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.
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Popular Hip-Hop. Japanese Artist Rankings [2026] (41–50)
Poem of a VillainD.O50rank/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.
Popular Hip-Hop: Japanese Artists Ranking [2026] (51–60)
Foxxi misQDJ PMX Miss Luxury (P.V. Version) feat. MACCHO, GIPPER, KOZ, HI-D.51rank/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 & JIGG52rank/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 Dogg53rank/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 barrelKREVA54rank/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 Eye55rank/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.
WAKARIMASENMIYACHI56rank/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.
