88rising explained

88rising
Type:Private
Founders:Sean Miyashiro, Jaeson Ma
Distributor:Warner Records -->
Location City:New York, NY
Location Country:United States
Key People:Sean Miyashiro
(CEO)
Num Employees:70

88rising (stylized as 88⬆), formerly known as CXSHXNLY (pronounced "cash only"), is an American record label founded in 2015 by Sean Miyashiro. According to their website, Miyashiro describes it as a "hybrid management, record label, video production, and marketing company".[1]

The company has gained popularity as a music platform and record label primarily for Asian American artists such as Joji, Keith Ape, Rich Brian, and Niki. Miyashiro once stated that 88rising is "The Disney of Asian hip-hop".[2] In 2019, 88rising was awarded Label of the Year by Netease, one of the largest music streaming platforms in China.[3]

Headquartered in New York City, the company also has offices in Los Angeles and Shanghai.[4] Outside of its core group, the company has collaborated with other artists, most notably KOHH, CL, DPR Live, Yaeji, Phum Viphurit, Verbal, and Hikaru Utada.[5]

History

88rising was founded in 2015 by Sean Miyashiro and Jaeson Ma.[6] [7] [8] [9] The company first started as a music collective and management company called CXSHXNLY (pronounced "cash only") which oversees and began to make contact with up-and-coming artists that they found on the internet. The company's inaugural artists include Brian Puspos, Dumbfoundead, Josh Pan, and Okasian. Miyashiro said that their music collective goal is "to become the most wavy, iconic crew" and "trying to represent for not only Asian immigrants, but for all immigrants".[10] [11] A few months later, Dumbfoundead showed Miyashiro the music video of Keith Ape's single titled "It G Ma". Miyashiro began to work with both artists to release the remix version of the single which features A$AP Ferg, Father, and Waka Flocka Flame. The single was released on July 27, 2015 by OWSLA and the music video was premiered by Complex.[12] [13]

In May 2016, the company uploaded their first video content on YouTube as 88rising and began to work with other artists such as Rich Brian, Joji, and Higher Brothers.[14] The name is derived from eighty-eight translating to double happiness in Chinese.[15]

A year later in May 2017, the label made a live performance as a collective at the Boiler Room in Los Angeles with Rich Brian, Joji, and Keith Ape all making appearances and performing at a mansion party in Beverly Hills. The Higher Brothers performed via live stream from their hometown in Chengdu, as they could not travel to the United States at the time. Several guests such as Yaeji and Ronny J also performed with the label.[16] In November 2017, 88rising announced a tour across Asia featuring Rich Brian, Joji, and Higher Brothers with Keith Ape occasionally performing at select shows. The tour took place in nine major Asian cities: Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Jakarta.[17] [18]

In May 2017, WPP plc, one of the world's largest advertising companies, announced that they had invested in 88rising.[19]

In February 2018, 88rising presented its inaugural North American tour at The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, The Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, and Terminal 5 in New York City. The sold-out tour featured Rich Brian, Joji, Keith Ape with surprise guest appearances from other artists such as Charli XCX and Ski Mask the Slump God.[20] The label also saw the debut studio releases from many of 88rising's flagship artists. On February 2, 2018, Rich Brian's released his debut album Amen to generally positive reviews and commercial acclaim, charting at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 in its first week. The album also made iTunes history by being the first album released by an Asian artist to top the iTunes Hip-Hop Chart.[21] On July 20, 2018, 88rising released their first compilation album titled Head in the Clouds. The album contains 17 compilation tracks, including the RIAA-certified Gold record "Midsummer Madness" and featuring its label core roster and guest appearances from other artists including GoldLink, Playboi Carti, BlocBoy JB, 03 Greedo, and Verbal. On October 26, 2018, Joji released his debut album Ballads 1, which includes the RIAA-certified Platinum single "Slow Dancing in the Dark" and Gold single "Yeah Right". The album made Billboard chart history as the first album by a solo Asian artist to top the Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop charts.[22] 88rising presented its first Head in the Clouds Festival on September 22, 2018, at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. The festival's lineup included a roster of hip-hop and R&B acts from both the United States and Asia including Rich Brian, Joji, Keith Ape, Niki, Higher Brothers, Dumbfoundead and more. The festival also hosted the debut United States performance for Japanese rapper Kohh.[23] [24] In its recap of the festival, Billboard called Head in The Clouds "the Asian Festival You Need To Know".[25] The festival was followed by the 88 Degrees and Rising tour in Fall 2018, which featured a lineup including the label's roster alongside Sen Morimoto and Kohh.[26]

In 2019, 88rising saw a sophomore studio releases from artists Higher Brothers and Rich Brian. On February 22, 2019, Higher Brothers released Five Stars, as their follow-up to their debut studio album Black Cab. The album featured many prominent hip-hop collaborators, including Schoolboy Q, JID, Denzel Curry, Ski Mask The Slump God, Soulja Boy and more. Five Stars became the top album on Chinese streaming platform Netease in Q1 of 2019 and the Higher Brothers were crowned Hip-Hop Artist of the Year.[27] Netease also bestowed 88rising the Label of the Year award.[3] On July 26, Rich Brian released his second studio album, The Sailor, which was primarily produced by Bekon and The Donuts and featured guest appearances from RZA, Joji and more. On July 17, 2019, Billboard announced the 2nd annual Head in the Clouds music festival for Saturday, August 17, 2019, at Los Angeles State Historic Park with an additional dance music stage and an expanded lineup of music artists.[28] Californian food festival 626 Night Market curated the food vendors.[29] The second festival saw the North American festival debut of K-Pop group iKon as well as performances by Joji, Rich Brian, Higher Brothers, NIKI, DPR Live and many more. The festival was dubbed by Rolling Stone and Los Angeles Magazine as the "Asian Coachella".[30] [31] The label also released their second compilation album, Head in the Clouds II, on October 11, 2019, which featured artists including Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd, Jackson Wang, Phum Viphurit, Chungha and many more.[32] A duet from the album, "I Love You 3000 II" by Stephanie Poetri and Wang, quickly topped the Billboard China Social Chart.[33]

Another Head in the Clouds festival was originally planned in March 2020 in Jakarta, but was eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, 88rising held its Asia Rising Forever festival, an online concert featuring Asia talent from around the world streamed on their YouTube and Twitter accounts, on May 6.[34] On December 3, 2020, 88rising launched a 24-hour radio channel on Sirius XM featuring music from Asian artists.[35] Another online live stream festival under the name Double Happiness, in reference to their slogan "88 is double happiness" was also launched the same day with performances from Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge from their musical duo, Nxworries, as well as others such as Audrey Nuna and Ylona Garcia.[36]

In 2021, 88rising released for the Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.[37]

In April 2022, 88rising performed at Coachella with a showcase titled Head in the Clouds Forever, including performances by CL, 2NE1, Hikaru Utada, Jackson Wang, Rich Brian, Bibi, Niki, Milli and Warren Hue.[38] They also released a single of the same name including three tracks featuring Bibi, Utada, Hue and Rich Brian.[39]

Reception

The company has gained popularity as a musical platform and record label primarily for Asian American and Asian artists who release music in the United States, such as Joji, Keith Ape, Rich Brian, and Niki. Miyashiro states 88rising is "The Disney of Asian hip-hop".[40] Miyashiro also hopes 88rising can bridge the gap between Asian and American music.[41] The New Yorker writes about 88rising, "With artists like Joji, Rich Brian and Higher Brothers, Sean Miyashiro's company is an authority on how to create pop-culture crossovers."[42] "Asian rap collective 88rising has quickly become one of the most popular, and groundbreaking, crews in music.", says Rolling Stone.[43] A Paper article stated that "88rising provides not only the cultural support, but also the strategic and technical know-how to help emerging Asian artists cross over in an efficient but meaningful way."[44]

Artists

Current

Former

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"
ArtistDetailsPeak chart positionsSales
US
[54]
US
R&B<br />/HH
[55]
AUS
[56]
CAN
[57]
Black CabHigher Brothers
AmenRich Brian
  • Released: February 2, 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Format: Digital download
18 11 27 18
CannonballSen Morimoto
  • Released: May 18, 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Sooper
  • Format: Digital download
Ballads 1Joji
  • Released: October 26, 2018[58]
  • Label: 88rising, Warner
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
3 1 17 7
  • US: 57,000 (first week)[59]
Five StarsHigher Brothers
  • Released: May 22, 2019
  • Label: 88rising, 12Tone
  • Format: Digital download
The SailorRich Brian
  • Released: July 26, 2019[60]
  • Label: 88rising, Warner
  • Format: Digital download
62 31 77 74
MoonchildNiki
  • Released: September 9, 2020
  • Label: 88rising, Warner
  • Format: Digital download
NectarJoji
  • Released: September 25, 2020
  • Label: 88rising, Warner
  • Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download
3 1 4
NicoleNiki
  • Released: August 12, 2022
  • Label: 88rising
  • Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download
SmithereensJoji
  • Released: November 4, 2022
  • Label: 88rising, Warner
  • Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download
5 3 4
kidsgonemadISOxo
  • Released: October 20, 2023[61]
  • Label: 88rising
  • Format: LP, Digital download
4EVRISOKNOCK
  • Released: August 1, 2024[62]
  • Label: 88rising
  • Format: LP, Digital download

Compilation albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"
ArtistDetailsPeak chart positions
US
[63]
AUS
[64]
CAN
[65]
Head in the Clouds88rising
  • Released: July 20, 2018[66]
  • Label: 88rising, Warner
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
76 61 40
Head in the Clouds II[67] 88rising
  • Released: October 11, 2019
  • Label: 88rising, Warner
  • Format: Digital download
79
[68]
30
[69]
47
[70]
88rising
  • Released: September 3, 2021
  • Label: Hollywood Records, Marvel Music, Interscope Records, 88rising
  • Format: Digital download
160 88 47

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"
ArtistDetailsPeak chart positions
US
[71]
CAN
[72]
Slow Love and BanginBrian Puspos
  • Released: January 11, 2017
  • Label: CXSHXNLY
  • Format: Digital download
Pink Guy
  • Released: May 24, 2017
  • Label: 88rising
  • Format: Digital download
In TonguesJoji
  • Released: November 3, 2017
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, 12" EP
58 62
Journey to the WestHigher Brothers
  • Released: January 17, 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Format: Digital download
In Tongues Joji
  • Released: February 14, 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Format: Digital download
Type-3Higher Brothers and Harikiri
  • Released: February 27, 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Format: Digital download
Father
  • Released: May 11, 2018
  • Label: Red Bull Records, 88rising
  • Format: Digital download
ZephyrNiki
  • Released: May 23, 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Format: Digital download
Born AgainKeith Ape
  • Released: October 12, 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Format: Digital download
wanna take this downtownNiki
  • Released: May 17, 2019
  • Label: 88rising, 12Tone
  • Format: Digital download
1999Rich Brian
  • Released: August 25, 2020[73]
  • Label: 88rising, Warner Records
  • Format: Digital download
AM:PMStephanie Poetri
  • Released: March 12, 2021[74]
  • Label: 88rising, 12Tone, Infinite Thrills
  • Format: Digital download

Notes and References

  1. News: Leonard. Devin. The Man Who Sold the World on Asian Hip-Hop. July 30, 2018. Bloomberg. December 5, 2017.
  2. adage.com/article/qaa/q-aa-88rising-s-sean-miyshiro/313297
  3. Web site: "A Pivotal Moment in Asian Music History": 88rising Founder Talks Higher Brothers and Worldwide Flex. February 25, 2019. RADII Culture, Innovation, and Life in today's China. January 3, 2020.
  4. Web site: Q&AA: 88rising's Sean Miyashiro Wants To Build 'Disney For Asian Culture'. Wu. Chen. Ad Age. April 30, 2018. May 23, 2018. July 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010301/http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/q-aa-88rising-s-sean-miyshiro/313297/. dead.
  5. How 88rising Is Making a Place for Asians in Hip-Hop. Hsu. Hua. The New Yorker. March 26, 2018. June 8, 2018.
  6. Web site: How 88rising Took Rich Brian From Meme To Mainstream. Genius. January 4, 2020.
  7. Web site: WPP Buys Into Asian Content Platform 88rising. Frater. Patrick. June 1, 2017. Variety. January 4, 2020.
  8. Web site: 88rising Tour Comes to San Francisco The Pacifican. Woo. Amaris. January 4, 2020. September 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913085619/http://www.thepacifican.com/2018/10/88rising-tour-comes-to-san-francisco/. dead.
  9. Web site: 8 Most Influential Internet Rap Collectives of the 2010s. Green. Dylan "CineMasai". DJBooth. December 20, 2019 . January 4, 2020.
  10. Web site: Get to Know Emerging Hip-Hop & Future Music Collective CXSHXNLY. Kenfe. Senay. The Hundreds. August 3, 2015. July 30, 2018.
  11. Web site: Dumbfoundead On the Future of Asians in Hip Hop. Diep. Eric. August 12, 2015. Mass Appeal. August 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180806210920/http://archive.massappeal.com/dumbfoundead-on-the-future-of-asians-in-hip-hop/. August 6, 2018. dead.
  12. News: Getting Rowdy: Keith Ape and Real Rap in Korea. Caramanica. Jon. The New York Times. August 13, 2015. June 11, 2018.
  13. Web site: Premiere: Watch Keith Ape's "IT G MA Remix" Video f/ Waka Flocka Flame, Dumbfoundead, Father & A$AP Ferg. Kwak. Donnie. Complex. July 27, 2015. June 8, 2018.
  14. News: How 88Rising Wants To Become Disney For The Next Wave Of Global Internet Culture. Hu. Cherie. February 26, 2018. Forbes. June 8, 2018.
  15. Hip-Hop's New Frontier. 2021-10-30. The New Yorker. March 19, 2018.
  16. Web site: boiler room x 88rising. April 14, 2021.
  17. News: 88Rising Announces Asia Tour Featuring Rich Chigga, Higher Brothers & Joji. Cheung. HP. Hypebeast. November 7, 2017. May 22, 2018.
  18. Web site: in a rare interview, higher brothers rank their favourite 7-11 snacks. Dunn. Frankie. i-D. November 22, 2017. May 22, 2018.
  19. "WPP invests in digital content producer 88rising in the US". WPP press release. May 30, 2017.
  20. Web site: Rich Brian and the Double Happiness tour brings rising Asian rap to L.A.. Brown. August. February 10, 2018. Los Angeles Times. May 22, 2018.
  21. Web site: Rich Brian sets record, goes down in iTunes music history. The Jakarta Post. January 2, 2020.
  22. Web site: Joji Makes History on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. November 5, 2018. Highsnobiety. January 2, 2020.
  23. Web site: KOHH USA DEBUT at HEAD IN THE CLOUDS FESTIVAL 9.22.18. YouTube. May 20, 2018 . July 26, 2020.
  24. Web site: 88rising's quest to find a Japanese hip-hop sensation. The Japan Times. January 23, 2019. July 26, 2020.
  25. The Asian Hip-Hop Festival You Need to Know: On the Scene at 88Rising. Billboard. September 28, 2018. January 2, 2020.
  26. News: Review: 88rising Is an Unstoppable Force Third Coast Review. October 17, 2018. Third Coast Review. October 18, 2018.
  27. Web site: From Chengdu with Flow: How the Higher Brothers brought Chinese hip-hop to Western ears. Christina. Zhao. February 26, 2019. Newsweek. January 3, 2020.
  28. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8520370/88-rising-head-in-the-clouds-festival-2019-lineup 88rising's Head In The Clouds Fest Announces 2109 Lineup with New Dance Stage
  29. Jackson Wang, iKON, DPR Live, Dumbfoundead Join Head in the Clouds 2019 Festival: Exclusive. Billboard. May 2, 2019. January 29, 2020.
  30. Web site: Head in the Clouds, aka the "Asian Coachella," Returns for Another Year of Representation. Stuart. Gwynedd. August 17, 2019. Los Angeles Magazine. January 2, 2020.
  31. Head in the Clouds: Rich Brian, K-Pop Group iKON at 'Asian Coachella'. Chan. Tim. August 19, 2019. Rolling Stone. January 2, 2020.
  32. Web site: 88rising's 'Head in the Clouds II' Has Arrived. Complex. October 31, 2019.
  33. Billboard China Social Chart : Page 1. Billboard. January 2, 2020.
  34. Web site: Benjamin. Jeff. April 29, 2020. 88rising Taps Top Talent & Twitter For Asia Rising Forever Livestream Fest. May 1, 2020. Forbes.
  35. Barrionuevo. Alexei. December 1, 2020. 88rising Launches Pioneering Asian Music Radio Channel With SiriusXM. December 4, 2020. Billboard.
  36. Web site: 88rising Launches DOUBLE HAPPINESS . November 24, 2020 .
  37. Web site: 'Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings: The Album' Drops September 3. September 2, 2021.
  38. Web site: 88rising unveils Head In The Clouds Forever lineup for Coachella 2022. Bandwagon Asia. April 16, 2022. April 17, 2022.
  39. Web site: Head In The Clouds Forever – Single by 88rising. Apple Music. April 17, 2022.
  40. adage.com/article/qaa/q-aa-88rising-s-sean-miyshiro/313297
  41. Web site: April 30, 2018 . Q&AA: 88rising's Sean Miyashiro wants to build 'Disney for Asian culture' .
  42. News: Hsu . Hua . March 19, 2018 . How 88rising Is Making a Place for Asians in Hip-Hop . The New Yorker . January 2, 2020 . 0028-792X.
  43. Wang . Amy X. . November 14, 2018 . America Isn't Ready for Asian Rappers. They're Taking Over Anyway . Rolling Stone . January 2, 2020.
  44. Web site: Dao . Dan Q. . June 3, 2019 . How 88Rising Raised the Bar for Asian Representation . January 13, 2019 . Paper.
  45. Web site: Leonie . Cooper . 2022-07-22 . Jackson Wang and more: Meet 88rising – the Asian collective making global moves . 2023-07-12 . The Independent . en.
  46. News: Straight outa... China? The young Asian artists bucking hip-hop trends. Liu. Marian. August 2, 2017. CNN. January 30, 2018.
  47. Web site: April 20, 2024 . Chinese pop artist Xin Liu releases debut English-language song 'Reality' via 88Rising . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805092058/https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/20/chinese-pop-artist-xin-liu-releases-debut-english-language-song-reality-via-88-rising . August 5, 2024 . August 5, 2024 . Manila Bulletin.
  48. NIKI's 'Vintage' Video: Exclusive Premiere. Penrose. Nerisha. Billboard. May 2, 2018. May 12, 2018.
  49. Web site: NIKI Opens Up About the Value of Creative Freedom and Pushing Past Her Anxieties. Popspoken. April 23, 2020. May 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200527121958/http://popspoken.com/culture/2020/04/88risings-niki-opens-up-about-the-value-of-creative-freedom-and-pushing-past-her-anxieties. dead.
  50. News: Introducing: Japan's RHYME SO on making eclectic "Blank Post Genre" music, joining 88rising, and their latest single 'POSEABLE' . 31 December 2023 . Introducing: Japan's RHYME SO on making eclectic "Blank Post Genre" music, joining 88rising, and their latest single 'POSEABLE' Bandwagon Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. . 9 July 2021 . en.
  51. Web site: Ylona Garcia joins 88rising. Rappler. February 27, 2021. August 9, 2021.
  52. Web site: Idol Rapper and Former Boyband Member Zhang Yanqi Signs with 88rising. Radii China. June 24, 2021. April 4, 2024.
  53. Web site: What to listen to now: John Mayer, Discwoman, Brian Puspos and more. Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2017. June 9, 2018.
  54. Top 200 Albums: February 17, 2018. Billboard. August 6, 2018.
  55. Canadian Albums: February 17, 2018. Billboard. January 2, 2013. August 6, 2018.
  56. News: Joji Announces "BALLADS 1" Release Date With Clams Casino-Featured Single. HotNewHipHop. October 3, 2018.
  57. Joji's 'Ballads 1' Debuts at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart ... . November 5, 2018 . May 19, 2019 . Billboard.
  58. Web site: pre-order "The Sailor" out on July 26th link in my bio. imanuel. brian. July 8, 2019. Twitter. https://web.archive.org/web/20190727182643/https://twitter.com/richbrian/status/1148250269811036160. July 27, 2019. July 27, 2019. live.
  59. Web site: Nguyen . Andrea . The Story Behind ISOxo's Debut Album, a Decisive Victory for Those Who Dare to Be Different . edm.com . October 20, 2023 . The Arena Group . 24 October 2023.
  60. Web site: 88rising . ISOKNOCK '4EVR' OUT NOW . Twitter . 1 August 2024.
  61. Top 200 Albums: August 4, 2018. Billboard. July 31, 2018.
  62. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #483. auspOp. July 28, 2018. July 28, 2018. May 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503100504/https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/7/aria-chart-watch-483/. dead.
  63. Canadian Albums: August 4, 2018. Billboard. July 31, 2018.
  64. Web site: Harling. Danielle. 88rising Enlists GoldLink, Playboi Carti & BlocBoy JB For "Head In The Clouds" Compilation. HipHopDX. July 23, 2018. July 19, 2018.
  65. Web site: 88rising Announces 'Head in the Clouds II,' Shares NIKI's "Indigo". Complex. August 13, 2019. August 13, 2019.
  66. billboardcharts. 1186304184364228608. Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/3). October 21, 2019. October 22, 2019.
  67. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 21, 2019. October 19, 2019.
  68. Web site: Post Malone Returns To No. 1 On Albums Chart. FYIMusicNews. October 20, 2019. October 22, 2019.
  69. Top 200 Albums: November 25, 2017. Billboard. August 6, 2018.
  70. Canadian Albums: November 25, 2017. Billboard. August 6, 2018.
  71. Web site: Listen to Rich Brian's New Project '1999'. Complex. April 12, 2020.
  72. Web site: Singh . Surej . Stephanie Poetri releases debut EP 'AM:PM' and 'Paranoia' music video . NME . March 12, 2021.