A comedian who’s great at rapping. They show up in both battles and on tracks!
Sparked by the boom of the hit show “Freestyle Dungeon,” hip-hop is now becoming the center of the scene.
Not only people within the scene, but also TV personalities and comedians are getting into rap, and recently the show “Freestyle Teacher” has been drawing a lot of attention.
This time, we’ve picked out comedians who are gaining attention in today’s hip-hop scene for being great at rapping.
Rather than focusing on battle strength, we’re using rap skill as the standard, so we’ll be featuring tracks as well!
- [Karaoke] A roundup of easy-to-sing Japanese rap songs
- [Japanese Hip-Hop] Classic Tracks of Japanese Rap
- A collection of hip-hop/rap anime songs
- Audio tracks from a popular battle MC. Dungeon monsters make an appearance too!
- [Lyrics] A collection of popular rap pieces for beginners to try [Easy]
- Unique lyrics! | Interesting Japanese rap songs
- [Hip-Hop] A roundup of anime with rap episodes!
- The best bout in an MC battle. The punchlines that will go down in history are insane.
- A friendship song spun with rap: a roundup of classic hip-hop tracks
- A Guide to Vocaloid Rap: A roundup of popular hip‑hop-style Vocaloid tracks
- A roundup of Japanese rap to listen to in summer: classic tracks of Japanese hip-hop
- [MC Battle] Commonly Used Classic Beats and Popular Tracks
- Recommended Rap for Women | Introducing Trendy New Songs
Comedians who are great at rap. Both battles and tracks make an appearance! (1–10)
Hayato Hirota
Did you catch the second “Strongest Rapper in the Comedy World” tournament planned on the popular show Freestyle Teacher? Many comedians skilled at rap entered, and the winner was Hayato Hirota.
He’s the funny man (boke) of the comedy duo Oppasho-ishi.
He usually has a gentle vibe, but in the tournament he delivered sharp raps that exposed his opponents’ contradictions.
He’s great not only with rhymes but also with flow, so be sure to give him a listen.
Kazunobu Kubota
Kazunobu Kubota, known as the “boke” of the comedy duo Tora Salmon and winner of the 2017 M-1 Grand Prix, is not only a highly skilled comedian but also performs as a rapper under the name MC Salmon.
In particular, his aggressive, sharp-tongued raps—often showcased on the variety show “Chidori no Kuse ga Sugoi Neta GP”—combined with his distinctive persona, command an overwhelming presence.
Quick-witted and strong in both freestyle and debates, he is one of the most formidable rapper-comedians in the industry.
Shingo Fujimori
Shingo Fujimori, who debuted as the straight man (tsukkomi) of the duo Oriental Radio and is also popular solo for his “playboy” persona, is known as one of the best singers in the comedy world.
His character-driven talents often get the spotlight, such as his interjections and ad-libs in his collaborative unit with Ayaman JAPAN.
In recent years, many people have probably sensed his potential as a rapper through his high-speed rapping in RADIO FISH.
His relentless flow amps up the energy while still preserving his unique personality, so be sure to give it a listen.
Comedians who are good at rapping. Both battles and tracks make an appearance! (11–20)
R Fujimoto
R Fujimoto is a solo comedian best known for his Vegeta impersonations—looks and all—and he’s practically the face of Dragon Ball-themed comedy.
Beyond the quality of his impressions, he’s also renowned for performing rap while staying fully in character.
In freestyle, where constant ad-libbing is required, keeping up a character both in delivery and lyrical content shows quick thinking and a deep love for the role.
He’s a one-of-a-kind rapper that any Dragon Ball fan could listen to endlessly.
Yuriyan Retriever
Yuriyan Retriever is known for her extraordinary success, winning major comedy competitions such as THE W and the R-1 Grand Prix, and even appearing on America’s Got Talent in 2019.
Her eccentric routines—drawing on her skills in dance, English, and piano—are acclaimed by comedy fans across a wide spectrum.
More recently, many will remember her awakening as a rapper on ABEMA’s Freestyle Teacher, showcasing her versatility.
With moves like switching characters mid-rap, she brings a uniquely Yuriyan style that’s cool yet hilarious—something only she can pull off.
Takumi Ishida
Takumi Ishida, the tsukkomi (straight man) of the duo Kaminari.
His sharp comebacks are striking, and in rap that edge intensifies, giving him tremendous aggressiveness.
He’s also well-known as a head who loves ICE BAHN and has solid hip-hop knowledge.
His freestyle skills still have a ways to go, but as he gains more experience on stage, the day may be near when we can enjoy the samples born from his love of hip-hop.
Yosuke Daichi
Yosuke Daichi, the tsukkomi of the comedy duo Dainoji and a comedian who has even won the World Air Guitar Championship as Japan’s representative.
The raps he showcases on variety shows like God Tongue and BAKA SOUL feature humor-packed lyrics and Daichi’s catchy sense of flow.
He was also selected as a first-generation member of Yoshimotozaka46, which shows his strong singing ability and sense of rhythm.
He’s a skilled rapper we’d love to see get even more opportunities to perform going forward.