dominguap Interview: MOB SONGWARS and Japan’s Underground Hip-Hop
English translation of the original HIPHOPCs Japanese-language interview. Originally published in Japanese on February 22, 2026. Ages, plans and references to the present reflect the original interview, not a new interview conducted for this translation. The introduction, afterword and repeated phrasing have been condensed for this English edition.
Cypher projects built to discover emerging underground rappers have recently drawn increasing attention from hip-hop heads. Starting in the US, the format has spread to China, Japan, Taiwan, Spain and elsewhere, bringing more attention to the sounds emerging from it.
Why is the underground coming into focus now? One reason may be the musical freedom it allows.
The writer’s recommended tracks for each genre are embedded below. Give them a listen.
• Rage: futuristic synths and destructive 808s.
• Jerk: addictive, bouncing snares and layered percussion.
• Glo: brass, eerie leads and church bells creating a grand atmosphere.
• Plugg / pluggnb: floating, cloud-like synths and slower hi-hats.
• Supertrap: fast tempos and “alien hats” whose pitch shifts in steps.
• Speedtrap: unusual drum placement creating an elusive, strange bounce.
• Newjazz: sensual melodies built around seventh chords and jazz-tinged bass.
The underground contains all these styles and more. They are not fixed boxes: genres intersect, new elements enter, and the music keeps changing.
The freedom to mix these sounds is part of the underground’s appeal. Twitch streamer dominguap is one of the people introducing listeners to that music.
Known affectionately as DMG, he streams mainly on Twitch. His broadcasts range from reviewing new projects and hosting song battles to, sometimes, gaming.
One project that helped bring him wider recognition is MOB SONGWARS, where rappers bring unreleased music to compete in a song battle.
It has become a proving ground for young rappers and a way to build their presence in the scene.
HIPHOPCs spoke with dominguap about the viewer comment that led him to start doing reactions, how he found Worldwide Skippa, and why he gives friends the same honest response as anyone else.
Who Is dominguap, the Underground Talent Spotter?
Lucie: You’ve been appearing in different media lately, including N.E.E.T TOKYO. Could you introduce yourself and tell us who you are?
dominguap: Okayy. I’m dominguap, and I mainly stream about Japanese hip-hop on Twitch. People call me domingo or DMG, but dominguap is the name I stream under.
Lucie: Great to meet you. I’d like to start with your background. What has your life been like up to this point?
dominguap: I was born in Nagano, then lived in Brazil from age one to six. I’ve been in Japan since I was six.
Lucie: In Japan since six. You’re in Yamanashi now, right?
dominguap: Right. I used to go back to Brazil occasionally, but I haven’t been back at all lately.
I was originally in Nagano, but my parents divorced shortly before I finished elementary school, and I came to Yamanashi. From junior high, I lived in a housing complex with my dad, my paternal grandmother and her younger brother. About two or three years ago, I think, I moved into the house I’m in now.
Lucie: So that’s the path that brought you to the room we see on your streams.
You also rap and make beats. Could you tell us about artists who influenced you and the music you’ve listened to?
dominguap: Influential artists… More than artists, overseas streamers have probably influenced me most. I’ve watched Adin Ross and PlaqueBoyMax on Twitch for a long time. It’s not an exaggeration to say I absorbed overseas music through streams, too.
The music I listened to was fairly mellow—maybe not exactly R&B, but PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake, that kind of thing.
Lucie: Do you still like that quieter, laid-back vibe?
dominguap: Yeah. I listen to it pretty much every day.
Lucie: I remember the SONGWARS with ShowyRENZO and NEED A FLEX, when MAGUIRE entered with a sexy drill track. You got so excited and said, “This is my vibe!” [Laughs]
dominguap: Yeah, yeah. [Laughs]
Lucie: It surprised me because you usually cover underground sounds. So R&B is part of your roots, too.
dominguap: Sexy drill samples a lot of R&B, so there’s something there that hits me.
How He Started Streaming
Lucie: The first video through which I discovered you covered the beef between Badtripsage and Origami.
I hadn’t seen anyone covering Japan’s underground, and reviewing Japanese hip-hop through Twitch livestreams felt really fresh.
dominguap: Yeah. There really wasn’t anyone doing it.
Lucie: You were pretty much the only one.
Reaction channels on YouTube were growing quickly then, so prerecorded video seemed the obvious choice for starting hip-hop content. Was choosing livestreaming instead a decision that took courage?
dominguap: At first I was going to make videos. But I couldn’t get past the feeling that I was talking alone to a camera. I couldn’t get used to it.
It didn’t feel right, so I started streaming. Comments come in live, and knowing people are watching right now makes it much easier. Turning clips from a stream into videos is more efficient, too. That’s why I chose Twitch.
Lucie: What led you toward the format you use now—reactions to songs and song battles?
dominguap: Early on, before anyone was commenting, I often made songs by myself. Then someone commented that MIKADO had an album out. I said, “Let’s listen together next time,” and I think that’s how the reactions started.
Lucie: So you began by showing the process of making beats, then moved toward reactions.
dominguap: Exactly.
Why Focus on the Underground?
Lucie: Your first review video came out around August 2024, so it’s only been about a year and a half.
dominguap: Yeah, around that, I think.
Lucie: Isn’t that incredible? The growth since then is wild. [Laughs] Doesn’t it surprise you?
dominguap: Come on. [Laughs] There’s still a long way to go.
Lucie: But whenever I talk with friends who love hip-hop, your name comes up, and we end up talking about how exciting the underground is. It’s so active that I wonder if we can still call it underground.
Most of the artists you cover are underground rappers. Why did you start focusing on them rather than the mainstream?
dominguap: Mainstream artists become visible as soon as they get a little coverage. That’s partly why there’s another layer people call underground.
But I often find the people nobody’s paying attention to cooler. Honestly, even in the mainstream, there are artists who make me wonder why they’re blowing up when I don’t think they’re that good. I started focusing on the underground because I thought the people there were much more exciting.
MOB SONGWARS: A Challenge to the Mainstream
Lucie: Popularity doesn’t necessarily measure how good someone is. There are so many incredible underground artists.
MOB SONGWARS really shook that mainstream foundation. In particular, Worldwide Skippa made a huge impact. I remember someone’s tweet about it going through the roof.
dominguap: Yeah, it really took off. [Laughs]
Lucie: It shocked me. There was a feeling then that commercial success meant you were right, and that moment sent out huge ripples. What was it like to affect the wider conversation through your own project?
dominguap: When I first heard the song, I didn’t realize he was dissing Kohjiya. The next day I looked at X and thought, “Whoa, people are really talking about Skippa.” [Laughs]
Before then, I’d only heard one of his songs, submitted to the Self Promo section of the MOB Discord server. It was cool, so I invited him to SONGWARS. Then it blew up. That was completely unexpected—a result I hadn’t imagined.
Personally, I was really happy. Skippa has real skill. Seeing someone like that rise makes you happy, too. Yeah, I was simply happy.
Lucie: The impact of SONGWARS was huge.
Maybe that ripple was still there, because I think around four rappers who appeared on SONGWARS were picked for last year’s RAPSTAR, counting the application videos posted on X. I found myself thinking that the underground was getting right up against the mainstream.
dominguap: Definitely.
Lucie: But they’re not at the top of the charts yet, even though there’s so much amazing music. Do you think the underground will eventually topple the mainstream?
dominguap: I actually think it’s already happening.
MIKADO, for example, is already a mainstream-level artist, but he makes glo. Kaneee and MonyHorse are using sexy drill beats, too. In terms of sound, I think it has already reached the mainstream.
So that takeover might not be very far away.
A Scene That Draws You in Through Sound
Lucie: Worldwide Skippa, MIKADO and MonyHorse, whom we mentioned, are lyric-focused in a way, with humorous writing. Personally, I still feel most Japanese rap listeners prioritize what the lyrics say.
Meanwhile, you actively spotlight artists whose sound itself is compelling—people who feel good to listen to sonically. Is that a conscious choice?
dominguap: Yeah. Of course the lyrics matter, but so do the approach to the beat and the flow. The ideal is saying something interesting while riding the music really well.
But listening on SoundCloud, there often aren’t written lyrics, and sometimes you can’t tell what’s being said, right?
Lucie: Definitely. A familiar SoundCloud experience.
dominguap: Then I think what matters is how you get people listening through the sound and draw them into your world.
Lucie: Absolutely. Packaging that world is key.
I’ve heard many artists say they want people to listen to the sound. I want listeners to enjoy music as music, but a message is also inseparable from hip-hop’s nature.
In balancing sound and message, what kind of artist do you think will last?
dominguap: I see. In terms of balance, I think six to four.
Lucie: That’s pretty specific!
dominguap: Five to five might really be ideal, but very few people ride a great beat exactly as it calls for every time. Leaning too far to one side isn’t good; keeping a decent balance is best. Skippa has interesting lyrics and good beat choices, which I think is why so many listeners follow him.
Who lasts in the end? That’s difficult. Maybe people who make relatable rap.
Lucie: Is there a rapper you think does that at a high level right now?
dominguap: It’s entirely personal taste, but Kk£inflo.
Lucie: The artist behind “Fendi”! The album ∅ was incredible.
dominguap: Exactly. The sound is great, the lyrics have a thug quality, and you can feel him representing Okinawa. He’s really cool.
Lucie: He really is. The beats and how he rides them are fierce.
DMG’s Level Playing Field
Lucie: I’d like to ask about your approach to streaming.
You’re quite close to a lot of rappers. As your streams grow, I imagine you have more opportunities to connect with them.
But I wondered whether getting closer makes you hold back or feel less able to say certain things. How do you handle that?
dominguap: I see. Quite a few people ask me that.
I’ve known PAX0 and Skippa for a long time; we’re close enough to call each other friends. Even so, I’ve told both of them in person, “If you’re asking my opinion on music, I’m always going to be honest.”
An honest reaction is the starting point. If something I play on stream isn’t that good, I skip it. If you watch, you’ll know there are times when I practically snort and skip a track. [Laughs]
Lucie: There are! I’ve seen you say, “What? What just happened?” and skip. [Laughs]
dominguap: That happens, but when something hits, it hits. More people ask me to listen to their songs now. But if it doesn’t move me, my reaction is going to show that.
So being close to someone doesn’t mean I favor them or feature them more. I think the rappers understand that, too.
Lucie: They probably wouldn’t want favoritism or an opinion that wasn’t honest. I really like that approach.
dominguap: Exactly. Being even-handed isn’t so much a conscious effort as part of who I am.
Lucie: That makes sense. Your streams have a relaxed atmosphere that’s distinctly yours.
How do you see that quality yourself?
dominguap: I’m just myself. For better or worse, that’s how I stream, and I think the atmosphere comes from that.
Lucie: You really seem unpretentious, and I love that atmosphere.
You’re also really good at talking on your own. Comments arrive in real time, but they don’t actually speak back. Watching you keep things moving smoothly while using effects makes me think, “That’s impressive.”
Are you an indoor person who likes doing things alone?
dominguap: No, before I started streaming, I was seriously outsiiide.
Lucie: What? Really?
dominguap: Yeah. I was out all the time. When I had a job, I’d head somewhere with friends every day after work.
Lucie: So you were a proper party person! Maybe streaming is the pendulum swinging back the other way. [Laughs]
dominguap: Maybe. [Laughs] Like, “Let me stay home for a while.”
Lucie: And you’ve ended up doing what suits you best. It’s your calling!
What If dominguap Stopped Streaming?
Lucie: This is an extreme hypothetical, but if you stopped tomorrow, what do you think would happen to Japan’s underground hip-hop scene?
dominguap: Whoa. [Laughs] I don’t think it would change.
Lucie: That can’t be true! [Laughs] Would it really stay the same?
dominguap: I think so, but at least for viewers, there would be fewer chances to discover new music.
Lucie: A lot fewer, I think. It’s not just your streams—you also post clips of the artists who really move you.
dominguap: Right. Basically, the clips are the moments when something hits me on stream.
Lucie: That’s how I discovered MADEINBEN10, so I’m genuinely grateful.
dominguap: I see! [Laughs] I’m interviewing BEN10 tomorrow, so come watch. I’ll interview him just like I’m talking today. [Laughs]
Lucie: That’s right! I’ll watch. BEN10 is really taking off, too.
On that note, who are your favorite rappers right now, apart from Kk£inflo, whom we already mentioned?
dominguap: Let’s see. Can I name three?
Lucie: Absolutely!
dominguap: People might think I’m playing favorites lately, but this is my honest pick: h1ruka.
Lucie: He was incredible on SONGWARS and RAPSTAR. No question.
dominguap: Then D.Richie, who appeared in the first SONGWARS. He’s Brazilian and really good.
And Sonsi, probably.
Lucie: Sonsi is great. I love him. That line in the final stage about having his grandma to thank for being able to rap makes me cry every time. [Laughs]
I once saw you tweet that you wanted to play Valorant with Sonsi. Will that happen? I’m looking forward to it. [Laughs]
dominguap: He did ask what games I play. [Laughs] So there’s a chance.
Looking Ahead
Lucie: For about a year, people have been saying that at this rate, you’ll become Japan’s PlaqueBoyMax.
What do you want to become? Tell us about your vision for the future.
dominguap: In the near term, I want to throw a MOB party.
Longer term, I’d like to live abroad and make content there for Japanese audiences. Not just hip-hop—I want to cover other aspects of culture overseas, too.
In hip-hop, I’d like to link up rappers overseas with Japanese rappers. It would be great to be that connection.
Lucie: That sounds incredible. I’d love you to make a compilation album from that!
dominguap: Right? Wouldn’t that be great? I’d like to become a bridge between Japan and the world.
Related interviews: Rommy Montana explains how 03- Performance moved from online videos to live events. R-Naby recalls building a rap career through New York’s open mics.
#JP_UNDERGROUND_SONGWARS: The Project Underway at the Time of the Interview
Lucie: You’re currently running a project called #JP_UNDERGROUND_SONGWARS.
The winner gets a music video shot by Slumrich. How did that collaboration come about?
dominguap: During the previous SONGWARS, they contacted me suggesting a video for the winner, but we couldn’t get everything organized in time. This time, we finally made it happen.
Lucie: You could almost say that artists like Pxrge Trxxxper, X 1ark and Jahxncho first emerged through that channel. It’s seriously exciting.
Who would you like to enter?
dominguap: I think it’s a great opportunity for viewers to discover producers and rappers they don’t know yet. That’s why I’d like all kinds of people to participate.
Lucie: Hearing Slumrich’s name, some people might think they need a thug style. But you’re saying you want different styles, regardless of that?
dominguap: Exactly. We’re judging, and whether someone has that tough image doesn’t matter much. Everyone is welcome.
MOB: A Place Where Everyone Is Welcome
Lucie: Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say?
dominguap: If nobody around you listens to the kind of music you love, I want you to come to my stream at least once.
Tell me what you like. Everyone should feel free to stop by.
Lucie: Absolutely. If it’s good, everyone will welcome it!
We’ve talked for a while, but thank you for answering so many questions. I’m looking forward to the project!
dominguap: Okayyy. Thank you!
After the Interview
dominguap came across in conversation much as he does on stream: unpretentious, honest and welcoming. The underground can be intimidating, but his invitation is simple: drop by and tell him what you like.
His account of inviting Worldwide Skippa after hearing a single submission in the MOB Discord makes his role concrete. The streams give unfamiliar artists somewhere to be heard, and listeners somewhere to discover them.
Materials courtesy of dominguap.
Follow dominguap: Twitch / YouTube / Instagram / X / TikTok
Related Coverage
Our original announcement of #JP_UNDERGROUND_SONGWARS covers the entry process and the collaboration with Slumrich discussed in this interview. This Japanese-language report is historical coverage, not a current call for entries.
Editorial Notes
This article was edited from HIPHOPCs writer Lucie’s interview with dominguap. Statements reflect the interview in February 2026 and may differ from the present situation. Artist names, song titles and project details reflect information available at that time.
Copyright in the YouTube videos belongs to their respective artists and rightsholders. Videos are presented through YouTube embeds.
The article’s text, structure and analysis belong to HIPHOPCs. Please credit and link to this article when quoting it; unauthorized reproduction is not permitted.
For questions about this article, please contact us (Japanese).