‘It Was Necessary’: How Anderson .Paak Explores His Korean Heritage in K-Pops!

When Anderson .Paak appeared on Drink Champs last year, a moment of confusion from host N.O.R.E. reflected a misconception Paak has encountered for years. After Paak spoke enthusiastically about South Korea and soju culture, the host asked whether he was Korean. Paak is, in fact, one-quarter Korean, a fact that has always been part of his story, even if it hasn’t always been widely recognized.

Born Brandon Paak Anderson, he is the son of a Korean mother and a Black American father. His mother was born in South Korea to a Korean woman and an African American U.S. Navy serviceman. After being abandoned in an orphanage with her brother, she was later adopted by a Black naval construction worker and raised in Compton, California. Paak grew up in Oxnard, carrying both sides of that history with him.

His Korean heritage has never been concealed. It is reflected in his stage name and in tattoos on his arm that include a Korean flag. Still, public awareness increased significantly after his 2021 collaboration with Bruno Mars in Silk Sonic. The project highlighted the duo’s multicultural identities and broadened Paak’s global visibility.

That background now anchors K-Pops!, Paak’s first feature film. He co-wrote, directed, produced, and stars in the project, marking a significant expansion beyond his music career. The film follows BJ, a struggling Los Angeles musician who accepts a job as a drummer on a fictional South Korean music competition show, only to discover that one of the contestants is a son he never knew he had. The role of the son is played by Paak’s real-life child, Soul Rasheed.

The idea developed during the early months of the pandemic in 2020. After years of touring in support of albums such as Malibu, Oxnard, and Ventura, Paak found himself home with his family for an extended period. He began paying closer attention to his children’s interests. His older son was immersed in YouTube culture and K-pop, two worlds Paak initially knew little about.

Rather than dismiss them, he recognized parallels. K-pop’s structure and choreography reminded him of the R&B and pop groups he grew up watching. At the same time, recording father-son YouTube videos revealed his son’s natural presence on camera. Paak saw an opportunity to build something larger around that dynamic.

Co-written with Khaila Amazan, K-Pops! blends those personal elements with Paak’s own experiences navigating his Korean heritage as an adult. The film avoids heavier autobiographical material. Paak’s father struggled with addiction and served a prison sentence after a violent incident in the early 1990s, experiences that shaped Paak’s life but are not central to this project.

Instead, he chose to focus on themes of reconciliation, cultural exchange, and music as a unifying force. He has described the film as an intentional departure from trauma-driven storytelling, opting instead for something accessible and grounded in humor.

Production took place in Los Angeles, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia in 2023. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024. Early responses noted its emphasis on bridging Black and Korean cultural experiences without reducing either to caricature.