Takashi Murakami and JP THE WAVY’s MNNK Bro. Release New Song in Honor of Louis Vuitton Collaboration
Images in this article (40 items)
The collaboration unit MNNK Bro. (Mononoke Brothers), formed by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and rapper JP THE WAVY, released their new song “LV MURAKAMI” on February 6 (Wednesday).
The unit was born from the collaboration between JP THE WAVY and Murakami, where the rapper contributed the theme song for Murakami’s solo exhibition Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto in 2024. Following the release of Mononoke Kyoto in July 2024, the unit has been actively involved in events, including the Mononoke Night -Kyoto Edition- club event and a live performance at GQ MEN OF THE YEAR 2024, where Murakami won the Best Artist Award.
LV MURAKAMI celebrates the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Murakami, marking their first partnership since 2003. The track was created to honor the re-edition of the original Louis Vuitton×Murakami collection. It also features in a teaser video for the collection, which includes appearances by Zendaya and Murakami.
The song’s lyrics were written by JP THE WAVY, Murakami, and Ricky Ricky, while composition and production were handled by JIGG and ineedmorebux. A music video directed by BRTHR, the duo behind Travis Scott’s butterfly effect, is also set to be released.
Comments from Murakami and JP THE WAVY regarding the release have also been shared.
Takashi Murakami’s Comment: Two years ago in the fall, I heard “Pick N Choose” at my daughter’s dance recital and got excited, thinking, “Japanese hip-hop is about to change the game!” I immediately reached out to WAVY! Then, we quickly made “Mononoke Kyoto” and released it. After that, WAVY and I formed the unit “MNNK Bro.” and began working on a mini-album. Amid all this, I got the chance to collaborate with Louis Vuitton for the first time in 22 years, and when I told WAVY, he was incredibly quick to create this track. The song was briefly featured in the Louis Vuitton campaign video with Zendaya, but now the full version is finally out! I can’t wait for the moment when Japanese hip-hop is released to the world with a Byah!
JP THE WAVY’s Comment: This unit started when I made the theme song for Murakami’s Kyoto exhibition in 2024, and now I’m honored to create a song celebrating the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Murakami. The music video explores the “journey” concept that is associated with the Louis Vuitton brand, and the visuals have a pop style that makes it feel like I’ve wandered into the world of the song “LV MURAKAMI.” It also evokes memories of the 2003 Louis Vuitton x Murakami collaboration animation Superflat Monogram. I’m really excited about it, so stay tuned!
NiEW Best Music is a playlist featuring artists leading the music scene and offering alternative styles in our rapidly evolving society. Hailing from Tokyo, the NiEW editorial team proudly curates outstanding music that transcends size, genre, and nationality.
