Anderson .Paak Reveals His Vision for a "Gangster Rap" Album With Paul McCartney [Exclusive]

Anderson .Paak is a connoisseur of music, to say the least. The multi-talented, Grammy-winning rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, drummer, and more has cited everyone from Tupac Shakur to Radiohead and Aretha Franklin as the artists behind some of his favorite songs ever made, with great gospel singers and pop stars alike influencing his own style. However, in the latest episode of Collider's On the Record series with Michael Zimmermann, following the release of his directorial debut, K-Pops!, he cited one album that still speaks particularly loud to him — Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles.

In general, The Beatles have no shortage of excellent tracks, but Sgt. Pepper's is still often hailed as arguably their magnum opus, with all-time classics like "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and "A Day in the Life." It's also a strong showcase for the different elements each of the Fab Four brought to the table. Almost all the tracks were written by the legendary songwriting duo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with George Harrison penning "Within You Without You" and bringing Indian instruments into their soundscape in addition to his usual guitar work, and Ringo Starr manning the drums and taking the lead on "With a Little Help From My Friends." "It's almost like a late-night variety show of sorts," .Paak said about it, speaking to the diversity of ideas and characters the band explores through the album.

When asked if he'd specifically like to collaborate with McCartney on a project of some sort, .Paak didn't hesitate. "I would love to! I got to do a remix with him a while ago, but I'd love to really get into the studio." When pushed on what kind of sounds or ideas he could find with the legendary artist, he posed an interesting suggestion to play on both of their talents. "Some like, gangster rap, or something," he added, citing his belief that McCartney's experience would lend surprisingly well to such an idea. "He might have some stories." Their aforementioned remix team-up, "When Winter Comes," gives just a hint at what's possible when combining .Paak's funky sound with McCartney's vocals, something that a more extensive collaboration might allow them to flesh out further. McCartney, for his part, is no stranger to some more unexpected team-ups, crossing genres with 2015's "FourFiveSeconds" with Rihanna and Kanye West.

What Is 'K-Pops!' About?

.Paak has shown plenty of willingness to explore new ideas, and that now extends to directing with K-Pops!. Initially premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, his first film finally hit the big screen on February 27 and has been dazzling both critics and audiences. It's a personal project for .Paak, taking heavy inspiration from his life and fatherhood, as it follows a Los Angeles artist seeking newfound success in South Korea. In his search to revitalize his career, he learns that his long-lost son is poised to become the next big K-pop star and slowly shifts from wanting to ride his coattails to acting as the father and mentor he deserves. .Paak not only directs and co-writes, but also co-stars with his actual son, Soul Rasheed, alongside Jee Young Han, Jonnie "Dumbfoundead" Park, and Yvette Nicole Brown, among others.

K-Pops! is now in theaters. Stay tuned here at Collider for more from our On the Record series as we sit down with more artists to discuss the music that inspires them.