H1ghr Music

H1ghr Music
H1ghr Music Logo
Founded2017 (2017)–present
Founder
Genre
LocationSeoul, South Korea

H1ghr Music (stylized as H1GHR MUSIC) (Hangul: 하이어뮤직레코즈) is an international hip hop and R&B record label founded by Korean American musician Jay Park and long time Seattle affiliate Cha Cha Malone in 2017.[1] Stationed primarily in South Korea, the label was created with the intent to "bridge the gap" between American and Korean artists, with a focus on adjacent Seattle talent.[2] Currently, the label houses over 17 artists.

History

H1ghr Music is a hip hop record label started in 2017 by Jay Park and Cha Cha Malone with the hopes of creating a more globally oriented label than Park's other Korean label, AOMG. Park created the label to show support for up and coming artists from his hometown of Seattle, Washington and South Korea through collaborations and bridge the gap between Korean and American Hip Hop artists.[2][3] The name symbolizes the artists' goal to keep growing and to get to the next level.[4] Label artist Avatar Darko was the one who suggested to replace the 'i' in Highr to a '1'.[5]

The label launched with artists already signed. Aside from the founders, these artists included Yultron; Korean rappers Sik-K and pH-1; Seattle artists Avatar Darko,[6] Raz Simone, Phe Reds, Jarv Dee. The label also began with producer roster consisting of GroovyRoom and Woogie.[7]

Sik-K joined after participating in Show Me the Money 4[8] and after he parted ways with Grandline Entertainment, his former agency. His first single, titled "Fly", was released the same year. Raz Simone dropped his full-length album, Drive Theory, after signing.[9]

Later on in 2017, H1ghr Music signed producer Thurxday[10][unreliable source?] (who was later resigned in 2019 under the new name Mokyo) and rapper Woodie Gochild.[11][12][unreliable source?] Woodie Gochild was signed after participating in Show Me the Money 6.

In 2018, H1GHR signed rapper Haon after he won the Korean rap survival show High School Rapper (Season 2)[13][unreliable source?] The same year he released his first EP, Travel: NOAH.[14]

Singer Golden, formerly known as G.Soul, also announced[when?] he had joined H1ghr Music after 17 years of being signed to JYP Entertainment.[15][16]

In 2019, the label signed the rapper Big Naughty after his participation in Show Me the Money 8.[17]

In late 2019, Jarv Dee parted ways with H1ghr Music.[18]

In 2020, the label released a remix version of Rain's song "Gang", which topped the Korean music charts.[19] The same year, they signed a new artist, Trade L.[20][unreliable source?]

In August 2020, the label announced a compilation album featuring all the artists on the roster with Red Tape: H1GHR version being released on September 2, followed by “Blue Tape; : H1GHR” on September 16.[21]

In March 2021, GroovyRoom announced that they are launching a new label called AREA (Hangul:에어리어), in partnership with the label.[22][23]

On December 31, 2021, Jay Park announced his resignation as Co-CEO of H1ghr Music.[24] In 2022, the label announced the end of their exclusive contracts with Woogie, Sik-K, and JAY B.[25][26]

Key people

Artists

Rappers and singers

  • Big Naughty
  • pH-1
  • Woodie Gochild
  • TRADE L
  • JMin
  • Lil Moshpit
  • Park Hyeon-jin
  • Phe Reds

Producers and DJs

At Area

Former artists

Discography

Year Album title Artist
2017 Everywhere GroovyRoom
Boycold Sik-K
2018 Rewind My Tape Part 1 Woogie
#Gochild Woodie Gochild
Travel: Noah Haon
2019 HALO pH-1
Room Service GroovyRoom & Leellamarz
2020 Officially OG Sik-K
X pH-1
Headliner Sik-K
H1ghr: Red Tape H1ghr Music
H1ghr: Blue Tape
2021 Bucket List Big Naughty
Homecoming JMin
SOMO:Fume Jay B
Time Table Trade L
2022 Mr. Hollywood SMMT
But For Now Leave Me Alone pH-1

Awards and nominations

Award Ceremony Year Category Nominee Result Ref.
Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Hip-hop Album of the Year H1ghr: Red Tape & H1ghr: Blue Tape Nominated [27]
Hip-hop Track of the Year "The Purge"
Music Video of the Year Won [28]
Label of the Year H1ghr Music
2022 H1ghr Music Nominated [29]

Tours

H1ghr Music US Tour 2018

Date City Country Venue
April 26, 2018 Chicago United States[30] Park West
April 28, 2018 New York FREQ NYC
April 29, 2018 Phoenix Paris of Scottsdale
May 4, 2018 Los Angeles 333 Live
May 5, 2018 San Francisco The Grand
May 8, 2018 Seattle The Showbox

References

  1. ^ nanakudo. "Get to Know More About H1GHR Music, Jay Park's Fascinating Music Label | Channel-K". Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Going Against The Grain Jay Park". Augustman. May 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Hamm, Todd (July 12, 2018). "Take 'em H1GHR: A New Hip-Hop Label Connects Seattle to Seoul". City Arts Magazine. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Jay Park Speaks about H1GHR | The Cut". YouTube.
  5. ^ Chang, Beethy (June 28, 2019). "Seattle Hip Hop Artist Avatar Darko Discusses His Inspiration, Music and Influences". Medium. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "Avatar Darko Officially Signs With H1GHR MUSIC". Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "The first posts from the account introduce the new artists". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  8. ^ tenasia.hankyung.com, Digital (August 8, 2015). "쇼미더머니4 자메즈·식케이, 1차 경연 전 탈락 | 텐아시아". 텐아시아 연예뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Raaz (September 6, 2018). "H1GHR Music Artist, Raz Simone drops "Drive Theory"". Now Hush Hush. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  10. ^ "[Interview] Thurxday on the emotional connection to his music and meeting Jay Park". Asian Junkie. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  11. ^ "[단독] '쇼미6' 우디고차일드, 박재범과 인연 쭉..하이어뮤직行". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "H1GHR Music signs 'Show Me The Money' participant Woodie GoChild". allkpop. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "'School Rapper 2' winner HAON signs with Jay Park's hip hop label H1GHR MUSIC". allkpop. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "Review: HAON's 'Travel: Noah' is a Hip-Hop Debut Done Right -". September 10, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  15. ^ "G.Soul Leaves JYP, Signs with Jay Park and ChaCha Malone's New Label H1ghr Music". moonROK. June 6, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  16. ^ "[단독] 지소울, 박진영 품 떠나 박재범과 새 출발..JYP→하이어뮤직 行". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  17. ^ "하이어뮤직, '쇼미8' 서동현 영입..박재범 "새 식구"(공식)". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  18. ^ "Jarv Dee Drops Final Single Under H1GHR MUSIC - "No Regrets" feat. Sik-K & pH-1". Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "Remix of Rain's 'Gang' tops the local charts". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "17 year-old rapper TRADE L signs exclusive contract with Jay Park's H1GHR MUSIC label". allkpop. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "H1GHR Music set to drop compilation album next month". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  22. ^ "GroovyRoom Launches New Label In Collaboration With H1GHR MUSIC". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  23. ^ ""Groovy Everywhere" Hit producing duo, GroovyRoom, launches their own label in partnership with H1GHR MUSIC". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  24. ^ "Jay Park Steps Down As CEO Of Both AOMG And H1GHR MUSIC". Soompi. December 30, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  25. ^ JAY B(제이비)·Sik-K(식케이), 하이어뮤직과 전속계약종료[공식] [JAY B and Sik-K terminate exclusive contract with H1ghr Music [Official]]. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). July 25, 2022. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  26. ^ Dongre, Divyansha (July 25, 2022). "Jay B and Sik-K Part Ways With H1GHR Music". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  27. ^ "한국힙합어워즈 2021 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean).
  28. ^ "한국힙합어워즈 2021 수상작" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Winners]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean).
  29. ^ "한국힙합어워즈 2022 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2022 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean).
  30. ^ "H1GHR MUSIC US Tour (Chicago, New York, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)". hiphopkr. March 20, 2018.

External links