Header Photo by Jacob Consenstein
WHATMORE, a five-member collective based in New York based, featuring Japanese-American rapper Yoshi T., released their second single, “Chicken Shop Date” on Friday, July 25th.
The members of WHATMORE met at LaGuardia High School in New York and deepened their bond by performing independently planned live shows based in Downtown and Brooklyn. The group consists of five members: Cisco Swank, who has jazz, soul, and hip-hop knowledge, Yoshi T., who has roots in America and Japan, has been gaining recognition in Japan through collaborations with VaVa and kZm, and collaborations with AGO, Jackson August, who portrays the influence of indie and alternative pop as “the colour of youth” in both sound and video; Sebastiano, who gives the song depth with his introspective lyrics and poetic worldview, and Elijah Judah, a producer who supports the group’s musicality with a production that combines a variety of genres.
Their musicality, which freely incorporates hip-hop, alternative R&B, indie rock, and more, has a unique charm that cannot be fitted with existing genres, and they are now beginning to quietly make a presence in the New York scene.
Following the debut song “eastside w my dogs,” released in June, this is a posse cut with all the members performing verses. The raid-back mood is under the production of Elijah, and the chemistry shines through the perfect snug fit.
The music video was directed by longtime collaborator Patrick Linehan and was filmed late at night in a local chicken shop in Crown Heights. The film depicts the entire group playing the microphone replay in cuts as each member moves around the store, and also mixes the reactions of local people. WHATMORE is a way to express the atmosphere of New York, a “city of cultivation” more naturally than anyone else.
Furthermore, WHATMORE is also currently developing a video series called “INTROS” that introduces each member. The episode of Yoshi T., which was released the other day, has already exceeded 1 million views. Yoshi T. is also engaged in activities that bridge hip-hop between New York and Japan. It gives you a glimpse into what kind of background they grew up with before they shared music, including the Sebastiano episode, which was released alongside their debut song.
[Release Information]
WHATMORE “chicken shop date”
Release Date: 2025.07.25 (Fri.)
Label: Alta Music Group
Tracklist:
1. Chicken shop date
