News

We’re proud to announce our official partnership with Third Party Collectives —our exclusive partner in Japan. 

Based in Tokyo, Third Party Collectives is a crew of artists rooted in '90s Hip Hop, pushing new perspectives in today’s beat scene. As our Japan partner, they run the local online shop, offering TRES vinyl, CDs, and apparel directly to Japanese fans.

Together, we’re hosting “the 3rd Party”—a regular event series in Tokyo inspired by the laid-back vibe of L.A. backyard BBQs. Free to enter and family-friendly, it’s all about good music, good vibes, and building community across borders.

The next 3rd Party event happens Sunday, 5/25/2025 in Tokyo.

Stay tuned for more releases, events, and collaborations bridging Tokyo and L.A.

Chikaramanga's MPC60 is fully customized by Bruce at Forat.  One of the benefits of living in Los Angeles for a beat maker is that there is Forat in LA. 

It’s been a while… A new VINYL release from TRES! 

We’ve been keeping this one quiet, but today’s the day—Comel & Ty All (Prod. by Chikaramanga) "Breakfast Love" is out now! Available as a Limited Edition 7-inch vinyl (only 200 copies!). Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of this exclusive drop.

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Comel (of Time Machine) stumbled upon a beat on @tresrecords’ Instagram, and it sparked something special. Produced by Chikaramanga (of Giant Panda), this track is the perfect blend of gritty production and melodic vibes, matched by the dynamic flows of Ty All and Comel. Together, they’ve created a morning anthem about resilience, love, and the relentless pursuit of success.

The surprise is out, and it’s available NOW! Stream "Breakfast Love" on all major digital platforms and grab your 7-inch vinyl before it’s gone! 

Follow Comel @iamthecharacter and Ty All @itstyall on Instagram.

Comel & Ty All "Breakfast Love" (7" and Digital)
Written by Comel and Ty All
Produced by Chikaramanga
Vocals recorded by Mike Cruz at Young Coconut Studio
Mixed and Mastered by NOAH at Galactico Studio

Track List:
Side A: Breakfast Love
Sice B: Breakfast Love - Instrumental

The 2nd chapter in Chikaramanga’s beat-album series, "Progressing to the Stone Age,” delves deeper into the essence of mid 90s Hip Hop beats, skillfully crafted using the classic Akai MPC 60 and Maschine. This album is a fusion of authentic 90s Hip Hop vibes, modern technology, and international music/records of 70s and 80s. 

Track List:

1. Reboot 
2. Echoes 
3. The Warp 
4. 42 
5. The Echelons
6. A Tech Tale 
7. Loop Logic 
8. Digital Past 
9. Telescope 
10. Tokyo Tengoku

Produced by Chikaramanga
Mixed and Mastered by NOAH 

About Chikaramanga

Chikaramanga, revered for his role in the iconic Los Angeles-based hip hop collective Giant Panda, has brought his craft back to his hometown of Tokyo. With a prolific history in the underground hip hop scene of the early 2000s, he was a driving force behind Giant Panda's two acclaimed albums. Known for his mastery of a classic and vintage Akai sampler, MPC 60, and Maschine, Chikaramanga also leads the LA-based label TRES, supporting its mission to "preserve the tradition, yet stimulate the progress." Drawing inspiration from 70s and 80s Japanese vinyl, his beats transcend eras and continents, bridging generations of hip-hop fans—from those who experienced 90s hip hop firsthand to the current generation discovering its timeless appeal.

Check out 'Soundscapes: 90s Hip Hop Instrumentals', curated by Chikaramanga of Giant Panda. It's a collection of 90s Hip Hop instrumentals on Spotify. While instrumental versions of many 90s Hip Hop tracks remain elusive on Spotify, Chikaramanga has carefully chosen instrumentals that minimize vocal elements, ensuring listeners can appreciate the details of each beat.  You can hear how beats for those classic Hip Hop tracks were put together – the layers, sequences, and all that. 

Emerging from the dynamic scene of Los Angeles during his time with the illustrious hip-hop collective Giant Panda and Tres Records, Chikaramanga has returned to his Tokyo roots, evolving his sonic journey. "Progressing to the Stone Age Phase One" presents a rich palette of sounds, a testament to Chikaramanga’s ever-expanding artistry.

The track "Jobs" unfolds with a purposeful, slow tempo — its heavy drums and jazzy, enigmatic samples exude an atmospheric depth. In contrast, "A Friendly Reminder" stands out with its innovative drum programming, intertwining with Japanese Shamisen strings to offer a blend of nostalgia and invigorating melodies.
Yet, one of the album's crowning jewels is "Back-of-the-envelope Calculation." Arguably one of the most potent tracks, its heavy drums and captivating samples evoke a unique sense of retrofuturism, echoing the vision of tomorrow as imagined by the visionaries of the 1970s.

In Tokyo, Chikaramanga fuses the nostalgic allure of 90s vintage samplers with the sharpness of modern "Maschine" techniques. His compositions delve deep into the world of 70s and 80s Japanese vinyl, often drawing from the cinematic melodies of movie and anime soundtracks.

Delve into "Progressing to the Stone Age Phase One" for an auditory experience that spans decades and cultures, where Chikaramanga seamlessly bridges the past with the present, ever embodying Tres Records' mission: "Preserve the tradition, yet stimulate the progress."

"Progressing to the Stone Age Phase One" is a digital-only release. It will be available on all major digital platforms worldwide on the release date, 12/1/2023. 

All tracks produced by Chikaramanga and Mixed and Mastered by NOAH

Track List:

1. Jobs
2. Back-of-the-Envelope Calculation
3. A Friendly Reminder
4. Return of the Hiccup
5. Craziness
6. Between the Lines
7. Zoned Out Sometimes
8. Chapter 11
9. Footprints
10. Gates

As we have previously announced, our focus as a label will be beats and instrumentals going forward (TRES "Black Label"). This shift is not just a change in direction, but a tribute to the core of our musical journey.

As we gear up for our 20th anniversary in 2024, we've been revisiting our rich back catalog, listening to them on Spotify. This nostalgic journey has vividly reminded us of the incredibly talented beat makers we've had the honor of collaborating with over the years.

We're excited to share that this is the debut of a special Spotify playlist, meticulously curated by Chikaramanga. Titled "TRES Instrumentals Vol.1," this collection features instrumental versions of tracks that we had the privilege of releasing under our brand.

Link to the playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5nuK49LmXGAGXQhmfOW81u?si=84f5e38b64cf4dbd

Listening to these instrumental versions is an experience in itself. It allows you to appreciate the genius behind how these beats were constructed, layered, and sequenced. It's a perspective you might have missed when listening to the vocal versions of these tracks.

Creating this playlist was an exhilarating experience, akin to crafting a mix tape. It was a journey through our history, re-discovering the essence of each beat. And this is just the beginning. We have more playlists lined up, ready to bring you a unique auditory experience.

Stay tuned for more as we continue to explore and celebrate the art of beat-making!

Chikaramanga's all 7 inch vinyl mix of Japanese City Pop and Wamono.

Chikara's City Pop / Wamono DJ crew, YNO has a monthly event, "Timely" in DTLA every last Friday.  This mix is a little taste of what the night is about.

Track List

1. Hideki Saijo "Beat Street"

2. Miki Matsubara "Hello Today"

3. Michiru Hoshino "Watashi Ga Obasan Ni Nattemo"

4. Miho Nakayama "Waku Waku Sasete"

5. Mioko Yamaguchi "ANJU"

6. Hiroshi Sato "Mystery Zone"

7. Junko Yagami "Tasogare No Bay City"

8. Toshiki Kadomatsu "This Is My Truth"

9. Shingo Kazami "Namida No Take A Chance"

10. EPO "Down Town" 

Chikaramanga's all 7 inch vinyl mix of Japanese City Pop and Wamono.

Chikara's City Pop / Wamono DJ crew, YNO has a monthly event, "Timely" in DTLA every last Friday.  This mix is a little taste of what the night is about.

 Track List

1. Ramu "Aiwa Kokorono Shigotodesu"

2. Momoko Kikuchi "Anatakara Fly Away"

3. Wink "One Night In Heaven"

4. Tetsuwan Miracle Babies "Talk Show"

5. Tatsuro Yamashita "Ride On Time"

6. Miharu Koshi "L'amour Toujours

7. Taeko Ohnuki "Carnaval"

8. Nami Shimada "Motto Zutto I Love You"

9. Yuki Kato "Shy Ni Aishite"

10. Mariya Takeuchi "Single Again"

11. Yumi Matsutoya "Saturday Night Zombies"

About Timely

Timely is a DJ event spinning wamono (Japanese) music, primarily “city-pop” --- a genre of music originated in the 70s in Japan that has been recently revitalized worldwide. The DJ event is hosted by YNO, a Japanese DJ collective (Kapsoul, Ricky, and Chikaramanga), who are fanatics of music and deep-cut culture. This “only vinyl” performance is held at The Mermaid (428 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) on the last Friday of every month . Beyond city-pop, Timely also offers a wide range of other wamono music, including rock, rap, arcade and anime songs, soul/R&B, and minimalist composers, which is carefully curated by YNO. Timely has become a popular event because of their original style, gathering the LA Japanese community, music lovers, vinyl fanatics, and locals into one place.

Timely
Friday, 2/28/2020 (the last Friday of every month)
10pm - 2am
@The Mermaid (428 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
NO COVER, 21+

Resident DJs
Chikaramanga (Giant Panda, YNO)
Kapsoul (YNO)
Ricky (YNO)
Yota 

About YNO

YNO, Yellow Ningen Organization, is a Japanese DJ collective that was formed in Downtown LA in the spring of 2010 by long-time friends, Kapsoul, Ricky, and Chikaramanga. Kapsoul is a beat-maker and DJ who has been playing an active part in LA’s underground music scene, solidifying his role as a unique music event promoter. Ricky, the CEO and creative director of a popular downtown shop Popkiller, which handles original T-shirts, vintage clothing, and records, has established a following in the local DJ scene as a pioneer in Japanese pop culture in LA. Chikaramanga, a member of hip-hop group Giant Panda and the founder and co-owner of hip-hop label TRES, has gained notoriety in the LA music scene as a beat maker, DJ, and MC. Although these creatives established their careers in separate fields, they were brought together through their love of city-pop. City-pop was a genre of music popularized in Japan in the 70s through the 80s. Recently, there has been a revival in city-pop worldwide. These forty-something Japanese guys grew up listening to the original iteration of city-pop. Needless to say, they are excellent curators in the genre. Based on their concept of “only vinyl,” they formed YNO in order to introduce city-pop to LA’s music scene but at the same time expand the genre. YNO is currently hosting a monthly event called Timely at The Mermaid (428 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012). For an “only vinyl” wamono performance by these three Japanese aficionados, check out Timely.

I can't believe it has already been more than a few weeks since we had the release party.  The party was amazing.  We had such a great time.  I would like to thank Ricky at Popkiller, Newman (of Giant Panda), Thes One (of PUTS), and everyone who came to support.  These are photos from the party.

Left to Right: Comel (Time Machine), Newman (Giant Panda), Chikaramanga (Giant Panda), ESQ

Thes One (PUTS)

Doronko Beats T-Shirts will be available on Tres website soon.

Newman a.k.a. Alex Boomin (Giant Panda)

 I brought two of my Akai MPC60 and set them up with a DJ mixer like a turntable setup.  I did a beat set with it for about an hour.  It was my first time doing something like that, but I think it came out pretty good. 

Chikara
June 10th, 2018