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Recommended hip-hop/rap

[MC Battle] Commonly Used Classic Beats and Popular Tracks

Thanks to the popularity of TV shows like “High School Rap Championship” and “Freestyle Dungeon,” MC battles seem to have spread even to audiences who weren’t very interested in hip-hop.

Of course, each MC’s distinctive rap is a highlight, but an extremely important element in MC battles is the beat the DJ plays.

Some people may not pay attention to the beats and might wonder why the crowd erupts the moment that first scratch hits.

The more you learn about what kind of tracks the beats come from, the more you can enjoy MC battles—and you’ll also come to understand the deep appeal of hip-hop as a genre.

In this feature, we’re introducing staple beats and popular tracks used in MC battles.

We’ve curated a lineup focused on Japanese hip-hop!

Playlist

[MC Battle] Commonly Used Classic Beats and Popular Tracks
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1WHOOOOZROSAURUS
WHOOOOZROSAURUSplay_arrow
OZROSAURUS signature work and staple track in MC battles
2How Many BoogieFuma no KTR × SKRYU × WAZGOGG
How Many BoogieFuma no KTR × SKRYU × WAZGOGGplay_arrow
MC battle hits go viral on social media and trend among young people
3Bees and ButterfliesSOUL SCREAM
Bees and ButterfliesSOUL SCREAMplay_arrow
The appeal of SOUL SCREAM’s classic song “Hachi to Chou” (“The Bee and the Butterfly”)
4W.T.FDJ chaka
W.T.FDJ chakaplay_arrow
DJ chaka's famous battle beat
5Complete Roundup (REMIX) feat. NORIKIYO, SHINGO★Nishinari, KanInthumiai Kumiai
Complete Roundup (REMIX) feat. NORIKIYO, SHINGO★Nishinari, KanInthumiai Kumiaiplay_arrow
The popular song “Ichimō-dajin” by the Rhymester Crew is well received.
6RepZORN
RepZORNplay_arrow
ZORN and MACCHO’s classic MC battle track
7I’ll tell you what you don’t know—listen up, SHOW.TOKONA-X
I’ll tell you what you don’t know—listen up, SHOW.TOKONA-Xplay_arrow
TOKONA-X produced a string of classic tracks in his short life
8AREA AREAOZROSAURUS
AREA AREAOZROSAURUSplay_arrow
OZROSAURUS’s classic song AREA AREA
9Street DreamsZeebra
Street DreamsZeebraplay_arrow
ZEEBRA is the king of hip-hop and has produced many classic songs.
10purple smokeKan a.k.a. GAMI
purple smokeKan a.k.a. GAMIplay_arrow
Introduction to his activities as a manly rapper and the classic song “Shien” (Purple Smoke)
11Seriously highUmeda Saifā
Seriously highUmeda Saifāplay_arrow
A classic track by an Osaka-based hip-hop collective
12uncharted; unprecedented; unexplored (literally: “never before trodden by anyone”)Inthumiai Kumiai
uncharted; unprecedented; unexplored (literally: “never before trodden by anyone”)Inthumiai Kumiaiplay_arrow
A classic by the Rhymester Collective packed with the soul of MC battles
13B-BOY-ismRHYMESTER
B-BOY-ismRHYMESTERplay_arrow
A signature song by RHYMESTER that’s used in many battles
14The absolute worst MChannya
The absolute worst MChannyaplay_arrow
The Hannya is the final boss, and the worst MC track is famous.
15RGTO feat. SALU, Teflon Hagane and K Dub ShineAKLO
RGTO feat. SALU, Teflon Hagane and K Dub ShineAKLOplay_arrow
AKLO's classic tracks with star-studded features
16ChallengerGadoro
ChallengerGadoroplay_arrow
The opening track of GADORO’s major-label debut album
17UZUMAKIDJ CHARI & DJ SHINTARO
UZUMAKIDJ CHARI & DJ SHINTAROplay_arrow
A fusion track of hip-hop and electro
18NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUNDNITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND
NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUNDNITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUNDplay_arrow
NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND resumes activities
19Earth BluesKICK THE CAN CREW
Earth BluesKICK THE CAN CREWplay_arrow
A signature song by KICK THE CAN CREW
20I REPDABO・ANARCHY・KREVA
I REPDABO・ANARCHY・KREVAplay_arrow
Introduction to the classic song 'I REP' by a Japanese hip-hop legend
21Beat it, I ain’t got time for your crap, so listen up.DJ RYOW
Beat it, I ain't got time for your crap, so listen up.DJ RYOWplay_arrow
A hip-hop track from Nagoya
22A Guide to Getting High LegallyCreepy Nuts
A Guide to Getting High LegallyCreepy Nutsplay_arrow
DJ Matsunaga got dissed
23human power plantBUDDHA BRAND
human power plantBUDDHA BRANDplay_arrow
A signature track by the legendary hip-hop unit, BUDDHA BRAND.
24Forbidden PlanetTaboo1 feat. Shibito
Forbidden PlanetTaboo1 feat. Shibitoplay_arrow
The high level of completeness of Forbidden Planet and Shishi’s flow
25CHECK YOUR MICShinpeita
CHECK YOUR MICShinpeitaplay_arrow
Shinpeita's MC battle orthodox beat track
26Bounce$yuno
Bounce$yunoplay_arrow
Explanation of classic beats used in MC battles
27Neva Enuff – BrotherZEEBRA + AKTION
Neva Enuff - BrotherZEEBRA + AKTIONplay_arrow
ZEEBRA’s signature song inspired by the movie BROTHER
28BillikenCreepy Nuts
BillikenCreepy Nutsplay_arrow
Creepy Nuts release a new Jersey Drill track
29Head‑On Showdown feat. MC☆Nigari a.k.a. Red Lightning, KOPERU, CHICO CARLITO, ShinpeitaKEN THE 390
Head‑On Showdown feat. MC☆Nigari a.k.a. Red Lightning, KOPERU, CHICO CARLITO, ShinpeitaKEN THE 390play_arrow
Introduction to KEN THE 390’s famous song “Makkō Shōbu” (Head‑On Showdown)
30LEGACYIce Bahn
LEGACYIce Bahnplay_arrow
ICE BAHN’s signature track, a culmination of rhyme skills
31TestimonyLamp Eye
TestimonyLamp Eyeplay_arrow
LAMP EYE’s masterpiece “Testimony”
32FateAnarchy
FateAnarchyplay_arrow
Introduction to ANARCHY's signature song "Fate"
33Do The GARIYA ThingRappa Gariya
Do The GARIYA ThingRappa Gariyaplay_arrow
Rappagariya’s signature song is frequently used in battles.
34I messed up.hannya
I messed up.hannyaplay_arrow
A classic Hannya track with outstanding rhythm.
35Still D.R.E.Dr. Dre
Still D.R.E.Dr. Dreplay_arrow
A collaboration song by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
36thunderous applauseDABO
thunderous applauseDABOplay_arrow
The History and Impact of DABO's “Rapturous Applause”
37god; deity; kamiPSG
god; deity; kamiPSGplay_arrow
PSG’s classic track “Kamisama” is a cool beat that’s a staple in MC battles.
38BUSTDOWNAbara!
BUSTDOWNAbara!play_arrow
Abara!’s songs are gaining support in MC battles
39Ante UpM.O.P.
Ante UpM.O.P.play_arrow
A classic beat track for MC battles
40Bebop dancingWAZGOGG
Bebop dancingWAZGOGGplay_arrow
A jazz-fusion beat that revolutionized MC battles
41100JAZEE MINOR
100JAZEE MINORplay_arrow
Popular Jazzy Minor tracks for MC battles
42BrainwashingAwich
BrainwashingAwichplay_arrow
Awich’s signature tracks: hip-hop infused with social critique