Coming straight off a promotional tour across Asia, Jay Park tours the US for the first time, at last, armed with an all-English mixtape and a determination to step outside of Korea’s idol stereotypes.

With his years of intense K-pop training and a growing reputation as one of Korea’s hottest solo acts, to say that Jay’s got bragging rights would be an understatement. But he is perhaps one of the most down-to-earth people you will ever meet. We broke bottles over his head, ripped his shirt off (kidding…), and he never once lost his smile. Didn’t even break a sweat when we handed him an albino python.

Check out Part I of our exclusive photo shoot with Jay Park above, and check out our interview with him here, filled with tons of behind-the-scenes footage.