When BTS announced their collaboration with Snoop Dogg, I was a little shocked. But then again, my boys have range, so I know it’ll slap. And to be fair, it’s not the first unlikely pairing to give us great songs. Here are some of the best K-pop and western collaborations of all time.
BTS x EVERYBODY
I’m sorry, was I supposed to choose one when they’re all good? Come on. It’s not my fault everyone and their daddies want to sing with BTS. They’ve collaborated with Halsey, Lauv, Juice WRLD, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, Coldplay and Steve Aoki (thrice), and all those songs slapped.
RELATED: We’re Still Not Over BTS “Proof of Inspiration” Videos
BLACKPINK x all the pop girlies
I love when talent recognises talent, which has been the case with every BLACKPINK collaboration. Imagine mixing BLACKPINK’s hyper pop energy with Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Cardi B or Selena Gomez, E for Energy. Nobody asked me, but my favourite is still Kiss And Make Up with Dua Lipa, and now the song will be stuck in my head for another two weeks.
Jason Derulo x LAY x NCT 127
As a former fan of Jason Derulo, I scratched my head when I first heard about this collaboration because, how would it work? But Jason Derulo, Lay Zhang (formally of EXO-M) and NCT 127 created Let’s Shut up & Dance, and I, too, wanted to dance. Jason and NCT127 are huge on dance choreography, and the music video made sure we remembered.
Monsta X and Steve Aoki
One thing about Steve Aoki, he’ll collaboration with K-Pop idols. Play It Cool is the bop you listen to on those days when life feels extra happy for no reason. That’s until you watch the music video and MONSTA X’s always sleek choreography draws out beats you didn’t hear the first time. What a time to be alive.
G-DRAGON x Missy Elliott
Do you know how iconic you have to be to sing with hip-hop icon Missy Elliott? This collaboration happened in 2013, but it deserves mention because it was so iconic. G-DRAGON’s new rap with that old-school Missy Elliot vibe on Niliria is a cultural reset, a serve and a moment in K-pop hall of fame.
Chanyeol x Marshmello x Tinashe x Far East Movement
Freal Luv is a fusion of R&B, electro and pop vibes, and if you know ball, that’s a top-tier combination. EXO’s Chanyeol’s English and Korean rap verse mixed with Tinashe’s sensual R&B and Marshmello doing his electro-pop thing, whew.
It’s a 10/10 for me.
PSY and Snoop Dogg
No K-Pop collaboration list can be complete without mentioning PSY. The mix of English and Korean was such a smooth transition in their rap, and it makes sense PSY’s usually chaotic energy matched Snoop’s. I’m not the only one who thought this collaboration was brilliant, as it was used in 2018’s Black Panther.
