H1ghr Music (stylized as H1GHR MUSIC; ) 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. 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. 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. The name symbolizes the artists' goal to keep growing and to get to the next level. Label artist Avatar Darko was the one who suggested to replace the 'i' in Highr to a '1'.
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, Raz Simone, Phe Reds, Jarv Dee. The label also began with producer roster consisting of GroovyRoom and Woogie.
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.
Later in 2017, H1ghr Music signed producer Thurxday, 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. In October, Rapper Woodie Gochild signed after participating in Show Me the Money 6.
In 2018, H1GHR signed rapper Haon after he won the Korean rap survival show High School Rapper (Season 2) The same year he released his first EP, Travel: NOAH.
In 2019, the label signed the rapper Big Naughty after his participation in Show Me the Money 8.
In late 2019, Jarv Dee parted ways with H1ghr Music.
In 2020, the label released a remix version of Rain's song "Gang", which topped the Korean music charts. The same year, they signed a new artist, Trade L.
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.
In March 2021, GroovyRoom announced that they are launching a new label called AREA (), in partnership with the label.
On December 31, 2021, Jay Park announced his resignation as Co-CEO of H1ghr Music. In 2022, the label announced the end of their exclusive contracts with Woogie, Sik-K, and Jay B.
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, adopting the stage name "Y:SY".
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 pH-1 BIG Naughty Woodie Gochild Lilboi simaron Y:SY
Producers and DJs Cha Cha Malone Yultron DJ SMMT
At Area GroovyRoom Yuju Mirani Gemini Blasé Boycold Goneisback Kwaca Redoor Sunwoo (The Boyz)
Former artists Raz Simone G.Soul (Golden) Ted Park Souf Souf 28AV Jarv Dee Mokyo Groovyroom DJ SMMT JMIN Woogie Sik-K Jay B HAON Trade L Dawn (At Area) Hyuna (At Area)
Discography YearAlbum titleArtist2017EverywhereGroovyRoomBoycoldSik-K2018Rewind My Tape Part 1Woogie#GochildWoodie GochildTravel: NoahHaon2019HALOpH-1Room ServiceGroovyRoom & Leellamarz2020Officially OGSik-KXpH-1HeadlinerSik-KH1ghr: Red TapeH1ghr MusicH1ghr: Blue Tape2021Bucket ListBig NaughtyHomecomingJMinSOMO:FumeJay BTime TableTrade L2022Mr. HollywoodSMMTBut For Now Leave Me AlonepH-1
Awards and nominations Award Ceremony Year Category Nominee ResultRef. Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 Hip-hop Album of the Year H1ghr: Red Tape & H1ghr: Blue Tape rowspan="2" Hip-hop Track of the Year"The Purge" Music Video of the Year rowspan="2" Label of the Year H1ghr Music2022H1ghr Music
Tours H1ghr Music US Tour 2018 DateCityCountryVenueApril 26, 2018ChicagoUnited StatesPark WestApril 28, 2018New YorkFREQ NYCApril 29, 2018PhoenixParis of ScottsdaleMay 4, 2018Los Angeles333 LiveMay 5, 2018San FranciscoThe GrandMay 8, 2018SeattleThe Showbox
References
External links Official Facebook