BTS’s J-Hope is quickly making up for lost time — not that there weren’t projects and songs released during his military enlistment as well. Just two weeks after his duet with R&B crooner Miguel, he’s back with solo single Mona Lisa. This time the music is a bit more upbeat and groovy, but the song feels just as slight as its predecessor.
Funny enough, Mona Lisa sounds more like it could have been released pre-BTS-enlistment than post. From the trap percussion to the repetitive hooks to the just-over-two-minutes running time, much about this transports us right back to 2019-2020. This quality makes Mona Lisa feel more like an appetizer than a full-on statement. Ambition is low, the trends are trending and the flatness of the production seems designed for looped play on streaming services. If this is the criteria we’re holding the track against, I guess you can say it checks all the boxes. However, nothing here feels fresh or exciting in any way.
J-Hope’s voice is slurred with effects, at times accentuating its texture but more often flattening individual character. The verses and chorus seep together, following a similar rhythmic pattern and keeping the energy rather monotonous throughout. With a contrasting hook (maybe Miguel should have been featured on this track instead?), we might have a satisfying slow jam on our hands. As it stands, this is another underwhelming entry in J-Hope’s recent catalog. I hope we’re building up to something more dynamic in the future.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
7
Bias
6
RATING
6.75