With two of the most intriguing hip-hop artists as guest judges, the Vans Musicians Wanted competition is back to provide undiscovered musicians a golden opportunity for their original music to be heard by a global audience.
A renowned sports brand also known for advocating creative expression on a global scale, Vans recently announced the worldwide expansion of its celebrated music platform originally launched in the Asia Pacific region in 2015. What makes this year’s edition of Vans Musicians Wanted particularly special is that Vans launches the competition with Atlanta-based rapper, J.I.D and Chinese-born and American-raised artist, Bohan Phoenix.
Known for fusing cultural identity with their raw talents, these trailblazing artists were recently part of Vans’ final chapter of its This Is Off The Wall brand campaign. In sharing their compelling journey, Vans is hoping that the inspiring stories of both J.I.D and Bohan Phoenix within the hip-hop context will resonate with aspiring next-gen musicians ready to take centerstage and elevate their artistry from the limited confines of their bedrooms.
Based in East Atlanta, where he was born and raised, Destin Choice Route a.k.a. J.I.D originally wanted to be a professional athlete but has instead went on to become one of the defining voices of the current wave of hip-hop artists. With his impressive wordplay and a musical sensibility that puts a premium on craft over hype, J.I.D has carved a very impressive niche for himself. At Spotify alone, he currently has over 4.8 million monthly listeners.
Hear J.I.D’s origin story and the path he has taken in order to hone his craft at Vans.com/JID.
Learning English through popular movies and television shows was also the same manner in which Bohan Phoenix was introduced to hip-hop. Born in Hubei, China but now based in Massachusetts, Bohan’s exposure to music led him on a path of self-discovery and personal exploration that prompted him to craft his own sound.
By embracing his upbringing and dual cultural identity, Bohan began to make music that blended two languages and cultures together to create something uniquely personal, pushing hip-hop in places very few have ever reached.
Watch Bohan Phoenix’s journey to self-discovery and how his multicultural upbringing has come to influence his identity as an artist at Vans.com/BohanPhoenix.
The stories of J.I.D and Bohan Phoenix are just two of the many stories Vans has chosen to highlight in its This Is Off The Wall campaign to celebrate creative expression through the pursuit of artists making their own inroads towards hip-hop—a genre that has become a distinct language of choice for young voices who continue to work to forge their own path by any means necessary.
J.I.D and Bohan Phoenix will join European-based alternative rock singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya and Vans Ambassador and Grammy award winning artist Anderson .Paak as special guest judges for Vans Musicians Wanted.
With more than 7,000 artists that have entered the program since its inception, Vans is proud to expand the program globally to welcome artists from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and Europe for a chance to share their original music with the world. This year’s competition has evolved into a seamless digital experience. The Top 5 artists from the Asia Pacific region will perform at the Vans Musicians Wanted Virtual Concert this December. They will also receive free album distribution through Spinnup, Universal Music Group’s distribution service for independent artists.
One grand prize winner will be selected to receive Vans product, Fender Gear, Vans Spotify and Apple Music playlisting, music video produced by Universal Music Group and one year of free and unlimited global music distribution from Spinnup (APAC exclusive), and the opportunity to share the stage with Anderson .Paak as the opening act in 2021.
Artists can now submit their original music at Vans.com/MusiciansWanted.