Watch Jay Park and IU’s Goofy Music Video for ‘GANADARA’

Shortly after releasing the sentimental hip-hop number “To Life,” Korean-American superstar and business mogul Jay Park returns to the spotlight with “GANADARA.” Featuring South Korea’s leading soloist IU, the single mark’s Park’s first musical project under his recently founded record label MORE VISION. 

Earlier this week, Park took over to Twitter for a #AskJayPark session, where he revealed the inspiration behind the track: “Teaching a foreigner how to speak Korean so they develop their love haha ga na da ra 가나다라,” the 34-year-old rapper wrote. According to Genius, the track’s name (GANADARA) refers to “the beginning of the Korean alphabet and a common order of consonants the way kids learn it — similarly to ABC in English.”

Co-written by Park alongside HAON and Woogie, “GANADARA” is an easy-to-listen-to R&B number, packed with fruity guitar and dreamy synth sounds. The dulcet blend between IU and Park’s breathy vocalizations enhances the track’s amorous atmosphere as they sing “Take my hand and follow me/ Clear day and a full moon/ Teach me tonight/ GA-NA-DA-RA-MA-BA-SA.” True to Park’s explanation of the track’s thematic, “GANADARA” tells the tale of a foreigner pursuing love in a city where he struggles with the local language: “My Korean ain’t that good/ Even translators are no use/ Just wondering about how you feel/ What words should I use? I don’t know.”

Loosely inspired by Inception, Park’s “GANADARA” is a music video within a music video, revealing the goofy storyline of the trials and tribulations Park conquered to get IU onto the filming set. 

“But they said her [IU] schedule is packed as of now” a member for Park’s team informs the rapper in the beginning shot of the music video. Determined to get IU in the music video, Park flaunts his close ties with the vocalist, making it seem like a phone call from his side will seal the deal. What follows next is a series of bone-tickling events, showing the staff scramble in the 11th hour, trying to find ways to shoot a music video without IU. From a cardboard cut-out of the vocalist to a mannequin, all efforts slowly turn futile, pushing Park to dramatically (and tearfully) enter the dressing room just to block IU’s contact from his phone. Just then a member from the team barges in to inform the rapper that IU has finally arrived.

After spearheading major business and creative decisions at two of South Korea’s leading hip-hop and R&B labels (AOMG and H1GHR MUSIC), Park announced his departure from his role as CEO of the labels on December 31st, 2021. He founded AOMG in 2013 and H1GHR MUSIC in 2017 alongside American producer and childhood friend Cha Cha Malone, and had an integral role in shaping the labels, making them the most prominent Korean hip-hop and R&B labels in the world. Under Park’s leadership, both AOMG and H1GHR Music have been nominated for the Label/Crew of the Year award at Korean Hip-Hop Awards, with H1GHR MUSIC taking the title home this year. 

Currently, the business mogul has two active ventures running: Won Soju, his first alcoholic beverage brand, and the music record label MORE VISION. Though he is no longer holding executive roles at AOMG or H1GHR MUSIC, Park is said to be on-boarded as an advisor on both labels.