Celebrity Name: Yuki Chiba
New Company: Independent Artist Group (IAG)
New Agents: Jeremy Holgersen, Max Rosenfield, Paul O’Loughlin
Department: Music / Global Touring
Territory: Worldwide
- Japanese rap star Yuki Chiba, formerly known as KOHH, has officially signed with Independent Artist Group (IAG) for global touring representation.
- The deal covers worldwide touring, positioning Chiba for a major international live push off the back of his viral momentum and Warner Music Japan / 300 Entertainment record deal.
- IAG’s Global Touring division, whose roster includes major arena and stadium artists such as Billy Joel, Metallica, and Linkin Park, adds Chiba to its growing lineup of live performers
- The signing marks a significant step in Japanese hip-hop’s global expansion, with Chiba serving as one of the genre’s most internationally recognizable faces.
Japanese rap star Yuki Chiba has signed with Independent Artist Group (IAG) for worldwide touring representation.
The signing lands Chiba on one of the most powerful rosters in the live music business. IAG was formed from the merger of Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) and Artist Group International (AGI), with Jim Osborne serving as CEO and Dennis Arfa as Chairman of the Music Division.
The agency boasts a touring roster that includes Billy Joel, Metallica, Def Leppard, Rod Stewart, Mötley Crüe, and Linkin Park.
For Chiba, the move is a natural next chapter. Born on April 22, 1990, in Oji, Kita, Tokyo, the rapper (formerly known by his stage name KOHH) began his music career at age 18.
He gained early recognition in Japan’s underground rap scene before rising to international fame through collaborations with artists like Keith Ape and Megan Thee Stallion.
His breakout into Western markets came fast and hard. In February 2024, Chiba dropped his first song under his real name “Team Tomodachi,” which went viral both in Japan and overseas, spread across social media by Chris Brown, Bun B, Duke Deuce, NLE Choppa, and Megan Thee Stallion, and shot straight to the top of Weekly Viral Songs Japan on Spotify.
The momentum didn’t stop there. He appeared on Megan Thee Stallion’s “MAMUSHI,” performed live at her sold-out O2 Arena show in London, and in September 2025, signed a major label deal with Warner Music Japan in partnership with 300 Entertainment.
The IAG deal is the live touring piece that completes the picture. With festival season ramping up globally and a planned cultural event, Chiba Fes, on the horizon in Tokyo, the stage is set for Chiba to become one of the most exciting international touring artists of the next few years.
This kind of high-profile agency pivot echoes other recent moves in the market, like Gentlemens Club signing with Good Direction Agency and KT Tunstall inking her deal with The Feldman Agency, as artists increasingly align with agencies that can match their global ambitions.
Takeaways
This isn’t just a booking deal, it’s a signal. Yuki Chiba signing with IAG tells you everything about where Japanese hip-hop is headed. He’s not looking to be a novelty act on international stages; he’s building the infrastructure for a full-scale global career.
IAG doesn’t take on artists at that level unless they see arena potential. Pairing a Warner/300 record deal with IAG’s touring muscle is a very deliberate, very calculated setup for a long-term worldwide run.
And the timing matters. With “MAMUSHI” having cracked Western playlists, a viral solo debut, and a growing cultural platform in Chiba Fes, there has rarely been a better moment for a Japanese artist to make a serious play for global live audiences.
IAG’s roster, from legacy rock icons to rap heavyweights, gives Chiba instant credibility in rooms he hasn’t been in yet.
Could Yuki Chiba become the first Japanese hip-hop artist to headline major arena tours in North America and Europe? Does this signing open the door for other J-rap acts to follow the same path through Western booking agencies?
