Biography
JOOHONEY of Monsta X demonstrates an expansive vocal register paired with a forceful rap delivery, frequently merging the two approaches inside individual tracks. After his band secured three number-one albums on Korean charts plus one runner-up placement, the artist issued Lights, his debut solo EP and a deeply personal project, in 2023.
Born Lee Joo-heon in Seoul and previously known as JooHeon, the singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer first appeared on the pop landscape in 2014 as part of Nu Boys, the Starship Entertainment-assembled collective. Monsta X came together less than a year afterward when the reality series NO.MERCY concluded; the lineup featured leader, vocalist, and dancer Shownu, vocalist and dancer Wonho, vocalist Minhyuk Lee, vocalist Ki-hyun Yoo, vocalist and dancer Hyungwon Chae, rapper I.M., and JOOHONEY (still credited then as JooHeon) in the rapper slot. During the program the members performed covers of material by Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, Jay Park, and additional artists, while also unveiling early singles “0 (Young)” and “Interstellar.”
Monsta X’s first EP, Trespass, reached Korean stores in 2015 and climbed to number five on the domestic album chart. The follow-up mini-album Rush arrived several months later and lifted the act to number three. Two 2016 EPs, The Clan, Pt. 1: Lost and Pt. 2: Guilty, marked the group’s initial entries on the Billboard World Albums chart, peaking at numbers five and three. Early the next year the third Clan installment, Pt. 2.5: The Final Chapter (subsequently reissued as Shine Forever), topped the World Albums ranking and secured the number-two position in Korea. That same year Monsta X delivered the fifth EP The Code and made its Japanese-language bow with “Hero,” a single succeeded by “Beautiful,” which ascended to the top of the Japanese daily singles chart.
In 2018 the members served as torchbearers for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics before expanding further into Japan with the original track “Spotlight,” later included on the album Piece. Domestically they released the EP The Connect: Dejavu and the second full-length Take.1 Are You There?, which entered the Top Ten on both the U.S. Heatseekers and World Albums charts while reaching number 24 on the Independent Albums list. The year closed with Monsta X becoming the first K-pop act to perform at KIIS-FM’s annual Jingle Ball concert in Los Angeles.
The band opened 2019 with Take.2 We Are Here and the Steve Aoki collaboration “Play It Cool.” In May the members signed with Epic Records and prepared an English-language debut single, “Who Do U Love?,” featuring rapper French Montana. October brought the seventh EP Follow-Find You. Late in the year Wonho departed, and in early 2020 JooHeon announced a temporary hiatus to address his mental health. He resumed activities within a few months. The group’s first English-language album, ALL ABOUT LUV, arrived in 2020 and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. Fantasia X followed later that year, while the Japanese singles “Wanted” and “Neo Universe” appeared consecutively in March 2021. Monsta X also released its second English-language set, The Dreaming, in December; the project contained the Top 40 single “One Day” and reached number 21 on the Billboard 200.
Now performing under the name JOOHONEY, the vocalist and songwriter contributed to the Korean chart-topping EPs Shape of Love (April 2022) and Reason (January 2023). In May 2023 he issued his first solo single, “Freedom.” Sharing Monsta X’s high-energy sensibility, the confessional Lights appeared on Starship Entertainment/Kakao Entertainment that same month and marked the artist’s inaugural solo EP. Portions of the recording process with collaborator Ye-Yo! were documented in the hour-long film Turn on the Lights. The project entered the Circle Album chart at number six.
Born Lee Joo-heon in Seoul and previously known as JooHeon, the singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer first appeared on the pop landscape in 2014 as part of Nu Boys, the Starship Entertainment-assembled collective. Monsta X came together less than a year afterward when the reality series NO.MERCY concluded; the lineup featured leader, vocalist, and dancer Shownu, vocalist and dancer Wonho, vocalist Minhyuk Lee, vocalist Ki-hyun Yoo, vocalist and dancer Hyungwon Chae, rapper I.M., and JOOHONEY (still credited then as JooHeon) in the rapper slot. During the program the members performed covers of material by Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, Jay Park, and additional artists, while also unveiling early singles “0 (Young)” and “Interstellar.”
Monsta X’s first EP, Trespass, reached Korean stores in 2015 and climbed to number five on the domestic album chart. The follow-up mini-album Rush arrived several months later and lifted the act to number three. Two 2016 EPs, The Clan, Pt. 1: Lost and Pt. 2: Guilty, marked the group’s initial entries on the Billboard World Albums chart, peaking at numbers five and three. Early the next year the third Clan installment, Pt. 2.5: The Final Chapter (subsequently reissued as Shine Forever), topped the World Albums ranking and secured the number-two position in Korea. That same year Monsta X delivered the fifth EP The Code and made its Japanese-language bow with “Hero,” a single succeeded by “Beautiful,” which ascended to the top of the Japanese daily singles chart.
In 2018 the members served as torchbearers for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics before expanding further into Japan with the original track “Spotlight,” later included on the album Piece. Domestically they released the EP The Connect: Dejavu and the second full-length Take.1 Are You There?, which entered the Top Ten on both the U.S. Heatseekers and World Albums charts while reaching number 24 on the Independent Albums list. The year closed with Monsta X becoming the first K-pop act to perform at KIIS-FM’s annual Jingle Ball concert in Los Angeles.
The band opened 2019 with Take.2 We Are Here and the Steve Aoki collaboration “Play It Cool.” In May the members signed with Epic Records and prepared an English-language debut single, “Who Do U Love?,” featuring rapper French Montana. October brought the seventh EP Follow-Find You. Late in the year Wonho departed, and in early 2020 JooHeon announced a temporary hiatus to address his mental health. He resumed activities within a few months. The group’s first English-language album, ALL ABOUT LUV, arrived in 2020 and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. Fantasia X followed later that year, while the Japanese singles “Wanted” and “Neo Universe” appeared consecutively in March 2021. Monsta X also released its second English-language set, The Dreaming, in December; the project contained the Top 40 single “One Day” and reached number 21 on the Billboard 200.
Now performing under the name JOOHONEY, the vocalist and songwriter contributed to the Korean chart-topping EPs Shape of Love (April 2022) and Reason (January 2023). In May 2023 he issued his first solo single, “Freedom.” Sharing Monsta X’s high-energy sensibility, the confessional Lights appeared on Starship Entertainment/Kakao Entertainment that same month and marked the artist’s inaugural solo EP. Portions of the recording process with collaborator Ye-Yo! were documented in the hour-long film Turn on the Lights. The project entered the Circle Album chart at number six.
Albums
Singles
