Rising global boy group ONE OR EIGHT has teamed up with Big Sean for a release of “KAWASAKI,” their pre-debut single from June 2024.
The eight-piece outfit, who opened the first day of Hypefest Hong Kong 2024, and Big Sean retain the original track’s high-energy sonic landscape of Jersey Club beats and heavy trap-leaning bass lines. The GRAMMY-nominated rapper adds an extra layer of excitement with his brand of sharp lyricism, elevating the already-dynamic sound of “KAWASAKI.”
Releasing alongside the collab is its accompanying music video directed by Glenn Michael, known for his work with the likes of The Weeknd, The Chainsmokers and Big Sean. The visual sees ONE OR EIGHT being drawn into an alternate world by a mysterious force, and with the guidance of their motorbikes, they perform powerful dance sequences to form a “gathering” that transcends the absurdities and fears of reality. They eventually return to the real world, but the experience stays in them.
“As we worked on upgrading and releasing ‘KAWASAKI,’ we had the great honor of having the legendary Big Sean featured on our track. ‘Control’ and ‘Moves’ were heavy rotations of mine back in the day so to have him join us on this track is truly baffling and surreal,” Neo of ONE OR EIGHT shared in a statement. Sean added, “I actually saw ONE OR EIGHT live at their performance they did in LA at the AVEX house and ever since then I was like, okay, these guys are superstars for real, you know? So it just made sense when the opportunity came and I heard the song, I was like, oh, yes, let’s go. I think ONE OR EIGHT will definitely be successful. I wouldn’t be collaborating with them if I didn’t think so. I think they’ll be like superstars and I think they’re on the leading edge of J -pop and that whole scene.”
ONE OR EIGHT is made up of Japanese members Mizuki, Neo, Reia, Ryota, Souma, Takeru, Tsubasa and Yuga, with their name derived from the Japanese idiom “一か八か,” which roughly translates to “all or nothing.” The group made their global debut earlier this August with the single “Don’t Tell Nobody.”
Watch ONE OR EIGHT and Big Sean’s “KAWASAKI” music video above.
