YAO—the explosive collaboration between Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK, and Paledusk—is releasing their second single on September 4, 2026, just two months after their debut track "777" dropped on digital platforms. For fans who've been captivated by this unprecedented fusion of hip-hop, rock, and metalcore, the arrival of new music marks the next chapter in what's shaping up to be one of the most exciting cross-genre projects in Japanese music. We've gathered everything we know about this upcoming release and what it means for the YAO project moving forward.
The Quick Version
- YAO's second single is scheduled for digital release on September 4, 2026
- The track continues the collaboration between Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK, and Paledusk
- YAO's debut single "777" was released on July 7, 2026, blending pop-punk, hip-hop, and metalcore
- The project name "YAO" comes from "Yaoyorozu," representing diversity and countless spirits in Japanese spirituality
- Specific details about the second track's title and content have not yet been widely confirmed
When and Where You Can Hear the New YAO Single
According to official announcements, YAO's second single is set for digital distribution on September 4, 2026. While the exact title of this new track hasn't been widely confirmed in English-language sources yet, we know it represents the second official release from this four-way collaboration. The release follows the same digital-first strategy that brought us "777" in July 2026, which became available across major streaming platforms including Spotify.
Based on the pattern established with their debut, we can expect the new single to appear on all major streaming services at midnight Japan Standard Time on September 4. Whether there will be an accompanying music video—as there was for "777," which premiered at 7:00 PM JST on its release day—remains to be confirmed. What we do know is that this second release continues YAO's commitment to delivering their unique cross-genre sound to fans worldwide.
What Makes YAO Different: Understanding the Project
If you're just discovering YAO, you're witnessing something genuinely unusual in the Japanese music scene. YAO brings together four acts who don't typically share the same stage: Awich, one of Japan's most prominent hip-hop artists; CHICO CARLITO, a versatile rapper and performer; ONE OK ROCK, the internationally acclaimed rock band; and Paledusk, progressive metalcore innovators. The result is a sound that refuses to stay in one lane.
The name itself carries meaning. Awich has explained that "YAO" stands for "Yaoyorozu," a concept in Japanese spirituality that translates roughly to "eight million gods" or countless spirits. It's not meant to be taken literally—rather, it represents infinite diversity, the idea that there's no single uniform way things should be. Applied to music, it's a philosophy that allows hip-hop, rock, and metal to collide without anyone worrying about genre boundaries or traditional expectations.
This project emerged from Red Bull's content series "Red Bull IN-YO!", which was designed specifically to bring hip-hop artists together with musicians from other genres to create something new. YAO served as the inaugural project for this series, with their collaborative session video premiering on June 29, 2026, on the Red Bull MIC YouTube channel. That session laid the groundwork for what would become the YAO releases we're hearing throughout 2026.
Looking Back at "777": YAO's Explosive Debut
To understand what might be coming with the second single, it helps to know what YAO has already delivered. Their debut track, officially titled "777 (feat. Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK & Paledusk)," hit streaming platforms on July 7, 2026—a date chosen for its triple-seven symbolism. The song was described by music media as a hard-hitting pop-punk party anthem, and the accompanying music video leaned into a rebellious aesthetic that matched the track's energy.
What made "777" stand out was the genuine chemistry between artists who, on paper, might seem mismatched. ONE OK ROCK brought their signature melodic rock sound and anthemic production. Awich and CHICO CARLITO delivered verses that grounded the track in hip-hop's rhythmic foundation. Paledusk added layers of intensity drawn from their metalcore background. The track didn't feel like a simple feature swap—it felt like a genuine collaboration where each artist influenced the whole.
The members of YAO weren't complete strangers before this project, which may explain why their collaboration sounds so natural. Before YAO formed, Paledusk and CHICO CARLITO had already worked with ONE OK ROCK on a track called "C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y." from ONE OK ROCK's 2025 album "DETOX." That earlier collaboration proved these artists could find common ground, setting the stage for the more ambitious YAO project.
What We Can Expect from YAO's Second Release
While specific details about the second single's sound and structure haven't been widely shared yet, we have some clues about what YAO has planned. In interviews, Taka from ONE OK ROCK has indicated that he'll be featured on every YAO track, suggesting a consistent thread running through the project's releases. This implies YAO isn't just a one-off collaboration but an ongoing creative effort with a cohesive vision.
The timing of the second release—just two months after "777"—suggests YAO is maintaining momentum rather than treating this as a sporadic side project. That relatively quick turnaround could mean the group recorded multiple tracks during their initial sessions, or it could indicate that the creative chemistry was strong enough to bring everyone back together quickly for more work.
What seems clear is that YAO represents something larger than the sum of its parts. The project isn't trying to make any one artist sound like the others; instead, it's creating space where different musical languages can coexist and strengthen each other. The second single will give us more insight into whether that philosophy extends across multiple tracks or if each release will take YAO's sound in new directions.
Why This Cross-Genre Collaboration Matters
We're living in an era where genre boundaries matter less than they used to, especially to younger listeners who build playlists mixing hip-hop, rock, pop, and electronic music without thinking twice. Yet in the professional music world—particularly in Japan's highly structured music industry—genuine cross-genre collaboration at this level remains relatively rare. Artists often stay within their established lanes, both because that's what their audiences expect and because crossing genres can be commercially risky.
YAO challenges that caution. By bringing together established artists from different musical worlds, the project demonstrates that there's an audience hungry for music that refuses easy categorization. Awich has built her reputation as a powerful voice in Japanese hip-hop. ONE OK ROCK has achieved global success while maintaining their rock identity. Paledusk represents the cutting edge of Japan's metal scene. CHICO CARLITO brings versatility across multiple styles. When these artists collaborate, they're not diluting their individual identities—they're expanding what's possible when those identities intersect.
The Yaoyorozu philosophy—the idea of countless spirits rather than a single divine authority—feels particularly resonant for this kind of work. It suggests that musical diversity isn't just acceptable but essential, that the richest creative moments happen when different perspectives and sounds meet rather than when everyone agrees to work within the same template.
What People Are Saying
"Finally, we're getting YAO's second track! '777' has been on repeat since July and I've been waiting for more of this energy. The way these artists blend together is unlike anything else happening right now."
— @musiclover_jp on social media
"I came to YAO as a ONE OK ROCK fan and stayed because Awich and CHICO CARLITO absolutely killed it. The cross-genre approach works because everyone brings their A-game instead of just phoning in a feature. Can't wait to see what direction they take with the second single."
— Fan comment from streaming platform discussion
"YAO is proof that Japanese music doesn't need to follow the same predictable patterns. Mixing hip-hop, rock, and metalcore shouldn't work this well, but it does. The second release dropping this soon after '777' makes me think they have big plans for this project."
— Music blog commenter
"The Yaoyorozu concept is perfect for what they're doing. It's not about making everyone sound the same—it's about creating space where different voices can exist together and make something stronger than any of them alone. That's what I heard in '777' and what I'm hoping for in the next release."
— Listener review
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly is YAO's second single being released?
YAO's second single is scheduled for digital release on September 4, 2026. Based on typical release patterns, it should become available on streaming platforms at midnight Japan Standard Time.
Where can I listen to the new YAO single?
The second single should be available on all major digital music platforms, following the same distribution pattern as "777," which appeared on services including Spotify. We recommend checking your preferred streaming service on September 4.
Will there be a music video for the second YAO single?
This hasn't been confirmed yet. YAO released a music video for "777" that premiered on YouTube at 7:00 PM JST on the song's release day, but whether the second single will follow the same pattern remains to be announced.
Is YAO a permanent group or a limited collaboration?
While the long-term plans haven't been detailed publicly, the fact that YAO is releasing a second single just two months after their debut suggests this is more than a one-time collaboration. Statements from the artists indicate plans for multiple tracks featuring all members.
How is YAO different from other collaboration projects?
YAO brings together artists from genuinely different musical backgrounds—hip-hop, rock, and metalcore—rather than artists from adjacent genres. The Yaoyorozu philosophy underlying the project emphasizes diversity and multiple perspectives rather than blending everything into a single uniform sound.
What This Second Release Tells Us About YAO's Future
The arrival of YAO's second single on September 4, 2026, confirms what many fans hoped after "777" dropped: this collaboration has legs. The relatively quick turnaround between releases suggests the artists found something worth pursuing beyond a single experiment. While we don't yet know the title or specific sound of this new track, we know it continues bringing together four distinctive voices from different corners of Japan's music scene.
What makes this particularly exciting is that YAO seems to be building a body of work rather than chasing a viral moment. The Yaoyorozu philosophy—celebrating countless spirits and diverse perspectives—gives the project room to evolve with each release rather than forcing every track to sound like the last. Whether the second single doubles down on the pop-punk energy of "777" or explores a different facet of what these artists can create together, we'll find out when it arrives on streaming platforms September 4.
For fans of any of these artists, YAO represents a chance to hear familiar voices in genuinely new contexts. For anyone interested in where Japanese music is heading, it's a reminder that the most interesting sounds often emerge when artists are willing to cross the boundaries their industries have drawn for them. The second single is one more step in that direction.
