Street-savvy multi-culturalism might not be what people expect from a K-pop boy band, but B.A.P.'s "Hands Up" uses rap and pop to preach a philosophy of inner strength. As the band came together leading up to its 2012 launch, gangsta rap was a major influence, as was traditional Korean music and R&B. It all makes for an infectious blend.
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The band's subdued street surroundings and dance moves feel like they contain a latent energy, only some of which is expressed. In "Hands Up" a bilingual, global message is all about staying emotionally positive. It frames finding a good attitude as reaching for your dreams in the face of the odds. While this matches U.S. movie plots, there is a philosophical edge in B.A.P.'s outlook seldom seen in American media. Billboard wrote that the band drew on its own earliest work in crafting its state-of-the-moment message.
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B.A.P. stands for "Best Absolute Perfect," and they stand for even more than that. In a world where too many things can get you down, these K-pop vets have been counseling strength for years. Although these are not the American streets of U.S. gangsta rap, "Hands Up" is a solid street message of its own, saying to reach for the sky, because your dreams are worth reaching for.
