Newsletter: 88RISING MAKES TRIUMPHANT COACHELLA RETURN DURING SUNDAY NIGHT’S STAR-STUDDED “88RISING FUTURES” MEDLEY PERFORMANCE

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(Photo by Amy Lee)

88rising – the pioneering and internationally renowned music and media company amplifying Asian talent and culture – has wrapped its one-of-a-kind “88rising Futures” performance in Coachella’s Mojave Tent. The 63-minute ensemble performance marked 88rising’s tremendous return to Coachella after its historic Head In The Clouds Forever set in 2022.

Spotlighting the incredible artistry emerging from China, Japan, South Korea, the “88rising Futures” performance presented a new crop of electrifying Asian artists, showcased unexpected collaborations, and premiered new music on-stage. Festival goers were also treated to surprise appearances from marquee 88rising talent – the Chinese superstar Jackson Wang (in his third Coachella appearance in a row) and chart-topping Korean singer BIBI. 

Artists included (in order of appearance): Tiger JK & Yoonmirae (Korea), YOASOBI (Japan), ATARASHII GAKKO! (Japan), Awich (Japan), JP THE WAVY (Japan), NENE (Japan), LANA (Japan), MaRI (Japan), & YURIYAN RETRIEVER (Japan), Number_i (Japan), Jackson Wang (China), BIBI (Korea), XIN LIU (China)

The ensemble performance unveiled exhilarating surprises from beginning to end. Highlights include world premieres of forthcoming music, such as Jackson Wang & BIBI’s steamy collaboration “Feeling Lucky,” XIN LIU’s debut global singles “Reality” and “Walls,” and a show-stopping remix to Number_i’s hit single “GOAT” featuring Jackson Wang. Unexpected on-stage collaborations and appearances were the theme of the night, starting with YOASOBI & ATARASHII GAKKO’s euphoric performance of the hit song “Idol.” Japanese hip-hop royalty graced the stage throughout Awich’s electrifying set, with special guests JP THE WAVY, NENE, LANA, MaRI, and YURIYAN RETRIEVER. The distinctly curated lineup is 88rising’s latest instance of globalizing Asian talent by exporting artists from their home countries onto U.S. and other international stages. 

Reactions to this historic set were instant, with #88risingCoachella, #Number_i_Coachella, #JACKCHELLA (for Jackson Wang), and "ATARASHII GAKKO!" taking the top trending spots on X within minutes of their respective performances. 

88rising Futures setlist 

• Tiger JK & Yoonmirae - "Topline"
• Tiger JK & Yoonmirae - "VOoDOo BOogie"
• Tiger JK & Yoonmirae - MONSTER
• YOASOBI - "Tabun"
• YOASOBI with ATARASHII GAKKO! - "Idol"
• ATARASHII GAKKO! - "Pineapple Kryptonite (Yohji Igarashi Remix)"
• ATARASHII GAKKO! - "Tokyo Calling"
• ATARASHII GAKKO! - Unreleased Song
• ATARASHII GAKKO! with Awich - "GIRI GIRI Remix"
• Awich - "THE UNION"
• Awich - "RASEN in OKINAWA"
• Awich with  JP THE WAVY - "GILA GILA" 
• Awich with NENE, LANA, MaRI, & YURIYAN RETRIEVER - "Bad B*tch 美学 Remix"
• Number_i - "FUJI"
• Number_i - "GOAT"
• Number_i with Jackson Wang - "GOAT Remix"
• BIBI - "Sugar Rush"
• BIBI - "Bam Yang Gang"
• BIBI & Jackson Wang - "Feeling Lucky"
• XIN LIU - "Hurricane"
• XIN LIU - "New And More"
• XIN LIU - "Walls"
• XIN LIU - "Reality"
• XIN LIU - "Boom Tick Boom"

About 88rising Futures Performers

• ATARASHII GAKKO!: The Japanese progressive pop quartet ATARASHII GAKKO! is breaking down genre walls and fusing infectious musicality with raw energy and expressive choreography – all while sharing messages of empowerment and self-determination.
• Awich: Straight out of Okinawa (by way of Atlanta) with an omnivorous ear and a story of survival, Awich rules the Japanese charts with her defiant and globally minded hip-hop. Awich will also bring on DJ U-Lee, NENE, MaRI, LANA, and Yuriyan Retriever as part of her 88rising Futures performance.
• BIBI: The singer, rapper, songwriter, and actor BIBI is one of South Korea’s fastest-rising stars, known for her cheeky stage presence and vocals. Recently, BIBI swept the Korean music charts with her latest single, "Bam Yang Gang," a breezy and expressive love song named after the traditional Korean desert. The single topped the Circle Digital Chart for several weeks and earned the artist the elusive “perfect all-kill”. 
• Jackson Wang: The multi-hyphenate Chinese performer Jackson Wang cemented his status as an international superstar with the release of his sophomore album MAGIC MAN in 2022. The project, which was met with widespread critical acclaim, debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart. Jackson has made history as the first Chinese artist to perform at Coachella a third time. Jackson is also a fashion designer, creative director, and founder of TEAM WANG, and has amassed over 97 million followers across social media.
• Number_i: The three-member group Number_i represents the rebirth of J-pop royalty as they emerge as a new musical force taking Japan by storm. Since its release earlier this year, the single “GOAT” has amassed over 17 million streams on Spotify globally and surpassed 40 million views on its music video. 
• Tiger JK:The Korean-American rapper Tiger JK is highly regarded as a pioneer of Korean hip-hop and credited with helping bring the genre into the mainstream. The Los Angeles Times in 2011 referred to him as "perhaps the most popular Korean rapper in America, Asia and the world."
• XIN LIU: A multifaceted singer, dancer, and producer hailing from Guizhou, China, XIN LIU has carved out her path by breaking the traditional mold of Chinese female artists. She first rose to fame in 2020 after winning the Chinese reality show "Youth With You" and her 2021 debut album broke platform sales records in China, with over 7 million albums sold. XIN LIU is the newest artist signing to 88rising. 
• Yoasobi: Since debuting five years ago, J-pop duo Yoasobi has risen to the top of the Japanese music scene in just five short years since its debut. With their first single “Yoru ni Kakeru,” YOASOBI became an overnight sensation—eventually topping Japan’s Orion Combine Singles Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot 100. 
• Yoonmirae: Internationally recognized as the "Queen of Korean Hip-Hop," Yoonmirae is acclaimed for her unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and K-Pop that has significantly influenced the Korean music scene. Her music serves as a testament to Yoonmirae's resilience and creativity in a male-dominated industry, exemplifying her as a defiant force who continually pushes boundaries. 

88rising Futures follows 88rising’s legendary Head in the Clouds Forever takeover of the 2022 Coachella Main Stage, which made history as the first time that a record label was given an official performance slot to showcase artists, trended #1 worldwide and across the United States, and ultimately “proved to be Weekend One’s biggest surprise hit” (Billboard). “Head In The Clouds Forever” also brought together legendary artists across Asia including Jackson Wang, CL, Hikaru Utada, NIKI, Rich Brian, and reunited K-Pop pioneers 2NE1 for one of the festival's most-talked about moments. 

Stay tuned for new surprises ahead from 88rising’s main stage performance during the festival’s second weekend.

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