Appearing like a shooting star in the Japanese hip-hop scene, MIYACHI is a bilingual dual-wielding rapper, equally adept in Japanese and English, with brilliant NY-style lyrics and an exceptional sense of flow. His 2019 release, Wakarimasen, went viral, and subsequent collaborations with numerous artists have solidified his position in Japan. He surprised his Japanese fans with a surprise new album release from Mass Appeal Records, the trendy label led by none other than the legend, NAS.
However, it wasn’t exactly a “surprise” release; he and his marketing team had carefully laid the groundwork. Earlier this month, on October 4th, he dropped “DO ME” with AK-69. MIYACHI, who grew up witnessing the “real” NY scene, possesses a keen eye for observation. The lyrical swordplay of this versatile rapper is now sharper and more finely honed than ever before, requiring careful handling.
The album, titled SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK, features the controversial track “HERO,” which challenges the mentality of Japanese “gangsta-wannabes”. The song begins with the provocative line, “Hey, for hard-core rap in Japan, do you have to be a gangster? But… ‘gang’?(LOL)”. The album also includes “DO ME,” where the deep bass resonates with the soul, and MIYACHI’s steady flow and AK-69’s skilled, calm rap intertwine smoothly. “UFO” showcases MIYACHI’s gentle and skilled singing voice. Meanwhile, the playful tracks “NANDEYANEN” and “OHAYO” highlight his mischievous side, a testament to the rapper’s relentless wit and sense of humor. His word choice is never wasted.
I interpret “Salaryman Miyachi,” which is based on the salaryman character from MIYACHI’s YouTube show KONBINI CONFESSIONS, as MIYACHI’s alter ego. This alter ego skillfully navigates Japanese society by balancing his true feelings with social conventions, as perfectly encapsulated by the album title SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK. The contrast between rapper MIYACHI, who knows the real NY life, and “Salaryman” Miyachi, who knows Japanese culture, is intriguing.
Speaking of Mass Appeal Records, they are currently creating a global stir with the Legend Has It… series. Still, the real triumph is MIYACHI’s achievement of releasing a Japanese-centric rap album through this major American label. Given the lack of news about this release in English, one wonders if they are targeting the Japanese market exclusively. Another notable point is MIYACHI’s innate and impressive ear for music. His versatile flow, which adapts to any beat like a chameleon, suggests he either grew up surrounded by music or possesses perfect pitch.
Will his future activities primarily be based in the U.S.? Or will he continue to be a force in Japan? We will be watching MIYACHI’s next moves closely.
