A love song in Japanese pop rap

Don’t worry.hannya

Hannya / Don't worry

Hannya used to be the top enforcer of the delusional-running crew, holding down the banner for a large squad, but nowadays he’s active as a solo act with one mic.

He’s also expanded his range through many acting roles.

As the title “Don’t Worry” suggests, this track is a laid-back BPM love song.

True to the message in the hook—“small is fine, it doesn’t need to be flashy”—it’s a simple, warm, and excellent piece that avoids the typical hip-hop topics of money, women, and drugs.

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Jam feat. iriSuzuki Mamiko

Mamikko Suzuki – Jam feat. iri (official music video)

A collaborative track created by Suzuki Mamiko—active as Mamiko of chelmico—with her close friend iri as a guest.

Over an urban sound woven from jazzy piano and a swinging beat, their voices layer as if in conversation, making for a comfortable listen.

Released ahead of her solo album “ms” in August 2021, the song was accompanied by a music video that captures their unadorned selves wandering along the seaside and city streets.

Co-written lyrics sketch the warmth and scenes of time spent together, while a vocal style that drifts between rap and singing creates an intimate atmosphere.

It’s a piece that keeps you company on a relaxed day off or when you want to unwind with someone special.

Ms. U feat. idom & SALUKvi Baba

Kvi Baba / Ms. U feat. idom & SALU (Music Video)

A love song that portrays the feeling of thinking only of one precious person amid the dense streets of Tokyo.

Featuring singer-songwriter idom and the revered SALU, Kvi Baba released this track in March 2024.

Against a backdrop of urban clamor and crowds of countless people crossing paths, the urgency of keeping one’s gaze fixed on a single person is woven through each of the three artists’ distinctive expressions.

Kvi Baba’s introspective lyrics, idom’s delicate vocals, and SALU’s urbane flow overlap to create a depth unique to this collaboration.

Selected as the ending theme for ABEMA’s news program ABEMA Prime in May 2024, the song has reached a broad audience.

It’s a piece that keeps you company on late-night drives or in quiet moments spent thinking of someone special.

Young Love (feat. KOWICHI)MC TYSON

Young Love (feat. KOWICHI)

This track features MC TYSON, representing Osaka’s Suminoe Ward, and Kawasaki rapper KOWICHI.

It’s a love song included on the 2018 album “THE MESSAGE II,” where unrequited feelings are poignantly sung over a mellow trap beat.

While harboring feelings for a woman who already has a boyfriend, the protagonist waits for calls and messages; his emotions are depicted through modern motifs like smartphones and social media, conveying the wavering heart of a youthful, ambiguous relationship with striking realism.

The melodic flows of these two artists—standard-bearers of Kansai and Kanto—intertwine to create a sound that shines both in clubs and on streaming.

It’s a track you’ll relate to when you’re struggling with a fuzzy, undefined romance.

Imdodo

dodo – im

This track became a viral hit thanks to TikTok, surpassing 15 million plays.

Released by dodo in September 2019, it’s a love song that recounts memories of a past relationship in simple, unadorned words.

It portrays the bittersweet feeling of visiting places once shared as a couple, now alone, conjuring the other’s face, and the realization that the destination never mattered—as long as “you” were there—expressed through a mellow track and chill flow.

Its airy sound and romantic lyrics are irresistibly pleasant, and the song’s success prompted dodo to decide to pursue music full-time.

A 7-inch vinyl edition followed in September 2024.

It’s the perfect song for when you want to revisit the sweet-and-sour memories of love.

Bedtime Candy No. 2Kubota Kai

[MV] Kubota Kai / Bedtime Candy No. 2

A mellow hip-hop number that portrays the complex mix of sweetness and self-loathing felt by a young man who ends up spending the night with the person he secretly liked.

It’s the lead track from Miyazaki-born Kubota Kai’s 2019 EP “Myōjō,” and its appeal lies in its literary lyrics—quoting poet Chuya Nakahara—and its urban, R&B-tinged production.

From the late-night push and pull to the emptiness of the morning after, the song unfolds with detailed scenes that pierce the heart with an unvarnished take on love.

The flow that moves between rapping and singing is addictive, making it a track you’ll want to listen to while wandering through the city at night.

Girl feat. kojikojiSorane

Sora-ne / Girl feat. kojikoji - Official Music Video -

This is a collaborative track with kojikoji included on Soraune’s second album, “19FACT,” released in June 2020.

As Soraune has said—“I wrote from a girl’s perspective about a girl’s feelings”—the song stands out for a male rapper deliberately portraying romance from a female point of view.

It captures the inability to be straightforward and the complicated emotions toward a lover with a light, effortless flow.

Blending chill hip-hop and R&B, the soft vocals by kojikoji layer on top to create an intimate mood that makes you want to listen alone in your room at night.

Selected as MUSIC ON! TV’s “M-ON! Recommend” and Space Shower TV’s “it!,” this piece is a love song that resonates strongly with listeners of the same generation.