Following the release of his highly celebrated project, 1999, rapper, producer, singer, and songwriter, Rich Brian returns with his first single of 2021, ‘Sydney‘, world premiered this morning on triple j‘s Breakfast with Bryce and Ebony, released via 88rising, distributed by 12Tone Music LLC. Listen HERE.

With a beat inspired by hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, ‘Sydney‘ blends Rich Brian’s signature deep vocals and laid back flow with some saxophone thrown in, thus once again displaying the artist’s ability to constantly shapeshift and reinvent his sound. 

Throughout ‘Sydney‘, Rich Brian shares how he has matured and grown as an artist, from rapping on YouTube in his bedroom in Jakarta to becoming the first Asian music artist to reach #1 on iTunes’ Hip Hop charts. Listeners follow along as the rapper reflects on how he has learned over the years to care less about his doubters and focus more on his career, lifestyle, and future. With lyrics like, “I hate when people just barely know me but they act like they fuckin invented me / Everybody on their scared to grow shit I’m on my 8th metamorphoses,” Rich Brian shows that his journey as an artist is constantly evolving.

“I created ‘Sydney’ after listening to a ton of Three 6 Mafia,” explained Rich Brian. “The entire production of this single was heavily inspired by the hip-hop group. I also wanted to hear myself flexing about my life over some beautiful saxophone.” Speaking to the song’s Australian connection, Brian continues, “I last went to Sydney on the Sailor Australia tour at the end of 2019- the energy there was incredible both from the crowd and the amazing city. When I started rapping over this beat, Sydney was the city that naturally came to mind to flex with.”

‘Sydney‘ will also serve as the new anthem for the PUBG MOBILE Pro League Southeast Final in March 2021, a massive moment for the Southeast Asia gaming community. PUBG MOBILE is a mobile gaming application with over 30 million active daily users and over 700M+ downloads per year. This past year, Rich Brian released 1999, which received praise from outlets like triple j, HotNewHipHop, Hypebeast, UPROXX, Genius, and Complex. To date, Rich Brian has garnered over 1.7+ Billion streams.   

‘Sydney‘ by Rich Brian is out now via 88rising/12Tone Music, buy/stream it here.

PRAISE FOR RICH BRIAN

The Sailor
triple j Feature Album

“The best music of his young career” [The Sailor] 
Pitchfork 

“At just 19, Brian is dropping thoughtful, lyrically dense rhymes.”
UPROXX

“The 88rising mainstay’s sophomore effort effectively solidifies his position in the world of hip-hop, building up his character as a force to be reckoned with.”
Hypebeast

“[Brian’s] biggest artistic leap yet”
Highsnobiety

“An important step forward”
Complex

ABOUT RICH BRIAN

The first Asian musical artist to reach #1 on iTunes’ Hip Hop charts, Indonesian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer, Brian Imanuel Soewarno, better known as Rich Brian, has blazed into the forefront of a movement that’s diversifying and transforming hip-hop culture.  One of the leading figures of Asian rap, with more than 3.2 million followers on Instagram alone and over 1.7B+ streams globally, Brian continues to earn broad audiences and critical kudos.  Billboard called him a “rap wunderkind,” the L.A. Times praised him as “a phenom… a gifted MC and producer [with an] introspective, authoritative voice,” and Rolling Stone tagged him on its “25 Under 25” list. The 20-year-old, whose singles regularly feature guest artists like Ghostface Killah, 21 Savage and Offset, performs to sold-out shows across North America, Europe and Asia, and festivals including Bonnaroo and Rolling Loud (he’s slated to perform next at the postponed Coachella). Proud of being an Asian artist, still a commodity in short supply, Brian is blazing a path for himself and innumerable others.

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