P1Harmony has recently become the center of controversy due to the teaser music video (MV) for their upcoming 7th mini-album, titled SAD SONG, which was released on September 15, 2024. The full album is set to debut on September 20, 2024. Prior to this, on September 3, the group shared another MV teaser called OUT OF CONTEXT____.
In the OUT OF CONTEXT____ MV, the members of P1Harmony showcased various outfits, including a specific look where they donned head scarves. Some netizens expressed that the scarves resembled durags and accused the group of cultural appropriation.
For those unfamiliar, a durag—also known as a doorag, do-rag, duraq, or dewrag—is a snug-fitting, stretchy head covering commonly used to maintain hairstyles. It holds significant cultural importance within the African community.
The reaction to P1Harmony’s latest teaser has been mixed. While some internet users criticized the group, others defended them against the allegations. One defender on X stated:
“Every time a group releases hip-hop concepts, you accuse them of cultural appropriation. Honey, the Black community created hip-hop, and people will draw inspiration from Black culture because that culture is the essence of hip-hop itself. You just want to hate on someone—first XG, then YP, now P1H.”
Many netizens highlighted that donning a durag or a scarf similar to a durag for an aesthetic can be seen as cultural appropriation.
“How do you not understand the problem? It’s clear that Koreans and the K-pop industry are largely racist towards Black people, yet they perform and produce music in our genre. If they truly respected the culture, they wouldn’t display racism and prejudice towards Black individuals,”one user remarked.
“You’re right; people do dress like that in their daily lives. But using it as a concept to achieve a certain aesthetic crosses into cultural appropriation,”another commenter shared.
“I understand your point, but he has put himself in a position where he should be held accountable for cultural awareness, so I will hold him to that standard,”another user commented.
Others came to P1Harmony’s defense, emphasizing that the creative direction of a K-pop album and its MV is determined by the agency’s CEO and creative teams, leaving K-pop stars with minimal input on their attire and presentation.
“People act like Keeho is: 1) a manager who has control over their direction. 2) some sort of cultural police. Individuals who keep themselves in check aren’t obligated to regulate everyone else’s behavior; folks should educate themselves instead,”one user defended.
“MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHO TF IS KEEHO? Why do you think an idol can determine their concept? Only a FEW can do that; he can’t simply refuse, or he’d risk being fired and losing his income, so let’s place the blame on the company FIRST,”another user pointed out.
“All this commotion can’t be about a scarf on their head… we have bigger issues to address than this,”another netizen added.
What is Cultural Appropriation and Did P1Harmony Cross a Line with Their Upcoming Release?
For those new to the term, cultural appropriation occurs when a dominant culture takes or uses aspects of another culture in a disrespectful, exploitative, or stereotyped manner.
In the OUT OF CONTEXT____ MV, P1Harmony styled their headscarves in various ways to reflect their hip-hop aesthetic. The MV did not feature any profanity, inappropriate content, or stereotypes.
During a 2022 interview with Zach Sang, P1Harmony’s leader, Keeho, was asked about their thoughts on cultural appropriation regarding their concepts and styles. He responded that the company and creative team rigorously evaluate every concept and style before finalizing them for any album release. He added:
“Clearly, there’s AAVE and many other cultural elements that are sensitive and necessitate respect, and I believe it’s our responsibility to consider these factors continually.”
Netizens referenced this interview during their discussions about the group’s latest MV and teaser concept, with some suggesting that Keeho contradicted his earlier statements, which led to the alleged use of a durag in the OUT OF CONTEXT____ MV.
In other news, P1Harmony consists of Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob and made their debut under FNC Entertainment in October 2020.
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