Joji performs at The Warfield in San Francisco on Nov. 20, 2021. Nathan McKinley/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Joji made one of the best albums of 2020. Nectar showed tremendous growth for the Japan-born artist, showing that he was capable of getting beyond his start as, first, an Internet personality…

The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Caribou, The Chicks, Joji, Nathaniel Rateliff, Deftones, he Psychedelic Furs, Open Mike Eagle and Thundercat. Now we’re getting into the really good stuff. If you missed the still-good-but-not-quite-as-good stuff you can find 75-61, 60-51, 50-41, 40-31 and…

The depressive R&B of 2017’s In Tongues EP and 2018’s Ballads 1 established Joji with his own unique feel. However, with the notable exception of “Slow Dancing In The Dark,” much of it amounted to potential rather than a definitive well-rounded statement. Then again, Joji’s demure, unfiltered persona seemed to…

According to founder Sean Miyashiro, 88rising is a “hybrid management, record label, video production, and marketing company.” This explains why it’s just as likely to discover flagship artists Joji, Rich Brian and NIKI on YouTube channels like First We Feast rather than those artists’ respective music. The collective works tirelessly to put…

Though often lauded as a trailblazing hip-hop producer or an indie folk visionary, Justin Vernon is reluctant to take credit for Bon Iver. His songwriting chops are remarkable, but the ingenuity brought to the table by his collaborators gives his work a distinct flavor. That’s apparent on i, i,…

As he transitioned out of absurdist shock humor, Japanese-Australian entertainer George Miller effectively reinvented himself as Joji. His unofficial mixtape Chloe Burbank had a compelling plunderphonic aesthetic of jazzy piano and nuanced beats, which the more one-dimensional EP In Tongues toned down. Joji’s debut LP Ballads 1, could still benefit from…

SZA performs at Blurry Vision Fest at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland on May 12, 2018. OAKLAND — The two-day Blurry Vision Fest made its debut at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park with a predominantly hip-hop and R&B lineup to rival any major festival. With the Bay Bridge, Port of Oakland…