Weekly J-RAP Songs
YZERR “MONEY RAIN feat. YTG” Review | Japan to ATL, a YouTube-Only Drop Before Toyosu PIT
J-Rap Hip-Hop ChartsYZERR dropped "MONEY RAIN feat. YTG" on YouTube only, ten days before his first solo show at Toyosu PIT. A Japan-to-ATL flag, read through YTG's casting, the 2:56 runtime, and the post-BAD HOP independent chapter.
HIPHOPCs
Global hip-hop news and Japanese rap culture from HIPHOPCs.
Latest stories
The Most Underrated Peoples: MEGA-G and Greedy on ILLBLOCK on What ‘Real Rap’ Means
MEGA-G and Greedy on ILLBLOCK discuss their roots, JUSWANNA, the making of The Most Undarated Peoples with H.A.D.E.S, penmanship, respect, and what younger rappers can learn from hip-hop’s fundamentals.
Young zetton on Ending His Artist Name, ‘LAST ALBUM’ and What Comes Next | Exclusive Interview
Kyoto rapper Young zetton explains why the 24-track ‘LAST ALBUM’ marks the end of his current name, working with Homunculu$, ALMAR$$$, RAPSTAR 2023, his past, social commentary, Kyoto’s scene and the name he may use next.
R-Naby Interview: Ending 13 Years in New York, Heading to LA, and Unveiling ‘Hey New York’
After 13 years in New York, Kyoto-born rapper R-Naby is preparing to relocate to Los Angeles with no job, home, or live connections lined up. In this second HIPHOPCs exclusive interview, he discusses the move, the ‘Hey New York’ concept album, and his plan to rebuild from zero before eventually returning to Japan.
HIPHOP CS Coachella 2026 Report: Just 8 of 138 Acts, but Rap Was Far From Weak
Of the 138 acts on the bill, HIPHOPCs Editorial counted just eight as hip-hop acts. That is the lowest tally in the eight years…
Benjazzy and Bonbero’s B2B Was Not Made in 17 Days: The 156-Day Record
B2B arrived 17 days after a tournament loss, but Bonbero had disclosed the album 156 days before release. Interviews and credits separate fact from the battle narrative.
Saitama Rap Atlas: 13 Core Acts Across Six Local Zones
Saitama has no single prefecture-wide sound. Follow 13 core acts and four artists to watch across Kawaguchi, Kasukabe, Tokorozawa, Ogose, Kumagaya, Fukaya and beyond.
Artist Profiles
Who Are RHYMESTER? The Method Behind Japanese Rap’s “King of Stage”
RHYMESTER turned Japanese rhythm, two MCs, one DJ and audience response into a method that survived a hiatus, a pandemic and two Budokan concerts.
Who Is SEEDA? The Flow, Hana to Ame and the Platforms Built for Other Voices
SEEDA developed a first-person flow and new routes for other voices through SCARS, Hana to Ame, CONCRETE GREEN, Neet Tokyo and Oyako Boshi.
Who Is DALU? Solo Introspection, Tokyo Young Vision and Full Commitment
DALU connects Odaiba, Normcore Boyz, Tokyo Young Vision and Unbirth, carrying solo introspection and collective celebration at full strength.
BADSAIKUSH: How Repetition Turned Memory into Literature
BADSAIKUSH turns repeating beats into narrative time. Trace the Fukaya rapper’s writing from Namedaruma’s early catalog to his verified 2026 position.
Kan a.k.a. GAMI: The Shinjuku Rapper Who Built Places to Perform
Kan a.k.a. GAMI turned Shinjuku street rap into crews, tournaments, labels and new rooms for other voices, from MSC and UMB to Kan Kitchen.
Who Is Tohji? From Mall Boyz and u-ha to a Final Concert at Tokyo Dome
A sourced English profile of Tohji: Mall Boyz, angel, Oreo, u-ha, zero-one, zero-two and the final Tokyo Dome concert scheduled for 2026.
Japanese rap news
The Most Underrated Peoples: MEGA-G and Greedy on ILLBLOCK on What ‘Real Rap’ Means
MEGA-G and Greedy on ILLBLOCK discuss their roots, JUSWANNA, the making of The Most Undarated Peoples with H.A.D.E.S, penmanship, respect, and what younger rappers can learn from hip-hop’s fundamentals.
Young zetton on Ending His Artist Name, ‘LAST ALBUM’ and What Comes Next | Exclusive Interview
Kyoto rapper Young zetton explains why the 24-track ‘LAST ALBUM’ marks the end of his current name, working with Homunculu$, ALMAR$$$, RAPSTAR 2023, his past, social commentary, Kyoto’s scene and the name he may use next.
R-Naby Interview: Ending 13 Years in New York, Heading to LA, and Unveiling ‘Hey New York’
After 13 years in New York, Kyoto-born rapper R-Naby is preparing to relocate to Los Angeles with no job, home, or live connections lined up. In this second HIPHOPCs exclusive interview, he discusses the move, the ‘Hey New York’ concept album, and his plan to rebuild from zero before eventually returning to Japan.
Saitama Rap Atlas: 13 Core Acts Across Six Local Zones
Saitama has no single prefecture-wide sound. Follow 13 core acts and four artists to watch across Kawaguchi, Kasukabe, Tokorozawa, Ogose, Kumagaya, Fukaya and beyond.
Niigata–Hokuriku Rap Atlas: Five Prefectures, No Single Center
Five prefectures, no single center. This atlas maps 10 core acts across four prefectures, Toyama production ties, official UMB records and a 1999–2026 timeline.
Sendai & Tohoku Rap Atlas: 10 Defining Artists, Jazzy Sport and a Scene Without One Center
A sourced map of Tohoku rap: ten defining artists, two artists to watch, Morioka’s distribution network, Sendai’s institutions and a completed arena-scale festival.
Charts
The Most Underrated Peoples: MEGA-G and Greedy on ILLBLOCK on What ‘Real Rap’ Means
MEGA-G and Greedy on ILLBLOCK discuss their roots, JUSWANNA, the making of The Most Undarated Peoples with H.A.D.E.S, penmanship, respect, and what younger rappers can learn from hip-hop’s fundamentals.
Young zetton on Ending His Artist Name, ‘LAST ALBUM’ and What Comes Next | Exclusive Interview
Kyoto rapper Young zetton explains why the 24-track ‘LAST ALBUM’ marks the end of his current name, working with Homunculu$, ALMAR$$$, RAPSTAR 2023, his past, social commentary, Kyoto’s scene and the name he may use next.
R-Naby Interview: Ending 13 Years in New York, Heading to LA, and Unveiling ‘Hey New York’
After 13 years in New York, Kyoto-born rapper R-Naby is preparing to relocate to Los Angeles with no job, home, or live connections lined up. In this second HIPHOPCs exclusive interview, he discusses the move, the ‘Hey New York’ concept album, and his plan to rebuild from zero before eventually returning to Japan.
HIPHOP CS Coachella 2026 Report: Just 8 of 138 Acts, but Rap Was Far From Weak
Of the 138 acts on the bill, HIPHOPCs Editorial counted just eight as hip-hop acts. That is the lowest tally in the eight years…
Benjazzy and Bonbero’s B2B Was Not Made in 17 Days: The 156-Day Record
B2B arrived 17 days after a tournament loss, but Bonbero had disclosed the album 156 days before release. Interviews and credits separate fact from the battle narrative.
Saitama Rap Atlas: 13 Core Acts Across Six Local Zones
Saitama has no single prefecture-wide sound. Follow 13 core acts and four artists to watch across Kawaguchi, Kasukabe, Tokorozawa, Ogose, Kumagaya, Fukaya and beyond.