The all-star cast of Rich Brian, Kris Wu, Trippie Redd, Joji, & Baauer release official music video for “18”

Kris Wu’s smooth voice glides seamlessly over the booming, trap-based beat — pieced together by Baauer –and later shouts out Kanye West by declaring himself “I’m the Yeezus from the East/You need to Watch the Throne.” Wu hands the baton over to Rich Brian, who feathers his gravelly baritone onto the production before Joji enters for the breakdown. As the beat’s energy rises, Trippie Redd bursts through with his melodic flow and wraps up the guest-heavy track.

This epic posse-cut collaboration, is high-energy complete with trippy, fast moving visuals depicting the group flashing their youthful independence and living life without compromise. As we steadily move into a more global society this new track is truly global with collaborations that span the world. Rich Brian grabs features from China’s Kris Wu and Japan’s Joji to pair along with Americans Trippie Redd and Baauer. Not to mention, Rich Brian himself is Indonesian. Thus we have “18”, the latest single off Brian’s forthcoming album Amen which is due out February 2nd.

The video represents not only what it’s like to be 18 again, but also just how far each artist has come in such a short amount of time. With each day Rich Brian takes new steps along his career trajectory from meme curiosity to a legitimate artist with a very bright future. After shedding his “Rich Chigga” moniker that he admitted was “a mistake” on New Year’s Day, he’s attached his name to another quality, high-profile song. Hearing Joji and Baauer on a song together is wild when you remember Joji was the one who started the “Harlem Shake” dance trendback in 2013 on the Baauer produced single. The song also represents another smart move in Kris Wu’s road to respectability in America, after his “Deserve” collab with Travis Scott. And, of course, Trippie continues to ride his incredible 2017 run into the new year.