Rich Brian

Emerging from Indonesia, rapper and online personality Rich Brian, born Brian Imanuel, drew broad notice in 2016 upon unveiling his Rich Chigga persona with the viral single “Dat $tick.” A reaction clip showcasing American rappers Ghostface Killah, 21 Savage, Flatbush Zombies, and Desiigner, most offering favorable comments, propelled the track across borders. Imanuel, sporting a pink polo and fanny pack, let his deep voice and distinctive cadence challenge assumptions about Asian rappers. Shortly thereafter the then-17-year-old signed with CXSHXNLY, the label also home to Dumbfoundead and Keith Ape, and began expanding his catalog. The decade closed with two charting full-length projects, 2018’s Amen and 2019’s The Sailor, both entering the Billboard Top 50, while the next decade opened with the 1999 EP and 2021 singles “Sydney” and “New Tooth.”

Imanuel’s online activity began at age 11 in 2010, when he first uploaded dark comedy videos that satirized American culture absorbed through internet clips. Self-taught English came via those same videos and repeated listening to Childish Gambino, 2 Chainz, Macklemore, and Tyler, The Creator. In 2015 he started issuing satirical tracks as Rich Chigga, beginning with “Living the Dream,” which established his provocative yet ironic stance. The material addressed gang life, drinking, and drugs he did not experience, while also confronting Indonesian issues such as government corruption and street violence. Following “Dat $tick,” he dropped “Who That Be” and a remix of “Dat $tick” that added Pouya and Ghostface Killah. A rapid series of 2017 singles included “Back at It,” “Chaos,” “Glow Like Dat,” and “Gospel,” the last featuring Keith Ape and XXXTENTACION and reaching the Top Ten of Billboard’s R&B charts.

Early 2018 brought a shift away from the Rich Chigga name in favor of Rich Brian. His first album, Amen, arrived that January on 88rising, entered the Top 20 of the Billboard 200, and included Joji on “Introvert” plus Offset on “Attention.” The 2019 single “Yellow” introduced his singing voice and appeared on sophomore album The Sailor, which arrived in July featuring Bekon, RZA, and Joji and debuted just outside the Billboard 200’s Top 50. April 2020 yielded the single “BALI” with Guapdad 4000. After closing the year with the 1999 EP, Brian released “Sydney” in early 2021, then “California” featuring Warren Hue and the solo track “New Tooth.” Both “New Tooth” and the Warren Hue-assisted “Getcha Mans” later appeared on the 2022 EP Brightside.