88rising held its first inaugural Moonrise Gala on Saturday, 17, at Milk Studios in Los Angeles, California. The star-studded event, held during the Lunar New Year, remixed the traditional awards format and spotlighted 88rising’s commitment to uplifting the legacies of past, present and future Asian creatives. The night’s honorees — including rapper, singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and director Anderson .Paak, Indonesian songstress NIKI, Filipino American pop sensation Jocelyn Enriquez, DJ pioneers Invisibl Skratch Piklz and American filmmaker, director, writer and producer Destin Daniel Cretton — were awarded 88rising’s Moonrise Medal, a bespoke keepsake created by NYC-based jewelry line Anna Kikue.

88rising, founded in 2015, is a disruptive global music and media company platforming creators such as Dumbfoundead, Rich Brian, Joji, NIKI and Higher Brothers, among many others. The record label, dedicated to Asian artistry, has fostered a blossoming trajectory for crossover artists looking to dominate music in North America, many of whom have charted industry firsts. The world’s number one Scotch Whisky brand Johnnie Walker was among the night’s presenting partners, a longtime collaborator and champion of 88rising’s global footprint, notably facilitating talent-led campaigns with creators like VANDYTHEPINK. 

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, the whisky maker recently debuted its artist-designed 2024 Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year limited edition bottle, made in collaboration with visionary artist James Jean, renowned for his ethereal paintings and illustrative artworks. Jean’s custom design depicts this year’s Lunar animal, the dragon, springing from a bed of flora and fauna — a reflection of the Wood Dragon’s ambitious vigor. The artist attended the event, in addition to producer and DJ TOKiMONSTA. As 88rising’s founding New Year partner, Johnnie Walker’s elevated bar experience, replete with Blue Label signature and tea-infused cocktails, complemented the evening’s Michelin-curated tasting menu, courtesy of US-based F&B Chubby Group. 

The event commenced with influencers, media personalities and industry leaders taking to the red carpet for photo opportunities set against a mesmerizing floor design conceptualized by K2 World. Ahead of the award ceremony, LA-based Filipino recording artist and producer Eyedress set the mood with an opening set, including atmospheric tracks “Run the Fade,” a prickly, distorted pass-the-blunt anthem with 88rising music collective 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, and “Dark Prince,” a breezy, effervescent love song co-written with Mac DeMarco. 

Commanding the stage with charismatic flair and swagger, Dumbfoundead hosted the ceremony lineup, introducing Moonrise Gala’s ethos while establishing a precedent for the inaugural event and future honorees to come: “Moonrise is not meant to be an award show focused on projects or accomplishments of any given year. Instead, we want you to see it as an expression of love to talent from all generations.”

Synonymous with this sentiment, Bay Area legends, like Filipino American dance-pop superstar Jocelyn Enriquez (“A Little Bit of Ecstasy,” “Do You Miss Me”) and hip-hop turntablists Invisibl Skratch Piklz, led by luminaries Djs QBert, Mixmaster Mike, D-Styles and Shortkut, were awarded the Moonrise Medal, having significantly shaped music’s landscape in the early ‘90s and 2000s. Invisibl Skratch Piklz performed a live set, displaying their mastering of scratch on nostalgic hip-hop records as the crowd lit up. The ceremony pivoted to contemporary artists like NIKI (who performed her most recent single, “24,” in lieu of a formal speech), Anderson .Paak and filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), celebrating their exemplary accomplishments in music and entertainment. 

Anderson .Paak, in particular, born of Black and Korean descent, is an eight-time Grammy award winner, the mastermind behind the critically acclaimed Malibu (2016) and certified gold and platinum An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021), recorded in part as the musical duo, Silk Sonic, joined by twelve-time Grammy winner Bruno Mars. 

“What an honor. It is a dream come true to be in a room full of this many beautiful Asian women. Feel like I died and went to heaven,” .Paak joked before an air of gravitas. The artist commended his close friend Dumbfoundead, later expressing his admiration for Moonrise Gala’s impressive roster of honorees: “To the honorees, to the artists, to everyone in this room, thank you for being fearless. Thank you for creating something from the heart. Thank you for manifesting that fire that keeps you up at night. You’re the ones who got out there on the stage; you put something out that we can watch on the screen in the theaters, that we can listen to in the big arenas, that we can read on those long road trips. Thank you so much to all the artists. Don’t ever stop, don’t ever give up. Trust your instincts and trust your gut. That’s how I did it. But I can’t tell you how to do it; all I can say is, I hope you’re having fun while you’re getting it done.”

The ceremony closed with a surprise performance from 88rising’s most recently signed band, 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, who delivered a jazz-infused performance alongside members of BADBADNOTGOOD. 

Recognizing these artists as part of a larger Asian American milieu, the extravagant evening spotlighted legacies penned, mixed and mastered by industry pioneers who’ve paved the path for rising Asian musicians to embrace their craft, claim space and share their art. Embodying the imaginative spirit of the Wood Dragon, the Moonrise Gala marks an exciting precedent for Asian excellence. In partnership with 88rising, Johnnie Walker invites new and old interpretations of the Lunar New Year to build upon these indelible histories.

Get a glimpse of the Moonrise Gala in the galleries above. Learn more about 88rising by visiting the company’s website, and explore Johnnie Walker’s recent collaboration with artist James Jean here.