New goals, new habits, new look — it’s the classic “new year, new me” mindset that takes over all of us as soon as the clock strikes twelve. But how many people are ambitious enough to drop an entire album?
It’s been over two years since JOOHONEY’s solo debut with LIGHTS, but the 31-year-old rap powerhouse isn’t shying away from stepping back into the ring. On January 5, he rang in 2026 with his second mini album 光 (INSANITY), compiling seven new tracks. JOOHONEY writes and composes the entirety of the EP, delivering a story about turning the madness of life into a powerful statement.
GETTING HIS HEAD IN THE GAME
The album opens with “Gwang,” a slow but chilling intro featuring a ‘90s synth instrumental that makes you feel like you’re in Karate Kid. About halfway through, the mood dramatically shifts to a darker flute instrumental, which signifies JOOHONEY’s battle balancing the light and dark.
The second track, “Fear,” starts with a similar flute sound that feels more muffled than before, leading up to a hardcore EDM chorus. Of course, no song by JOOHONEY would be complete without his iconic signature phrase “JOOHONEY One Hunnit,” which is featured as the opening line. Words like “I wanna be free” and “I wanna be real” ring out repeatedly during the pre-chorus, emphasizing that sometimes you have to fight for your right to unapologetically be yourself.
THE BUTTERFLY & THE BEE
“STING (Feat. Muhammad Ali)” single-handedly brings us a collaboration K-pop has never seen before. Ali’s infamous line “I’m gonna float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” is featured as a sample and cleverly woven into JOOHONEY’s personal journey.
This bouncy hip-hop title track serves listeners a reminder: no one is effortlessly cooler than JOOHONEY. Lyrics like “Ignore the rules that box me in” and “Don’t need any fake feedback” represent his balance between handling public criticism with grace while striking back even harder to prove everyone’s doubts wrong. The track ends with JOOHONEY repeating Ali’s line in his own voice, delivering it with such a ruthless tone that you almost forget this man is capable of doing aegyo.
He continues to channel his inner butterfly with “Push (Feat. Rei of IVE),” a melodramatic R&B track about the push and pull of a complicated relationship. Acting as the pre-release single of the EP prior to its release, this track was a gift specially delivered to fans just before Christmas. The song’s lyrics are composed in a “will they/won’t they” way as both artists go back and forth, singing that the harder one pushes, the more you want to pull them right back in. JOOHONEY’s baritone vocals are utilized more in this track, while Rei’s vocals add a hint of sweetness in the best way possible.
While its previous tracks are more intense and perfect for your gym playlist, “Bite” feels like something you’d listen to while strutting down the street. A retro, video game-esque instrumental starts us off, with JOOHONEY adding a ridiculously satisfying rap to the background’s signature beats. The track has more subtle tones that support his confident side. If you listen closely, you can even hear his iconic aegyo “kkukku kkakka” line hidden in the background — an Easter egg carefully noticed by many long-time MONBEBEs.
KEEPING IT “ONE HUNNIT”
Just when you think the story’s over, JOOHONEY’s ready to rock out some more. Featuring Tiger JK, inarguably one of the biggest pioneers in K-Hip Hop, the track “Touch the sky” tells of both artists’ climb to fame. We can’t imagine a world where JOOHONEY is anything but an all-rounder threat, but if he wasn’t, this would definitely be his entrance theme as a wrestler. The pre-chorus is exactly what you’d imagine the hype leading up before the big game would feel like, capturing his go-getter persona to a tee.
The last song of the EP, “NO BRAIN NO PAIN,” is the end track of a coming-of-age film you never want to end. JOOHONEY delivers a final performance that feels like a love letter to his past self for overcoming anything and everything. The drum instrumentals followed by electric guitars makes it an elevated 2000s rock sound, making you nostalgic for a time long past. In the second verse, there’s a segment of JOOHONEY repeating “No brain, no pain” with a crowd saying it back to him — which means this song is sure to be a banger if performed live. It’s the moment after winning the big game or accomplishing your biggest dream – except you’re celebrating it with JOOHONEY too.
We hear with age comes wisdom. But JOOHONEY says it brings volume, and an undeniable confidence no one can take.
Want to discover more new releases? Check out our article on “Breath” by Yoon Mirae here!
