RAG Musicartist
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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!

Playlist

Popular Japanese rappers. Recommended Japanese (J-pop) rappers.
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastGOOD VIBES ONLY feat. JP THE WAVY, EXILE SHOKICHISALU
GOOD VIBES ONLY feat. JP THE WAVY, EXILE SHOKICHISALUplay_arrow
Innovation of Japanese rap by SALU from Hokkaido
2eastLet me feat. CHICO CARLITODakki
Let me feat. CHICO CARLITODakkiplay_arrow
Tsubaki, a street-style rapper from Okinawa
3eastCity LightT-Pablow
City LightT-Pablowplay_arrow
T-Pablow, a notable figure in hip-hop
4eastfamily circumstancesZORN
family circumstancesZORNplay_arrow
Local-born rapper ZORN: family love and down-to-earth expression
5eastI messed up.hannya
I messed up.hannyaplay_arrow
Former biker-gang member rapper Hannya finds success in music and acting
6eastTo Us Who Were Once GeniusesR-shitei (Creepy Nuts)
To Us Who Were Once GeniusesR-shitei (Creepy Nuts)play_arrow
The achievements of hip-hop MC R-Shitei
7eastAs Love IsBASI
As Love IsBASIplay_arrow
The music and life of BASI, a rapper from Osaka
8eastFateAnarchy
FateAnarchyplay_arrow
A tough, rough rapper from Kyoto
9eastBad BadAwich
Bad BadAwichplay_arrow
Rapper from Okinawa draws attention with diverse musicality.
10eastStreet DreamsZeebra
Street DreamsZeebraplay_arrow
Mr. Zeebra, an important figure in Japanese hip-hop
11eastT.U.B.E.chinza DOPENESS
T.U.B.E.chinza DOPENESSplay_arrow
A maverick in the Japanese hip-hop scene
12eastNINOKUNIOZworld
NINOKUNIOZworldplay_arrow
The original music of OZworld from Okinawa
13eastSay whatever you wantLEX
Say whatever you wantLEXplay_arrow
LEX's inventive musical style is captivating.
14eastBUDS MONTAGESai a.k.a. BADSAIKUSH(Namedaruma)
BUDS MONTAGESai a.k.a. BADSAIKUSH(Namedaruma)play_arrow
Sai, popular for his deep voice and unique music
15eastWonder Wall feat. 5lackPUNPEE
Wonder Wall feat. 5lackPUNPEEplay_arrow
PUNPEE, a versatile music artist from Itabashi
16eastI’m the shit feat. ¥ellow BucksAK-69
I’m the shit feat. ¥ellow BucksAK-69play_arrow
AK-69, a hip-hop artist representing Japan
17eastYessir¥ellow bucks
Yessir¥ellow bucksplay_arrow
Attention on ¥ELLOW BUCKS’s cutting-edge trap rap!
18eastMy choiceRyofu Karuma
My choiceRyofu Karumaplay_arrow
A rapper from Jet City Nagoya who survived the MC battles
19eastSnailGadoro
SnailGadoroplay_arrow
A rapper who overcomes poverty and hardship
20eastArea AreaOZROSAURUS
Area AreaOZROSAURUSplay_arrow
A classic track by Ozrosaurus, legends of West Coast hip-hop
21eastbeautiful womanchanmina
beautiful womanchanminaplay_arrow
Chanmina, drawing attention and thriving in rap competitions.
22eastWAVEBODYJP THE WAVY
WAVEBODYJP THE WAVYplay_arrow
JP THE WAVY draws attention with his distinctive music
23eastDandelion feat. ZORNKREVA
Dandelion feat. ZORNKREVAplay_arrow
KREVA, a leading artist in Japan's hip-hop scene
24eastLet me tell you, whether you know it or not—show!TOKONA-X
Let me tell you, whether you know it or not—show!TOKONA-Xplay_arrow
The legendary rapper TOKONA-X’s classic track
25eastpopular power plantBUDDHA BRAND
popular power plantBUDDHA BRANDplay_arrow
A classic that laid the foundation of Japanese rap
26eastAll Night Longbenizakura
All Night Longbenizakuraplay_arrow
Beni Zakura, a hardcore rapper from Okayama, delivers a stunning live performance
27eastserious injuryoo-kami
serious injuryoo-kamiplay_arrow
A legendary Japanese rap song
28eastOnahamaoni
Onahamaoniplay_arrow
A masterpiece with intelligent and original wording
29eastTouch The SkyMol53
Touch The SkyMol53play_arrow
A classic hit by Mol53 from Fukuoka, highly rated.
30eastMonkey4Gaki Renjā
Monkey4Gaki Renjāplay_arrow
The shocking and exceptional rap song by Gaki Ranger
31eastDo The Gariya ThingRappa Gariya
Do The Gariya ThingRappa Gariyaplay_arrow
Rappa Gariya, a treasure of Japanese hip-hop
32eastJunji TakadaKOHH
Junji TakadaKOHHplay_arrow
KOHH, a distinctive rapper making waves overseas
33eastMellow AkiraLick-G
Mellow AkiraLick-Gplay_arrow
Domestic hip-hop that leverages battle experience
34eastDo My ThingNORIKIYO
Do My ThingNORIKIYOplay_arrow
Popular tracks by Norikiyo: aggressive flow and easy-to-listen rhymes
35eastHate My LifeRyuzo
Hate My LifeRyuzoplay_arrow
A signature track of R-Rated and a masterpiece by Ryuzo
36eastChallengedatto
Challengedattoplay_arrow
A solo MC from Okayama with sincere lyrics
37eastHow Many BoogieSKRYU
How Many BoogieSKRYUplay_arrow
SKRYU’s unique style and skill are making waves
38eastOsaka UPSHINGO★Nishinari
Osaka UPSHINGO★Nishinariplay_arrow
The Appeal of SHINGO★Nishinari, a Rapper from Nishinari
39eastDreamTKda kurobuchi
DreamTKda kurobuchiplay_arrow
From Saitama, a former working adult turned rapper
40eastA slight fever in springKubota Kai
A slight fever in springKubota Kaiplay_arrow
Kota Kubota, with his unique rap style
41eastJappcatsHUNGER
JappcatsHUNGERplay_arrow
A masterpiece that captures the appeal of Japanese rappers
42eastFeelin29 Feat.KOJOE5lack
Feelin29 Feat.KOJOE5lackplay_arrow
The laid-back-flow rapper 5LACK is making waves.
43eastfreak bloomHaiiro de Rosshi
freak bloomHaiiro de Rosshiplay_arrow
A classic of jazz sampling, deep rap
44eastOur StyleWILYWNKA
Our StyleWILYWNKAplay_arrow
WILYWNKA is a rapper who gained attention from the High School Rap Championship.
45eastEmpire Of The Sun feat. T-Pablow & ZeebraBAD HOP
Empire Of The Sun feat. T-Pablow & ZeebraBAD HOPplay_arrow
BAD HOP is a distinctive hip-hop collective from Kawasaki.
46eastself-made; rising from the bottom (through hard work)wannyūdō
self-made; rising from the bottom (through hard work)wannyūdōplay_arrow
The fiery rap of Wanyuudou brimming with punk spirit
47eastC.H.I.C.O.CHICO CARLITO
C.H.I.C.O.CHICO CARLITOplay_arrow
The Appeal of CHICO CARLITO, a Rapper from Okinawa
48eastAmerican BabyFuma no KTR
American BabyFuma no KTRplay_arrow
An Osaka-born rapper attracting attention for rapid-fire lyrics and a unique flow
49eastFamilyeyden
Familyeydenplay_arrow
eyden's unique style and musicality are captivating
50eastspellingChipuruso
spellingChipurusoplay_arrow
A skilled rapper who delves deeply into social issues
51eastOn FireBuppon
On FireBupponplay_arrow
Sharp hip-hop that pursues truth
52eastDaysSAM
DaysSAMplay_arrow
SAM from Saitama—his rap skills are fire, rhyme game on point.
53eastART OF PAIN REMIX feat,SEEDA,Jesse McFaddinSIMON JAP
ART OF PAIN REMIX feat,SEEDA,Jesse McFaddinSIMON JAPplay_arrow
From Setagaya, the hard-flow rapper SIMON JAP
54eastYOKAZEHentai Shinshi Kurabu
YOKAZEHentai Shinshi Kurabuplay_arrow
Hentai Shinshi Club is an original/innovative music unit.
55eastDo it till I dieKan a.k.a. GAMI
Do it till I dieKan a.k.a. GAMIplay_arrow
Rapper A.K.A GAMI who depicts the reality of crime in Shinjuku
56eastguidanceYZERR
guidanceYZERRplay_arrow
Guidance on YZERR’s beef-response track
57eastProtect Youtamada rooy
Protect Youtamada rooyplay_arrow
Tamaki ROY, an experimental rapper from Miyagi
58eastSuper SonicsSuper Sonics
Super SonicsSuper Sonicsplay_arrow
A hardcore yet catchy rap classic
59eastOn the RunSuukun
On the RunSuukunplay_arrow
Rapper Su-kun’s distinctive tracks
60eastwalk this wayOssu Man
walk this wayOssu Manplay_arrow
Popular songs by the professional 'Osu-man'
61eastDonkey KongAkko Gorira
Donkey KongAkko Goriraplay_arrow
A masterpiece that fuses gag elements with the allure of rap
62eastGlitter Forgottent-Ace
Glitter Forgottent-Aceplay_arrow
The hidden charms of rapper t-Ace
63eastVroom Prod by Noconoco& Lutez9for
Vroom Prod by Noconoco& Lutez9forplay_arrow
From Yokohama: the meteoric rise of high school rapper 9for
64eastRexas GucciDABO
Rexas GucciDABOplay_arrow
DABO is an important artist in Japanese hip-hop.
65eastRampaging Dream SongDiggy-MO’
Rampaging Dream SongDiggy-MO'play_arrow
Diggy-MO’s music with diverse musicality
66eastPoetryGOMESS
PoetryGOMESSplay_arrow
The diverse activities of GOMESS, an autistic rap artist
67eastICEYJinmenusagi
ICEYJinmenusagiplay_arrow
A rapper from Hokkaido gaining attention for deep lyrics and originality
68eastairplaneKOHH
airplaneKOHHplay_arrow
KOHH's pioneering work in the trap scene
69eastThink Feel Pt.2Silent Killa Joint
Think Feel Pt.2Silent Killa Jointplay_arrow
The musical world of SKJ, a rapper from Awaji Island
70eastCheerschinza DOPENESS
Cheerschinza DOPENESSplay_arrow
Chinza DOPENESS, a uniquely individual rapper with impeccable rhythm
71eastStop doing drugs.SHO
Stop doing drugs.SHOplay_arrow
A hip-hop artist with a background as an alpine skier
72eastvariable repeatshōgen
variable repeatshōgenplay_arrow
A Tokyo-born rapper who captivates with jazz-infused hip-hop
73eastKnock Knockpirafu seijin
Knock Knockpirafu seijinplay_arrow
The inventive hip-hop of the Pilafians
74eastTURN IT UPLANA
TURN IT UPLANAplay_arrow
LANA’s Music: The Appeal of Diversity and Authenticity
75eastLOW BATTERY BOYRin Oto
LOW BATTERY BOYRin Otoplay_arrow
Rin-ne, popular for soft rap
76eastapology press conferenceDOTAMA
apology press conferenceDOTAMAplay_arrow
A salaryman rapper depicts society
77eastCHAOSNovel Core
CHAOSNovel Coreplay_arrow
The appeal of young rapper Novel Core
78eastDream SkyRau Def
Dream SkyRau Defplay_arrow
A classic of underground rap