With his new single "Buck" released and a new album set for July, Chinese pop icon Jackson Wang continues to consolidate and expand his global influence with unwavering ambition.
The album cover art for Jackson Wang's "Magic Man 2." [Image courtesy of Team Wang Records]
His new album "Magic Man 2" is now set for July 18 release in the United States, while release dates for other territories are pending. Fans are already rushing to secure pre-orders, which include standard and limited-edition signed CDs, vinyl, boxed sets with exclusive apparel and posters, retailer exclusives like a Barnes & Noble's opaque orchid vinyl and a cappella bonus track CD in Target's.
The sequel to his solo debut "Magic Man" — which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 15 in 2022 and garnered over 123 million streams worldwide — has Wang raising expectations. He explicitly proposed during a recent conversation with Billboard News: "Please make me top five."
The forthcoming album marks Wang's most personal and ambitious body of work to date, continuing his global ambition as he positions himself as a Chinese cross-cultural ambassador through music and collaboration. Taking a step back from the spotlight and music landscape in 2024 unearthed unaddressed emotions, which he transformed into an unfiltered chronicle of growth: from manic highs fueled by denial to the painful reckoning of lost identity, from setting boundaries and shedding people-pleasing tendencies to ultimately finding peace through acceptance. Produced entirely by Wang and crafted over a year, the album confronts outside exploitation and inner demons while showcasing his artistic evolution.
Since February, the album's rollout has made waves worldwide. Wang released three singles while maintaining a grueling global schedule — traveling between the United States, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and China for music video shoots, celebrity collaborations, performances and promotional appearances. This has enabled him to connect local audiences, just as his whirlwind tour further expands his international stardom.
A behind-the-scenes photo of "Buck" music video shows Jackson Wang and Diljit Dosanjh together. [Photo courtesy of Team Wang Records]
The third and latest single "Buck" — an eerie bop released on May 9 — pairs Wang with Punjabi megastar Diljit Dosanjh, an Indian music and film icon. Wang's smoky vocals anchor the track, accompanied by a sinister music video co-directed with Nicholas Lam. Macabre visuals and frenetic choreography highlight Wang's razor-sharp showmanship.
"I dreamed of going all the way to hell to deal with you," Wang shared, setting the tone for this hard-hitting dance-pop track.
The song debuted as the No. 9 top new entry on Worldwide iTunes Song Chart, reaching No. 1 in seven countries and regions including Thailand, Fiji and Sri Lanka, and peaking at No. 35 overall. Its music video has surpassed 2 million YouTube views since release.
Previously, the new album's lead single "High Alone" debuted at No. 1 on Apple Music in 22 countries and regions, with its music video amassing over 2.9 million views since its Feb. 13 release. Its follow-up "GBAD" outperformed these results, going viral with its surrealist black comedy short film amassing 32 million YouTube views since March 28. The track's popularity also spawned notable international remixes, including a collaboration with Japanese group Number_i and American producer JasonTheWeen, further boosting its global reach.
A series of product drops tied to the four thematic chapters of "Magic Man 2" will roll out over the coming weeks, offering collectible chapter-specific editions.