Today, it is no longer a surprise when the biggest K-pop artists announce collaborations with Western stars.
From the legendary track “APT” by BLACKPINK's Rosé and Bruno Mars to ENHYPEN with TikTok sensations like JVKE, these collaborations turned out to be the perfect mix of styles and sounds--something fans didn't know they needed!
Here are some K-pop stars and groups that teamed up with Western artists:
Fans of Bruno Mars and Rosé were in for a treat when the duo dropped their total banger "APT." BLINKs especially loved the track as it showcased Rosé's versatility and easygoing friendship with Bruno Mars.
Another surprising collaboration for K-pop fans was between SEVENTEEN and DJ Khaled. The boy group released their title track "Love, Money, Fame," featuring DJ Khaled's signature sound. Before this, SEVENTEEN had also teamed up with Western artists like Marshmello and Anne-Marie, showcasing their knack for blending genres.
LISA and Rosalía's song "New Woman" radiated confidence and encouraged women to embrace their natural selves and start anew. Fans were thrilled to see LISA exploring new genres and showcasing her impressive talent as a performer.
K-pop solo artist Jay Park teamed up with TY Dolla $ign for his title track "Mayday" last October. Fans loved the song for its chill yet catchy vibes, making it an instant favorite.
NINE.i's member Vahn delighted fans with his new mini album Come and Go (2024). The album features several collaborations, including the track "Sweet!" with indie American artist Lina Cooper.
LE SSERAFIM has been on a collaboration spree, releasing a variety of versions of the title track from their latest album Crazy. They worked with international artists like PinkPantheress, Dashaun Wesley, and David Guetta. In the same year, Huh Yunjin also teamed up with Max for their hit song "Stupid in Love," which quickly trended on social media thanks to a simple yet addictive TikTok challenge they created together.
South Korean rapper Lee Young-ji continues to make waves with her iconic music and collaborations. One standout partnership was with Danish singer Christopher on his track "Trouble."
SNSD vocal member and soloist Taeyeon released another spectacular music this year, collaborating with the well-known singer Sam Smith. They collaborated on Sam's Korean version of his hit song "I'm Not The Only One." This partnership highlighted both artists' incredible vocal talents and brought a fresh twist to the beloved track.
K-pop girl group NMIXX showcased their versatile vocal skills with a collaboration alongside the Belgian-Greek duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Fans loved the single "Come On," which highlighted the girls' powerhouse vocals paired with the duo's impressive mixing talent.
Many ARMY fans were captivated by the harmonious blend of BTS member Jimin and American artist Sofia Carson in the track "Slow Dance." The unexpected duo charmed listeners with their angelic voices, making the song even more lovable.
ENHYPEN continues to impress fans with their willingness to explore various genres and create lovable songs. In a treat for ENGENE fans, the group collaborated with internet sensation JVKE for the English version of "Only If You Say Yes."
Another BTS member generating buzz within the fandom for his collaborations was RM. He was recently featured in Megan Thee Stallion's song "Neva Play." In addition, he released several of his tracks this year, including "Domodachi" featuring the talented Little Simz.
K-pop group Stray Kids and American singer Charlie Puth had fans buzzing with excitement, starting with subtle hints about their collaboration. Their friendly interactions included Stray Kids sending Charlie a free meal as a show of support. Finally, they announced and released their song "Lose My Breath" in May, delighting fans with their dynamic partnership.
Did you know that BLACKPINK's Jennie also collaborated with a Western artist this year? For those who missed it, she was featured in Matt Champion's track "Slow Motion." Fans were thrilled to see Jennie's manifestation of this project, especially since she had posted a picture hanging out with the American singer beforehand.
IVE kicked off early 2024 with nostalgia and fun by releasing their remake of Icona Pop's 2013 dance track "All Night." To add even more excitement, they featured American artist Saweetie on the song. With her captivating vocals and dynamic rap, Saweetie truly brought the party vibe to life!
Jennie brought up the scales for her album Ruby with collaborations with different artists like Dua Lipa for “Handlebars,” Doechii for “ExtraL,” Dominic Fike for “Love Hangover,” and Childish Gambino and Kali Uchis for “Damn Right.”
TWICE surprised the K-pop world when they showed a different side of themselves through a collaboration with American rapper and songwriter Megan Thee Stallion for “Strategy.” TWICE also joined a remix version of Megan's hit track “Mamushi.”
LISA joined her fellow BLACKPINK members with huge collaborations under their names and worked with Maroon 5 for the new song “Priceless.”
Like Jennie, LISA also went big for her new album Alter Ego and brought in big Western artists like Doja Cat and RAYE for “Born Again,” Future for “F*CK UP THE WORLD,” Megan Thee Stallion for “Rapunzel,” and Tyla for “When I'm With You.”
In 2024, Yeonjun of TXT brought a new twist to KATSEYE's hit track “Touch.”