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Indonesian rapper welcomes 2018 with new name, new single
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US-based Indonesian rapper Brian has ushered in the New Year by changing his stage name on Twitter and Instagram – and sharing a YouTube link to his new single, "See Me", due out on Feb. 2. (Rich Chigga's official Instagram/File)
I
ndonesian rapper Brian Imanuel has begun the new year with a new stage name, dropping "Rich Chigga" and going mononymously as "Brian".
Antara News agency reported that the 19-year-old made the announcement Tuesday on both his Twitter and Instagram accounts of the change in his moniker, which coincides with the release of his new single, "See Me".
Yes I now go by “Brian”. I have been planning to do this forever and I’m so happy to finally do it. I was naive & I made a mistake. new year, new beginning, happy new years™️
— Brian (@iambrianimanuel) January 1, 2018
Brian's name change is suspected to be the result of negative responses to "Chigga", which sounds similar to a highly derogative racial slur against black people, primarily in the United States. Brian, who is of Chinese descent, hinted at the issue through his Twitter post, saying that his former stage name was "a mistake".
"Yes now I use the name 'Brian'. I've been planning it for a long time and am happy to finally do it. I am naive and have made a mistake. New year, new beginning, happy new year," he wrote.
Read also: Rich Chigga returns to Indonesia a wiser, better musician
In addition to announcing his new name, Brian also shared a link to "See Me", which is available on music label 88 Rising's YouTube channel.
The single is expected to be part of his debut album, Amen, which is slated for release on Feb. 2.
Brian gained popularity after his music video "Dat $tick" went viral in 2016. He went on to collaborate with other rappers, including American singer-songwriter XXXTentacion and South Korean hip-hop artist Keith Ape.
Brian currently lives in Los Angeles, California, and held his first US tour in 2017. (liz/asw)
