CHEHON: From Osaka to Jamaica, Records and Live Reggae
CHEHON is a reggae deejay from Tsuruhashi, Osaka. Known for songs such as “Midori” and “韻波句徒” (Impact), he combines melodic delivery with rhythmically detailed lyrics. His work connects Japanese reggae, a period living in Jamaica, appearances in hip-hop settings and performances with a live band.[1][2][7]
CHEHON at a glance
| Artist | CHEHON |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tsuruhashi, Osaka, Japan |
| Role | Reggae deejay and vocalist |
| Starting points | “Midori,” “Impact” and “Yellow Badman” |
| Recent records | THE CULMINATION; MADE IN WORLD; HAPPY FLOWER LIVE (BAGDAD RIDDIM SECTION Session) |
In this context, deejay means a reggae vocalist on the microphone. CHEHON discusses that usage himself in the HIPHOPCs interview. The career details below draw on that interview and official release information.[1][2][4][5][6]
Before the records: Tsuruhashi and rub-a-dub
In an interview published by HIPHOPCs in June 2026, CHEHON traced his listening through melodic hardcore, ska and crossover rock before he began visiting hip-hop clubs. Reggae came through the same spaces. He recalled being drawn to its melodies before he had even identified the genre.[1]
His first goal was to perform, rather than to release a recording. At around 16 or 17, he recalled writing songs and riding a scooter to a club in Sakaihigashi for rub-a-dub sessions, where vocalists shared the microphone. Learning to reach a small room came before assembling the people and equipment needed to make a record.[1]
Midori and the move into major-label releases
The mini-album Midori arrived in 2006, followed by his first full album in 2007. The single “LIKKLE MORE -Meguri eye-” marked his major-label debut in 2008. “Impact” and the 2009 album RHYME LIFE helped define this stage of his catalogue.[2][3]
His reflections on “Midori” distinguish technical improvement from a song’s lasting effect. In the HIPHOPCs interview, he said that his younger voice was less accomplished, yet the recording remained difficult for his more experienced self to surpass. Listening to that early performance alongside later live recordings makes the distinction tangible.[1]
Jamaica and the question behind Yellow Badman
Sony Music’s biography places his move to Jamaica after the 2010 album Road to island, with a return to Japan in early 2012 after more than a year away. Seaview Garden followed in 2012.[2]
CHEHON told HIPHOPCs that “Yellow Badman” came from testing how far a Japanese-language deejay could go in Jamaica. He wanted to perform and make music with artists there. He also described the difficulty of learning the language, pronunciation and expressive detail needed to communicate. The experience matters as a process of learning, not simply as a line on an international résumé.[1]
Reggae delivery in hip-hop spaces
Asked about appearing at hip-hop events, CHEHON described a chance for audiences to discover music beyond their usual scene: hip-hop listeners could encounter reggae, and reggae listeners could encounter hip-hop. This can be understood as taking his reggae style into another setting, rather than as a change of genre.[1]
The 13-track THE CULMINATION, released in 2021, includes “BAD FALLERS COME” with 句潤 and ID, and “BROTHERS ROCK” with NATURAL WEAPON. The three-track MADE IN WORLD followed in 2025, with Gacha Medz credited for composition, recording and mixing, and co-production with CHEHON.[4][5]
Released on June 10, 2026, HAPPY FLOWER LIVE (BAGDAD RIDDIM SECTION Session) is a five-track live release credited jointly to CHEHON and HAPPY FLOWER MUSIC. BAGDAD RIDDIM SECTION supplies the band performance. “Impact Medley” and “BANGARANG” offer an entry into the live exchange that CHEHON places at the centre of his work.[1][6]
Selected timeline
| 2006 | Releases the mini-album Midori.[2][3] |
|---|---|
| 2008–2009 | Makes his major-label debut and releases RHYME LIFE.[2] |
| 2010–2012 | Road to island, a stay in Jamaica and Seaview Garden after returning.[2] |
| August 4, 2021 | Releases THE CULMINATION.[4] |
| November 29, 2025 | MADE IN WORLD is released digitally.[5] |
| June 10, 2026 | HAPPY FLOWER LIVE is released.[6] |
| June 30, 2026 | HIPHOPCs publishes its interview with CHEHON.[1] |
Where to start listening
- Midori — the early recording discussed in the interview.
- THE CULMINATION — a broad set of songs and collaborators.
- HAPPY FLOWER LIVE — his voice working with a live band.
HIPHOPCs interviews
Official information
Explore the regions and interviews
Sources and review date
Last checked: . Personal recollections, opinions and future plans are attributed to the interview; release details are checked against catalogue listings.
- HIPHOPCs: CHEHON interview, published June 30, 2026
- Sony Music: official CHEHON biography
- TuneCore Japan: Midori
- Sony Music: THE CULMINATION
- TuneCore Japan: MADE IN WORLD
- TuneCore Japan: HAPPY FLOWER LIVE
- Sony Music: “韻波句徒 (Impact)” release announcement
Image source: CHEHON interview — HIPHOPCs. CHEHON. Photo: YOHEI NAGATA. Studio: BushmanStudio.
