Joji burst onto the world’s radar when, through a now-retired YouTube channel, he created the Harlem Shake. The ultra-viral dance that spawned Billboard number one of the same name—that was Joji, by another name. The Japanese-Australian had long dreamed of being a musician, and as an internet-savvy twenty-something, he saw YouTube as a clever path into the industry. After accruing millions of fans around the world with an inventive roster of absurdist comedy characters, Joji decided to dedicate himself completely to the music he’d always dreamed of making. He retired from YouTube and bet big on his most personal, more sincere project.
Three years and one LP later, it’s safe to say he made the right call. He’s racked up more than five billion global streams, made a TV debut on Kimmel, earned an RIAA Platinum Plaque, and collaborated with heavyweights like Diplo and Chief Keef. With his sophomore studio album Nectar out now, we look back at our favourite Joji tracks, new and old.
Check out the list below and stream Joji’s new album Nectar here.