Before his debut, J-Hope was part of underground street dance team NEURON, where he earned many prizes and performed frequently during promotions. Now in 2018, he made his first mixtape called Hope World.
J-Hope revealed that he actually left Big Hit Entertainment / BTS during the groups earlier days (before debut). However, he decided to come back because he trusted in the members and the members saying that the group was not the same without him.
As opposed to the decision of his parents for him to pursue music, J-Hopes solo song "Mama" is a song dedicated to his mom. She came to a BTS concert and when J-Hope performed it she cried. He says the song was written as a means to show that he has finally become a son she can be proud of.