It’s an exciting time to be a hip-hop fan. In the last decade we’ve seen artists across the globe explode onto the international stage like never before, with the genre reaching new heights of popularity, and Japan has been no exception.
Japan is no stranger to hip-hop which first landed on their shores in the early 80s with the help of iconic music collective Major Force, and now in the age of the internet and rise of labels like 88rising, Japan has seen a hip-hop resurgence with new and old talents alike creating some of the best hip-hop tracks the country has produced.
We know that showcasing just 8 artists does not do Japan’s rap game justice, but these are the newcomers and veterans alike that have stood out to us in the last year.
So with that said, here’s our pick of 8 Japanese rappers that you should be keeping an eye on in 2022.
Awich
Raised in Okinawa and exposed to American culture from a young age, Awich has become a powerful figurehead in Japan’s hip-hop scene.
This year alone she’s released her highest ranking album to date Queendom as well as headlined the biggest show of her career at the Nippon Budokan.
In 2019 she was featured in the 88rising documentary Asia Rising: The Next Generation of Hip Hop alongside artists such as Joji, Rich Brian, and ANARCHY.
Her backstory is truly inspirational and her music is some of the best coming out of Japan right now. Keep your eyes on Awich as she might be the next big Japanese music export to be hitting international stages in the coming years.
Awich
Queendom
Release Date: 04/03/2022
Label: Universal Music
Get at: Spotify | CDJapan
Kamui
When it comes to Japan’s underground hip-hop community, Kamui is about as underground as it gets.
Nagoya born MC and producer Kamui/3-i first appeared on the scene in 2015 when he formed the rap duo TENG GANG STARR. He released his first solo album Cramfree.90 in 2018 on Manhattan Recordings.
Earlier this year Kamui successfully crowdfunded the deluxe version of his 2020 album YC2 coined YC2.5. The campaign hit the target goal in just 5 hours and in total raised three times that in under a month.
Recently Kamui has laced his aggressive flow and dark heavy instrumentals with cyberpunk influences, and we’re here for it.
KAMUI SUCCESSFULLY CROWDFUNDS NEW ALBUM ‘YC2.5’ AND FIRST LIVE SHOW
Kamui
YC2
Release Date: 19/12/2020
Label: Mudolly
Get at: Spotify | Apple Music
ralph
ralph’s deep looming voice and rapid fire flow makes him a truly unmissable Japanese rapper.
First appearing on the scene in 2017, the Yokohama native has collaborated with Japan’s industry heavy hitters such as Hideyoshi, and SEEDA. ralph has also worked alongside metalcore mainstays Crossfaith and UK drum and bass producer dBridge.
With tracks produced by the legendary duo Double Clapperz, ralph’s work goes against the grain of his compatriots by delivering an atmosphere akin to UK grime and garage.
His 2020 single Selfish cemented his position as one of the best in Japanese hip-hop pulling in over 2 million streams on YouTube and Spotify.
His sound is like nothing we’ve ever heard come out of Japan and we’re waiting for his next big move.
CROSSFAITH SHOWCASE RAPPER RALPH IN NEW SINGLE ‘GIMME DANGER’
ralph
Cold Game
Release Date: 26/01/2022
Label: Independent
Get at: Spotify | Apple Music
MIYACHI
Growing up in midtown New York, MIYACHI is bridging the gap between American and Japanese hip-hop.
The man is a proven lyrical genius in both Japanese and English, with tracks that are laced with boom-bap and trap-laden instrumentals.
Blowing up in 2017 at the age of 23 with the release of his Japanese language mix of Migos’ Bad and Boujee while living in New York, MIYACHI went on to release his debut album Wakarimasen in 2019 as well as collaborate with the likes of JP THE WAVY, Matt Cab, Thelma Aoyama, and many more
Never one to take himself too seriously, some of his most stand-out tracks are tongue in cheek references to day-to-day life in Japan. Be it the work culture, or getting wasted in Roppongi, everything is fair game.
He also hosts the YouTube channel KONBINI CONFESSIONS which is devoted to showcasing the wild side of Tokyo’s night life. Think Channel 5’s Andrew Callaghan meets Shibuya Meltdown.
MIYACHI
CHU-HI
Release Date: 20/08/2021
Label: 3MA Entertainment
Get at: Spotify | Apple Music
OZROSAURUS
With a history in Japanese rap going as far back as 1995, OZROSAURUS aka MC MACCHO is one of the greats.
Originally a duo made up of MACCHO and DJ TOMO until TOMO withdrew from the group 2004, OZROSAURUS has released a number of classic hip-hop records from his 2001 major debut album ROLLIN’045, to Rhyme & Blues which was named best hip-hop album of 2006 by prominent Japanese hip-hop publications at the time.
He appeared on Grandmaster Flash’s 7th album The Bridge alongside other international MCs on the track We Speak Hip Hop.
In 2015 OZROSAURUS had a stint as a hip-hop metal fusion unit when MACCHO teamed up with members of TOTALFAT, CRYSTAL LAKE, YAMAARASHI and DJ SN-Z on the tracks Mandala, OG, and SORAE.
OZROSARUS remained silent until 2022 when MACCHO returned as a solo artist once again for track Rewind. Featuring ZORN, the track peaked at 4th place on Billboard Japan’s weekly download chart.
Now he’s back in the limelight once again, and we’re stoked to see what new material the legend has in store for us.
OZROSAURUS
Rewind feat. Zorn
Release Date: 02/02/2022
Label: All My Homies
Get at: YouTube | iTunes
JUBEE
Rapper, producer and member of the hip-hop collective Creative Drug Store, JUBEE can be summed up as a walking rapping wayback machine set to the 2000s.
JUBEE draws influence from prominent hip-hop and rock artists of the era from THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS and Dragon Ash to Eminem and KICK THE CAN CREW. His music is a trip through time as he expertly jumps between classic R&B, garage, rock, hard bass, and more.
In 2020 he formed the music collective Rave Racers off the back of his 2019 event of the same name. Still influenced by 90’s and 00’s culture, the group is comprised of creators, artists, and designers centred around rave music.
What JUBEE is delivering is more than nostalgia bait, it’s a fresh and authentic take on the era that you shouldn’t be missing out on.
JUBEE
Vanilla feat. VaVa
Release Date: 22/12/2021
Label: Manhattan Recordings
Get at: Spotify | Apple Music
Daichi Yamamoto
Jamaican-Japanese artist Daichi Yamamoto has been hard to miss in the last year.
After studying at London’s University of the Arts he returned to Kyoto in 2017 to pursue a career in hip-hop. Upon returning he scored a job at his local record store Jazzy Sport then eventually signing to its record label.
Since then he’s released 3 studio albums each showing his versatility as a rapper and producer as he combines his skills on the mic with flawless chillhop and trap instrumentals.
Daichi has worked alongside hit producers STUTS, grooveman Spot, mabanua, and appeared Yaffle’s Pokémon 25 track Reconnect, and Mori Zentaro’s Muddy Water.
Daichi Yamamoto
WHITECUBE
Release Date: 16/06/2021
Label: Jazzy Sport
Get at: Spotify | Apple Music
Miso Extra
London-based rapper and producer Miso Extra is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated up-and-coming artists of 2022.
Crafting her first releases during the 2020 countrywide lockdowns, in 2021 Miso Extra dropped 3 dreamy hip-hop tracks with bilingual lyrics that embrace both her English and Japanese heritage.
Self described as being raised on anime, Bend it Like Beckham and old school hip-hop, she also mixes in themes of female empowerment and pop culture references.
Miso Extra’s forthcoming debut 5-track EP Great Taste is due for release later this year via Beatnik Creative.
Miso Extra
Deep Fried
Release Date: 02/11/2021
Label: Beatnik Creative
Get at: Soundcloud | Spotify
