Yuki Chiba shifts from hip-hop to enka with new track ‘Jameson Ginger’

Yuki Chiba has taken a bold step with his latest track, ‘Jameson Ginger’, his first since February’s viral hit ‘Team Tomodachi’.

Named after the classic cocktail of Jameson Irish Whiskey and ginger ale, ‘Jameson Ginger’ isn’t the next high-energy hip-hop celebration of friendship and community. Instead, it’s an effortlessly cool enka ballad for the Reiwa era, capturing fleeting, intimate moments in familiar settings and evoking nostalgia with the ephemeral beauty of memory.

The music video, directed by STILLZ—known for his work with Bad Bunny, Lil Nas X, Rosalia, and Coldplay—was shot at BAR martha in Ebisu, Tokyo. A renowned “listening bar”, BAR martha is famous for its strict no-talking, no-photography rules, creating an environment where music takes center stage. With over 6,000 vinyl records curated by owner Wataru Fukuyama, the bar offers the perfect setting for the nostalgic and tranquil elegance displayed on ‘Jameson Ginger’.

Earlier this year, Yuki released ‘Team Tomodachi’, which amassed millions of views and inspired remixes by indie rappers worldwide. He followed this up with ‘Mamushi’, a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, which won Best Trending Video at the 2024 MTV VMAs. The tonal shift in ‘Jameson Ginger’ may surprise some listeners, as the track reinterprets traditional Showa-era sounds with a modern twist, offering a relaxed, nostalgic ballad that contrasts with his earlier releases.

Platinum LA-based producer Peyote Beats, who created the track with Yuki, reflected on Instagram:

“Made this a year ago when I was in Tokyo with Yuki. We stayed up til 9am, it was a magical session. He had introduced me to the traditional Japanese style of music called Enka and the next day we made Jameson Ginger. It’s one of my favorite pieces I’ve worked on and what better than to have done with with my brother of 8 years, Yuki.”

Additionally, the track also features violins from Lisako Oshima, who previously contributed to KOHH’s (Yuki Chiba’s previous moniker) ‘Ajisai’ from his 2022 album of unreleased tracks, The Lost Tapes.

Although the song isn’t available as a digital single yet, fans can now pre-order limited-edition merchandise, including a 7-inch vinyl and T-shirts, on Yuki Chiba’s official website.

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