In the ever-evolving world of hip hop, few artists embody the intersection of music, academia, and social consciousness quite like James An. Based in South Korea, James is an independent hip hop artist and multifaceted creative force. With work spanning from music to fashion to academic research, this jack-of-all-trades is the artist to watch.

As we dive into our conversation with James, we uncover the rich network of influences, experiences, and aspirations that drive his unique artistry and commitment to making a difference through his music. Keep reading to learn more about this artist and scholar on the rise: 

allkpop: Hi James – excited to speak with you and get to know you. For our readers, could you give an introduction of who you are and what you do?

James An: Great to speak with you as well! Hello everyone! My name is James An, and I’m an independent hip hop artist based in South Korea. I also do a variety of work asides from music, including academic research on Korean hip hop, directing for art exhibitions, walking/rapping for fashion shows, and more!

allkpop:How did you get your start as an artist and rapper?

James: I’ve loved hip hop since I was in elementary school, but it wasn’t until college that I started to write my own lyrics and perform wherever and whenever I could. Although it wasn’t at a professional level at that time of course, I took it very seriously, and I loved writing my own lyrics and performing. After I finished my mandatory military service (I enlisted rather late compared to my peers) in 2020, I started to release music professionally.

allkpop: You just held a listening session and release party this last weekend, tell us about your new album and how the listening party went!

James: The listening session and release party went so well, I feel so blessed and thankful! I know numbers aren’t everything, but I honestly expected and hoped maybe 50 people would show up, but over a 100 people came through for the listening session. It felt so great that people took the time out of their busy schedules to come to support me both at the listening session and the release party. It was a lot of work to prepare for both events (with the help of very kind friends), but it was so fulfilling and I had so much fun. It just felt great!

allkpop: Your album concept draws from literature, gaming, and societal observations. Tell us more about these influences and what draws you to these particular themes and narratives.

James: A big joy of creating for me is seeking inspiration from various types of art and literature, and not just music. Because the lyrics are at the center of my craft and I’m often topic-driven and love to convey important themes, I get very inspired when I admire different types of art that powerfully convey something. I think my education background definitely moves me to focus on societal themes that I believe are important for us to become more aware of, feel, and help educate ourselves better. They don’t necessarily have to strictly be about education or society, but can include interpersonal relationships, power dynamics, and existential ruminations. Recently, I’ve been very inspired by Netflix animations like PLUTO and Neon Genesis Evangelion. I’m also very inspired by Louis Wain, an English artist (1860-1939) who is best known for his drawings of anthropomorphized cats. I also enjoy reading, so I’m often inspired by text.

allkpop: How do you approach transforming these inspirations into your unique artistic voice?

James: When I deeply enjoy a Netflix animation show, for example, I try to ask myself what it is about the animation that really moved me. Although I may not be familiar with the creative process behind an art medium like this, I also try to look up interviews of the creators or producers to learn more about their philosophy, vision, and the incredible amount of effort that would go in behind the scenes. I also think about what kind of problems or issues the creators or artists might have faced throughout the process. I think one of the very important aspects is to really try to recognize and acknowledge the amount of depth and detail that must’ve gone into their creations. As long as the transformation from such inspirations to my desire to create stems from sincere respect and admiration, I feel that I can create something meaningful.

allkpop: How do you see your music intersecting with your role in raising awareness and promoting social change?

James: I identify myself as an artist-educator, and this is very important for me. I want to create music that I love, but I feel responsible to create art that makes the world a better place, even just by a little bit. I’m very privileged, and I’m lucky to have had access to a tremendous amount of resources and education, which every child deserves. If I’ve received so much but I’m not paying that forward in ways that I can, I feel that I’m wasting the incredible amount of kindness and teachings that people I’ve encountered have given me. If I can give (if at all) half as much as I’ve received, that would be a huge accomplishment for me. Talking about the intersection between music and promoting social change, I feel that music is a very powerful medium, and hip hop for me is a very powerful art form through which I can express my thoughts and actions for change, because the lyrics play an important role.

allkpop: Let’s talk about a few of your songs - you mentioned that you were influenced by Harlan Ellison’s dystopian narrative. What drew you to reinterpret this story, and how do you see its themes resonating with contemporary society?

James: Personally, I was immediately drawn to the title - I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream - and I read the novel right away. There was something very powerful and significant about this feeling of having this incredible urge to scream, or say something, but not being able to do so. In the novel, it was also interesting that (without spoiling too much) the ineffable amount of hatred towards humanity by the AI is a product of society itself that eventually consumes and forever torments the protagonists. I’m not sure if I was successful, but I wanted to portray the “dystopia of today” that I felt through my perspective on society as well as my interpersonal relationships and the power dynamics among them. A dystopia is technically an imagined place, but there’s so much dystopian characteristics and violence today that it’s not so imagined, but very real. Do we choose to see this or not?

allkpop: Your track "GTA (Grand Thank Auto)" reflects themes of gratitude and generosity. How do these values inform your approach to music-making and your interactions within the music community?

James: For me, gratitude is one of the strongest values that motivate me; I feel like, as long as I’m truly grateful, there’s nothing that can stop me. I think much of my life, including my creative process and this entire journey of making music, is centered on gratitude. I think gratitude is something we should feel more close to and be more open about to each other. Sometimes, there are moments when I doubt my own gratitude–am I being ungrateful? I wanted to express the confidence in my own gratitude, and perhaps spread the message to my listeners that we should proudly thank the people around us.

allkpop: Your song "Children's Day" addresses poignant societal issues. How do you see the role of music in sparking conversations about social justice and change?

James: I’ve personally been inspired by artists and rappers that sparked important conversations and brought positive social change like Tiger JK, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar. Music is so close to our lives; we listen to music pretty much everyday everywhere. I think the ubiquitous nature of music, as well as hip hop’s history of bringing social change since its inception makes hip hop one of the most powerful tools to transform society. When the message is intertwined with creativity, it challenges the listener to actively participate in the process and create the experience together.

allkpop: Your song "Misanthrope" delves into anti-social thoughts, showcasing a raw and introspective side. How do you navigate vulnerability and authenticity in your music, and what do you hope listeners take away from such tracks?

James: It’s very important for me to be vulnerable and honest with my music, and I believe I can be most real and creative through it. So much of our society is focused on impression management, or controlling others’ images of us, and much of our behaviors and thoughts are motivated by this. This isn’t right or wrong, but I think it can get a bit extreme to the extent that we no longer see us for who we truly are, and it makes it even difficult for us to be truly vulnerable, but this is actually when we can truly connect. There are moments of disillusionment towards our cherished relationships, friends, and ourselves, and I don’t want to simply avoid that, but rather acknowledge and express it. Sometimes, it can be cathartic.

allkpop: As an artist, how do you navigate the balance between personal expression and connecting with your audience through your music?

James: This is something I feel that I need to think more about as I evolve as an artist. Deep inside, I always tell myself that as long as I create with utmost sincerity and effort towards my craft, the audience will know. But realistically, sometimes, in order to further develop as a more versatile artist, I think I need to think more from the listeners’ perspective, and think about what they might connect with at a deeper level.

allkpop: The album transitions from lighter themes to deeper societal reflections. Can you walk us through the creative process behind shaping this progression and ensuring cohesion throughout the tracks?

James: Because I was inspired by Ellison’s novel, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, I wanted to pay homage by creating an EP that could feel like a novel, or has a rough structure of a novel. The structure of the EP doesn’t parallel the original structure of the novel, but I was determined to create an ending that was unexpected (like the original novel), hence the abrupt change in sounds towards the end. I wanted to start off with showing the sounds and lyrics of “James An” that the listeners are already familiar with and might expect, and gradually go inside the narrator’s mind. I think it can be said that the EP is about, what kind of thoughts (and experiences) has the narrator had that eventually causes him to end up in a club alone? The title is I Have No Friends, and I Must Party. To party is to be normal and be treated so in society, and get along with people. In order to party, one often needs friends; however, the narrator does not have friends, but is struggling to “party” like everyone else and be normal like everyone else. Why? Is it because he feels that he’s the only one serious, or only one thinking about serious thoughts.

allkpop: Now let’s dive into a few influence-related topics. What artists do you draw inspiration from?

James: I often draw inspiration from hip hop artists like Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae, Eminem, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Pusha T, Tyler, the Creator, Childish Gambino, SZA, Isaiah Rashad, Neon Bunny, The Black Skirts, and many more.

allkpop: What do you want listeners to take away from your album?

James: I hope my listeners can be reminded that they’re not alone. We’ve all been alone, together.

allkpop: What’s next for James An?

James: I’ll be performing and giving a lecture at the Korean Music Festival at Leeds University in June, Asia’s biggest street art festival called URBAN BREAK in Seoul in July, Auckland University in August, and Seoul Fashion Week in September. I can’t wait to create new music very soon and hopefully release sometime this summer! Also, I’m very excited to perform (or talk) for any event anywhere, so please hit me up! Thank you so much!