Through ‘K-Pops!,’ Anderson .Paak sought deeper familial connection

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When the pandemic lockdowns started, it was a really strange feeling. As a dad, I suddenly felt like the outsider in my own home! My son, who’s eight, became completely obsessed with BTS, and honestly, K-pop just took over everything. Before that, we used to bond over my music, you know? It was a total shift, and a little surprising to find myself on the outside looking in.

Anderson .Paak noticed his son, Soul Rasheed, and his then-wife, Jaylyn Chang, had become completely captivated by K-pop, much like America as a whole – a phenomenon that reminded him of the frenzy surrounding The Beatles. He observed how Black American music had originally inspired a new genre that spread globally and then powerfully returned to the U.S. This K-pop obsession brought Soul and Chang closer together. While .Paak was deeply familiar with the roots of the music – soul, R&B, and hip-hop – he hadn’t yet connected with this new K-pop version, so he wanted to understand what was drawing his family in.

Like many kids his age, 8-year-old Soul was really into becoming a YouTuber. Anderson .Paak and his son had already bonded over their shared sense of humor, so they started making funny videos together. They eventually combined the skits with dances from the group BTS, and even created videos where they playfully taught each other about their favorite music. Paak fondly remembers these times, saying it helped them connect on a deeper level. His mom always said it was special when you could share your passions with your kids, and Paak felt like he was just being a dad, not a famous musician.

As .Paak considered reconnecting with his family, he came up with an idea for a movie centered around K-pop. He envisioned himself directing it and starring alongside Anderson .Paak. While the pandemic eased, .Paak directed several music videos to gain experience as a director, but he noticed .Paak losing interest in the film project over time. After trying and failing to get the movie made, .Paak reached out to an old friend, Jonnie “Dumbfoundead” Park, who then connected .Paak and the idea with Stampede Ventures.

I remember when we first pitched the idea for the film. It all started with a funny TikTok Anderson made with his son. He was asking his son if he knew anything about BET, and the son had no clue, but immediately responded with ‘I know BTS!’ It was this playful back-and-forth, this generational and cultural clash, and we basically said, ‘Let’s take that energy and build a whole movie around it.’ Surprisingly, they loved it! We literally walked out of the meeting and Anderson was already asking if we had the go-ahead. They just got it – the whole idea of bridging Black and Korean cultures. From there, Stampede teamed up with Live Nation Studios, and Anderson .Paak’s first feature film, ‘K-Pops!’, was officially happening.

Anderson .Paak is of both Black and Korean heritage. His mother was adopted from Korea by a Black American military family in Southern California, and his father was also a Black military officer. Because of this, .Paak grew up immersed in Black culture, with limited exposure to his Korean roots. He didn’t really connect with Korean culture until he met a fellow student, Chang, at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. Chang, a recent immigrant from Korea, showed him the strong sense of community and family values within Korean culture. .Paak was particularly struck by the tradition of multigenerational households, where family members care for each other across generations. He also appreciated the importance of Korean food and language, noting that his own son was initially only interested in eating Korean cuisine before expanding his palate to include things like tacos.

After having his son, Soul, .Paak connected with Park and began exploring his Korean heritage. Through their shared involvement in the music scene, Park introduced .Paak to the vibrant Korean culture of K-town. .Paak noted that the K-town community, like Korean communities elsewhere, was a diverse mix of cultures, including Latino and Black influences. He described it as a close-knit, urban environment where people gathered to drink soju and enjoy nightlife, often requiring a Korean friend to gain access to after-hours spots.

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In his film “K-Pops!,” .Paak explored what his mother didn’t get to experience when she briefly returned to Korea and found she didn’t enjoy it. The film follows BJ, a struggling musician, who unexpectedly lands a drumming gig on a K-pop competition show in Korea. There, he discovers he has a son, Tae Young (played by Soul), who is also a contestant. Despite a complicated start, BJ and Tae Young begin to bond while traveling around Korea and working together to win the competition. Through this journey, BJ realizes he can embrace his Korean heritage without losing touch with his identity as a Black man. .Paak explains that, unlike his mother’s experience, the film shows BJ initially disconnected from his Korean roots but eventually finding a connection – and that connection is music.

Yvette Nicole Brown, who plays BJ’s mother in “K-Pops!”, explained in a Zoom interview that the movie and its music fully embrace and celebrate Blasian culture, blending everything together beautifully. Anderson .Paak specifically focused on showcasing both Black and Korean influences within K-pop in two key scenes.

The documentary begins with Tae Young, a character in the film, explaining how K-pop groups are structured – a segment that will likely delight devoted fans and inform those less familiar with the genre. Next, BJ shares a detailed look at how American groups like the Jackson 5 and New Edition influenced the growth of K-pop. This part is especially meaningful because it was filmed in a Korean record store, where Anderson .Paak discovered the records he was discussing. .Paak emphasizes that it’s perfectly acceptable for artists to be inspired by Black music, as long as they show respect and give credit where it’s due. He believes that honoring the origins of a genre will be reciprocated, but a lack of respect will lead to negative consequences. He wanted to share this history to provide context and perspective on the evolution of K-pop.

Anderson .Paak’s new project, playfully titled “K-Pops!,” is a heartfelt collaboration with his son, Soul, showcasing their bond through music. The film blends K-pop with soul and funk, featuring original songs co-created by .Paak and Dem Jointz, and includes appearances by both K-pop stars like Vernon of Seventeen and legendary artists like Earth, Wind & Fire. Filmed in both Los Angeles and Korea, the production fostered a strong connection between father and son, filled with plenty of spontaneous humor. However, getting Soul involved wasn’t easy; at 11 years old, he’d lost interest in K-pop and acting, preferring the band Slipknot instead.

They eventually found their rhythm, telling a heartfelt story about their relationship. As a young teenager in 2024, Soul attended the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival with his father and many relatives from his mother’s side of the family. .Paak was eager to see how they would react to the finished film, which represented his effort to strengthen their connection.

Anderson .Paak recalled feeling relieved that everyone liked the project. His son, Soul, told him he was proud, and Paak asked if he’d ever consider doing a sequel. Soul initially said acting wasn’t his passion, but then added he might be open to it if the script was good. Paak believes his son is truly proud of the work, and that he’ll appreciate how special it was even more as he gets older. Importantly, Soul didn’t think it was embarrassing.

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2026-02-23 14:31