H1ghr Music

H1GHR MUSIC
Native name
하이어뮤직레코즈
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryMusic
Genre
Founded2017 (2017)–present
Founder
HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
Key people
  • Yu Deok-gon (CEO)
  • Kang Hyun-jin (CEO)
ParentCJ ENM Entertainment Division
Websitehttps://www.h1ghrmusic.com/

H1ghr Music (stylized as H1GHR MUSIC; Korean: 하이어뮤직레코즈) is an international hip hop and R&B record label founded by Korean American musician Jay Park and long time Seattle affiliate Cha Cha Malone in 2017.[1] Stationed primarily in South Korea, the label was created with the intent to "bridge the gap" between American and Korean artists, with a focus on adjacent Seattle talent.[2] Currently, the label houses over 17 artists.

History

H1ghr Music is a hip hop record label started in 2017 by Jay Park and Cha Cha Malone with the hopes of creating a more globally oriented label than Park's other Korean label, AOMG. Park created the label to show support for up and coming artists from his hometown of Seattle, Washington and South Korea through collaborations and bridge the gap between Korean and American Hip Hop artists.[2][3] The name symbolizes the artists' goal to keep growing and to get to the next level.[4] Label artist Avatar Darko was the one who suggested to replace the 'i' in Highr to a '1'.[5]

The label launched with artists already signed. Aside from the founders, these artists included Yultron; Korean rappers Sik-K and pH-1; Seattle artists Avatar Darko,[6] Raz Simone, Phe Reds, Jarv Dee. The label also began with producer roster consisting of GroovyRoom and Woogie.[7]

Sik-K joined after participating in Show Me the Money 4 and after he parted ways with Grandline Entertainment, his former agency. His first single, titled "Fly", was released the same year. Raz Simone dropped his full-length album, Drive Theory, after signing.[8]

Later in 2017, H1ghr Music signed producer Thurxday[9], who was later resigned in 2019 under the new name Mokyo. In June, singer Golden, formerly known as G.Soul, announced he had joined H1ghr Music after 17 years of being signed to JYP Entertainment.[10][11] In October, Rapper Woodie Gochild signed after participating in Show Me the Money 6.[12]

In 2018, H1GHR signed rapper Haon after he won the Korean rap survival show High School Rapper (Season 2)[13] The same year he released his first EP, Travel: NOAH.[14]

In 2019, the label signed the rapper Big Naughty after his participation in Show Me the Money 8.[15]

In late 2019, Jarv Dee parted ways with H1ghr Music.[16]

In 2020, the label released a remix version of Rain's song "Gang", which topped the Korean music charts.[17] The same year, they signed a new artist, Trade L.[18]

In August 2020, the label announced a compilation album featuring all the artists on the roster with Red Tape: H1GHR version being released on September 2, followed by “Blue Tape; : H1GHR” on September 16.[19]

In March 2021, GroovyRoom announced that they are launching a new label called AREA (에어리어), in partnership with the label.[20][21]

On December 31, 2021, Jay Park announced his resignation as Co-CEO of H1ghr Music.[22] In 2022, the label announced the end of their exclusive contracts with Woogie, Sik-K, and Jay B.[23][24]

Park Ji-hoo and Han Seo-bin, male trainees under the agency, appeared on Boys Planet, their first audition program since the agency's founding. After the show ended, Han Seo-bin left the agency and joined another agency, while Park Ji-hoo transferred to WakeOne and debuted on September 18, 2023, as part of the project group Evnne with Park Han-bin, Lee Jung-hyun, and Mun Jung-hyun from WakeOne, Yoo Seung-eon and Ji Yoon-seo from Yuehua Entertainment Korea, and Keita from R.A.I.N. Company.

On July 23, 2025, Lee Seoyeon signed with H1ghr Music as a solo musician after departing Fromis 9.[25]

Key people

  • Jay Park (Founder, Advisor | CEO, 2017–2021)
  • Cha Cha Malone (Co-CEO, 2017–2021)
  • Yu Deok-gon (CEO)
  • Kang Hyun-jin (CEO)
  • Ok Yeongju (Inside Director)

Artists

Rappers and singers

Groups

  • H1ghr Girls (Temporary Name)

Producers and DJs

At Area

Former artists

Discography

Year Album title Artist
2017 Everywhere GroovyRoom
Boycold Sik-K
2018 Rewind My Tape Part 1 Woogie
#Gochild Woodie Gochild
Travel: Noah Haon
2019 HALO pH-1
Room Service GroovyRoom & Leellamarz
2020 Officially OG Sik-K
X pH-1
Headliner Sik-K
H1ghr: Red Tape H1ghr Music
H1ghr: Blue Tape
2021 Bucket List Big Naughty
Homecoming JMin
SOMO:Fume Jay B
Time Table Trade L
2022 Mr. Hollywood SMMT
But For Now Leave Me Alone pH-1

Awards and nominations

Award Ceremony Year Category Nominee Result Ref.
Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Hip-hop Album of the Year H1ghr: Red Tape & H1ghr: Blue Tape Nominated [26]
Hip-hop Track of the Year "The Purge"
Music Video of the Year Won [27]
Label of the Year H1ghr Music
2022 H1ghr Music Nominated [28]

Tours

H1ghr Music US Tour 2018

Date City Country Venue
April 26, 2018 Chicago United States[29] Park West
April 28, 2018 New York FREQ NYC
April 29, 2018 Phoenix Paris of Scottsdale
May 4, 2018 Los Angeles 333 Live
May 5, 2018 San Francisco The Grand
May 8, 2018 Seattle The Showbox

References

  1. ^ nanakudo. "Get to Know More About H1GHR Music, Jay Park's Fascinating Music Label | Channel-K". Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Sim, Dewey (May 27, 2019). "Going Against The Grain Jay Park". August Man. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  3. ^ Hamm, Todd (July 12, 2018). "Take 'em H1GHR: A New Hip-Hop Label Connects Seattle to Seoul". City Arts Magazine. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Jay Park Speaks about H1GHR | The Cut". YouTube. May 16, 2017.
  5. ^ Chang, Beethy (June 28, 2019). "Seattle Hip Hop Artist Avatar Darko Discusses His Inspiration, Music and Influences". Medium. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "Avatar Darko Officially Signs With H1GHR MUSIC". June 5, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "The first posts from the account introduce the new artists". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Raaz (September 6, 2018). "H1GHR Music Artist, Raz Simone drops "Drive Theory"". Now Hush Hush. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "[Interview] Thurxday on the emotional connection to his music and meeting Jay Park". Asian Junkie. August 28, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (June 6, 2017). "지소울, 박진영 JYP 떠나 박재범 하이어뮤직 이적(공식)". Newsen. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  11. ^ "[단독] 지소울, 박진영 품 떠나 박재범과 새 출발..JYP→하이어뮤직 行". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  12. ^ Kim, Eun-ae (October 12, 2017). "[단독] '쇼미6' 우디고차일드, 박재범과 인연 쭉..하이어뮤직行" (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  13. ^ "'School Rapper 2' winner HAON signs with Jay Park's hip hop label H1GHR MUSIC". Allkpop. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  14. ^ Chakraborty, Riddhi (September 10, 2018). "Review: HAON's 'Travel: Noah' is a Hip-Hop Debut Done Right". Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  15. ^ Gong, Mi-na (October 6, 2019). "하이어뮤직, '쇼미8' 서동현 영입..박재범 "새 식구"(공식)". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  16. ^ Jenkins, Nefertiti (December 27, 2019). "Jarv Dee Drops Final Single Under H1GHR MUSIC - "No Regrets" feat. Sik-K & pH-1". Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  17. ^ Chung, Esther (June 5, 2020). "Remix of Rain's 'Gang' tops the local charts". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  18. ^ "17 year-old rapper TRADE L signs exclusive contract with Jay Park's H1GHR MUSIC label". Allkpop. July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  19. ^ Lee, Sun-min (August 4, 2020). "H1GHR Music set to drop compilation album next month". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  20. ^ "GroovyRoom Launches New Label In Collaboration With H1GHR MUSIC". March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  21. ^ ""Groovy Everywhere" Hit producing duo, GroovyRoom, launches their own label in partnership with H1GHR MUSIC". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "Jay Park Steps Down As CEO Of Both AOMG And H1GHR MUSIC". Soompi. December 30, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Son, Bong-seok (July 25, 2022). JAY B(제이비)·Sik-K(식케이), 하이어뮤직과 전속계약종료[공식] [Jay B and Sik-K terminate exclusive contract with H1ghr Music [Official]]. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved August 14, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Dongre, Divyansha (July 25, 2022). "Jay B and Sik-K Part Ways With H1GHR Music". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  25. ^ Han, Sujin (July 23, 2025). "[단독] 프로미스나인 전 멤버 이서연, 새 둥지 찾았다...힙합명가 하이어뮤직 行". IZE.
  26. ^ "한국힙합어워즈 2021 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean).
  27. ^ "한국힙합어워즈 2021 수상작" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Winners]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean).
  28. ^ "한국힙합어워즈 2022 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2022 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean).
  29. ^ "H1GHR MUSIC US Tour (Chicago, New York, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)". hiphopkr. March 20, 2018.
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