Shing02 is a Japanese born multi lingual MC, artist and activist that gained worldwide fame as the lyricist on the theme song “Battlecry” for the ground-breaking anime series “Samurai Champloo” which sparked a crossover cultural movement audiences between hip Hop, Anime, b-boying and Jazz music. “Battlcry” has become one of the most recognizable anime themes as well as popular underground hip hop and B Boy anthem, do in part by the production of late Hip hop jazz producer Nujabes.
He has since been an early and important pioneer in the alternative hip hop genre called Jazzhop and has a strong following amongst Anime and hip hop fans worldwide.
Shing02 has and continues to performed at many anime and pop culture events worldwide starting with his first appearance at 2009’s Akiba Fest at the University of MD where he right away kicked of the show and set the energy for the rest of the night and other performers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyb-xJKtnk8
That weekend he also became the first rapper to perform at the Secura Festival in Washington DC. In 2019 he headlined to a packed sold out house at Otakon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGM0QbElPds
With this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop our show plans to focus on this anniversary combined with our mutual passion and involvement in the anime and nerdcore field. Shing02 is the icon that combines both worlds perfectly and will be an unmatched addition to the line up.