Nigo

Tomoaki Nagao (Japanese: 長尾 智明, born December 23, 1970), known profesionally as Nigo, is a Japanese fashion designer, disc jockey (DJ), record producer and entrepreneur, residing from Maebashi, Japan.

Nigo is best known as the creator of the world-renowned urban clothing line A Bathing Ape (commonly known as Bape) and currently serves as creative director for Kenzo. Additionally he is a member of the Japanese hip hop group Teriyaki Boyz, serving as their official in-house DJ since the group’s 2005 debut.

While having huge success in the fashion industry, Nigo had been associated with popular artists such as Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, who paired with Tomoaki on the Billionaire Boys Club brand back in 2005. Additionally, Nigo is the owner of the Bape Sounds record label, as well as creating Nigoldeneye, a show that ran on MTV Japan.

On December 22, 1999, Nigo released his debut studio album, Ape Sounds. He has quietly produced and released it well before he became a cult figure in the United States. Nigo also released a bonus EP, titled Shadow of the Ape Sounds the same year.

After two decades, Nigo released his sophomore studio album, I Know NIGO! on March 25, 2022, through Victor Victor Worldwide.