Released on June 28, Megan Thee Stallion’s new track “Mamushi” featuring Yuki Chiba has been making waves.
Yuki Chiba, who performed under the moniker KOHH for approximately 13 years starting in 2008 and collaborated with artists like Frank Ocean, Hikaru Utada, and Mariah Carey, adds another notable collaboration to his repertoire.
Since retiring KOHH in 2021, Chiba has diversified his activities, including writing essays titled “Yuki Chiba’s Chats” in the monthly literary magazine Bungakukai, and taking on various roles such as producer, MV director, and editor for Yan Seku’s debut album NATURAL PUNKS. Chiba’s return to the music scene became a hot topic on February 13, 2024, with the release of the track “Team Tomodachi,” which he had already performed live and DJ’d. This track, produced by Koshy, who is also known for his work on Watson’s projects, marked Chiba’s debut music video and release under his real name.
Released suddenly as Yuki Chiba’s first solo track, “Team Tomodachi” has sparked reactions not only domestically but also internationally. Artists like Chris Brown, Bun B, Duke Deuce, NLE Choppa, and Megan Thee Stallion, who collaborated on the track, have all shown interest. The song has become a hot topic across various social media platforms, generating a significant amount of user-generated content (UGC).
In March, Yuki Chiba released “Team Tomodachi (Dirty Kansai Remix)” featuring his Kansai-based collaborators Young Coco and Jin Dogg. In April, he followed up with “Team Tomodachi (Tokai Remix)” featuring SOCKS, ¥ellow Bucks, MaRI, and DJ RYOW from Nagoya. By May, he had announced the compilation album Team Tomodachi The Remixes, which includes the original track, the two remixes, and ten new remixes by both Japanese artists like JNKMN & PETZ, eyden, King Gidora, TAKABO & DADA, SKY-HI, Loota, and Watson, as well as international artists such as Duke Deuce and Bun B. The catchy tracks with recurring piano phrases became a defining song of the first half of 2024. Chiba also performed at the major domestic hip-hop festival POP YOURS 2024 in May and is set to participate in SONICMANIA in August. His return to the music scene through these releases and live performances has brought a tangible physicality to his work.
Amidst this, a new surprise release has emerged: “Mamushi (feat. Yuki Chiba),” a track from Megan Thee Stallion’s third album MEGAN. Produced by Koshy, who also worked on “Team Tomodachi,” the song’s theme is “money”—a topic Yuki Chiba has frequently addressed since his KOHH days. Megan herself raps lyrics that mix English and Japanese, including the line “Okane Kasegu Watashi ha Star (“I’m a star making money).”
The repeated use of the phrase “star” by both artists is symbolic, and the track showcases Yuki Chiba’s signature impact with simple yet striking words, reminiscent of his KOHH era works like “Kekkyoku Jimoto,” “Chigiri (契り / pledge)” in “Team Tomodachi.” Megan’s verse even references “MADAM WOO,” a gentlemen’s club that has become a new hotspot for visiting international artists in Japan, reflecting her deep appreciation for Japanese culture.
Megan Thee Stallion’s TikTok dance video for “Mamushi” has already garnered over 6 million likes. The buzz surrounding Yuki Chiba’s comeback continues to build momentum.