Universal Music Korea announces signing of Korean-Australian alternative hip-hop group 1300

Universal Music Korea announced the signing of Korean-Australian alternative hip-hop group 1300 (pronounced “one three hundred”).

The signing places 1300 alongside a roster that includes acclaimed Korean artists such as DEAN, Okasian, Bryan Chase, LIM KIM, and HEYOON, and marks a new chapter for the act.

“We’re excited to work with Universal Music Korea on this new chapter of 1300,” the group said. “UMK share our vision for the next phase of our careers: making art that draws from the past and makes us excited for the future. With the help of UMK’s global presence, we hope to reach more people, and use the power of music to connect the dots across cultures.”

Composed of rappers DALI, goyo, rako, and producers Nerdie and pokari, 1300 will be releasing their debut album ‘ILLSAMGONGGONG’ in July. 

Known for their genre-blending style fusing rap, abrasive SoundCloud beats, 90s breakbeat, and sweat-drenched electronic music, 1300 have steadily built an international following through their high-energy sound and explosive live performances. The group has completed two sold-out national Australian tours and reached a global audience of more than 425 million viewers following their appearance on the 2025 ABC New Year's Eve broadcast.

“We’re delighted to welcome 1300 to UMK. They combine a fresh, alternative, sound with a dynamic energy that resonates instantly. I look forward to helping them create new opportunities, connect with fans, and together take their music across Asia and the rest of the world,” said Calvin Wong, CEO of Universal Music Group Southeast Asia and Korea, & SVP of Asia.

Over the past several years, 1300 have shared stages with internationally acclaimed artists including Jay Park, Audrey Nuna, Genesis Owusu, and Confidence Man.

1300’s growing catalog includes releases such as “Lalaland,” “Brr,” “No Caller ID,” “Smashmouth,” “Oldboy,” “Rocksta,” and “Steve Jobs” featuring Kwame, alongside projects including the mixtape Foreign Language, their Valentine’s Day mini-album ‘<3’ (pronounced “less than three”), and sophomore mixtape ‘GEORGE.’

Ahead of their forthcoming album, 1300 will unveil the project’s first pre-release single on June 24.