Berklee's K-Pop & Beyond Explores Connections Between K-Pop and Hip-Hop

Berklee's K-Pop & Beyond Explores Connections Between K-Pop and Hip-Hop Now in its fifth year, the series brings together artists, industry leaders, and students for three days of performances, workshops, and conversation.

September 28, 2026

By

Daniel Pesquera

Danny Chung, A&R and lyricist at THEBLACKLABEL

Image courtesy of the artist

Berklee celebrates the cultures of K-pop and hip-hop at K-Pop & Beyond, a three-day series taking place October 27-29, 2026, across the Boston campus. With support from Berklee's global partner the CJ Cultural Foundation, and presented by Berklee's Professional Music Department in collaboration with Berklee Global, the event convenes artists and industry professionals for workshops, master classes, student performances, and conversations about the two genres and their growing influence on one another.

This year's featured guests are Danny Chung, A&R and lyricist for THEBLACKLABEL, and Aria McKnight, A&R senior director at Capitol Records. They will be joined by Toki Wright, chair of the Professional Music Department, and Dr. Aminah Pilgrim, associate professor of Africana Studies, for a discussion about the musical and cultural connections between hip-hop and K-pop, including ways artists, producers, and songwriters are drawing from both traditions.

K-pop has become a global phenomenon, one that draws direct influences from hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music, all of which are rooted in Black culture, said Wright. As we develop spaces for K-pop's musical practice, it is equally important to unpack K-pop's cultural identity. K-Pop & Beyond is a platform for us to not only learn from leaders in the industry, but to engage in complex conversations about responsible stewardship.

Aria McKnight, senior director of A&R at Capitol Records

Image courtesy of the artist

The three-day program also offers career counseling sessions with Chung and McKnight, and performances from the K-Pop & Beyond Ensemble, Berklee's student hip-hop clubs, and Boston Conservatory dance students. The series will culminate with the Berklee Performance Center debut of B-Girls, a K-pop group created, managed by, and composed entirely of current students.

This is our fifth year and I am so proud of our students, who have worked day and night to make it happen, said associate professor Ray Seol, co-founder of the K-Pop & Beyond series. K-pop started locally, but today it has become a global culture. At the same time, we need to acknowledge how other genres of music have influenced its development. Hip-hop, in particular, has been at the center of K-pop's creative journey and we are recognizing those contributions at this year's summit.

Danny Chung is an A&R rep and a lyricist at THEBLACKLABEL who has contributed to music for major K-pop artists including BLACKPINK. Most recently, he played a key creative role in Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, helping develop the project's authentic K-pop sound and contributing to the songwriting of Soda Pop while serving as the singing voice of Baby Saja. Aria McKnight is senior director of A&R at Capitol Records, where she works across a global roster of talent including aespa, MEOVV, BABYMETAL, Sienna Spiro, Niall Horan, and AD LA. She worked with Anderson .Paak on the soundtrack for his film K-POPS, and has also placed records with NCT 127, KAI of EXO, and KEY of SHINee.

For more information and a full schedule of events, please visit the event website.

About CJ Cultural FoundationCelebrating its 20th anniversary this year, CJ Cultural Foundation remains dedicated to supporting young and emerging creators and fostering a diverse and thriving cultural ecosystem. Through programs including TUNE UP, STORY UP, STAGE UP, and the CJ Music Scholarship, the foundation provides opportunities and resources for artists across music, filmmaking, musical theater, and other creative fields. By empowering early-career artists to pursue their dreams and build their presence on the global stage, CJ Cultural Foundation works to nurture the next generation of creative talent and contribute to the continued growth of K-culture.

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