Yuki Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 雄喜; formerly KOHH) is a pioneering Japanese rapper, singer-songwriter, producer and fashion model from Ōji, Kita, Tokyo, Japan, born April 22, 1990. Active since 2008, he first rose to prominence under the stage name KOHH and later relaunched his career under his legal name Yuki Chiba in 2024. Known for stark autobiographical lyricism, genre-blending collaborations (from Frank Ocean and Utada Hikaru to Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion), and for pushing Japanese hip-hop beyond national borders, Chiba is widely cited as one of the artists who helped usher Japanese rap into the global conversation.
From viral underground tapes to a Billboard Hot 100 hit and a 2025 gaming anthem, Chiba’s story traces a rare arc raw authenticity refined into international impact.
Career highlights at a glance:
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- Breakout mixtape series Yellow Tape (2012–2016) and acclaimed albums MONOCHROME (2014), 梔子 / Gardenia (2015), DIRT (2015) and DIRT II (2016).
- Global spotlight via Keith Ape’s “It G Ma” (2015), plus features on Frank Ocean’s “Nikes” (2016), Utada Hikaru’s “忘却 / Bōkyaku” (2016), and Mariah Carey’s “Runway (Remix)” (2018/2022 JP).
- Announced retirement of the KOHH moniker in 2020; returned as Yuki Chiba with “Team Tomodachi” (Feb 13, 2024), spawning high-profile remixes (including Will Smith, Nov 2024).
- Featured on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Mamushi” (2024), which debuted on the Hot 100 at #68 and later peaked at #36—his first U.S. chart entry.
- 2025: Released “Shinpai Muyou” with VALORANT Music and staged major live milestones.
Table of Contents
Early Life
Family & social context. Chiba grew up in Ōji, Kita-ku, a working-class district in northern Tokyo. He was raised primarily by his mother alongside a younger brother, a rapper known as LIL KOHH. His Korean father (surname Ko/고, which inspired “KOHH”) died when Chiba was a toddler. His childhood was marked by hardship; he has been candid about exposure to drug use, mental-health struggles in the family, and brushes with violence in his neighborhood. Those realities later became the backbone of his lyrical voice—matter-of-fact, unsentimental, and visually precise.
Early influences. In elementary school, a friend’s older brother played classic Japanese hip-hop (notably King Giddra), sparking his obsession with rap. By 18, Chiba was producing and recording. Before music became viable, he did shifts at a transport company, an experience that sharpened his “work first, talk later” ethic heard throughout his catalog.
Education & self-training. While not conservatory-trained, Chiba’s “education” came through DIY recording, trading beats and verses online, and absorbing American and Asian hip-hop. He developed a minimalist flow—cool deliveries, deliberately sparse bars, and hooks that cut through language barriers—paired with visual storytelling steeped in Tokyo life.
Career Path
Underground Beginnings (2008–2013)
- Met producer AOKI RIKI in his late teens and started recording in earnest.
- Connected with 318 (producer/A&R) via Mixi, signing to Gunsmith Production.
- Mixtapes:
- Yellow Tape (Nov 2012)
- Yellow Tape 2 (Aug 2013) — the track “JUNJI TAKADA” reached mainstream radio and online buzz.
- Quickly became a cult figure for stark street reportage and unpredictable videos.
National Breakout & First Albums (2014–2015)
- 2014: Profiled by VICE—the platform’s first deep feature on a Japanese hip-hop artist—pushing Chiba beyond Japan’s scene.
- MONOCHROME (July 2014): a “second” album released before his official “first,” peaking #6 overall on iTunes Japan and #1 Hip-Hop/Rap, a rare feat for an emerging rapper.
- 梔子 / Gardenia (Jan 1, 2015): his formal “1st” album; #1 iTunes overall and Hip-Hop in Japan.
- “It G Ma” (Jan 2015): Chiba (as KOHH) featured with Keith Ape, Loota, Okasian, JayAllday—the viral pan-Asian cypher that ignited global interest in Japanese/Korean trap.
DIRT Era, Major Collaborations & Tours (2015–2018)
- DIRT (Oct 2015) and DIRT II (June 2016) cemented KOHH’s star status; he launched national and European tours and played major festivals including Fuji Rock (2016, 2017, 2019).
- Awards: Space Shower Music Awards — Best Hip Hop Artist (2016, 2017).
- Cross-over features that expanded his global footprint:
- Frank Ocean — “Nikes” (magazine/CD edition of Blonde, 2016)
- Utada Hikaru — “忘却 / Bōkyaku” (Fantôme, 2016)
- Mariah Carey — “Runway (Remix)” (JP digital edition of Caution, 2018 / 2022 JP digital)
- 88rising’s U.S. tour (2018): KOHH joined as a non-88rising guest across 18 North American dates, introducing him to a large stateside audience.
The Untitled / WORST Chapter & Hiatus (2019–2021)
- Untitled (Feb 2019) on Nippon Columbia: included “I Want a Billion” featuring Taka (ONE OK ROCK) and a headline-making MX4D video installation at Shibuya 109.
- KOHH Live in Concert (Jan 16, 2020, LINE CUBE SHIBUYA): a three-part production (DJ set, live band, 24-piece strings) where he announced he would retire the KOHH moniker after his next record.
- worst (Apr 29, 2020): the “retirement” album as KOHH; he suspended activities after a final co-bill show (BADASSVIBES with The Cro-Magnons, Dec 28, 2021).
- The Lost Tapes (Sept 25, 2022): surprise drop compiling demos and unreleased cuts.
Recent Achievements and Ongoing Projects
The “Team Tomodachi” Phenomenon (2024)
- Feb 13, 2024: Chiba relaunched under his real name with “Team Tomodachi”, a minimalist, hook-driven anthem that rapidly went viral and spawned multiple official remixes:
- Dirty Kansai Remix (feat. Young Coco, Jin Dogg) — Mar 2024
- Tōkai Remix (feat. SOCKS, ¥ellow Bucks, MaRI, DJ RYOW) — Apr 2024
- Will Smith Remix — Nov 2024, announced directly by Will Smith to tens of millions of followers, signaling Chiba’s mainstream cross-over moment.
- Across 2024, “Team Tomodachi” evolved from a street single into a movement, with DJs, athletes and creators adopting the chant-like hook.
“Mamushi” with Megan Thee Stallion (2024)
- July/Aug 2024: Chiba featured on “Mamushi” from Megan Thee Stallion’s album Megan.
- Chart impact: The track debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #68 and later peaked at #36, marking Chiba’s first Hot 100 entry and a watershed for Japanese rap visibility in the U.S.
- The pair performed together on major stages and in the official video set in Tokyo, amplifying global attention on Chiba’s rebrand.
“STAR” & Live Milestones (Late 2024–2025)
- Late 2024: Expanded output under his legal name (including the “STAR” era) kept momentum high.
- July 11, 2025: Released “Shinpai Muyou” in collaboration with VALORANT Music—a sleek, high-octane single aligning Chiba with gaming culture and a new global audience.
- Mid-2025 live highlight: A flagship headline show at Nippon Budokan brought together artists from the “Team Tomodachi” universe, underscoring Chiba’s transition from cult icon to era-defining headliner.
Awards, Recognition & Impact
- Space Shower Music Awards — Best Hip Hop Artist: 2016, 2017.
- MTV Europe Music Awards — Best Japan Act: 2017 (winner).
- Billboard Hot 100: First-ever entry for Chiba via “Mamushi” (peaked #36).
- Cultural impact:
- Helped normalize unflinching autobiographical rap in a Japanese mainstream that often avoided topics like drugs, poverty and mental health.
- One of the most visible cross-border connectors in Asian hip-hop, threading Japan, Korea and U.S. scenes.
- Model and artist for high fashion and galleries (e.g., FACETASM runway; PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO exhibition as Yuki Chiba).
- Early mainstream global exposure via VICE, then by 88rising circuits and high-profile Western collaborations.
Personal Life & Other Endeavors
- Parenthood: Publicly shared becoming a father (2019 interview in THE NEW ORDER), keeping the mother’s identity private.
- Fashion & art: Walked for FACETASM (Paris shows in 2014 & 2016), appeared as a runway model, and exhibited original art at PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO (2019) under his legal name.
- Creative direction: Directed/curated projects for boutique culture (e.g., select shop “Dogs”), MV direction/editing, and essays for literary magazines—evidence of his multi-disciplinary instincts.
- Philosophy: Chiba’s work resists melodrama; he treats the harsh facts of his upbringing as a lens to explore value, survival and self-worth, which resonates with both underground purists and mainstream audiences.
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