Ryan Celsius is a Washington D.C.-based visionary curator/producer known for pioneering the modern phonk aesthetic through the Trappin in Japan visual mixtape series—blending nostalgic anime visuals, Japanese street footage, and underground hip-hop into a globally recognized sound and look.

Since launching his YouTube channel in 2011, Ryan has built a multimedia platform spanning digital curation, live performance, and visual storytelling—amassing massive reach across platforms, 150M+ Spotify streams, and appearances on two Platinum-certified albums.

• Opened / performed alongsideArtists

  CURREN$Y • RIFF RAFF • ScHoolboy Q • Flying Lotus • Reggie Watts • Skeler

• Business / label partnershipsIndustry

  Westbrook Media (Will Smith’s company) • Warp Records

• Visual / installation workVisuals

  Credits from original EPK: Flying Lotus NMAAHC installation • Yasuke soundtrack visuals • Grammy event sponsor partner • Doja Cat shoutout recognition

• Amuse — Interview: Ryan CelsiusInterview

  Profile + career context.

• VICE — Lo‑Fi YouTube phenomenonCulture

  Context around the YouTube-driven scene.

• Rolling Stone — DJ Paul featureFeature

  Mention/industry context.

• Forbes — What to know about lo‑fiCulture

  Explainer + context.

• Format: DJ/VJ performance with synced visual mixtapes
• Genres: Phonk • trap • midtempo • wave • underground hip-hop
• Options: Festival set • club headline • curated brand event

Forest Limit (Tokyo) • Union Stage (DC) • Elsewhere (Brooklyn) • Substation (Seattle) • The Black Box (Denver) • Aisle 5 (Atlanta) • Minglewood Hall (Memphis) • Green Elephant (Dallas) • Cry Baby (Oakland, sold out)