KPop Demon Hunters stars EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna have acknowledged the profound influence of American hip-hop, particularly Kendrick Lamar, on their musical style. This fusion of K-pop and hip-hop has propelled the animated film’s soundtrack to global success, becoming Netflix’s most popular English-language film of the year.
Hip-Hop Roots Inspire KPop Demon Hunters Vocalists
The lead vocalists revealed that their inspiration extends beyond traditional K-pop, drawing heavily from US hip-hop artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Missy Elliott, and Doechii. Rei Ami, a Korean American rapper and singer, highlighted discovering West Coast rap in high school and learning about storytelling, lyricism, and rhythm from it. EJAE specifically praised Lamar’s flow, cadence, vocal production, and writing style as educational influences.
Global Success of KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, KPop Demon Hunters premiered on Netflix to critical and commercial acclaim. Its soundtrack has amassed over 3 billion global streams, including the breakout hit “Golden,” which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in August. The film also set a Netflix record as the first sing-along version to top the US box office during its opening weekend.
According to Luminate data, by late September, the film had accumulated 2.1 billion on-demand audio and video streams in the US across all platforms, with 5.4 billion minutes viewed on Netflix. The directors expressed gratitude for the Oscar and Grammy buzz surrounding the project, signaling potential future installments.