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)
Masayasu Wakabayashi
Masayasu Wakabayashi of the comedy duo Audrey is now so ubiquitous that there’s hardly a day you don’t see him on TV, dominating the variety-show scene.
Thanks to his partner Shunji Kasuga’s strong presence, he’s sometimes called “the other guy” comedian, and he’s also known for not being a great singer.
But did you know that he’s performed as MC.waka, collaborating at miwa’s live show, and even dropped verses on a collaborative single with Gen Hoshino? His lyrics, brimming with humor and powered by his sharp wordplay, really reaffirm the depth of Wakabayashi’s talent.
The contrast with his shy image is striking, and he’s a rapper you should definitely give a listen to at least once.
Abareru-kun
Abareru-kun is a solo comedian beloved for his always-all-out attitude and endearing misfires on countless variety shows.
In fact, before becoming a comedian, he was a freestyle rapper, but he supposedly quit after breaking down in tears during a battle.
Even so, his skills are still intact.
Many people may feel a surprising gap when he handles surprise battles set up on shows with a cool flow.
His everyday persona is charming, but he’s a comedian we’d love to see lean even more into that contrast.
Shintaro Moriyama
Mitorizu has gained popularity for their wide-ranging style, from classic, fast-paced manzai to character-based sketches.
The straight man, Shintaro Moriyama, is also known for his high-level skills—he has taught rap at NSC and released original rap tracks.
He’s often said to resemble R-Shitei from Creepy Nuts, and some even claim his rap skills are approaching that level, not just his looks.
With his sharp word choice and quick wit as a tsukkomi, he’s a rapper you should keep an eye on.
Mizokami Tanbo
The duo Shinsaku no Harmonica has been drawing attention for their comedy style, which features rapping in sync with human beatboxing during their manzai act.
Tanbo Mizokami, the straight man, delivers rap with a tight flow that, despite being comedy, makes you want to really listen.
Since he’s skilled at freestyle rap, his ability to spin clever wordplay on the spot also showcases his talent.
They’re comedians exploring a new era of manzai, and their future success is highly anticipated.
mckj
Among comedians, mckj has exceptionally high-level skills.
Under the name of Kenji Oe from Korya Medetee na’s solo project, he has not only competed in MCI battle tournaments but has also appeared multiple times on ABEMA’s news program “NEWS RAP JAPAN,” where he showcased his rapping.
In terms of stage experience alone, he’s undoubtedly at the top of the comedy scene.
As for freestyle, he’s certainly good, but his weak point is that he’s a bit short on vibes.
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.
Aozora Sugimoto
When people talk about who has the highest skills among comedians, the name that always comes up is Aozora Sugimoto from Karashi Renkon.
To be blunt, his freestyle level is basically on par with real rappers.
He’s got enough ability to make it through a round or two in a regional UMB qualifier.
Not only can he rhyme, but he can deliver strong punchline end-rhymes while responding with solid comebacks, so in terms of pure freestyle ability, he’s definitely among the top three in the comedy world.