Popular Japanese rappers. Recommended Japanese (J-pop) rappers.
Japanese hip-hop has now gained enough mainstream recognition to appear on J-POP charts.
From veteran rappers who have built the scene to up-and-coming artists who’ve risen to prominence in recent years, a wide variety of rappers are active today.
In this article, we’ll introduce these rappers all at once, regardless of generation!
It’s a lineup that will catch the eye of hardcore hip-hop heads as well as those who are just thinking about getting into hip-hop.
Let’s dive right in!
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- Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Artist Rankings [2026]
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Popular Japanese rappers. Recommended Japanese rappers (11–20)
Wonder Wall feat. 5lackPUNPEE
PUNPEE, who hails from Itabashi Ward in Tokyo, is a multifaceted artist—rapper, DJ, trackmaker, and producer.
He showcased his talent early on by winning the Tokyo round of the ULTIMATE MC BATTLE in 2006.
He earned high acclaim with the debut album “David” from his group PSG.
Active both in Japan and abroad, he has also remixed theme songs for artists like Hikaru Utada.
His stage name reflects his philosophy that “even ordinary people can play the lead role.” He has appeared as an image character for fashion brands and is active across many fields.
He’s highly recommended not only for hip-hop fans but also for those looking to discover fresh sounds.
I’m the shit feat. ¥ellow BucksAK-69
AK-69 is a hip-hop artist from Komaki City in Aichi Prefecture.
He began his career in 1999 as part of the duo B-ninjah & AK-69 and has also been active as a solo artist since 2004.
Known as a pioneer of the dual style of rapping and singing, he collaborates not only within Japan but also with international artists, having worked on tracks with major names like DJ Khaled and Fat Joe.
In 2016, he signed with the legendary American hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, cementing his status.
His album “The Race” earned four accolades, including No.
1 on the iTunes and Apple Music Hip-Hop charts.
He also enjoys strong support from the sports world, boasting the highest usage rate of his songs as walk-up music by professional baseball players.
Yessir¥ellow bucks
Rapper ¥ELLOW BUCKS, who commands immense support in Nagoya—one of Japan’s fiercest hip-hop battlegrounds—originally came up as part of the crew Young Bustaz.
His nationwide recognition took off after winning the popular show “Rapstar Tanjō.” If you had to sum up his style in one word: cutting-edge.
He rides the latest trap beats and fires off a thoroughly modern flow—that’s his appeal.
If you’re into the current US sound, you’ll definitely vibe with him!
My choiceRyofu Karuma
Ryofu Karma is a rapper representing Jet City Nagoya.
He’s a true battle rapper who has survived countless MC battles.
His rich vocabulary, humor-laced snark, and sharp, stabbing sarcasm are on full display in his recorded work as well.
He slips in subtle, hard-to-notice rhymes and hides venom that isn’t obvious on first listen.
He’s a curious figure who moves between nerd and street—a rapper whose intelligence and love for subculture come through.
SnailGadoro
This is a signature track by Gadoro, who has earned recognition for turning poverty into his selling point, clawing his way up from the edge in Fukuoka, and for his fundamentally strong rapping skills.
His tightly honed rhyming, forged through a tough personal life, exudes a professionalism that can only come from a hard-fought journey, making him an artist with high expectations.
Area AreaOZROSAURUS
A celebrated track by Ozrosaurus that masterfully employs West Coast hip-hop flows, cementing its status as a legendary rap classic.
While holding a powerful position as a rapper revered by many, their continued releases to this day resonate widely with listeners.
Popular Japanese rappers. Recommended Japanese (J-hip hop) rappers (21–30)
beautiful womanchanmina
Chanmina, the female rapper known by the nickname “Beyoncé of Nerima.” She broke through after competing in the 9th edition of BAZOOKA!!! High School RAP Championship, which helped ignite the freestyle boom.
Since then, even among female rappers, she has earned nationwide support thanks to her outstanding songwriting ability.
Recently, comments from overseas have been increasing on her YouTube channel, and given that she’s trilingual, it may not be long before she’s active on a global stage.