[Japanese Hip-Hop] Classic Tracks of Japanese Rap
Thanks to the freestyle boom of the 2010s, Japanese rap has come back into the spotlight.
As US rap has become more accessible to the general public via the internet, HIPHOP’s popularity has been growing in Japan as well.
This time, we’ve curated a selection of classic Japanese rap tracks!
We’ve picked gems from old-school eras like the 1990s and 2000s, as well as standout hits from talented up-and-coming rappers leading today’s scene.
Whether you love classic rap or today’s trap, there’s something here for you—so be sure to read to the end!
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[Japanese Hip-Hop] Masterpieces of Japanese Rap (111–120)
BOX HERO (Official Video) feat. DABO, Y’S & SONOMIDJ SAH
It was released by the record label run by HARLEM, a long-established hip-hop nightclub in Shibuya, Tokyo.
The video, set in Shibuya, leaves a vivid impression.
Even people who have never been to a club can get a taste of it.
[Japanese Hip-Hop] Classic Japanese Rap Tracks (121–130)
Axel feat. KOWICHI, K-YODJ☆GO
This music video is an outstanding work that feels like a full-on recreation of West Coast hip-hop.
It expresses the flow of everyday life through rap with a gentle, laid-back demeanor.
With mellow lyrics and melodies, it’s a chill piece you can really relax and enjoy.
TOKYO TOKYO ’97 (aka Dump Truck) feat. YOU THE ROCK★ECD
ECD is a big-brother figure in the underground scene who has been active since before Japanese hip-hop and rap became culturally established.
Back then, there were many rap tracks set in Tokyo.
This is a classic from 1997.
AvengersSIMI LAB
Back when I only listened to overseas hip-hop, I was shocked to discover there was a group like this in Japan.
Some of the members are mixed, but all the lyrics are rapped in Japanese.
Looking back nowIn Man
Seamlessly blending a snappy flow with expressive lyricism, this work dropped in April 2025.
Produced by Lion Melo, it fuses a catchy melody with hip-hop elements to great effect.
It marks Rim Man’s first solo track in about three years and three months.
Beneath the laid-back track, a burning passion smolders.
It’s a song that will hit home when you’re at a crossroads in life or about to take a new step forward.
ART( OBKR / Yaffle Remix ) feat. Gottz,Tohji,Shurkn PapOKAMOTO’S
OKAMOTO’S are famous as a rock band, but this track is pure hip-hop—and chic.
It even gives off the vibe of a cutting-edge artist suddenly appearing on the Billboard hip-hop charts.
Featuring young artists Gottz, Tohji, and Shurkn Pap, it’s a work that leaps over genre boundaries.
B1ID
This track by ID depicts the search for one’s own light on a lonely night.
Amid a dark, melancholic atmosphere, it charts a journey of self-exploration.
The trek through the city’s marshlands seems to symbolize life’s trials.
Included on the album “B1,” released in August 2022, the piece was completed after roughly two years of production.
The title—said to be inspired by the basement level (B1) where ID’s music lab is located—is another point of interest.
Though ID gained recognition through his appearance on Freestyle Dungeon, here he avoids any superficial flair, instead laying bare a genuine inner conflict.
It’s a must-listen for those who appreciate deep introspection or are seeking a new shape of hip-hop.