A lot of people are debating whether or not kpop idols should be speaking out about BLM and if black fans have a right to be angry if idols stay silent — which they do. As a white woman, I have no right or place to decide how these fans should feel or respond, but for those saying it doesn’t matter because kpop has nothing to do with BLM, let me give you a little history lesson on kpop and the genres of music it is heavily influenced by!
Korean pop music, gayo, or kpop, however you choose to refer to it as, can be traced back to 1885 when an American missionary began teaching American and British songs at schools. More western culture was introduced after the Korean War, when U.S. troops remained in South Korea. Modern kpop began to evolved in the 1990s when Korean pop musicals began to incorporate Europop and popular American music styles. It does have roots in traditional Korean music, however it is actually heavily influenced by western music and culture! Some of the biggest genres influences on kpop include rock, jazz, gospel, hip hop, R&B, reggae, electronic dance, experimental, folk, country and classical music.
For the sake of this, I’m going to predominantly be focusing on jazz, R&B, rock, and hop hip.
Jazz originated in black communities in New Orleans in the late 19th century and has origins in blues, ragtime, spirituals, classical, and West African music. The 1920s was known as the Jazz Age, and jazz is considered by many to be America’s classical music and one of America’s original art forms. It has many derivative forms, including free jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, smooth jazz, Latin and Afro-Cuban Jazz. New Orleans jazz specifically blends sounds from brass-band marches, French quadrilles, biguine, ragtime, and blues. Swing was also a very popular derivative of jazz in the 1930s with musicians like Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, Jimmie Lunceford, and Count Basie.
Minnie the Moocher (Theme Song) by Cab Calloway
In A Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
Weather Bird by Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines
Tain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It) by Jimmie Lunceford
Splanky by Count Basie
Rhythm and blues (R&B) developed in urban Black communities in the United States during the 1940s. Some of its stylistic origins are jazz, blues, spirituals, gospel, and boogie-woogie. Since the 1980s it shifted into a new style younger generations are currently most familiar with, referred to as contemporary R&B, which blends rhythm and blues with pop, soul, funk, disco, hip hop, and electronic music. Some of the most influential R&B artists are older artists like Prince, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Beyoncé, and Mariah Carey to newer artists like Rihanna, Ne-Yo, and The Weeknd.
When Doves Cry by Prince
Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson
Respect by Aretha Franklin
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston
I’m Every Woman by Chaka Khan
Partition by Beyoncé
Hero by Mariah Carey
Needed Me by Rhianna
So Sick by Ne-Yo
Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
Rock music originated in the United States in the late 1940s, and began as “rock and roll.” Rock and roll’s biggest influences are black musical genres, two of the biggest being blues and R&B. Blues originated in the Deep South in the 1870s from African musical traditions, spirituals, and African-American work songs (this is the white guilt way of saying what they actually are Slave Songs). Blues is arguably the most influential genre in modern western music as some of its derivative forms include rock, ragtime, R&B, jazz, and country. Some of the biggest rock and roll artists include Chuck Berry, Nat King Cole, the Crows, the Penguins, and the Turbans. Even Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll” would say some of his biggest influences were B. B. King, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, Ivory Joe Hunter, and Fats Domino, all Black musicians.
Johnny B. Good by Chuck Berry
L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole
Gee by The Crows
Earth Angel (You Will Be Mine) by The Penguins
I’ll Always Watch Over You by The Turbans
The Thrill is Gone by B.B. King and Tracy Chapman
That’s All Right by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup
Since I Met You Baby by Ivory Joe Hunter
Ain’t That a Shame by Fats Domino
Finally, hip hop and rap music which developed by inner-city Black communities living in the Bronx, NYC, in the 1970s. Its origins are styles of funk, disco, electronic music, dub, R&B, reggae, dancehall, jazz, spoken and performance poetry, scat singing, and talking blues. Hip hop has four key stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching turntables (records), breakdancing, and graffiti writing. Due to poverty and lack of acceptance outside of ghetto neighborhoods, however, hip hop did not officially get recorded for radio or television until 1979. Hip hop has derived and has many subgenres since the 70s and now includes freestyle rap, gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop, mumble rap, trap, experimental hip hop, and more. Some major influential artists include Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, LL Cool J, Ice-T, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan, Notorious B.I.G., Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, B.o.B., Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Chance the Rapper and so so so many more.
Fight The Power by Public Enemy
South Bronx by Boogie Down Productions
Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J
Colors by Ice-T
Still D.R.E. by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Drop It Like It’s Hot by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams
C.R.E.A.M. by Wu-Tang Clan
Hypnotize by Notorious B.I.G.
Snap Yo Fingers by Lil Jon, Youngbloodz, Sean Paul, and E-40
Scared of the Dark by Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla $ign, XXXTENTACION
Crank That (Soulja Boy) by Soulja Boy
So Good by B.o.B.
Started From the Bottom by Drake
Feeling Myself by Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé
HUMBLE. by Kendrick Lamar
This Is America by Childish Gambino
No Problem by Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne, and 2 Chainz
There is nothing you can say to tell me there isn’t Black influence on kpop. BTS had a whole multi-episode show where they travel to LA to train under “hip-hop tutors” Coolio, the artist behind Gangsta’s Paradise, and Warren G, a g-funk producer. Haechan calls Michael Jackson his favorite artist and inspiration. Almost all kpop groups have a rap line who “shockingly” LIKE BLACK RAPPERS AND ARTISTS. And it isn’t unheard of for kpop idols / groups to support and promote fundraising and campaigns. I’m not here to attack kpop, I’m here to explain why people can be upset by their silence.
Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio and L.V.
Regulate by Warren G and Nate Dogg
While I am aware many of idols’ / groups’ accounts are not run personally or by their management, the silence and lack of support can hurt. I can understand why black fans want to see their idols they have been supporting support them too, especially when those idols have been, in a sense, profiting off of their culture. I can understand why black fans want their idols to support them not getting murdered in the street by police who are supposed to protect them.
For anyone saying that “this is America’s problem” and “leave it to America to figure out,” World War II happened because Hitler was committing genocide on Jewish people and it took ALL of the Allies, not just anti-nazi Germans, to take down Hitler and the Axis powers. The police and the government are committing genocide on black people. Systematic racism is a disease that the world, not just America, needs to fight.
Silence doesn’t make you an ally, silence makes you an accomplice.
Here’s how you can help:
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
https://moreblminfo.carrd.co
Thread of More Places to Donate
Thread of How White Allies Can Help
A List of Black Owned Fashion / Cosmetology / Skin Care Brands
Tips on How to Engage Conversation on BLM with Conservative / Racist / Bigoted / Homophobic Family
Donate. Sign Petitions. Text and Call Local Governments. Protest. Vote. Educate. Listen.
