Joohoney Drops Sharper Bars with ‘Sting’

Joohoney returns with “Sting,” a new single that samples an iconic line from boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The pop-hip-hop track, fresh off his second mini-album, Insanity, is Joohoney’s statement of creative defiance and represents a creative rebirth for the Monsta X member. It’s built around the idea of embracing one’s inner madness to truly shine — something that also resonates with Joohoney’s own trajectory and is a more meaningful look into his personal musical identity, free from the constraints of a group dynamic.

The song rides on the rhythm of Ali’s legendary mantra: “I’m gonna float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Joohoney internalizes it; he takes Ali’s iconic words and makes them his own, infusing them into a narrative of self-discovery, artistic revival, embracing contradictions, finding strength in vulnerability, and transforming pain into light.

The lyrics, “I think dream is a marathon/Sweating on my body still not enough/I’m searching for who I am, what kind of character/The ego of passion that lit the fire…” express that determination. As a self-producing artist involved in the songwriting, composition, and production of the track, Joohoney is constantly chasing his vision, and Ali’s voice sample adds a layer of depth and history while also grounding the song in a larger-than-life spirit.

The music video is a vivid portrayal of the same, where gritty junk settings match a high-energy performance. The camera frames everything from Joohoney’s power moves to his rebellious gaze with a level of intensity that plays out like a portrait of a fearless artist, not shying away from peeling back the layers of the person he is. Images used in the video, like the Chinese character for light (光) and the bee motif, add to the narrative, while an intriguing chess sequence, where Joohoney is playing against himself in the mirror reflect how he’s battling himself as much as anything or anybody else.

“Sting” is pretty immersive, making the listener feel as if they’re right there in the ring, feeling the heat of the moment with the artist amidst the sweat, grit, and roar of the crowd. The production is heavy with percussive elements that push the song forward, highlighting the instinctive sides of Joohoney’s creative process in sync.

Both as a member of Monsta X as well as a solo artist, Joohoney has been bringing his edge to K-pop, one powerful verse at a time, fusing the unrestrained energy of hip-hop with a surprising emotional depth.

Often blending trap flows, catchy melodies, and hooks with a lot of attitude, he’s like a scientist in a studio, experimenting with diverse sounds that feel reminiscent of mixtapes like Out of Control, Psyche, and a bunch of hits he has produced for Monsta X and other groups. And with “Sting,” Joohoney takes things up a notch, unleashing sharper bars and delivering the punch, just like Ali.