Popular Hip-Hop: Japanese Artist Rankings [2026]
Hip-hop is a music genre that has developed alongside its own culture, including dance, rap, and sampling.
Although it originated in the United States, there are many artists in Japan who have been influenced by hip-hop.
This time, we’ll introduce a ranking of popular Japanese artists who perform hip-hop.
- Japanese Hip-Hop Popularity Rankings [2026]
- [Japanese Hip-Hop] Classic Tracks of Japanese Rap
- Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Artist Rankings [2026]
- [Hip-Hop 101] Recommended Japanese Hip-Hop Artists [2026]
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- Popular Japanese music. Latest rankings [2026]
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- Ranking of Popular Japanese Music/J-POP Artists Among University Students [2026]
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- KOHH's Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- Popular EDM: Artist Rankings [2026]
- Ranking of Popular Japanese Music and J-Pop Artists Among High School Students [2026]
- [Hip-Hop Classics] Timeless HIPHOP / Golden Oldies
Popular Hip-Hop: Japanese Artists Ranking [2026] (51–60)
Poem of a VillainD.O51rank/position
D.O, the rapper who represents Nerima.
He finally came back from prison in December 2021.
Now armed with even more props and releasing new tracks, D.O has left behind many classics in the past as well.
Among his works, the song I especially recommend is Akutō no Uta (Poem of a Villain).
It’s based on WAR, a classic by the Chicago brass band Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, and the lyrics depict the stance of a villain.
Rather than representing himself, this villain feels more like an embodiment of the ideal way he believes a rapper should be.
Foxxi misQDJ PMX Miss Luxury (P.V. Version) feat. MACCHO, GIPPER, KOZ, HI-D.52rank/position
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.
What’s Poppin feat. LANAJP THE WAVY & JIGG53rank/position
This work, released by JP THE WAVY—who’s also active as a dancer—in collaboration with producer JIGG, stands out for its lyrics told from the perspective of young people enjoying parties and a free lifestyle.
Riding over a sophisticated beat, JP THE WAVY unfolds his distinctive lyricism.
The track is included on the EP “Hit Different,” released in May 2023, and features a standout, high-profile collaboration with LANA.
The music video directed by filmmaker Spikey John is also a must-see, fully expressing the artist’s unique world.
With its energetic and positive vibe, this song is perfect for lifting your mood or soundtracking a party scene.
City Breeze feat. REAL-TJin Dogg54rank/position
Jin Dogg is a rapper from Ikuno Ward in Osaka.
Having endured a difficult childhood due to his roots as a Korean resident in Japan, his appeal lies in the raw lyrics that reflect the life he experienced.
The lyrics of this song also contain many shocking episodes.
At the same time, it portrays his own methods of getting by amid countless headwinds, making it a recommended track to listen to as an anthem when you feel stuck in life.
everything; the whole lot; lock, stock, and barrelKREVA55rank/position
KREVA’s hit song “Issai Gassai” sings of a faint summer romance.
It’s a work themed around summer, yet it carries a somewhat cool vibe.
The chorus melody has a distinctly period feel, but the rhymes are as high-level as ever.
There are lots of hidden rhymes, so definitely try to find them! Unusually high for a hip-hop track, it reached No.
11 on the Oricon charts.
If you’re in the mood for nostalgia, give it a listen!
Testimony feat. RINO, YOU THE ROCK, GK MARYAN, ZEEBRA, TWIGY, GAMA, DEV-LARGELamp Eye56rank/position
One of the biggest hip-hop hits of the ’90s, “Shōgen feat.
RINO, YOU THE ROCK, GK MARYAN, ZEEBRA, TWIGY, GAMA, DEV-LARGE.” It’s still a track that gets played often at MC battles today.
It’s a classic old-school joint, so it might feel a bit dated to today’s heads, but you can really feel the intense vibes.
Performed by legendary rappers, it’s an essential track for anyone looking to understand the history of Japanese hip-hop.
WAKARIMASENMIYACHI57rank/position
Rapper MIYACHI from New York.
After drawing attention in 2017 with “BAD & Buji (MIGOS REMIX),” his track “WAKARIMASEN” is a hip-hop song that’s sure to be a hit at karaoke.
Featuring a surreal hook about “not understanding English because he’s Asian American,” it’s the kind of song that will make you chuckle.
There’s occasional English mixed into the lyrics, but it’s fine—just learn it slowly, one phrase at a time.
When it’s showtime, don’t rush; if you ride the overall vibe and loosen the lyrics a bit, it’ll still land cool.
Higher (dir. Spikey John)Mall Boyz (Tohji, gummyboy)58rank/position
A young rapper with a background of being born in London and raised in Yokohama, whose free-spirited artistry, unbound by anyone, captivates fans.
They went viral with tracks uploaded to SoundCloud, gaining attention especially among younger audiences and steadily raising their profile.
In 2019, they achieved a collaboration with OKAMOTO’S, further boosting expectations for what’s to come.
Baby Girl ～sweet lovesong～Mr.OZ feat CITY-ACE59rank/position
It’s a love song where a love story unfolds through mellow lyrics.
The beautiful melody and chorus convey a grand expression of love.
It’s a classic I can recommend even to those listening to Japanese hip-hop for the first time.
Our Song feat. MACCHONORIKIYO60rank/position
A friendship anthem spun through rap.
This track, included on “Heisei Express,” is by NORIKIYO and MACCHO.
Riding a heavy beat, their commanding flows fuse together.
Opening with the lyric “There’s no meaning in simply being born,” it calls on listeners to become the protagonists of their own lives.
Released in March 2019 on their ninth album, the song’s music video—directed by filmmaker Katsuya Tomita—was shot in the slums of the Philippines.
It’s a recommended listen for those in the midst of self-discovery or anyone who wants to cherish bonds with friends.