Nine-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak is further cementing his ties to the Korean music industry by teaming up with SM Entertainment’s powerhouse quartet, aespa. The high-profile collaborators are set to release “Keychain,” a featured track from the official soundtrack of .Paak’s directorial debut film, K-POPS!.
The duo officially announced the joint venture via social media on Monday (Feb. 23). The teaser featured vibrant cover art showcasing a fuzzy purple bag decorated with a miniature .Paak keychain and a charm bearing the aespa logo. Fans won’t have to wait long, as “Keychain” is scheduled to arrive at midnight ET on February 27.
The track’s sonic direction was guided by veteran producer Dem Jointz, a frequent architect of K-pop hits. His extensive portfolio includes landmark tracks such as NCT’s “Cherry Bomb,” EXO’s “Obsession,” and aespa’s own chart-topping single, “Supernova.”
While “Keychain” marks their first official recording together, Anderson .Paak has become a recurring figure in the K-pop landscape. His previous ventures into the genre include working with Dean on “Put My Hands on You” and appearing on “Still Life” from RM’s solo album, Indigo. Most recently, .Paak co-produced and featured on G-DRAGON’s “Too Bad.” In a nod to their upcoming collaboration, aespa’s Karina even made a cameo in the “Too Bad” music video earlier this year.
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter following the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, .Paak explained that K-POPS! was born out of lockdown-era skits he filmed with his son. What started as a family project evolved into a deep dive into the K-pop phenomenon—specifically its structural parallels to ’90s R&B and gospel music. The film serves as a creative vehicle to explore the intersection of Black and Korean cultural identities.
Co-written by .Paak and Khaila Amazan, K-POPS! stars .Paak alongside Soul Rasheed and Yvette Nicole Brown. The movie also features an impressive roster of cameos, including SEVENTEEN’s Vernon, Jay Park, and Jessi. The film, along with its soundtrack, will be released exclusively in AMC Theatres on February 27.
View this post on Instagram
Original reporting contributed by Billboard Korea.
