Kero One is a Korean-American hip hop MC, producer, and DJ from San Francisco, California. He has been recognized for re-introducing the jazz rap sound in the early to mid 2000s with his jazz-hop album Windmills of the Soul.
History Kero One originally worked as a web designer, making 50 copies of his first single with home equipment and personal credit cards. He released his first 12" record, Check the Blueprints in 2003 on his own imprint, Plug Label. Of the 50 copies that were eventually distributed around the world, one reached a tiny record store in Tokyo, Japan. A few weeks later, it was found by a Japanese DJ who played it at a club that night and received dozens of inquiries, including a Japanese label executive who immediately contacted Kero One and asked for 3,000 copies of the record.JpopAsia. "Kero One’s bio" ‘’jpopasia’’. Accessed 2013-03-13.
In 2012, Kero one released his fourth solo album, Color Theory, which raised over $10k from fans to pay for the mastering and engineering costs through Kickstarter. His lead single "What Am I Supposed to Do" charted on Radio Nova (France), J*Wave Japan, and WDR Funkhaus europa radio in Germany. The song received a major endorsement from Stevie Wonder, who asked Kero One to perform it at Wonder's 17th Annual House Full of Toys Benefit Concert on December 15, 2012, at Nokia Live Theatre with Bruno Mars.Ethel. (2013-01-24) "Behind The Scenes | Stevie Wonder Concert ft. Kero One" Audrey Magazine. Accessed 2013-03-13.
Later, Kero One formed a new collaboration project, Kesna Music with YouTube singer Esna Yoon. They released their single "Is It Love?" on July 16, 2013.a-Tunes.net. (2013-04-23) “Kero One & Esna Form Kesna Music” a-Tunes.net. Accessed 2013-07-17.
In 2015, Kero One brought his signature jazz-hop sound to Korea, producing a song called "Ordinary Love" for Korean rapper Park Kyung of Block B and Park Bo-Ram, which hit #1 on Melon charts. Later that year, Kero One released a future soul album under the alias "Kero Uno", called Reflection (noitcelfer) Eternal which made it to Reddit's ListenToThis best of 2015 albums list. Also in 2016, South Korean longboarder Hyo Joo Ko used Kero One's 2012 song "So Seductive" in one of her Instagram videos. When Kero One reposted the video on his Facebook page it went viral, reaching 26 million views. The viral video brought Hyo Joo Ko international fame and renewed interest in Kero One's older song.vogue.com "Meet Ko Hyojoo"
Highlights 5th Best Indie hiphop of 2004 on MSN music 4th Most Downloaded artist on Cnet's Download.com 2nd selling underground hiphop album on HMV and Tower Records Japan 2nd most downloaded album on iTunes Japan Landed on Reddit's ListenToThis best of 2015 albums list
Discography
Albums YearTitleLabel2006Windmills of the SoulPlug Label2006Windmills of the Soul InstrumentalsPlug Label2008Kero One Presents..Plug LabelPlug Label2009Early BelieversPlug Label2010Kinetic WorldPlug Label2012Color TheoryPlug Label2015Reflection EternalPlug Label2017Kero & AzurePlug Label
Singles YearTitleLabel2018"A New Day Dawns"Plug Label2017"Let Me Show You"Plug Label2015"Princess Diamond" featuring Kelsey BulkinPlug Label2012"What Am I Supposed to Do?" featuring SuhnPlug Label2010"When the Sunshine Comes" featuring Ben WestbeechPlug Label2008"Get Down" featuring Aloe BlaccPlug Label2006"In All the Wrong Places/ Give Thanks" (Sound Providers Remix)Plug Label2005"My Story"Plug Label 2005"Keep It Alive"Plug Label 2003"Check the Blueprints"Plug Label
Collaborative works YearTitleLabel2017"Bad Habits" Crazyboy of J-Soul BrothersAvex Japan2016"Ogeul Ogeul" featuring Park Kyung of (Block B) Seven Seasons2015"Ordinary Love" featuring Park Kyung (Block B) and Park Bo-ramSeven Seasons2013Kesna Music - Is It Love?Plug Label2012Kero One - Love's Gonna Getcha (feat. Dynamic Duo & DFD)Plug Label2012Kero One - Love's Gonna Getcha TV Instrumental (feat. Gaeko of Dynamic Duo)Plug Label2012Sam Ock - Pieces (feat. Kero One)SAM OCK2010Anan Ryoko - Forever We Will Be (feat. Kero One)Blues Interactions, Inc.2009Kero One - When the Sunshine Comes (feat. Epik High)Plug Label2009Kero One - Let's Just Be Friends (feat. Dynamic Duo)Plug Label2009Kero One - Keep Pushin' (feat. Tablo of Epik High)Plug Label2009Kero One - Goodbye Forever (Choice 37 Remix) (feat. Ben Westbeech & Choice 37)Plug Label2009Epik High - Rocksteady (feat. Kero One, Dumbfoundead, MYK, Rakka)Map The Soul Inc.2009Epik High - Map The Soul [Worldwide Version] (feat. MYK, Kero One)Map The Soul Inc.2008Talib Kweli - "In the Pocket" (Kero One Remix)Manhattan Records/HMV2008Nomak feat. Abstract Rude - "Hi, Mom! - A Prayer For World Peace" (Kero One Remix)Huge Soul 2008Pe2ny - "Wake Up" (feat. Kero One, Myk)Mnet Korea2008Rashaan Ahmad - "Here We Go" (prod. by Kero One)Om hiphop2008DJ Motive - "Reach for the Star" (feat. by Kero One)Mohowks Records2007Dynamic Duo - 지구본뮤직 (feat. Kero One)CJ Music2007Lanu - "It's Time" (feat. Kero One)Tru Thoughts/Ubiquity Records2007Choice 37 - "Conversate" (feat. Kero One & El Gambina)Subcontact Records2007Himuki - Innervision (feat. Kero One)S.O.U.Records/Milkdipper/Nunki Inc.2006Surreal & DJ Balance - Yeah Boy (Beat By Kero One)(feat. Theory Hazit)Hiphop IS Music
References
External links
KERO ONE - BIOGRAPHY Reviews of Windmills of the Soul Windmills of the Soul : rapnews.co.uk Windmills of the Soul : RapReviews.com Kinetic World : Lesson Six DJ Deckstream - Soundtrack 1.5 Nomak Re-Calm Allhiphop.com review (February 26, 2006) Platform8470 interview April 12, 2009