Jooheon of MONSTA X has successfully completed his solo promotions for his second mini-album, '光 (INSANITY)'. Following his final performance of the title track 'STING (Feat. Muhammad Ali)' on SBS 'Inkigayo' on January 18, 2026, the artist has garnered significant attention from global media. On January 22, 2026, the American economic magazine Forbes featured the album, praising the results of his three-year creative process. The publication lauded his intense beats and sharp lyrics, describing the title track as a song that 'delivers a heavy blow' while highlighting his growth as a producer.
The mini-album '光 (INSANITY)', released on January 5, 2026, expands the narrative of his previous work 'LIGHTS' with the message that 'one must go crazy to truly shine.' Jooheon oversaw the entire production, including songwriting and composition for every track. The title track 'STING' incorporates voice sampling from the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, paired with a performance inspired by boxing techniques like 'weaving' and 'sway.' Forbes specifically noted the authenticity of the project, observing how Jooheon skillfully arranged symbolic references to reflect his personal journey.
The solo comeback also saw wide commercial success and viral engagement. A diverse lineup of artists, including Zara Larsson, Kehlani, Changmin of TVXQ, Choi Yena, Sakura of LE SSERAFIM, DK of SEVENTEEN, and Rei of IVE, participated in social media challenges for the tracks 'Push' and 'STING'. On global charts, the album entered the iTunes Top Album category in 15 regions. In the United States, every track from the album entered the iTunes K-pop Top Song chart, contributing to a total of 24 countries and regions where the release saw significant performance.
Through Starship Entertainment, Jooheon expressed his gratitude to the official fan club, MONBEBE, stating that he aimed to encapsulate 'passion' in this release. He described the support from fans as a source of strength that made every moment of his solo activity touching. Following the conclusion of his solo journey, Jooheon will rejoin MONSTA X for their upcoming world tour. The group is scheduled to hold the 2026 MONSTA X World Tour 'THE X : NEXUS' at the KSPO DOME in Seoul for three days, from January 30 to February 1, 2026.
SEE ALSO: Jooheon opens up about solo return and musical growth in Q&A for ‘INSANITY’
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