A star designer first and foremost, DJ, producer and entrepreneur Nigo (born Tomoaki Nagao (長尾 智明 on December 23, 1970, in Maebashi, Japan) is best known as the creative force behind world-famous Japanese fashion brand, A Bathing Ape, which was founded in Ura-Harajuku, Tokyo in 1993. In 2005, Nigo launched his music career with hip-hop crew the Teriyaki Boyz, also made up of Ilmari and Ryo-Z from Rip Slyme, Verbal from M-Flo, and rapper Wise. He released two albums with the group, 2005's Beef or Chicken and 2009's Serious Japanese, also dropping a mixtape called Delicious Japanese that same year. Nigo is also the head honcho of the Bape Sounds record label and started an MTV Japan show called Nigoldeneye, as well as launching his own solo career in 2000 with Ape Sounds, released on James Lavelle's Mo' Wax label. In 2014, he began producing and managing female pop group Billie Idle, having directed the music video for "Nerve" by Billie Idle members BiS, who disbanded that year and morphed into Billie Idle. The group launched their debut in 2014 with their first album, Idle Gossip, of which Nigo served as executive producer. Continuing his stronghold on the fashion industry throughout the 2010s – adding a KENZO collection to his portfolio, among other achievements – Nigo's big international music break and solo songwriting career fully landed in January 2022, when he teamed up with US rapper A$AP Rocky and released the song "Arya." The collaboration functioned as the lead single for Nigo's new 2022 album, I Know Nigo! – his first in over 20 years, following 2005's Nigo Presents: Return of the Ape Sounds – released on Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records. Featuring guest spots by Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, Kid Cudi, Tyler, the Creator, Pusha T, and the Teriyaki Boyz, I Know Nigo! debuted at Number 13 on the Billboard 200.
