Renowned South Korean hip-hop artists Okasian and Bryan Chase have signed exclusive contracts with Universal Music Korea (UMK), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG). The exclusive deal marks a bold step forward for both the artists and the label as they gear up to redefine the sound of Korean hip-hop on a global stage.
The announcement coincides with the rebranding of its domestic artist division Artist & Label (A&L)—a move that generates excitement for the artists’ upcoming projects.
Calvin Wong, CEO of Southeast Asia & Korea at Universal Music Group, expressed his thoughts on signing the new artists, stating, “We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter with two exceptional artists who have earned widespread recognition in Korea’s and Asia’s hip-hop scene. Their expertise and fresh perspective promise to inspire and elevate the current music landscape, and we are fully committed to supporting their artistic journey.”
With a career spanning over a decade, Okasian is widely recognized as one of Korea’s top rappers. Rising to prominence as a founding member of The Cohort—the hip-hop collective that also included Keith Ape and Bryan Chase—he helped shape the underground sound that would later gain international attention. Okasian has been featured on XXL’s Top 10 Must-Know Rappers from Korea alongside BTS’ RM, and has collaborated with THE BLACKLABEL, Interscope, and 88rising.
I am truly delighted to embark on this new journey with Universal Music Korea. I look forward to collaborating to create great music and authentic works together.
– Okasian
With this new signing, Bryan Chase, brings his signature melodic flow and creative versatility to the table. Hailed as “a staple of the underground rap scene of Seoul” by Hypebeast, Bryan first turned heads with his remix of ‘No Flex Zone’ a decade ago and has since carved out a unique space in the genre. He has collaborated with labels such as THE BLACKLABEL, Interscope and 88rising, including heavy-hitting names such as BIGBANG’s Taeyang on ‘Nightfall’ and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on ‘2U.’
Joining UMG is an incredible honor. We’ve built this from the ground up with love and belief in the music. Now with this partnership, we’re ready to share our sound with the world. This is a new beginning and we’re expecting great things ahead.
– Bryan Chase
Most recently, the duo featured on ‘LOV3,’ a standout track from Sik-K and Lil Moshpit’s EP ‘[K-FLIP+]’, released earlier this March. The song has already garnered massive praise from fans, with many calling it the 2025 Hip-Hop Track of the Year.
Their signing also reflects UMK’s growing commitment to genre diversity. With artists like DEAN and HEYOON already on the roster, the addition of Okasian and Bryan Chase further solidifies UMK as a dynamic force in Korea’s evolving music industry. Along with the announcement of these exclusive contracts, Universal Music has also launched its Artist & Label (A&L) Instagram channel to share various updates about their artists.
Okasian Socials:
Instagram | Spotify
Bryan Chase Socials:
Instagram | TikTok | Spotify
Photo credits: Universal Music Korea
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