Song You Need To Know: Sky-Hi, ‘Happy Boss Day’

Hidaka Mitsuhiro is a name you absolutely need to add to your playlists. The 36-year-old rapper and producer first made a name for himself by debuting as the main rapper of J-pop group AAA in 2005 and has since gone on to make a mark as a soloist under the moniker Sky-Hi, gaining acclaim for his exuberant yet intricate brand of hip-hop with a message. The multi-faceted artist made his return to the scene on December 12th with his new solo LP, The Debut.

The lead single off The Debut titled “Happy Boss Day” is a fresh blend of trap and synth-pop that highlight Sky-Hi’s playful style of artistry. The lyrics paint Sky-Hi as a figure of rebellion who creates art for the love of it. As the CEO of his own label, the rapper isn’t a stranger to being placed in roles where he needs to be the ‘ideal boss.’ On “Happy Boss Day” he breaks free from those corporate shackles and reiterates that he isn’t bound by numbers or trends, choosing instead to uplift himself and the artists he works with based on their love for music.

The music video features Sky-Hi taking on multiple roles; the boss or ‘king’ of what looks like a corporate retinue, a jester of sorts doing his best to entertain said retinue, and an unhinged composer, directing a live band. As the jester fails to impress the corporates and arguments erupt, the situation devolves into chaos with physical fights breaking out. This leads to Sky-Hi the boss finally shedding his crown and stepping onstage himself to perform, leading by example and resolving things instead of watching from the sidelines.

The Debut features a total of 11 tracks and collaborations with several prominent names like Japanese producer and composer Ryosuke “Dr. R” Sakai, singer-songwriter Aile The Shota, and South Korean group Stray Kids’ producer sub-unit 3Racha.

In addition to his work as a songwriter, rapper and producer for AAA, Sky-Hi is an actor and the founder of the entertainment company BMSG, home to Japanese artists like rapper Novel Core, Aile The Shota and boy group BE:FIRST.