COCOSPIN Interview: “Summer vibes,” Zeebra and Learning from Hip-Hop History
Hip-hop is a culture that never stops creating something new.
New stars, new sounds, new styles.
With every changing era, the landscape of the scene is redrawn. The next generation rewrites its history.
But that “newness” never emerges from nothing. Behind it are always the pioneers who forged paths where none existed.
In the ’90s, before Japanese-language rap had taken root as a nationwide culture, the legendary MC duo MAGUMA MC’s broadcast a style all their own from Kyoto and helped lead the Kansai scene.
One half of that duo was N.O.B a.k.a. COCOSPIN, who remains active today as a rapper and producer. He continues to express himself across boundaries, from art to fashion.
Despite dedicating more than 30 years to hip-hop, he laughs and says, “I’m still a rookie,” and, “I’m still active.” His gaze is fixed not on past glory but on the present, and on what comes next.
In this interview, he spoke at length about the story behind last year’s release “Summer vibes”. He shared how he met Zeebra and RHYMESTER, and traded behind-the-scenes memories from the dawn of Japanese-language rap.
He also left a message for the younger generation and explained what he means by “onko chishin”—learning from the past to create something new.
Before the interview, I had pictured him as “a legendary rapper from Kyoto.” But the COCOSPIN I encountered over the phone was nothing like that image.
He chose each word carefully, speaking quietly and gently, with an air that somehow brought to mind a Zen monk or philosopher.
Before I knew it, I felt less like a writer interviewing a rapper and more like someone being taught how to live, by a wiser, more experienced mentor.
What is hip-hop? What does it mean to carry the culture into the future? And how does an artist who has spent more than 30 years on the front line see today’s hip-hop scene?
The philosophy of life that “rapper COCOSPIN” quietly spits is sure to resonate with you. Read through to the end and take in his words for yourself.
Editor’s note: This interview was conducted before the Japanese edition was published on July 27, 2026. Time-relative references such as “last year,” “last summer,” and “last December” refer to 2025. REPROGRAM 0811 on August 11, 2026 was still upcoming when the conversation took place; this English edition was prepared after that date.
Rapper N.O.B a.k.a. COCOSPIN
SEI
At last, the moment has arrived! I’ve wanted to interview you for so, so, so long—I first reached out to you over a year ago. I was incredibly happy when you read one of my articles and followed me on Instagram!
COCOSPIN
It feels like we finally get to talk.
SEI
It really does. Thank you so much for joining me today.
COCOSPIN
Thank you for having me.
SEI
Let’s jump straight into the questions. You’ve had a long career in the industry and are an OG among OGs who helped lead the Kansai scene at the dawn of Japanese hip-hop.
But for the sake of our readers, could you briefly introduce yourself?
COCOSPIN
Well, I’m COCOSPIN, a rapper and artist. I started out around 1993 and have been active ever since… Being called an OG among OGs makes me feel a little self-conscious, but I’m also aware that quite a bit of time has passed.
SEI
Right, of course. You said you’ve been active since 1993. I ask everyone this question, but what first got you hooked on hip-hop?
COCOSPIN
What got me hooked was the soccer player Ruud Gullit.
SEI
Oh, the soccer player.
COCOSPIN
Yeah. I was probably eight or nine at the time, and Ruud Gullit was playing in a reggae band. During the commentary for an AC Milan match on WOWOW, I heard them mention that he had a reggae band. I wanted to hear it, so I went to a video rental store, and the three CDs I picked up were Bob Marley, John Lennon, and RUN DMC. I rented all three and listened to them.
SEI
Those are three completely different artists!
COCOSPIN
Exactly (laughs). And on top of that, Ruud Gullit is Black. I really admired his athletic ability.
SEI
Right, right. Were you a soccer kid yourself, COCOSPIN? Around the age of eight?
COCOSPIN
Yeah. That was around the time I started playing.
SEI
I see. Did your parents know that young COCOSPIN had gone to the video store and rented those CDs, or that you admired Ruud Gullit?
COCOSPIN
I may be remembering it wrong, but I think the year I started admiring Ruud Gullit was the year WOWOW began broadcasting Serie A.
SEI
Right, right. That takes me back.
COCOSPIN
Yeah. I remember asking my parents to subscribe to WOWOW because I wanted to watch the matches.
SEI
So your parents granted their eight-year-old son’s wish. Did your family listen to hip-hop or Western music at home?
COCOSPIN
No, it was the complete opposite.
SEI
Oh, the opposite. Was it more of an enka-listening household?
COCOSPIN
They loved enka.
SEI
Wow.
COCOSPIN
How should I put it? Everyone in my family except me practiced martial arts.
SEI
Ah, your siblings and the rest of your family. I see.
COCOSPIN
I was the only one who actively gravitated toward what people called “Western” things—things from Europe and America.
SEI
In that case, your family must have been surprised when you became a rapper.
COCOSPIN
I don’t think they even knew I was rapping at the time.
SEI
Really! They know by now, though, right?
COCOSPIN
Yes.
SEI
I thought so. Thank you. Did your career begin with MAGUMA MC’s in 1993?
COCOSPIN
No. I mention 1993 in one of the songs on the MAGUMA MC’s album, but I was performing solo at the time.
SEI
Oh, on your own. In Kyoto. Were you rapping at clubs and places like that?
COCOSPIN
Yeah. At clubs and school festivals. The statute of limitations has probably run out by now, but I… wasn’t actually supposed to be in those clubs.
SEI
You were still underage?
COCOSPIN
I was in junior high.
SEI
That’s wild (laughs). You can really feel how different the times were. So you were already performing in clubs back then. When did you start writing lyrics?
COCOSPIN
You know, I’d liked writing lyrics since elementary school. They weren’t rhyming lyrics or anything. I just liked putting what I was thinking into words.
SEI
Ah.
COCOSPIN
Basically songs, you know. Poetry.
SEI
Right, right. So you liked poetry. I see. You were writing that kind of thing, and then you came in through reggae and started listening to hip-hop, right?
COCOSPIN
That’s right. More specifically, I started collecting records when I was in junior high.
SEI
Ah, I see—record collecting. But you became an MC rather than a DJ?
COCOSPIN
No, I started out as a DJ. Or, well, something like a DJ…
SEI
Did you have turntables and all the equipment?
COCOSPIN
That came later, when I was in high school.
From N.O.B to COCOSPIN
SEI
That makes sense—turntables would have been expensive for a junior high school student. Share only what you’re comfortable with, but after gaining nationwide recognition through MAGUMA MC’s, what prompted you to change your name from N.O.B to COCOSPIN?
And for that matter, what does COCOSPIN actually mean?
COCOSPIN
COCOSPIN comes from things like DNA.
SEI
DNA?
COCOSPIN
It all spins in a spiral, right?
SEI
Right, right, right. So that’s where it comes from!
COCOSPIN
Yeah. Blood also circulates in a spiral as it passes through the heart. Everything spins. Cash flow spins, tires spin—everything revolves.
SEI
Right.
COCOSPIN
Rotation is something human beings need, so that’s what it means. As for COCO… When I was about 16, I had really fair skin.
SEI
Okay, I’m jealous.
COCOSPIN
I was as pale as nata de coco.
SEI
Nata de coco. Is that where it came from?
COCOSPIN
One of my teachers at school used to call me “Coco, Coco,” because I was white like nata de coco. So people started calling me Coco.
SEI
I see, so that’s where COCO came from. And then you added SPIN, from the spiral.
COCOSPIN
Like a DNA double helix. All of those things mix together.
SEI
You’ve gone by a lot of different names. As for the name Coco, was that from high school? Or was it middle school—
Were people calling you “nata de coco”?
COCOSPIN
One of my high school teachers started calling me Coco. But on the street, everyone called me Nobu. So, N.O.B.
SEI
Right. I think nationwide, you’re probably still best known as N.O.B.
COCOSPIN
So people often think COCOSPIN and N.O.B are two completely different people, but they’re the same person. Yeah.
SEI
Do the names represent different personas or themes for you—like COCOSPIN being the philosophical, grown-man persona, while N.O.B. is more of a B-Boy?
COCOSPIN
They do. For example, COCOSPIN really brings art and hip-hop together. COCOSPIN is…someone who likes going to galleries and museums.
SEI
I see. This is just my own impression, but I’ve always imagined you, as COCOSPIN, to be a philosophical kind of person. So hearing you describe him as someone you’d find in a museum makes perfect sense. He feels more mature.
COCOSPIN
I’ve loved going to museums since I was 15 or 16. That hasn’t changed at all.
The Story Behind the Summer Anthem “Summer vibes”
SEI
Oh, so that’s always been part of your personality. I see—that’s fascinating. Thank you for breaking it down so clearly. That clears everything up.
Moving on to my next question: I’d like to ask about “Summer vibes”, the summery track you surprise-released last year under the COCOSPIN name. What made you want to create the song in the first place?
COCOSPIN
It really did come together out of nowhere. Originally, there was a project in motion, involving sponsors, where I would make a solo track and shoot a music video for it.
SEI
Right, right.
COCOSPIN
Then, one time when I happened to be with Zeebra, I mentioned that I was working on a track by myself. Apparently, he had some ideas of his own. The concept shifted toward having guests join the solo track I’d been making, and the whole project changed direction.
SEI
I see.
COCOSPIN
So we said, “Let’s give it a shot.”
SEI
And that became “Summer vibes”. I see. So it was originally a different song and a different project.
COCOSPIN
Exactly. DJ TAZAWA and I…actually, we first became close a long time ago, when I was living in Niigata. We made a song together back then.
SEI
Right.
COCOSPIN
But then, when I happened to be with Zeebra and the idea of making a different track came up, ANAIS happened to come up in the conversation too. So we said, “Why don’t we just make it?”
SEI
So it was the energy of the moment—pure momentum. And that same momentum brought ANAIS into it too.
COCOSPIN
Right. It was like the original project and the different ideas everyone already had all got mixed together.
SEI
Ah, so that’s how it happened. You already had a beat you’d made with DJ TAZAWA, but ultimately you rebuilt the music from scratch—is that right?
COCOSPIN
Yes. We asked TAZAWA if he could make it for us. With Zeeb and ANAIS joining too, we were all fired up to make it happen.
Meeting Zeebra
SEI
It has such an upbeat groove—it lifts your spirits, and I really, really love it. At this point, I think our readers will probably want to hear about your relationship with Zeebra.
You’ve both had long careers, so I imagine you go way back. When did you first meet him?
COCOSPIN
We first met…in ’96 or ’97, I think.
SEI
Wow, so it really was that long ago. Thirty years.
COCOSPIN
King Giddra (KGDR)’s first album was already out. I’d originally met RHYMESTER, and that was where everything started. We invited RHYMESTER to perform at our event in Kyoto.
SEI
So you brought them in. Right, right.
COCOSPIN
Later, when we were arranging to bring in King Giddra, they introduced me to Zeeb.
SEI
So that was your first meeting.
COCOSPIN
The lineup was changing a lot around that time. First, I met Miki Dozan, Yamamoto-san, and DJ TANKO. Then I met B-BANDJ, and after that, Zeeb. That was more or less the sequence.
SEI
I see. Zeebra is from a slightly older generation than you, though, right?
COCOSPIN
He’s eight years older than me.
SEI
Oh, I see. So you met Zeebra at an event, started talking about how you were making music, and stayed connected from there—is that how it happened?
COCOSPIN
It was at King Giddra’s first Osaka show.
SEI
Right, right, right.
COCOSPIN
Back then, it was customary for everyone to freestyle after a show. It was the kind of era when the crowd expected that.
SEI
That’s so cool.
COCOSPIN
So the show ended, and they had this beat playing for people to freestyle over. KEN-BO was DJing that night.
SEI
KEN-BO.
COCOSPIN
Then Zeebra said something like, “Are there any rappers in here?”
SEI
Right.
COCOSPIN
And I was right there, dead center in the very front row.
SEI
(Laughs) The front row…I can already tell this isn’t going to end well.
COCOSPIN
I’d been in the front row, shouting along to King Giddra’s lyrics and just enjoying the show like anyone else.
SEI
But?
COCOSPIN
The show was so incredible that I was completely hyped. So when Zeeb got on the mic and said, “Are there any rappers in here?”
SEI
You raised your hand?
COCOSPIN
Well, I was a rapper. (Laughs)
SEI
(Bursts out laughing)
COCOSPIN
So I put my hand up like, “Me, me!” RYUZO, who was standing next to me, just looked at me like, “What?” (Laughs)
SEI
Of course he did.
COCOSPIN
I was a rapper.
SEI
Because you were a rapper. (Laughs)
COCOSPIN
So I raised my hand.
SEI
You really did. Right. RYUZO must have been stunned by your nerve. I mean, anyone would be shocked if their partner suddenly volunteered without warning.
COCOSPIN
Then I took the mic. That was the first time we met.
SEI
I see. That’s seriously cool. And from there, you both went on to become famous.
COCOSPIN
There’s footage of it. It was about 30 years ago. Last year, Zeeb and I watched it together and got really nostalgic.
SEI
Reminiscing about the old days together. Have you and Zeebra stayed close ever since then?
COCOSPIN
Yes. I’ve gone to him for advice at different turning points in my life.
SEI
So he’s like an older-brother figure you can turn to for advice?
COCOSPIN
He’s a pioneer in the industry, and a rapper. We were working out in the regions, away from Tokyo. Even the fact that we eventually made the move to Tokyo came about through Mummy-D.
SEI
Right, right. So Mummy-D too.
COCOSPIN
From there, we did everything we possibly could outside Tokyo while working in Tokyo at the same time. By the time we actually made our major-label debut, we had reached the point of asking ourselves, “What do we do now?” It was a long road getting there.
SEI
How old were you at the time?
COCOSPIN
Let me think—I was probably 22. We were getting quite a few offers from indie labels and all kinds of record companies.
SEI
But you didn’t take them?
COCOSPIN
There were more advantages to staying underground.
SEI
Oh, I see. Hmm.
COCOSPIN
So we deliberately chose not to go that route. But looking back as an adult, I’m glad I did it when I was 22 or 23.
SEI
Twenty-two. You were young.
COCOSPIN
In Japan, that’s usually the age when you’re still in college. I was a college student at the time, and I felt like I only had until graduation to make something happen. I ended up dropping out, though.
SEI
Right.
COCOSPIN
Once people graduate from college, they get jobs and their lives start changing in all kinds of ways, right?
SEI
Absolutely. It’s a major turning point.
COCOSPIN
And once that happens, the people your age who used to come out and support you gradually stop showing up. I think that’s something fairly unique to Japan.
SEI
That’s true.
COCOSPIN
But right at the very end of that window, we were able to give the fans who had been waiting for a release something tangible. And back then, there was no precedent for artists coming out of the regional scenes, breaking into the center, and succeeding. I think that gave artists outside Tokyo a kind of hope.
SEI
Right.
COCOSPIN
So it went beyond music. We proved that if you really went for something, you could make it happen—and I think that gave people of our generation a sense of hope.
SEI
Taking all of that into account, you truly were a pioneer.
COCOSPIN
There still weren’t many hip-hop clubs back then. But we experienced the crowds growing and more people being influenced by the culture. We were right on the front line as the scene expanded, and being able to live through that while actively participating in it was huge.
SEI
That’s huge.
COCOSPIN
We had a crew called Young Gunz, and it was a period when people from places like Nagoya, Yokohama, and Osaka experienced that growth firsthand and shaped it into something of their own.
SEI
Thank you for sharing such a valuable story. So that’s how it happened.
COCOSPIN
Though I do feel like Japan’s hip-hop scene has drifted off course a little these days.
OG Rapper COCOSPIN on Hip-Hop Today
SEI
Since the conversation has gone in that direction, I’d like to ask: if there’s anything you’ve been thinking about hip-hop today, we’d love to hear your perspective.
COCOSPIN
What I find most interesting right now is—take soccer, for example. Kazuyoshi Miura is still playing professionally, isn’t he?
SEI
Yes, it’s incredible.
COCOSPIN
I think he truly is a pioneer of Japanese soccer. In any field, once you get to the third generation and beyond, all the methods have already become established and a certain format takes shape. I believe KRS-ONE once said that the bare minimum for being HIPHOP is that you have to be “original.” Finding the right balance there is a delicate matter.
SEI
The great teacher KRS-ONE.
COCOSPIN
In that sense, what young people are doing today uses techniques that all kinds of artists have used before. But I think it’s great how they’re updating those techniques.
SEI
That’s true. They are updating them.
COCOSPIN
Every society needs morals, but there are moments in life when exceptions have to be allowed. For example, you shouldn’t cross against the light, right? But if a bus suddenly comes onto the pedestrian path, you may have no choice but to cross against the light to get out of its way.
SEI
Right, that can happen.
COCOSPIN
Exactly—that’s just one example. I see hip-hop as a kind of exception like that. I’m not saying it justifies doing something wrong. Sometimes what looks negative on the surface can actually be the right thing to do.
SEI
Right.
COCOSPIN
It’s a subtle point, but personally, I think that sense of balance—knowing exactly how far to go—is an extremely important part of the culture. There’s this tendency to casually posture as tough. Before turning something into lyrics, saying it in public, putting it out, or expressing it in any form, you need to stop and think about whether it’s really something you should say.
A Singer with a One-of-a-Kind Voice: Working with ANAIS
SEI
Ah, I see. Thank you. Next, I’d like to ask about ANAIS—the only woman on the track, and absolutely adorable…
COCOSPIN
Sure.
SEI
I love ANAIS. She has such a distinctive voice and remarkably assured vocals. Where did you meet her? How did she come to be featured on the track?
COCOSPIN
Actually, we met when we decided to make this song.
SEI
Her singing blends so well with the beat and both of your verses. And ANAIS is so cute that this middle-aged lady couldn’t take her eyes off the video. She looks very young—is she a college student?
COCOSPIN
She’s still in school.
SEI
Oh! She had an incredible presence and held her own alongside two OGs with such larger-than-life personalities—no offense.
COCOSPIN
I think that’s remarkable.
SEI
It really is. I was blown away by her presence, and her voice holds its own too. Personally, I was surprised to discover that Japan had a singer like her.
COCOSPIN
Right? I’d like to make a few more songs with her.
SEI
Absolutely. I’d love to hear more songs from the three of you.
COCOSPIN
The three of us perform live together, and the response has been excellent.
SEI
Oh, I saw the footage. Was that last year or this year?
COCOSPIN
Last summer, we performed in Hayama and Osaka. I wasn’t at the Osaka show, but the other two performed together.
SEI
Oh! This really is a song you want to hear in the summer.
COCOSPIN
Exactly. It has such a great groove.
SEI
Yes, exactly. It’s a song that genuinely makes you happy. It lifts you up and makes you want to dance.
COCOSPIN
It has a good balance. It isn’t too pop, is it?
SEI
Not too much. You two OGs keep that side of it in check (laughs). If it were ANAIS alone, it would definitely feel like straight pop, but the two seasoned OGs—old guys, if you will—hold it down and bring it back to hip-hop (laughs).
COCOSPIN
Bringing that flavor is important.
SEI
It is. It’s extremely important. Yes.
SEI
Exactly! I think this song gets that balance just right. The freshness of a young woman’s singing and the seasoned cool of the older guys blend together beautifully.
COCOSPIN
Exactly.
The Meaning Behind the Lyrics of “Summer vibes”
SEI
The ocean, the sunlight, drinks, dancing. In ANAIS’s part, she sings, “目的地はWe don’t have”—we don’t have a destination, so let’s enjoy the present moment. Then in the opening verse, you say, “If you’re tired, take a break, then keep going.”
It feels so true to life, like an honest reflection of your unvarnished self, and that outlook is incredibly chill. Could you share what you wanted to express through the lyrics of your verse?
COCOSPIN
At the end of my verse, I say, “Let’s paint a beautiful life.”
SEI
Right.
COCOSPIN
This time, we all went into the studio together and made the song.
SEI
Oh, really?
COCOSPIN
These days, it’s rare for everyone to go into the studio and record together, isn’t it?
SEI
I don’t know much about the inner workings of the industry, but I guess people don’t really do that anymore. Recording separately has become the norm, right?
COCOSPIN
Yeah, people record separately or send their vocal tracks back and forth.
SEI
I see.
COCOSPIN
We deliberately went against that and recorded everyone together at the same time.
SEI
Ah, that makes sense. That’s why nothing feels out of place—the three parts form this perfectly balanced three-way interplay. They feel completely in sync.
COCOSPIN
Instead of letting everything become overly systematized, I wanted us to be free-spirited while still taking responsibility for what we do. I think we’ve reached a point where it’s better to break down those uniquely Japanese “boxes” in a positive way.
SEI
That’s deep. So that’s what was behind it.
COCOSPIN
There’s a sense of liberation to it, but it’s also unwavering. I think we managed to express that well.
SEI
Unwavering. Yeah, I get that. Everyone looks like they’re having such a great time in the music video—I love how it makes me naturally want to start dancing too. Do you have any stories from the shoot?
COCOSPIN
We shot the music video, and then the next day there was an actual party at Oasis where we also performed live.
SEI
Oh, wow.
COCOSPIN
That footage made it into the video too. Those two days basically felt like one long party while we filmed the music video. Every moment of it is filled with brief flashes of everyone—including ANAIS—genuinely enjoying themselves at the party, with completely real, unguarded expressions.
SEI
So it’s all real. Everyone’s going to have to watch it again now.
COCOSPIN
That day was actually Zeebra’s event.
SEI
Really?
COCOSPIN
Zeebra was organizing the event, performing live, and shooting a music video all at the same time. From my perspective, that was just incredible.
SEI
Yeah, juggling all of that at once is amazing.
COCOSPIN
It’s his age-defying vitality—or maybe power is the better word. Seeing that makes me want to keep pushing myself too.
SEI
Right, right.
COCOSPIN
There are some things in a person’s heart that money simply can’t buy, you know?
SEI
Absolutely.
COCOSPIN
That side of him is why he has everyone’s genuine respect.
SEI
I see.
COCOSPIN
I’m surrounded by plenty of people like that.
SEI
That must keep you inspired.
COCOSPIN
We’re connected through hip-hop.
SEI
Yeah.
COCOSPIN
We might seem unusual from the perspective of mainstream society, but people like that really do exist. That’s what I want people to understand.
SEI
I see. I’m learning a lot.
COCOSPIN
Thank you for playing such an important role in bringing “Summer vibes”—these VIBES—to so many different people.
On Being an OG Rapper
SEI
No, no, no—the pleasure is mine. I’m genuinely grateful to hear these valuable stories and philosophies that only an OG could share. I’m sure our readers found a lot of it eye-opening too.
COCOSPIN
But I don’t really think of myself as an OG.
SEI
Actually, I recently interviewed DJ SN-Z from OZROSAURUS, who moved his base of operations to LA.
COCOSPIN
SN-Z and I are the same age.
SEI
So this makes two OG interviews in a row.
COCOSPIN
I’ve become an OG now, huh? (laughs)
SEI
I’m not calling you an “ojisan”—an old man. I mean an OG. And you’ve definitely become one by now.
COCOSPIN
I’m still a rookie.
SEI
No way. You’re a veteran—a don in this industry, a don. SN-Z is the same way, but I really admire your humility.
There are people who carry themselves with this slightly arrogant “look how great I am” attitude, right? But you’re never like that.
COCOSPIN
I’m still out there mixing it up with the younger generation.
SEI
Exactly.
COCOSPIN
If anything, I’m the one watching myself around them. (laughs)
COCOSPIN’s “REPROGRAM 0811” and Future Projects
SEI
You end up being the one who has to be considerate, right? I totally get it. Are there any upcoming releases, projects, or other activities you can tell us about, as far as you’re able to share?
COCOSPIN
As for releasing music, I’ve built up a collection of tracks, so it finally feels like a release is coming within reach. I actually had one planned, but there’s also a project called “REPROGRAM 0811”, where everyone, no matter who they are, is encouraged to take one hip-hop-inspired action on August 11.
SEI
What do you mean? A hip-hop-inspired reaction?
COCOSPIN
No—for example, any kind of store could play hip-hop on August 11. It can be anything at all. The idea is simply to take some kind of hip-hop-inspired action.
SEI
Right, right, right.
COCOSPIN
We’re saying, “Let’s give it a try.” For example, some of the shops along the approach to Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto are taking part.
SEI
What! That location is incredible. I’d absolutely want to go there as a tourist.
COCOSPIN
People from the shrine are participating too. We also focus on history—on the history of keeping something alive over many years, whether it’s hip-hop or anything else. For example, we interview traditional craftspeople.
SEI
Oh, wow.
COCOSPIN
We’ve actually been running it through an Instagram account called REPROGRAM 0811 since last December.
SEI
Is it held every year on August 11, or does it happen on other dates too?
COCOSPIN
August 11 is Hip-Hop Day, and this is our third year. We started it to mark hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.
Editor’s note: This answer is preserved as spoken. “Our third year” and the statement that the project began for hip-hop’s 50th anniversary point to different starting years; HIPHOPCs has not independently resolved that discrepancy.
SEI
Ah, I see. I think it’s a wonderful project.
COCOSPIN
So we’ll be sharing all the information through Instagram.
SEI
We’d definitely love to include the link.
SEI
Oh, I see.
COCOSPIN
It’s developing into a project that communicates the cultures shared by cities, people, and hip-hop. It’s a movement to bring hip-hop to local communities. I’m basically only active in Tokyo and Kyoto, though.
SEI
Who else is involved besides you?
COCOSPIN
The number of supporters is growing. You should join us too, SEI.
SEI
As the LA chapter?
COCOSPIN
Through this project, I’ve met people like ballet dancers. We don’t draw boundaries around genre. We’re doing it on the simple premise of, “If you love hip-hop, come join us!” Some people have started supporting us in their own way—for example, one shop created COCOSPIN coffee.
SEI
Wow, that’s interesting. I’d definitely love to participate too. There may be something we can do through our website. Thank you. There are COCOSPIN rice crackers too.
SEI
Where can you get them? In Kyoto?
COCOSPIN
That’s right. Projects like that are starting to take shape. The coffee is delicious too. There’s an area near Shichijo called Shimabara, and you can drink it at a café there.
SEI
Thank you. Is there anything else you’d like to add about this project?
COCOSPIN
Well, summer is about to begin. We weren’t really able to promote “Summer vibes” in the Kansai region last year, so that’s where I’d like to focus our efforts this time around.
Advice from COCOSPIN: Learning from the Past to Create the New
SEI
One final question. Do you have any advice or a message for our readers—for young people who want to become rappers or DJs, who hope to get involved in the industry like you have, or who aspire to reach the very top?
COCOSPIN
I think being able to devote yourself to something creative is a blessing. Then there’s the importance of giving your work a tangible form—and of thinking things through before you act. I believe that part is incredibly important.
SEI
I see.
COCOSPIN
We live in an age where, if you decide you want to do something, you can make it happen fairly easily. But the question is how much conviction lies behind it—
and, to borrow the phrase onko chishin—learning from the past to create the new—some people may be doing things without realizing that something similar has already existed before.
SEI
That’s true. Yeah.
COCOSPIN
In that sense, I think it can all be summed up by the phrase onko chishin.
SEI
Onko chishin.
COCOSPIN
With a new generation emerging in Japanese HIPHOP—and people of every age and gender stepping forward—it finally feels as though we’ve entered a new era, one where anyone can thrive. In the US, there’s a tradition of honoring people who have contributed to the culture, but Japan doesn’t really have that.
SEI
It doesn’t. We don’t have contribution awards or lifetime achievement awards. I wish people would show them much greater respect.
COCOSPIN
We’re going to keep working to make sure this culture isn’t simply consumed and discarded.
SEI
That’s wonderful. Those words carry real weight precisely because they come from you, COCOSPIN.
COCOSPIN
I’m still active, after all.
SEI
Exactly—and that gives your words weight. As I mentioned at the beginning, I’ve wanted to interview you for a long time and had so much I wanted to ask. It feels like that wish has finally come true.
It’s been an honor to have your time today and hear so many invaluable stories. Thank you very much.
COCOSPIN
Thank you.
After the Interview
Hip-hop culture has never stopped transforming with the times. “New sounds,” “new stars,” and “new values” emerge one after another, at a pace that accelerates each year.
Yet that “newness” never exists in isolation from the past. Japanese rap is where it is today because earlier generations forged paths where none had existed. Of everything COCOSPIN shared with us, what stayed with me most was the weight of his words.
When people picture a rapper, many likely imagine someone larger than life: outspoken, forceful, determined to follow their own path. The COCOSPIN I spoke with over the phone could not have been further from that stereotype.
He never rushed his answers. He chose his words with care, and his tone stayed calm throughout. He would take in what I’d said, then carefully articulate his own thoughts.
Partway through, it stopped feeling like I was speaking with a rapper. It felt more like sitting in a neighborhood temple, listening to the resident priest share his wisdom.
Perhaps that is why his words about onko chishin never sounded like empty platitudes—nor did his call to think before putting work into the world, or his message to “envision a beautiful life.”
They carried the weight of lived experience: words that could only come from someone who has spent more than 30 years at the culture’s forefront.
What struck me most was that, despite a career of such magnitude, he still calls himself “a newcomer with a long way to go” and “still active.” He stays free of arrogance, connects naturally with younger generations, and keeps learning himself.
That humility is surely one reason he has remained loved and respected at the forefront of the scene for more than three decades.
Throughout the interview, COCOSPIN kept returning to one idea: hip-hop connects people. It brings people together across generations, regions, and genres, and creates new culture in the process.
“REPROGRAM 0811,” held on August 11, is one initiative that embodies that philosophy.
Then there is “Summer vibes”, released last year. Behind its easygoing beat sits a gentle, powerful message to younger generations: “When you’re tired, take a break, then keep going,” and “Envision a beautiful life.”
It’s more than a summer track. It’s a song that can help you face life with a little more optimism.
Hip-hop is always evolving. But that evolution is only possible because people know its history, respect those who came before them, and carry the culture forward.
COCOSPIN is not an “OG” or “legend” who exists merely to recount the past. He remains active today: creating new work, engaging with a new generation, and thinking hard about the future of Japanese hip-hop.
This interview reaffirmed that hip-hop is more than music—it is a way of life.
The words of COCOSPIN, who has lived that way for more than 30 years, have the power to encourage anyone taking on a new challenge, not just aspiring rappers.
We hope you will listen to “Summer vibes” and then read this interview once more. Chances are, the view will look different the second time around.
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COCOSPIN Profile
COCOSPIN began his career as a rapper in 1993 and rose to prominence as a charismatic figure in Kyoto as one half of MAGUMA MC’s, a duo consisting of NOB and RYUZO. He made his major-label debut in 2003 with MAGUMA MC’s debut album, “MASSIVE”. His first solo album, “Spinning My World”, followed in 2006, and the EP “one道感do” came out in 2015.
In 2017, he launched the collaborative “Lyrics” series with master rappers and continues to release music through the project. He has also appeared as a featured artist alongside musicians from a wide range of genres.
Since 2014, he has actively explored collaborations between hip-hop and art. His work beyond the music scene includes performing at a fashion show by the French fashion brand “ANDREA CREWS” during the contemporary art festival “Nuit Blanche Kyoto” in 2015. He has also appeared at the “Bacon Prize” awards ceremonies held from 2014 to 2018, staged as related events for the contemporary art fair “Art Fair Tokyo” and the international exhibition “Yokohama Triennale”.
He continues to collaborate energetically with artists across a diverse range of disciplines.
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Continue Exploring HIPHOPCs
- Osaka Rap Atlas: 16 Representative Artists and a 1994–2026 Timeline
- More HIPHOPCs Exclusive Interviews in English
- Read the Original Japanese Interview
Sources and Official Links
- Apple Music: “Summer vibes” — official artist credits and August 11, 2025 release date
- TuneCore Japan: COCOSPIN artist profile — artist history and official destinations
- TuneCore Japan: “Summer vibes” credits and lyrics
- COCOSPIN: “Summer vibes” official music video
- REPROGRAM 0811 official Instagram
Original interview and Japanese article by Sei. This English edition was translated and edited by HIPHOPCs. Artist answers reflect the original interview date. Release metadata and official destinations were rechecked on August 19, 2026. Images were provided by COCOSPIN for this interview; photographer names were not included in the supplied materials.
