Yuki Chiba: The Artist Rewriting His Story — And Why Balenciaga Is Listening

In the past few years, few artists have reshaped their identity with as much intention and impact as Yuki Chiba. Formerly known as KOHH, the Tokyo-born rapper built his early career on unfiltered honesty, raw storytelling, and a relentless drive to turn hardship into art. Today, he stands not only as a pivotal figure in Japanese hip-hop but as a global creative force, and one whose personal evolution has caught the attention of the fashion world, including luxury house Balenciaga, which tapped him for their latest music collaboration.

Chiba’s story begins far from the bright lights of international stages. Growing up amid family instability, loss, and the gritty realities of Tokyo’s Oji district, he found refuge in lyrics and beats just as much as he found purpose in them. His work ethic was forged early: long nights writing, hours in the studio refining flows, and an obsessive commitment to making every project more honest than the last. Under the KOHH moniker, he built an underground empire, releasing mixtapes, albums, and collaborations that cut deep and resonated widely.

But the turning point came when Chiba made a bold decision: to step away from the persona that made him famous. In 2021, he retired the name KOHH, paused his career, and later returned under his real name; a move that signaled maturity, clarity, and a new creative direction. His reintroduction as Yuki Chiba wasn’t a rebrand; it was a rebirth. His 2024 comeback single “Team Tomodachi” exploded online, followed by high-profile collaborations and a renewed global presence.

This creative evolution is precisely what caught the attention of Balenciaga, a brand whose artistic vision under Demna has become deeply intertwined with sound, subculture, and emotional storytelling. Through Balenciaga Music, the house’s platform for artist-driven playlists and compositions, Chiba curated an eclectic five-hour mix of tracks that shaped him. Rather than selecting trendy hits, he offered listeners a map of his influences: a sound diary that bridges past, present, and personal transformation.

For Balenciaga, this collaboration is more than a playlist. Chiba embodies the qualities the brand seeks in its artistic partners: authenticity, reinvention, and creative depth. His music, like Balenciaga’s design philosophy, pushes boundaries by blending vulnerability with boldness. As Chiba’s global momentum accelerates, including his partnership with Warner Music Japan and international collaborations, aligning with him allows the brand to tap into a rising cultural wave.

And for Chiba, the partnership is a natural extension of the work ethic and curiosity that have always driven him. His ability to evolve without losing the core of his story makes him a uniquely compelling figure, and one who can speak equally to street culture, high fashion, and the spaces where they intersect.

Yuki Chiba isn’t just experiencing a comeback; he is building a new creative era. And Balenciaga’s decision to highlight his voice suggests one thing: the world is finally catching up.