[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] Classic Tracks of Japanese Rap (131–140)
seven daysTwigy
This unpretentious, chill vibe is totally ahead of its time.
It’s simple hip-hop—rap laid over a looped, minimalist piano melody—but the distinctive flow and the layered, perfectly off-kilter dissonances give it a trippy mood.
He’s an indispensable rapper in the history of Japanese hip-hop, and lately his popularity has been surging again thanks to a remix by PUNPEE.
Listening now, he might even be the progenitor of the laid-back rap style that connects to artists like Chinza Dopeness.
Foxxi misQDJ PMX Miss Luxury (P.V. Version) feat. MACCHO, GIPPER, KOZ, HI-D.
It’s a classic released in 2008.
This one, too, is actually a love song marked by sweet rhymes.
Even rappers who usually come off hardcore have someone they think the world of.
It’s a poppy hip-hop tune where you can savor that kind of love story.
So What! (Tuff ‘n’ Smooth Mix)DJ Krush meets Ronny Jordan
This is a track called “So What!” featuring Japan’s trackmaker DJ Krush and UK acid jazz guitarist Ronny Jordan.
When I first started listening, I thought it was just a typical guitar jazz tune, but then it modulated, the drum beat kicked in, and I got goosebumps.
I think it might be the coolest fusion of hip-hop and jazz.
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.
aknbee (a playful gesture of pulling down the lower eyelid and sticking out the tongue; often written as ‘akanbe’ or ‘akkambe’)Gadoro
It’s a moving track that captivates rap fans.
The song by GADORO was released in November 2024.
It candidly expresses his weaknesses and inner struggles, and you can strongly feel his determination to move forward from there.
The dramatic Westside beat crafted by DJ PMX brings out the raw power of GADORO’s lyrics.
The words that sink into your heart will surely give listeners a push.
Definitely put it on when you need to fire yourself up.
No problem.Umeda Saifā
Umeda Cipher is a hip-hop group that emerged from cipher sessions held at Osaka and Umeda Stations.
Their major-label first album, RAPNAVIO, includes the track Kama-hen, which features a star-studded lineup of rappers starting with R-Shitei from Creepy Nuts.
The breathless back-and-forth of their flows is enough to get you hyped just by listening.
It’s a fresh hip-hop track that’s guaranteed to amp up the crowd if you take it on with friends at karaoke.
Half-hearted Robber a.k.a. Spring, Summer, Autumn, WinterMACKA-CHIN
Released in 2001, this is a track from MACKA-CHIN’s first solo album.
Known as an MC from NMU, MACKA-CHIN has mostly focused on producing for other MCs and hasn’t often performed as a solo vocalist.
This song features his characteristically clear, deliberate rhyming style, and the track’s sound differs from his work with NMU.