Yuki Chiba Is My Breakout Rapper of 2024

Welcome to Golden Dragon, a newsletter by Eric Diep about Asians in hip-hop and my takes on trending topics in AAPI pop culture. Golden Dragon is a rotation of interviews, reviews, news, critical perspectives, and random blogs about music I recommend.

• A look back at Yuki Chiba’s year with a review of his new album STAR.

• A movie review of RM’s Right People, Wrong Place.

• Diep Cuts with Yoshi T., Karri, DEAN, and Jay Park.

• Send It: KnowKnow and Rich Brian do a legendary link-up.

If there’s one song I played consistently throughout 2024, it’s Yuki Chiba’s “Team Tomodachi.”

In 2021, the Japanese rapper, singer, and songwriter reportedly retired his former stage name KOHH, and took a three-year hiatus before releasing new music under his real name.

“Team Tomodachi,” produced by KOSHY, starts with a menacing piano and increases with intensity. The atmosphere is haunting and dark. Chiba and his crew gather in front of a local spot that says “ten ten.” There’s strength in numbers as he raps like he’s in a cypher, with his friends supporting him in the background. This introduction signals the rebirth of a new artist. It’s Yuki Chiba, resurrected.