AceShowbiz - Anderson .Paak is set to release K-Pops! (Music from and inspired by K-Pops! Motion Picture) on May 29, an album that serves as both a soundtrack and a solo project. The album complements his directorial debut film, K-Pops!, which will premiere on Netflix on May 30 following a theatrical release earlier this year. This unique project features a star-studded lineup of prominent K-pop artists, aligning perfectly with the film’s backdrop centered around South Korea’s idol industry.

The album boasts contributions from major names in K-pop such as aespa, NMIXX, Joshua of Seventeen, Soyeon of (G)I-DLE, Hongjoong of ATEEZ, JO1, G-Dragon, Jay Park, Chung Ha, Lngshot, Crush, Dean, and Kevin Woo. Yet, it remains unmistakably a Paak project, showcasing his distinctive vocals and his signature lush, retro-inflected sound. The result is an album that feels like the closest thing to a solo release from him since 2019’s Ventura.

Currently touring with Bruno Mars, Paak balances dual roles as opener DJ Pee .Wee and a performer alongside Mars during their Silk Sonic segment. With his collaboration with Dean, “Aftertaste,” already out, Paak shared insights with Rolling Stone about the making of this album, the future prospects for Silk Sonic, working alongside his son Soul Rasheed, and more.

This is definitely as much an Anderson .Paak album as it is a soundtrack. Paak explained. “I wanted it to be a collision of both worlds. I wanted to bring these K-pop bands and artists into my world and create something with me and [producer] Dem Jointz, who has experience working with many K-pop artists and collaborated with me on the soundtrack and the movie.”

Paak aimed to blend the energy and style of K-pop with his own artistic identity, pushing boundaries within the genre’s typical framework. “It’s very much an Anderson .Paak album in the K-pop world,” he said, highlighting the creative fusion he sought.

The album also serves as a potent reminder of the deep roots that K-pop has in Black American music. Paak emphasized, “It’s definitely Black music, R&B music, hip hop. And a lot of times with K-pop music, it’s their interpretation of it.” He noted how various global music styles interpret Black music traditions, stressing the importance of respecting and paying homage to the culture behind the sound.

Securing such a diverse roster of artists from competing labels was no small feat. Paak admitted, “Shit, dude. I thought hip-hop was political, man. This shit is crazy. It was tough just getting everybody on board and then going through the clearances with everything.” The complexity extended beyond the soundtrack to producing visuals and managing the movie itself.

Nonetheless, he expressed gratitude for the cooperation he found after the collaborators viewed the film and understood the project’s vision. “Everybody was just a pleasure to work with,” Paak said, praising the unity and smooth collaboration despite the challenges. He credited Dem Jointz as a key partner in making the project possible, from song selection to organizing a content shoot in Korea that felt like a mini K-pop camp.

Reflecting on the album’s evolution, Paak shared that the project initially began as a straightforward soundtrack to accompany the film. However, it quickly grew beyond that scope. “There’s a lot of original music in the movie, and I had fun creating songs for it. But then it kind of took on a world of its own,” he said. “This is more than just a soundtrack now. This is actually my album.”

He explained that although he has been very busy and hadn’t released a solo album since 2019, every project he engages with is intensely personal and hands-on. “I get my hands in everything, whether it’s NxWorries or Silk Sonic or any of these compilations. I wanted to make the greatest soundtrack possible and make this moment as big as the movie,” Paak said.

One particularly meaningful collaboration on the album was with his son, Soul Rasheed. Paak described the experience as “dope,” recalling how his son was navigating adolescence during the film’s production. Finding the right song for his son was a careful process.

Other collaborators made strong impressions, too. Paak praised Lngshot. “When they recorded the song, I was blown away. You never know what you’re going to get when you send demos, but they just killed it,” he said.

Anderson .Paak’s K-Pops! soundtrack is more than a typical movie album — it is a bold fusion of K-pop and Black American musical traditions, featuring landmark collaborations, family connections, and a testament to the power of cultural exchange. The project is poised to make a significant impact upon its May 29 release, coinciding with the film’s Netflix debut on May 30.