Jay Park

Rapper, singer, dancer, and entrepreneur Jay Park has played a key role in raising the visibility of Korean hip-hop artists around the world. • Born in Edmonds, Washington, Park channeled his passion for hip-hop and breakdancing by joining the Seattle-based b-boy crew Art of Movement. • Park cites Usher, Michael Jackson, and Chris Brown as his biggest influences. • In 2008, Park joined the K-pop boy band 2PM. He left the following year due to controversy surrounding comments about Korea found on his Myspace page. • In 2010, Park returned stateside and achieved viral success with his cover of B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ on You.” • Park’s 2012 debut solo album, New Breed, topped the charts in South Korea. • In 2013, he founded AOMG, an independent hip-hop label based in Seoul. • In 2017, Park cofounded the label H1GHR Music, which aims to “bridge the gap” between Korean and American artists. That same year, Park made history by becoming the first Asian American artist to sign with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation management company.