JJJ to remain POP YOURS 2025 headliner in tribute following his passing

Following the sudden passing of JJJ earlier this month, hip-hop festival POP YOURS 2025 have confirmed they will honour his legacy by keeping him as the day 2 headliner.

Scheduled to take place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on May 24th – 25th, the hip-hop event will pay tribute to JJJ’s significant contributions by maintaining his position atop the bill as originally intended.

JJJ, a highly respected trackmaker, producer, MC, and DJ from Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, passed away on April 13th at the age of 35. Known for his sincere approach to music, he earned recognition both through his solo work and as part of the group Fla$hBackS, alongside Febb As Young Mason and KID FRESINO.

His music developed from a foundation of jazz-influenced boom-bap into a broader style that drew on Afropop, New York drill, UK grime, and house. Across albums like ‘Yacht Club’ (2014), ‘HIKARI’ (2017), and ‘MAKTUB’ (2023), he became known for his steady vocal delivery and detailed approach to production, earning widespread recognition across Japan’s hip-hop community.

In a statement on the POP YOURS website, organisers expressed deep respect for JJJ’s achievements, emphasising his lasting impact on listeners and the broader hip-hop scene:

“JJJ, who was scheduled to perform as the headliner for DAY2 of POP YOURS 2025, passed away on April 13th. We respectfully extend our deepest condolences and pray for his soul from the bottom of our hearts.

The numerous songs and performances that JJJ created through his sincere engagement with music during his lifetime captivated many listeners and had an immeasurable impact on the music scene.

In deep respect for his great achievements, POP YOURS 2025 DAY2 will be held with JJJ as the headliner as originally planned. Thank you very much for your understanding.”

JJJ’s Final Works: ‘MAKTUB’, ‘Nov’, and ‘Radiant’

In a 2023 interview with FNMNL, JJJ described his aim to “naturally express everything and stay true to myself”, a philosophy that shaped his final album ‘MAKTUB’. He moved toward minimalism in both production and lyricism, focusing on immediate, everyday scenes rather than dramatizing experience. “There’s a certain kind of coolness that comes from knowing you’re uncool”, he said, reflecting the honesty and restraint that defined the album’s tone.

JJJ’s ‘Beautiful Mind’ from 2023’s ‘MAKTUB’

On December 13th, 2024, JJJ released ‘Nov’, a track first played after his final Nov Tour show at Tokyo’s Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall. Produced by SCRATCH NICE and mixed by JJJ, the song reflects an intense year spent closely with friends, many of whom joined him on stage that night.

RELATED: POP YOURS 2024 Day 2: Japan’s hip-hop pulse beats strong in closing acts

In 2024, JJJ produced Daichi Yamamoto’s nine-track album ‘Radiant’, released through Yamamoto’s own label Andless. Reflecting on their collaboration during a video interview on Daichi’s YouTube channel, Daichi said working with JJJ felt natural from the start, likening him to artists whose rapping and beat-making shaped some of hip-hop’s most influential eras. Speaking to KENDRIX Media later that year, he added, “When friends make things together, sometimes the project just naturally fades away, but with J-san (JJJ), I never get that feeling.” ‘Radiant’ would stand as one of JJJ’s final major collaborative works. Daichi Yamamoto will also perform on day 2 of POP YOURS 2025.

Daichi Yamamoto & JJJ ‘Glassed Kyoto’ official video

JJJ was set to headline day 2 of POP YOURS 2025, following ¥ellow Bucks on day 1. The festival, which first launched in 2022 with the aim of celebrating hip-hop as a central part of 21st-century pop culture, has sold out for this year’s edition. Performances across the weekend, streamed globally via the POP YOURS official YouTube channel, will include appearances from PUNPEE, STUTS on the WAVE, Bonbero, Tsubaki, ANARCHY, and JP THE WAVY, among others.

POP YOURS have not detailed any tribute plans for JJJ’s headlining slot, but keeping his name in place signals a clear intent to honour his legacy with respect and sincerity.

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