Nine-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist Anderson .Paak releases “Keychain,” a new single featuring South Korean girl group aespa, available today. The track is inspired by .Paak’s directorial debut, K-POPS!, now playing exclusively in AMC Theatres nationwide and marks the first release from a broader film-inspired musical project. Listen to “Keychain” featuring aespa here.
Built around the fusion of .Paak’s hip-hop, R&B, and funk roots with aespa’s K-pop sensibilities, the single reflects the cross-cultural spirit at the heart of the film. For .Paak, who is Korean and African-American, that blend feels natural and reflects how those influences have always coexisted in his life.
Set against the backdrop of a Seoul-based K-pop competition show, K-POPS! explores generational connection and cultural exchange through music, following a father and son whose paths collide in unexpected ways. That same energy carries through “Keychain,” which, much like the film, reflects the meeting of worlds.
“I’m excited to join forces with aespa on ‘Keychain.’ K-POPS! is all about connection, and this track reflects that perfectly. We come from different worlds, but we’re connected by the same passion for music,” says .Paak about the collaboration.
“Working on ‘Keychain’ with Anderson .Paak was such a fun and inspiring experience for us. We loved being part of a project that looks at K-pop from a fresh perspective, and we’re grateful to contribute our voices,” aespa shared.
“Keychain” is available now on all streaming platforms, and K-POPS! is now playing in AMC theatres
Multi-hyphenate global superstar Anderson .Paak has never stopped evolving. Raised in Oxnard, California, where he honed his musical instincts playing drums in his church band, .Paak first broke through with his debut album Venice in 2014, followed by Malibu, which earned his first GRAMMY nomination and cemented him as one of the most dynamic voices in modern music. Over the years, his fearless creativity and genre-defying approach have earned him 9 GRAMMY Awards, including multiple wins with Silk Sonic alongside Bruno Mars — a collaboration that produced the global smash “Leave The Door Open,” amassed over a billion streams, and led to a sold-out Las Vegas residency.
Now, .Paak is channeling that same boundary-pushing spirit into film with his feature directorial debut, K-POPS! The music-driven film, inspired by stories he created with his son during the pandemic, premiered to strong acclaim and marks a defining new chapter in his career as a storyteller. Alongside K-POPS!, .Paak continues to expand his creative universe — performing globally under his DJ alter ego DJ Pee .Wee, leading his label APESHIT in partnership with Universal Music Group, and maintaining his commitment to community through the Brandon Anderson Foundation and its annual .Paak House initiative. Whether through music, film, or live performance, Anderson .Paak continues to redefine what it means to be a modern multi-hyphenate, with K-POPS! standing as his boldest creative leap yet.
aespa is a K-pop group acclaimed for their distinctive concept and powerful performances. The four members—KARINA, WINTER, GISELLE, and NINGNING—pursue a wide range of activities built on a unique multiverse that transcends the real and digital worlds, and the slogan “Only I can define myself.”
Since their unprecedented mega-hit debut single “Black Mamba” in 2020, aespa has continued to break records. Their 2022 EP “Girls” topped the Billboard Top Album Sales chart and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3, marking their highest chart performance at the time. Their third EP “MY WORLD” also claimed No. 1 on the Top Album Sales chart.
These achievements were followed by the EP “Drama”, their first full-length album “Armageddon”, their fifth mini album “Whiplash”, and the physical single “Dirty Work”, with aespa achieving million-seller status for six consecutive releases, further solidifying their powerful presence. Recognized globally, they were named “Group of the Year” at Billboard Women in Music 2025, and are set to embark on their third world tour, signaling yet another chapter of worldwide success.