As hip-hop has surged across the globe, Japan—long a driving gear in Asia’s music engine—has cultivated a scene with a soul and silhouette of its own. Styles bloom in all directions, but what truly defines Japanese hip-hop is the weave of local histories, geographies, and street sensibilities. In recent years, artists like YZERR, Yuki Chiba, and Awich have opened new channels of exchange with the world, while streetwear labels and culture-makers amplified the signal. The result: Japanese rap is increasingly international, heard and felt by more listeners every year.

In this feature, editor Fairy Ray spotlights ten beloved, highly representative names—an approachable gateway into the scene. Think of it as a guided first step: start here, then keep walking until the map in your head becomes a living city.

1. Yuki Chiba

A familiar name to anyone tracking Japanese hip-hop. Formerly known as KOHH, Chiba shaped a generation with stark charisma and singular vision. After announcing a comet-like retirement in 2020, he returned under his real name in 2024 with the instantly chantable “チーム友達,” spawning a flurry of remixes. His comeback cuts lean on concise hooks and clear thematic focus while preserving his taste for innovation. Recent collaborations include Megan Thee Stallion and Murda Beatz; he’s issued multiple projects in a short window and even contributed “心配無用” to VALORANT—a legend still writing his chapters.

Picks: “チーム友達” / “心配無用” (with VALORANT)

2. BAD HOP

From Kawasaki, BAD HOP—anchored by brothers T-Pablow and YZERR with Tiji Jojo, Benjazzy, Vingo, G-k.i.d, Bark, and Yellow Pato—are a defining crew of the 2010s–2020s. Anthems like “High Land,” “Ocean View,” and “Kawasaki Drift” galvanized a new generation and cemented Kawasaki as a hip-hop stronghold.
After announcing a breakup in 2023, they staged a farewell at the Tokyo Dome, the first hip-hop group in Japan to reach that stage, closing with BAD HOP FOREVER. Members have since pursued solo paths (all except T-Pablow have released albums). YZERR’s FORCE Festival became the largest hip-hop event in Japan, further solidifying his stature.
Editor’s fave: “Super Wave” (from BAD HOP WORLD)

Picks: “High Land” / “Last Party Never End”

3. JJJ

Also from Kawasaki, JJJ holds an irreplaceable place in fans’ hearts. Beginning with Fla$hBackS (with Febb and Kid Fresino), his music absorbed departures and loss, distilling them into writing that feels inward yet piercing. Tracks like “Eye Splice” and “Changes” weigh life’s frictions with a faint afterglow of memory.
A formidable producer who nurtured peers and juniors, he passed away in April this year. From a headlining slot at POP YOURS to a planned tour, his songs continue to be sung—spirit carried forward.

Picks: “Kids Return” / STUTS “Changes feat. JJJ”

4. LEX

A banner name for the new generation. At just 23, LEX has traversed multiple life phases—early depression, the shock of sudden attention, the steadier outlook of recent years—and you can hear the growth.
His superpower lies in unruly, genre-fluid production and a singular voice/melodic sense. Beyond solo standouts like “大金持ちのあなたと貧乏な私” and “OCEAN,” he’s cut earworms with JP THE WAVY (“なんでも言っちゃって”), early comrades Only U & Yung sticky wom (“STRANGER”), ¥ellow Bucks (“カをくれ”), and his sister LANA (“明るい部屋”).

Picks: “なんでも言っちゃって” / “大金持ちのあなたと貧乏な私”

5. Awich

From Okinawa, a pillar of YENTOWN and often hailed as Japan’s “queen” of hip-hop. The name stands for “Asia Wish Child,” a statement of hope from an Asian vantage. With time in the U.S. and a history marked by personal loss, Awich returned to Japan to build an unmistakable voice—code-switching between English and Japanese to speak of love, feminine power, freedom, and home.
Her collabs stretch across borders—FERG on “Butcher Shop,” and the pan-Asian cipher “ASIAN STATE OF MIND” with Jay Park, KR$NA, Masiwei, and VannDa. Add “GILA GILA” and “Queendom,” and you have range and stature in equal measure.

Picks: “GILA GILA” / “ASIAN STATE OF MIND”

6. LANA

LEX’s younger sister, hailed by some as the “new-gen queen.” With a distinctive timbre and phrasing, she glides from dance and R&B to pop-punk, balancing street grit and pop gloss. Themes of confidence, youth, love, and self-possession recur; at 21 she headlined the Nippon Budokan with poise beyond her years.
From early “FLAME” and “TURN IT UP” to “Street Princess” and “No.5,” you can trace the arc of her metamorphosis. Joint cuts with Awich (“BASH BASH,” “Stronger”) carry the emblem of female power and generational handoff.
Picks: “TURN IT UP” / “No.5”

7. ¥ellow Bucks

A standard-bearer from Japan’s Tokai region. He rose to prominence after winning ラップスタア誕生 and now stands as a charismatic figure in the mainstream. Camo pants and Timberland boots helped brand his street image, but the music does the heavy lifting—West Coast inflections and trap mechanics engineered for party ignition. His slightly carbonated vocal texture adds a sensual edge.

Picks: “Yessir” / “Higher Remix”

8. Jin Dogg

Osaka’s heavyweight and a cornerstone of Kansai rap—the originator of the “チーム友達” call. Towering presence, iron-blooded aura, and ferocious live energy: his sets detonate rooms.
He blends boom-bap, trap, and drill—unyielding yet sincere—with melody-forward entries in the catalog. The latest album Pain Makes You Better shows a more restrained maturity; closer “大雨の道頓堀” lingers long after it ends. A generous elder to younger Kansai acts, he’s the scene’s big brother in the best sense.

Picks: “街風” / “PRADA” (POP YOURS 2025 Live)

9. KEIJU

Tokyo rapper and former member of the legendary collective KANDYTOWN (first known as YOUNG JUJU). His signature: an urbane, adult sheen; a sensual voice; deft melody and lyric control. Few embody suave male magnetism in Japanese hip-hop as gracefully as KEIJU.
From “Wind Rise” and “Hold You Down” with JJJ, to “backseat,” to 2025’s N.I.T.O highlights “K2” and “Money Baby,” each drop arrives with high anticipation.

Picks: “Money Baby” (ft. Awich) / “K2”

10. JP THE WAVY

Oversized shades, a tilted cap, and a designer’s eye—JP THE WAVY is as fashion-forward as he is musically agile. From Kanagawa, he exploded with “Cho Wavy De Gomenne Remix,” crystallizing “Wavy” as a personal icon.
Early on he braised trap with local references, moving with a gymnast’s flexibility and immaculate cool. With a keen sense for visuals and styling, he became a go-to collaborator for street brands and one of Japan’s most globally connected rappers. Hallmark tracks include “WAVEBODY (Remix),” “What’s Poppin,” and “Neo Gal Wop.”

Picks: “Cho Wavy De Gomenne Remix” / “WAVEBODY (Remix)”

These ten names form a clean on-ramp into Japanese hip-hop. After you read and listen, which artist sticks with you the most? For me, these songs score the chapters of my own growth; compiling this guide stirred up those warm first-listen memories. I’ll keep exploring the scene’s many faces and sharing what makes this music—and the culture around it—so distinct and beautiful.