JACOB of THE BOYZ strikes out on his own with debut mini album 'j.'
In an interview, the Toronto-born singer details why he wants to share a more relaxed version of himself in new project
(Photo credit: jakeyjbae/Instagram)
When THE BOYZ debuted in 2017, the K-pop group quickly found a fanbase through its cinematic storylines and acrobatic dance moves.
Just take a look at the group’s performance during the competition series Road to Kingdom, which saw THE BOYZ portraying ninjas as they wield swords, perform high jumps and impress the audience with their synchronicity.
It was through THE BOYZ’s creative performances that helped crown the group as the champions on the program in a talented field of seven male K-pop bands.
While Road to Kingdom showcased THE BOYZ’s versatility, every artist still needs time to evolve and switch things up. Now nearly a decade since THE BOYZ’s debut, JACOB has become the first member of his group to release a solo project.
JACOB’s mini-album j. was released on June 10, 2026.
“I’d say j. is an album that describes my music and the beginning of my new musical journey,” JACOB said in an interview with bunni pop.
“I do hope people that listen can find comfort and have it relate to them in some way!”
The album was entirely co-written, produced and self-released by the 29-year-old Toronto-born singer. Unlike THE BOYZ’s high energy dance tracks, JACOB’s music is slower in tone and pace, and offers a more comforting atmosphere—giving the vibe of a summer road trip or a day spent at the beach.
JACOB says he is inspired by artists like bazzi and keshi—both singers who have become known for their storytelling and love songs.
Lead single “Slow Dancing” is a relaxed ballad that shares the message of capturing every moment spent with someone you care about—whether it’s a first date, a crush or a friend.
“People tend to always rush things or be in a hurry, but I wanted to portray that it’s okay to take your time and get to know each other better,” JACOB says of the track.
In j. Thai singer Wonderframe also makes an appearance, co-composing and singing in the romantic ballad “Promise” with JACOB.
But perhaps one of JACOB’s most meaningful collaborations is with his THE BOYZ bandmate SUNWOO, who worked with him on a track called “Back and Forth.” The acoustic song gives glimpses of Ed Sheeran and Jack Johnson.
JACOB says their brotherhood and bond made for a comfortable working environment, which allowed him to trust SUNWOO from the start to put together a great track.
“We never had to meet up and just talked it over through the phone, and voila!”
(Photo credit: jakeyjbae/Instagram)
Growing up in Toronto, JACOB says music has always been a part of the foundation of his life. He was a lover of pop music, which he found he enjoyed singing along to. Though it was in high school where he started making music of his own. He recalls taking a guitar class in his teens, where his instructor encouraged him to write songs.
That hobby ended up sticking. In between performances and tours, JACOB would compose songs on his own. Many of the tracks that make up j. were written over the years.
Seeing his passion for music, his friends and family encouraged him to try out for K-pop auditions. While he was initially unsure about the possibility of uprooting his life from Canada, he tried out to gain performance experience.
Little did he know, auditioning would change his life. He passed an audition and became a K-pop trainee. In 2017, he debuted in THE BOYZ.
THE BOYZ is also a rare K-pop group that features two Canadian members. KEVIN, who hails from Vancouver, is often seen teasing JACOB in livestreams. In one fan favourite moment, KEVIN teases JACOB for consuming milk from plastic bags as opposed to plastic jugs. (Bagged milk is primarily found in Canadian provinces like Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.)
“This is why Americans think we’re weird! But why?!” Kevin asked during a livestream.
“It’s actually much more comfortable,” Jacob responded. “It’s always a hassle carrying it in the grocery store.”
These days, JACOB is unsurprised by the amount of Canadians and North Americans present in the K-pop industry.
“K-pop has become so global that I did expect many more to start debuting and it has been amazing to see during my time!” he says.
As THE BOYZ approaches nearly a decade together, the band has gone through both highs and lows—from winning Road to Kingdom in 2020 to contract disputes.
Earlier this year in March, members of THE BOYZ notified their agency One Hundred of the termination of their exclusive contracts, citing unpaid settlement payments and failing to properly support essential experiences related to the band’s entertainment activities. In April, a court ruled in favour of nine members of THE BOYZ in their bid to suspend their exclusive contracts with One Hundred.
Though in spite of ongoing challenges, THE BOYZ have continued to carry on with activities for its fans, also known as The B.
“I feel like with everything we have experienced, there isn’t anything that can bring us down,” JACOB says of his bond with his bandmates. “We’ve become really strong and immune to many things.”
With brotherhood also comes unwavering support. And JACOB says his bandmates have been “very supportive” of his new project j. and how quickly he was able to put the album together.
Down the line JACOB hopes to continue sharing his passion with fans around the world.
“I learned that I really do love performing and wish I can continue to do so for the fans for a long time,” he says.
“I would love to be able to take this album and perform for fans all over the world. It is one of my goals for the upcoming years.”
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