Inside MEXE: When Brazilian Funk Met K-Pop Through Pabllo Vittar & NMIXX

Pabllo Vittar, NMIXX - MEXE represents an unprecedented fusion of musical worlds that bridges continents and genres. This high-profile collaboration marks the first time a drag artist of Vittar's stature has partnered with a K-pop group, certainly establishing itself as the most significant drag-K-pop crossover to date.

Following her Spanish-language single "Fantasía" with Grammy winner Nathy Peluso, MEXE showcases Vittar's evolution as a global artist. The track notably blends baile funk energy with futuristic pop elements, all captured in a sleek music video directed by Jaewon Ham. Additionally, MEXE stands out as Vittar's first English single, while also incorporating Portuguese and Korean lyrics to create a truly international sound. With 37+ million followers across social media platforms, Vittar brings massive star power to this collaboration as the world's most-followed drag queen. The song will be included in Vittar's upcoming studio album, which is currently in production and will feature tracks in both English and Spanish.

The Story Behind the Collaboration

How NMIXX and Pabllo Vittar connected

The seeds of this groundbreaking collaboration were planted years before "MEXE" came to life. Pabllo Vittar first discovered K-pop in 2015 and has been an avid follower ever since. The connection began taking shape in March 2025, when NMIXX mentioned Brazilian artists they hoped to work with during an MTV Brasil interview.

Subsequently, on August 6, Pabllo posted a mysterious teaser hinting at an upcoming release with a South Korean artist, which was confirmed the next day as her collaboration with NMIXX. Lily from NMIXX expressed, "When I first heard the song, I realized it was the perfect combination of NMIXX's sound and Pabllo's".

Why this partnership matters in 2025

Released on August 22, 2025, "MEXE" represents a historic milestone as the first collaboration between a K-pop group and a drag queen. Moreover, this partnership transcends mere musical experimentation—it embodies a cultural bridge between Brazil and Korea.

For NMIXX, the collaboration advances their goal of "creating music that mixes freely with the whole world". For Vittar, who shared, "I couldn't be happier! It's an accomplishment to record with artists I like and experiment with new sounds," the project marks her significant entry into the K-pop world.

The role of JYP Entertainment and Pabllo's team

Behind the scenes, JYP Entertainment—currently expanding its reach into Latin American markets—played a crucial role in facilitating this cross-continental project. Initially, Pabllo contacted JYP Entertainment directly to propose the collaboration.

The logistics involved Pabllo traveling to South Korea for recording sessions, then returning in July specifically to film the music video. Throughout the process, both management teams coordinated closely to ensure the artists' creative visions were realized, resulting in what Haewon called a "special collaboration with such a vibrant and free-spirited artist".

Blending Genres: K-pop Meets Brazilian Funk

What is Baile Funk?

Funk carioca—commonly known as baile funk—originated in Rio de Janeiro's favelas during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Despite sharing a name with American funk, this Brazilian genre bears little resemblance to it. Instead, baile funk emerged as a distinctive hip-hop subgenre characterized by harsh, thunderous kicks, offbeat cymbals, and powerful vocals.

Historically, this genre has served as a crucial outlet for marginalized communities, especially in Rio's favelas. Throughout its evolution, baile funk has incorporated diverse influences including Miami bass, electro, freestyle, Afrobeat, samba, and traditional African rhythms.

How MEXE fuses K-pop and funk rhythms

"MEXE" represents a groundbreaking fusion that brings baile funk's raw energy into K-pop's polished production framework. The track employs a collage of sounds and rhythms with a freeform structure that differs from typical K-pop arrangements.

As one commentator notes, "K-pop production is like MMA. It mixes every urban genre". This approach perfectly complements baile funk's inherently collaborative nature, where producer-rapper duos create dynamic relationships between beats, vocals, and audience response.

The role of producers like Charlotte Wilson and Maffalda

Behind "MEXE's" infectious sound stands a talented production team including Charlotte Wilson, Ebenezer, Maffalda, and Paulo DK. Their expertise was essential in crafting a track that preserves baile funk's distinctive percussive elements alongside K-pop's futuristic production values.

The producers successfully maintained what makes Brazilian funk authentic—its relentlessly rhythmic backbone and cultural identity—while creating something fresh enough to appeal to K-pop fans worldwide. Consequently, "MEXE" joins a growing trend of music that crosses cultural boundaries, as producers increasingly blend baile funk with other genres like house, Afrobeats, and amapiano.

Inside the Making of MEXE

Recording sessions in South Korea

The creation of "MEXE" required Pabllo Vittar to travel directly to South Korea, where she participated in both recording sessions and music video production. This cross-continental collaboration brought together artists from vastly different musical backgrounds in the same studio. "When I first heard the song, I realized it was the perfect combination of NMIXX's sound and Pabllo's," Lily shared about the recording experience. Furthermore, NMIXX members expressed their excitement about working with an international artist, though Jiwoo admitted being "a little nervous" as this marked their first global collaboration.

Choreography rehearsals with Pabllo and NMIXX

The dance rehearsals proved both challenging and educational for NMIXX. Bae enthusiastically recalled, "Rehearsing the choreography with Pabllo and her dancers was so much fun, I learned a lot just by watching them". However, the intense choreography demanded exceptional effort, with Haewon noting her "neck hurt the next day" due to "too much head movement". NMIXX members were visibly impressed by the Brazilian dancers' precision and flexibility, with Kyujin exclaiming "They're so precise yet smooth and fast... It's overwhelming!".

Visual direction by Jaewon Ham

The sleek music video was directed by Jaewon Ham from 88 Gymnastic Heroes, a prominent figure in K-pop visual production. His team, including Assistant Directors Hyesu Han and Donghyun Lee, created a "turbo-powered" visual experience filmed entirely in South Korea. The production schedule was remarkably intense – Pabllo prepared for filming starting at 2AM, leading Kyujin to observe "From dawn till dawn, nonstop".

Language mix: Portuguese, Korean, and English

"MEXE" embodies multilingual artistry, seamlessly blending Portuguese, Korean, and English lyrics. Lily pointed out that in Portuguese, "MEXE" means "mix" – perfectly aligning with NMIXX's musical philosophy. This linguistic fusion represents the growing trend of multilingual K-pop collaborations that transcend traditional language barriers.

The Impact and Reception

Fan reactions across Brazil and Korea

The release of "MEXE" ignited an explosion of enthusiasm across social media platforms. Fans expressed their excitement with comments like "Pabllo is a legend for making this happen" and praised "the final dance break with both Pabllo and NMIXX" as particularly impressive. Nevertheless, some observers noted "Everyone is doing kpop collabs these days", reflecting the growing trend of cross-cultural music partnerships.

How MEXE expands Pabllo Vittar's global reach

As the world's most-followed drag queen with over 37 million social media followers, Vittar's collaboration with NMIXX builds upon her global momentum. In fact, her 2024 track "Alibi" had already marked her first Billboard Hot 100 entry. "MEXE" serves as "a perfect opportunity to introduce NMIXX stans to Pabllo and her sound, and Pabllo fans to NMIXX".

What this means for NMIXX's international image

For NMIXX, this collaboration represents their first major international partnership, aligning perfectly with their stated mission. As Haewon emphasized, "NMIXX has always strived to make music that freely connects with the world". Through "MEXE," the group demonstrates their versatility beyond their signature "MIXX POP" style.