Artist Profile
YINGYANGBased in Tokyo and originally emerging from New York underground scene since 2000 ISH-ONE and SAGGA are among the few Japanese hip-hop artists to gain recognition in NYC including a feature in The New York Times.
They built their reputation through open mics and live performances earning support from international artists such as Lil Mama and DJ Red Alert. In 2002 despite being unknown they reached the Top 8 at B-BOY PARK out of over 400 participants.
Their talent was recognized by SEEDA leading to collaborations on his albums followed by appearances on works by I-DeA. In 2004 ISH-ONE appeared on New York radio station POWER 105 hosted by Wyclef Jean performed a Japanese freestyle and signed with his label RAIN DROP as its only Japanese artist.
After returning to Japan they became key contributors to the CONCRETE GREEN series and various projects across the Japanese hip-hop and dance scene including the GATSBY STYLING DANCE CONTEST.
Their solo releases ST-ILL and CASA de SAGGA gained attention for their world-class quality and sold out within the underground scene. In 2007 they launched the JP STATE OF MIND mix series highlighting a new generation of artists.
Their debut album TOTAL ECLIPSE debuted at No. 7 on the iTunes chart and reached No. 1 at BOOT STREET in Shibuya selling out its first press within three months. The lead single STRAIGHT CASH became a club hit and was selected by Space Shower TV BLACK FILE.
With strong street credibility and a forward-looking sound ISH-ONE and SAGGA continue to push the boundaries of Japanese hip-hop.
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap
YINGYANG PRODUCTION