Head In The Clouds

Prior to this 17-track compilation, the New York-based multimedia collective/label 88rising made their name as one of the foremost champions of Asian youth street culture. In no small part responsible for the viral successes of South Korean rapper Keith Ape’s “It G Ma” and Indonesian rapper Rich Brian’s “Dat Stick,” the brand\'s tastemaking website became recognized as both a well-connected hip-hop curator and an incubator of bleeding-edge Asian talent. The crew’s first group album pairs artists from 88rising’s increasingly diverse roster with similarly buzzing American talents (BlocBoy JB, 03 Greedo, Yung Bans), reaffirming founder Sean Miyashiro’s vision for carving out a bigger and more noticeable space for Asian artists worldwide. The energetic rap flows of China’s Higher Brothers sit next to Japanese social media star Joji’s alt-R&B, Rich Brian’s signature baritone, and Indonesian singer NIKI’s relatable girl power. “To build a culture, you have to have the right peers in place,” L.A.-based singer AUGUST 08 said of the label’s collaborative spirit to Beats 1. “And 88rising are the people creating those platforms for those kids.”

For this 88rising showcase, Joji, Rich Brian, AUGUST 08, and the rest of the label all act like promising pop stars but are often overshadowed by the outside talent they bring along.

The New York-based crew -- which includes members from China, Japan Indonesia and South Korea -- teams up with internet favs like 03 Greedo and Playboi Carti for a wide-ranging, up-to-the-minute sound.

I’ve never understood the hatred towards the contemporary. Old heads can be so blind to the new. An artist can’t possibly be labelled as