Before Blackpink x Lady Gaga: 6 biggest K-pop collabs, starring BTS, Exo, Dua Lipa, Jason Derulo and more genre-busting mash-ups
BTS and Steve Aoki trailed the way with Waste It on Me, while Ellie Goulding and Diplo teamed up with Red Velvet for Close to Me, John Legend got romantic with Wendy for Written in the Stars, and Lil Nas X and RM walked down Seoul Town Road
Blackpink and Lady Gaga made history with their track Sour Candy smashing records in Australia, the US and UK – but they weren’t the first, or even best, to cross worlds. With all eyes on the world of K-pop right now, we’re shining a light on some of the other top collaborations between the biggest stars from different sides of the planet.
Dua Lipa and Blackpink – Kiss and Make Up
Even those who weren’t familiar with Blackpink before they teamed up with Gaga must have caught Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo and Rosé’s 2018 track with British singer Dua Lipa. The smash hit Kiss and Make Up is just as catchy as their latest tune.
Jason Derulo, Lay and NCT 127 – Let's Shut Up & Dance
American R&B star Jason Derulo teamed up with not one but two of the best acts in K-pop. Chinese Exo member Lay Zhang and the second subunit of NCT showcased their best moves in the video for this 2019 tune, and even incorporated street dance styles from the UK, Ethiopia and Jamaica.
Ellie Goulding, Diplo and Red Velvet – Close to Me
Red Velvet’s Wendy and Yeri penned extra lyrics to Ellie’s tune – in collaboration with the American DJ Diplo – after the British singer heard about them while on tour. Alongside fellow group members Irene, Seulgi and Joy, they sing in both English and Korean on the track.
John Legend and Wendy – Written in the Stars
This track was one of the best things to come out of record label SM Entertainment’s SM Station a digital music project which encouraged artists to collaborate with artists from different genres. In a cute twist, the soppy All of Me singer and pianist switched out supermodel wife Chrissy Teigen for Red Velvet’s Wendy as his video girl.