* En anglais uniquement
An international media collective and record label focusing on Asian talents,
88rising was founded in 2015 by Sean Miyashiro and fosters Asian artists like Indonesian rapper
Rich Brian (fka
Rich Chigga), Korean rapper
Keith Ape, mainland Chinese rap foursome
Higher Brothers, and more. Initially known as CXSHXNLY, the collective's initial signees were Filipino-American singer/dancer Brian Puspos, Korean-American rapper
Jonathan Park (fka
Dumbfoundead), and
Josh Pan. After
Pan discovered
Keith Ape's "It G Ma," Miyashiro recruited
A$AP Ferg,
Waka Flocka Flame, and
Dumbfoundead for a remix, which later went viral. Rebranding as
88rising in 2016, they drafted other viral acts to join the team, including
Rich Brian, who found early success with his viral single "Dat $tick";
Joji, the artistic outlet for one-time Internet jokester George Miller, aka Pink Guy; and the Mandarin-speaking trap quartet
Higher Brothers from Chengdu, China.
88rising later enlisted Indonesian singer
NIKI, Japanese singer
Rina Sawayama, Japanese-American hip-hop producer
Sen Morimoto, and Los Angeles-bred R&B singer
August 08.
88rising spent 2018 touring the world, focusing on Asian markets along with a U.S. trek. To coincide with the journey, they released a debut single as
88rising, "Midsummer Madness," which racked up millions of streams. The track landed on the debut compilation
Head in the Clouds, which featured a wealth of guests such as
Yung Bans,
03 Greedo,
BlocBoy JB,
Playboi Carti, and more. The label's first inaugural music festival, also dubbed Head in the Clouds, was held in Los Angeles that year, showcasing an Asian-centric roster that included Zion T,
Duckwrth, Laff Traxx, and the
88rising crew. The concert was such a success that another was held less than a year later. The second installment starred members of the roster including
Rich Brian,
Joji, and
Higher Brothers, as well as K-pop group Ikon and Indonesian singer
Stephanie Poetri. A sequel compilation,
Head in the Clouds II, landed the same year, and included the hit "These Nights." ~ Neil Z. Yeung