Top J-Rap Ranking (Dec 2025 W3): Tsubaki, Creepy Nuts, NITRO’s Big Moves

From December 10th to 18th, 2025, the Japanese rap scene saw major movements driven by year-end events and key releases. Okinawa-born rapper Tsubaki etched his name in history with a successful solo show at the Nippon Budokan, while global hitmakers Creepy Nuts and CHANMINA showcased their presence at major festivals. Using our proprietary “Activity Index” based on real-world data, we visualized the Top 15 most active rappers of the week.

Conclusion: Tsubaki Takes #1 with Budokan Triumph; Year-End Events & Legends Shake the Scene

This week’s scene was completely rewritten by Tsubaki‘s historic solo concert at Nippon Budokan. Adding to the momentum were Creepy Nuts and CHANMINA performing at massive year-end events, and the full-scale return of 90s legendary group NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND.

Weekly TOP 5 Highlights

Rank	Artist	Score	Weekly Highlight
1st	Tsubaki	138	Historic achievement: First Okinawa-born rapper to hold a solo show at Nippon Budokan.
2nd	Creepy Nuts	129	Performed at Spotify On Stage Tokyo 2025; Won 7 awards at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN.
3rd	NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND	125	90s Legends fully returned with the release of the new track “DAY ONE”.
4th	CHANMINA	121	3 songs ranked in Spotify Charts; Preparations for “Kohaku Uta Gassen” underway.
5th	Novel Core	118	Released “BiliBili” featuring JESSE (RIZE / The BONEZ).

Deep Dive: Top 5 Artists Analysis

#1: Tsubaki (138 pts)

The undisputed protagonist of the week is Tsubaki. On December 16, he successfully held “Camellia,” the first solo performance at Nippon Budokan by a rapper from Okinawa. Tickets were sold out, and the after-party at ZEROTOKYO further extended the momentum. This historic feat scored perfect marks in Media Exposure (20) and Buzz (20). SNS mentions (19) exploded right before the show, securing him the top spot by a wide margin.

HIPHOPCs INTELLIGENCE UNIT Perspective Tsubaki’s moves since declaring his restart in 2025 have been carefully calculated. This Budokan performance wasn’t just a live event; it was a monumental incident symbolizing the Okinawa hip-hop scene stepping into the center of Japan. It is extremely rare for a solo artist to hit a perfect “Buzz” score in our observations.

#2: Creepy Nuts (129 pts)

With the global heat of “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” still radiating, Creepy Nuts aren’t slowing down for the year-end. On December 12, they delivered a stunning performance at “Spotify On Stage Tokyo 2025”. Furthermore, they achieved a 7-crown victory at “MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025”, earning a high score in Media Exposure (19). Their YouTube total views have surpassed 1.7 billion (20), and their influence remains immense.

HIPHOPCs INTELLIGENCE UNIT Perspective Creepy Nuts’ strength lies in their overwhelming recognition beyond the core hip-hop fan base. While their chart positions are stabilizing, their cumulative streams and YouTube influence are unmatched. They are solidifying their status not just as viral hitmakers, but as national artists.

#3: NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND (125 pts)

The legends who led the 90s Japanese rap scene have made a full comeback. Following October’s “SHUTTA”, they released the new track “DAY ONE” on December 10, scoring near-perfect marks in Release (20) and Buzz (19). Their return has shocked the scene, proving their charisma appeals to both longtime fans and the younger generation.

HIPHOPCs INTELLIGENCE UNIT Perspective NITRO’s return isn’t just nostalgia. Their quality and style, which stand strong against modern sounds, bring a new tension and depth to the current J-Rap scene. Their moves have the potential to reshape the power map of the industry.

#4: CHANMINA (121 pts)

Ahead of her appearance at the “Kohaku Uta Gassen” (Red & White Year-End Song Festival), CHANMINA is accelerating. Three of her songs—”SAD SONG”, “Harenchi”, and “Never Grow Up”—ranked simultaneously in the Spotify Japan chart (16). Like Creepy Nuts, she performed at “Spotify On Stage Tokyo 2025”, keeping her Media Exposure (18) high. Ticket sales for her 2026 national tour have also begun.

HIPHOPCs INTELLIGENCE UNIT Perspective CHANMINA has established herself as a top artist in the J-POP scene, transcending the “female rapper” category. Her ability to balance hip-hop skills with pop expression is her unique strength. The upcoming Kohaku appearance is sure to expand her fan base even further.

#5: Novel Core (118 pts)

BMSG’s Novel Core released “BiliBili” featuring JESSE (RIZE / The BONEZ) on December 10. This rock-hip-hop fusion garnered significant attention as a cross-generational collaboration, scoring high in Release (18) and Collaboration (17), successfully building anticipation for his album coming next January.

HIPHOPCs INTELLIGENCE UNIT Perspective Novel Core is skillfully fusing his rock roots with hip-hop to establish a unique style. Collaborating with JESSE is a strategic move that clearly indicates his direction, appealing not only to core hip-hop fans but also to the rock demographic.

Weekly Activity Index Top 15 (Dec 10-18, 2025)

Complete Ranking (20 pts each, Max 160 pts)

Rank	Artist	Total	Spotify	YouTube	TikTok	SNS	Media	Release	Collab	Buzz
1	Tsubaki	138	16	15	14	19	20	18	16	20
2	Creepy Nuts	129	17	20	18	15	19	10	12	18
3	NITRO	125	13	12	11	17	18	20	15	19
4	CHANMINA	121	16	14	15	16	18	12	13	17
5	Novel Core	118	12	13	11	16	15	18	17	16
6	Kohjiya	107	10	11	12	18	17	10	11	18
7	Awich	100	12	11	10	14	15	10	12	16
8	Daichi Hashizume	96	11	10	9	14	13	17	10	12
9	MaRI	94	11	10	9	15	13	10	11	15
10	R-Shitei	94	10	11	10	14	12	9	15	13
11	Jinmenusagi	85	11	10	9	12	10	10	11	12
12	BAD HOP	78	10	9	9	12	10	8	9	11
13	KOHH	75	10	9	8	11	9	8	9	11
14	Senninsho	74	9	8	8	10	9	8	12	10
15	SALU	72	9	8	8	11	9	8	9	10

Data Date: Dec 18, 2025 (JST). The “Weekly Activity Index” is calculated based on public data (Spotify / YouTube / TikTok / X / Instagram) and official announcements as of this date. Scores may fluctuate due to platform update timings or regional differences. Please refer to this report as a snapshot.