List of Japanese hip hop musicians
Encyclopedia
This is a list of Japanese hip hop
musicians and artists.
Japanese hip hop
Japanese hip hop is said to have begun when Hiroshi Fujiwara returned to Japan and started playing hip hop records in the early 1980s. Japanese hip hop generally tends to be most directly influenced by old school hip hop, taking from the era's catchy beats, dance culture, and overall fun and...
musicians and artists.
Rappers and crews
(in alphabetical order)- 54-7154-71"54-71" is an Hardcore / Experimental / Hip hop music group. Its members are "Horikawa Hiroyuki", "Kawaguchi Kentaro", "Sato Shingo", and "Takada Noriaki". In 1995, Kawaguchi and Sato started their musical activities together and by 1997, the current four members were performing together. 54-71...
- AfraAfra (beatboxer), better known by his stage name of Afra, is a Japanese beatboxer from the Osaka metropolitan area. He formed the beatboxing band Afra & Incredible Beatbox Band in 2005 with Kei and K-Moon...
- AiAI (singer)Ai , born November 2, 1981 as , is a Japanese R&B singer and rapper. She is currently under EMI Music Japan.-Early life:...
- Bennie KBennie KBennie K is an urban female duo that consists of vocalist Yuki and rapper Cico, who both love American hip-hop music. They met while Yuki was in Los Angeles undergoing voice training with Roger Burnley...
- Dohzi-TDohzi-T, real name , is a Japanese rapper, who has been active since 1989.-Biography:Dohzi-T belonged to hip hop band "Zingi", formed in 1990. He debuted as a solo singer with the single "Shōnen A" on October 10, 2001. He associated with popular singers such as Shota Shimizu, Miliyah Kato and Hiromi Go...
- Dragon AshDragon Ashare a Japanese Rap metal group founded in 1996 by Furuya "Kj" Kenji and Sakurai Makoto. They are an icon in Japan and were one of the first groups to popularize hip hop in Japan. They brought a western flavor to Japanese music and helped to turn rap music mainstream, with a mixture of reggae, rap,...
- East End X YuriEast End X YuriEast End × Yuri was a short lived collaboration between the Japanese hip hop group East End and the singer Yuri Ichii, ex-member from Jpop girl group Tokyo Performance Doll.-Members:East End members are Gaku, the MC , ROCK-Tee, a DJ , and Yoggy, another DJ ....
- HalcaliHalcali, is a Japanese pop and new-school inspired hip-hop duo consisting of members Halca and Yucali from Meguro, Tokyo, Japan...
- HeartsdalesHeartsdalesHeartsdales was a Japanese hip hop group composed of sisters and , known by their stage names Rum and Jewels, respectively.Yumi was born on December 17, 1981, and Emi on December 4, 1976 in Tokyo, Japan. Their family moved to the Yonkers area of New York right after Yumi was born, due to their...
- Hi-Timez
- HifanaHifanais a Japanese breakbeat musical duo, composed of KEIZOmachine! and Juicy . The group formed in 1998, in the Tokyo neighbourhood of Kichijōji.-History:...
- HimeHime (rapper)is a Japanese hip hop artist. She released her debut solo album Hime hajime in October 2003 and is part of DJ Honda's studio. Her works are notable for their use of Japanese cultural themes, including tanka metre and sampling of kabuki and bunraku narrations. Her works also often touch on themes...
- Home Made KazokuHome Made Kazokuis a Japanese hip hop trio signed to Ki/oon Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music.-Biography:Home Made Kazoku is a trio, consisting of members Micro, Kuro, and DJ U-Ichi. The band was originally formed in 1996 under a different name. The band was in a state of flux with regard to membership until...
- IlmariKeisuke Ogiharais one of the founding members of the hip hop group Rip Slyme. He was born on June 17, 1975 in Helsinki, Finland to a Japanese father and a Finnish mother. He is best known by his stage name Ilmari , which is considered to be his middle name in Finland....
- K Dub ShineK Dub ShineK DUB SHINE is a Japanese hip hop artist and rapper. His real name is .Kagami was born in the Shibuya ward of the city of Tokyo, Japan. In 10th grade K Dub Shine enrolled in an exchange program which landed him in Philadelphia. It was in Philly that he first encountered hip hop...
- Ken the 390Ken the 390, aka Ken the 390, is a Japanese hip hop and R&B singer/rapper. He is an artist of the Rhythm Zone label owned by the Avex Group.-Life and career:...
- KetsumeishiKetsumeishiis a four-member Japanese pop and hip hop group that incorporates singing and rapping into their music. They have had several major hits in Japan, including "Sakura", which reached number two on the Oricon yearly chart for 2005 and was featured in the Japanese game Taiko no Tatsujin...
- Kick the Can CrewKick the Can CrewKick the Can Crew is a mainstream pop and hip hop group from Tokyo, Japan, consisting of members Kreva, MCU, and Little.Formed in 1998, the group enjoyed popularity for their top singles "Good Music" and "Sayonara Sayonara"...
- King GidoraKing GidoraKing Giddra was a Japanese hip hop group that started in 1993. They were signed to the indie label P-Vine Records. After a six-year hiatus, they would go on to sign with DefStar Records, a sublabel under Sony Music Entertainment Japan for their second album release.-Members:The group is made of up...
- Kohei JapanKohei JapanKohei Japan is a famous Japanese hip-hop emcee, and a member of the Japanese rap group, Mellow Yellow. He was born in Yokohama, Japan, and discovered rap and hip-hop while working as a chef....
- KrevaKreva (rapper)is a hip hop MC and record producer under the Burger Inn Records and Pony Canyon's Knife Edge labels. He is a solo artist as well as a member of various hip hop groups, including Kick the Can Crew, By Phar the Dopest with fellow MC, Cuezero, and a large ensemble of other Japanese hip hop groups in...
- Lil'BLil'BLil'B is a Japanese female two-member pop group, featuring vocalist Mie and rapper Aila. They debuted in 2008 with "Orange," the 15th ending theme song for the anime Bleach. They are best known for their song "Kimi ni Utatta Love Song," which topped the RIAJ's monthly ringtone chart in 2008...
- M-FloM-flois a Japanese hip hop group consisting of producer and DJ Taku Takahashi and emcee Verbal.Former member Lisa left the group in 2002 to pursue a solo career, and the remaining members then started the M-Flo Loves... project working different vocalists for each song over three albums, including the...
- Matsushita Yuya
- Mihimaru GTMihimaru GTMihimaru GT is an urban and pop group signed to Universal Music Japan and managed by Tearbridge Productions, a subsidiary of Stardust Promotion and Avex.- History :...
- Miss MondayMiss MondayMiss Monday is a Japanese hip-hop and R&B artist. She sings as well as raps, and has collaborated with other artists such as Sowelu, JAMOSA, and Youngshim. She began her career in 2000, releasing singles on the I.D...
- NIPPSNIPPSNIPPS is a Japanese hip hop artist. After spending several years in Brooklyn, New York, he returned to Japan in 1995 along with Dev Large and DJ Masterkey to form Buddha Brand. He later released a solo album and several singles, working with such artists as Jeru the Damaja...
- Nitro Microphone UndergroundNitro Microphone UndergroundNitro Microphone Underground is a Japanese hip hop group. The group appeared on the club scene in the late 1990s with members Dabo, Macka-chin, Deli, Suiken, Gore-Tex, S-Word, XBS, and Bigzam. Although Gore-tex appears on many songs on the Nitro Microphone album, he is credited under different...
- nobodyknows+
- RhymesterRhymester (group)is a Japanese hip hop group consisting of MCs Mummy-D and Utamaru, and DJ Jin. The group is one of the oldest Japanese hip hop acts, having formed in 1989. They debuted on an independent label in 1993 with the EP , which was panned by critics...
- Rip SlymeRip SlymeRip Slyme is a Japanese hip hop group. It is composed of four MCs; Ryo-Z, Ilmari, Pes & Su, and a DJ, Fumiya...
- Scha Dara ParrScha Dara Parr, or SDP for short, is a three-member Japanese hip-hop group that formed in 1988 and debuted in 1990. The group consists of two MCs, Bose and Ani, and one DJ, Shinco. In comparison to American gangsta rap, Scha Dara Parr lacks the hardcore machismo attitude. Scha Dara Parr is often compared to rap...
- ShakkazombieShakkazombieShakkazombie is a Japanese rap group consisting of three members . They formed in 1994 when Tsutchie joined Osumi and Hide-Bowie who were already making music at the time and released their first single "ShakkAttack" in 95...
- Shing02Shing02Shingo Annen , better known by his stage name Shing02, is a Japanese rap artist and producer. Due in part to growing up in Western cities, Shing02 stands as one of the few multilingual rappers from Japan able to compose songs entirely in either Japanese or English...
- SoulheadSOULHEADSoulhead is a Japanese urban contemporary duo consisting of sisters and who hail from Hokkaidō.-Biography:Before they assumed the name Soulhead, they were known as Batti Baas. Batti Baas released one vinyl single through Handcuts Records called "Lovin' You", which featured Aaron Blackmon. The...
- Soul'd OutSOUL'd OUTSoul'd Out is a Japanese hip-hop band that consists of three members: Diggy-MO' , Bro.Hi , and Shinnosuke . Their name is a pun of "soul " and "sold out"...
- Steady & Co.Steady & Co.Steady & Co., was a Japanese hip hop and music production group consisting of Kenji Furuya, Bots, both of Dragon Ash, Ilmari of Rip Slyme, and Shigeo of Skebo King.-Singles:*2001 Stay Gold*2001 Shunkashūtō*2001 Only Holy Story...
- Tamaki Roy
- Teriyaki BoyzTeriyaki BoyzTeriyaki Boyz is a Japanese hip hop group from Tokyo, Japan. The group consists of Ilmari and Ryo-Z from Rip Slyme, Verbal from M-Flo, rapper Wise and Nigo, the DJ and founder of the popular Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape...
- Tha Blue HerbTha Blue HerbTha Blue Herb is a hip-hop band based in Sapporo, Japan. They formed in 1997 and have three members: BOSS the MC aka. Ill Bosstino , O.N.O. and DJ Dye . Within a few years, they became one of the most respected groups in Japan's underground hip-hop scene...
- TigarahTigarahTigarah , is a Japanese Baile Funk emcee whose music contains elements of Grime, Crunk, and Baltimore Club. She performs both in English and Japanese, and has a growing following in both Japan and the United States. She currently splits her time between her home in Tokyo and Los Angeles, California...
- UziUzi (Japanese hip-hop artist)Uzi is a popular Japanese hip-hop artist. He has released four major albums, most recently his “Natural 9” album released in March 2008. Uzi is one of the rappers to incorporate more overt elements of Japanese culture into his music and videos, specifically aspects referring to the samurai...
- Wise
- Ya-kyimYa-kyimYa-kyim is a Japanese R&B and hip hop group. The group consists of one MC, Miku, and two singers, Alisa and Yurie.- Background :...
- ZeebraZeebra, real name , is a Japanese hip hop artist, who made his first appearance in 1995. Zeebra is a former member of the hip-hop group King Giddra, which also included DJ Oasis and K Dub Shine, and the older brother of fellow hip-hop artist SPHERE of INFLUENCE...
DJs and producers
- Takahiro Aly
- CradleCradle OrchestraCradle Orchestra is a Japanese Jazz/Hip Hop band which mixes live orchestral instrumentation with the flows of underground rappers. They have produced two albums.-Discography:*2006: Attitude*2009: Velvet Ballads*2009: Aurora Collection...
- DaboDaboDabo is a Japanese rapper. He first appeared on the Japanese hip-hop scene in the 1990s, collaborating in a Shakkazombie song, "Tomo ni ikkou". Since 2002, he has released three albums: Hitman , Diamond , and The Force...
- Hiroshi FujiwaraHiroshi Fujiwarais a Japanese musician, producer, and designer.He is known as the godfather of Harajuku culture and is a globally influential streetwear designer, including being the pioneer for Nike's "HTM" line, and the "Fenom" line for Levis....
- DJ HondaDJ Honda, better known as DJ Honda, is a Japanese hip hop DJ, turntablist, music producer, CEO, clothing line designer, and entrepreneur.-Biography:...
- DJ KentaroDJ KentaroDJ Kentaro is a hip hop DJ from Japan. He came 3rd in the Technics DMC World DJ Final in 2001 and won it in 2002 at the age of 20. In doing so, he became one of the first ever Asians to win the DMC World DJ Final, receiving the highest score in DMC history in the process.He was signed to Ninja Tune...
- DJ KrushDJ Krush, better known as DJ Krush, is a producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.-Biography:...
- MiharaKohei MiharaKohei Mihara is a Japanese DJ, who signed to Grand Central Records independent record label in 2005. His music is electronica, combining elements of ambient, jazz and hip hop and blending both Eastern and Western influences....
- DJ MuroDJ Muro, known better as MURO, is an active Japanese hip hop producer and DJ. In 1987 DJ Krush, Microphone Pager, TWIGY and others formed the "KRUSH POSSE", a crew of rappers and Dj's. During this time he excelled at DJing hip-hop and began producing hip-hop beats. His solo debut appeared 1993...
- NigoNigois a Japanese music producer, DJ and the creator of the urban clothing line A Bathing Ape, otherwise known as Bape.-Fashion background:Nigo's venture into fashion started in a small store selling a few Bape t-shirts and camouflage print hoodies, which became very popular among the teen demographic...
- NujabesNujabeswas a Japanese hip hop producer and DJ who recorded under the name , the reverse spelling of his name in Japanese order. Nujabes was also owner of the Shibuya record stores, T Records and Guinness Records and founder of the independent label Hydeout Productions....
- Silent PoetsSilent PoetsThe Silent Poets is a Japanese electronic duo . They have released six original albums and over than seven remix albums/EPs until now...
- Uyama HirotoUyama HirotoUyama Hiroto is a Japanese hip-hop producer and DJ and close collaborator of the late Japanese DJ/Producer Nujabes. His style of music is a heavy downtempo/ambient jazz influenced hip-hop. He produced music for the video game Final Fantasy.-Albums:...