crossover Ready: 'Killin' It Girl' by J-Hope featuring GloRilla

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Anytime that BTS paused to catch its breath, j-hope has always been the first to leap.

From what I’ve been told by those who work with him and around him, the 31-year-old is most eager and open-minded when it comes to new ideas, promotional opportunities and ways to spread his and BTS’ name. When the band took their first announced break to recharge in 2019, he seized the chance to forge ahead by releasing his first solo single, “Chicken Noodle Soup,” alongside Becky G, a fun and fizzy tribute to the Webstar song as well as his roots in New York dance that became the first solo track by a BTS member to crack the Billboard Hot 100. That bold spirit only intensified with 2022’s Jack in the Box, the first full solo project released in BTS’ “Chapter Two,” where they worked on solo projects ahead of their military enlistment. While Jack in the Box’s rollout felt rather experimental (it initially dropped as a digital-only album with a QR‑powered user guide and some photo cards, and later as a limited‑edition vinyl and, eventually, a traditional album and CD package — it underscored j‑hope’s appetite for risk, even if it meant serving as a strategy guinea pig.

The same adventurousness carried him from studio to stage. In 2022, he made K-pop festival history as the first soloist on Lollapalooza’s main stage, delivering a well-received set that fused his solo cuts with BTS remixes and even a surprise Becky G cameo. Fast‑forward to April 2025 and j-hope was the first to fill stadiums, becoming the first Korean male artist to headline BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Yet even as he pushed forward with those triumphs, j-hope has hit a snag in landing a solo single that’s managed to show lasting staying power. While he has managed to earn seven entries on the Hot 100 to date — a record he now holds with Jung Kook as the most among K-pop soloists — all have vanished after just one week on the chart. That’s a stark contrast to all of JK’s singles spending a minimum of a month-and-a-half on the chart, his longest streak coming via Golden’s last single, “Standing Next to You,” with 19 weeks after its November 2023 debut — charting long after JK began his military service.

But that’s also why I’m genuinely excited about j-hope’s new single “Killin’ It Girl” featuring GloRilla, which feels like a genuine game‑changer.

From DJ’s opening announcement — “You are now tuned into the one and the only J‑Hope”— the track introduces itself with a rush of confidence. The minimalist hip‑hop beat was co‑crafted by three of today’s most reliable hitmakers: Cirkut (fresh from Rosé’s breakout “APT.” and recent projects with Lady Gaga and Charli XCX), Iverness (a rising force with tracks for ENHYPEN and NCT), and Blake Slatkin (whose credits include The Kid LAROI’s “Stay,” Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” and j‑hope’s own “MONA LISA”). They’re joined by a writing team led by PDogg — BTS’s longtime producer —alongside veteran pop writer Theron Thomas (Beyoncé, Usher, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus) and Jessica Agombar (Ava Max and BTS’ “Dynamite”), whose breathy background vocals lend the chorus a pop‑tinged warmth neither j‑hope’s rough delivery nor GloRilla’s fierce flow could achieve alone.

GloRilla’s appearance feels particularly savvy. The of-the-moment rapper who already has 13 Hot 100 hits under her belt, most of which have lingered far beyond their debut week, connects one of hip-hop’s most exciting new names to j-hope who seemed unlikely to outdo himself with 2023’s “On the Street” alongside J. Cole but he’s done it.

The minimalist production of the verses allows listeners to focus on the delivery, with the chorus’ cascading synths adding an additional Top 40 appeal.

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Not to mention j-hope’s body being absolutely on point with the concept photos and music video delivering a healthy helping of his rock-hard abs (that I don’t ever remember him showcasing so willingly), giving the track an additional dose of sexiness and fun that will only draw in more viewers in that will turn into listeners.

As the world awaits official news about BTS’s full-group reunion, amplifying j-hope’s solo profile now feels not just strategic, but essential with this strong of a single. This is the moment to celebrate his fearless artistry and ensure it resonates far beyond K-pop fandom — because j-hope is truly “killing it,” with this one and the wider world needs to listen.