If you aren’t familiar with 88rising, it is a “hybrid management, record label, video production and marketing company,” as described by founder Sean Miyashiro. 88rising is a collaborative effort to advance the Asian and Asian American presence in today’s hip hop and pop worlds. The company represents now well-known artists like Rich Brian, Joji, NIKI, Keith Ape, and Higher Brothers. Each of these artists creates their own brand and style of music that they make individually. However, they often feature on each other’s albums and have also released compilation albums, such as Head in the Clouds, under the company’s name.
(88rising on Spotify)
Head in The Clouds, featuring all of the artists plus some guest features, was first released in July of 2018. This 17 track compilation became quite popular, with summer hit sounding songs like “Peach Jam” and “Plans,” but also slower ballads like “Midsummer Madness” and “La Cienega.” These are a few of my personal favorites, especially Niki’s vocals on these tracks. However, a few critics of the album seem to agree that the “gem” of the album is the Higher Brothers, a group of Chinese rappers on the label. 88rising also launched their first tour together after this album and their Head in the Clouds music festival. UCR was lucky enough to have NIKI perform at our Spring Splash event last year, which I loved. Meanwhile, UCI got to see Joji perform live as well.
No matter what songs you like on the compilation, I think we can all agree that 88rising is making big strides toward showing the US what they’re missing out on by excluding Asian and Asian American artists from the charts. And, thankfully, they’ve just made another move: dropping the sequel, Head in the Clouds II.
The compilation features 16 tracks with more lowkey melodies and a few speedy raps, but most of all a lot of EDM sounds. The reviews for this new album have a wide range. Some say the album is full of “well-crafted, fun listens” while others think 88 has lost “sight of what made them so musically unique in the first place.” Personally, I think the album is definitely different and a bit more mainstream, but not as far as disappointing as Turntable Thoughts argues. Creative-wise, I agree that “I Love You 3000 II” and “Just Used Music Again” clearly don’t progress 88rising’s known and loved image. However, I still have a few favorites on the album like “La La Lost You,” “Calculator,” and “These Nights.” I think the artists are continuing to experiment and grow; as long as they’re producing the songs they want to make, that’s what matters.
So, if you’ve never listened to 88rising or you’ve only listened to their individual artists, listen to Head in The Clouds I and II for yourself and see what you like!