Kojoe

KOJOE, On Records Recording Artist www.IAmKojoe.com @IAmKojoe Kojoe (ko-jo) was born Sakata Koichiro in Niigata, Japan. Despite having a language barrier, Kojoe's dual rhyming style, in Japanese and in English, has pierced multicultural barriers and piqued the interests of various listening audiences. His provocative approach and style has enabled the Japanese music industry and fans to become objective listeners amidst a foreign dominated, and J-Pop saturated market. Kojoe was the 1st Asian artist signed to Rawkus Records in 2007, for his skillful Japanese flow. Rawkus Records was responsible for launching the careers of artists such as: Mos Def and Talib Kweli. After living in New York for 13 years and absorbing American English, Kojoe developed his English and Japanese rhyming skills. Upon returning to Japan in 2009, Kojoe finished his national debut album "Mixed Identities 2.0,” to be released on his label On Records of Nagoya, Japan. The mixtapes, "Kojoe Tuesdays: Volumes 1 & 2” were created from a 4-month digital download campaign, to market him in Japan and overseas, while featuring various Japanese emcees, producers, and American artists. Kojoe is garnering international acclaim due to his “never-been-attempted“ linguistically dexterous style that supersedes most Japanese emcees. Artists that Kojoe has collaborated with in Japan include Dabo, Big Joe, Seeda, 4WD, and producers YMG, OTOWA Beats, and Ohld, along with Raekwon, Talib Kweli, Styles P., Smif-n-Wessun, and producers J. Cardim, D. Focis, and Streets from the USA. Kojoe has many firsts. He is the 1st Asian artist signed to Rawkus Records. He’s featured on the 1st Japanese Hip Hop mixtape released in the USA featuring all Japanese artists, “New Tokyo 2 Mixtape.” Kojoe is also the 1st Japanese artist featured on two tracks on a major full-length Hip Hop compilation album, “The Academy.” The official 1st single release featuring Raekwon, Kojoe, and Kurupt was “Samurydas,” which became a “Pick of the Week” in USA Today in September 2011. Following The Great Disaster of March 11th, Kojoe became involved with Bond & Justice of Tohoku; an organization that feeds and cares for the residents of Fukushima and Sendai. He has been collecting video footage of the stricken areas, and performed at a show in Fukushima. Kojoe has partnered with head wear distributor FAMES for an exclusive “Mitchell & Ness” KOJOE fitted cap, as well as KOJOE jeans by “Prohibit”, and a KOJOE Tshirt by “ROCKSMITH,” all in efforts to raise money for Bond & Justice. He has also contributed a verse to the fundraising track “HOPE,” featuring Kreva, Seeda, Emi Maria, Tenzan, Lecca, and U.S. recording artist Karibell, on AVEX. Striving to become known and respected in 2 markets simultaneously is a daunting task that only an artist with cultural diversity, reverence of history and social relations, and a relentless work ethic can accomplish. Kojoe is pioneering to lead a “New Jap City” of performers that can represent Japan on an international scale.