International Artist Series: Meet BADVOID
December 11, 2024
December 11, 2024
Knock2 & Trap Legend RL Grime Team Up for 'come aliv3'
Dim Mak bossman Steve Aoki teams up with rising K-pop group A.C.E for their first globally-focused single to begin a breakout year. Aoki blends dark melodies with electro stylings on back-to-back reworks of A.C.E’s original “Goblin (Favorite Boys).” Taking the collaboration fully global, Nigerian-American rapper Thutmose drops bars on the track, while driving kicks and riveting synths lay the groundwork for a dance-inducing revamp of the boy band’s original anthem that honors traditional Korean folklore.
“From The Chainsmokers to Lil Uzi Vert to BTS, I’ve had several opportunities to work with artists on the brink throughout my career. A.C.E are stars in the making and I’m so excited that we were able to collab on this. I think everyone will enjoy this song and it has a relatable visual concept — Finding hope after a dark time. I hope this song can be a little ray of light for all of you as we start the new year.” – Steve Aoki
“Fav Boyz” is Aoki’s latest foray into K-pop, following celebrated collaborations with Monsta X, Kang Daniel and Zico, as well as three separate releases with BTS, including their first international hit “MIC Drop.” Aoki was recently seen performing “MIC Drop” with BTS at their record breaking 2020 NYE livestream celebration. On “Fav Boyz,” the DJ/producer’s iconic electronic sound brilliantly complements A.C.E’s captivating anthem. Members of the boy band showcase their English rap skills on an entirely new verse made exclusively for Aoki’s rework. As if the track could not get any better, a second remix features a dizzying rap verse from Thutmose, bringing even more diversity and creative genius to the already intoxicating electronic-meets-K-pop track.
Directed by DOT Production, the official music video takes place in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. The helpless and distraught members of A.C.E (WOW, ByeongKwan, Jun, Donghun and Chan) reside in a worn-down garage, living a monotonous existence. Upon hearing Aoki’s uplifting beats and Thutmose’s infectious rhymes, the group receives the energy and optimism needed to push forward.
“Steve is a legend in his own right and the A.C.E guys are ill, so I was definitely excited to add that Thutmose flavor to this record. I love the bounce of the song and I love the way it makes me feel. Shoutout to everyone involved in this process, from the artists to our teams behind the scenes.” – Thutmose
A.C.E is slated for a big year ahead, after claiming the #1 spot on Dazed’s end-of-year “40 best K-pop songs of 2020” round up and coming off of recent profiles in Forbes, BuzzFeed, TeenVogue and Billboard. Formed in 2017 under Beats Interactive, the group is revolutionizing K-Pop worldwide. With millions of Spotify streams and features on official playlists such as K-Pop Rising, RADAR Korea, and Korean OSTs, A.C.E distinguishes themselves by fearlessly infusing their sound with everything from electronic music to traditional Korean culture. A.C.E stands for Adventure Calling Emotions, a name the group certainly lives up to through these unapologetic creative risks.
“We’ve been fans of Steve Aoki for a while and have even told our fans how he was a dream collaborator of ours. Having him put his touch on a song that is really special for us as a group was literally a dream come true. With our new rap sections and music video, we put our all into making sure this remix brought A.C.E to a new level when working with top-collaborators like Steve Aoki and Thutmose.” – A.C.E
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