BTS’ j-hope and Jimin Met American Rapper J Cole at Lollapalooza

“That moment between j-hope, Jimin, and J. Cole at Lollapalooza was a full-circle dream come true, not just for j-hope, but for so many BTS fans who know how deeply BTS has respected J. Cole for years. As j-hope gears up for one of the most important performances of his solo career, his interaction with J. Cole added a heartfelt and symbolic touch to the event.

Seeing j-hope meet J. Cole, someone he openly idolized in his music, was a big moment for ARMY. In “Hip Hop Lover,” BTS’ rapline names their inspirations, and j-hope’s line “Hope World to Cole World” was a direct homage to the lyrical and emotional influence J. Cole had on him. That moment was brought to life when the two worlds finally collided, with j-hope posting on Instagram: “hope world meets cole world.” The caption was simple, yet heavy with meaning a nod to both his own identity and the artist who helped shape it.

Adding to that, BTS’ track “Born Singer” a remake of J. Cole’s “Born Sinner” was released shortly after their debut in 2013 and was later officially included in their 2022 anthology album Proof. The song is raw, emotional, and vulnerable, showcasing the struggles and dreams of the members in their early days. It’s one of BTS’ most beloved tracks, and its foundation being J. Cole’s music further proves the depth of the admiration BTS has for him.

J. Cole, known not only for his critically acclaimed albums like 2014 Forest Hills Drive, KOD, and The Off-Season, is more than just a rapper to j-hope. He represents thoughtful lyricism, perseverance, and authenticity qualities j-hope has always tried to reflect in his own music. That shared moment at Lollapalooza was more than just a backstage meetup it was symbolic of how far j-hope has come, from being a dreamer inspired by Cole, to standing beside him as a peer in the global music scene. Would you like me to write a short piece imagining what their conversation might have been like during that meeting?