G PLANTS and STUTS Link Up for Red Bull 64 Bars, Sampling Tom Misch’s “The Journey”
Japanese hip-hop has delivered another notable collaboration this October, as rapper G PLANTS joined forces with producer STUTS for the 64th episode of Red Bull 64 Bars. The performance, released on October 22, 2026, brings together G PLANTS’ direct lyrical style and STUTS’ production, built around a sample of British musician Tom Misch’s “The Journey.”
The accompanying single, titled “GET GLUE 64 Bars,” arrived on streaming platforms on October 23, giving listeners an opportunity to experience the collaboration beyond the original video performance.
G PLANTS Continues His Solo Journey
G PLANTS is known for his association with Japanese hip-hop group 舐達麻 (Namedaruma), which established a strong presence in the country’s rap scene through its distinctive sound and street-focused storytelling.
After a period away from active music-making, G PLANTS began pursuing a solo career in August 2026 with the release of “Ryuchijo.” He followed that track with “Downer’s Inner Circle” in September, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
His appearance on Red Bull 64 Bars gives him another platform to establish his identity as a solo artist. Rather than relying on a group setting, the format places the focus entirely on his delivery, lyrics and ability to maintain a performance across an extended verse.
In an interview published by Red Bull Japan, G PLANTS described the experience as challenging, particularly because performing 64 bars in one take was not something he had done frequently. He also spoke about feeling nervous while performing in front of the production team.
That sense of pressure is part of what makes the series compelling. With minimal distractions, the rapper must carry the performance through his voice, writing and presence alone.
STUTS Brings Experience to the Production
The production comes from STUTS, one of Japan’s prominent hip-hop producers and a musician known for working across different sounds and artistic styles.
His involvement carries additional significance because he produced the first installment of the Japanese Red Bull 64 Bars series in 2018, collaborating with New Zealand rapper David Dallas. Returning for episode 64 creates a connection between the project’s early days and its latest chapter.
For this collaboration, G PLANTS approached STUTS with a specific request: to create a beat using “The Journey,” a track by British musician Tom Misch.
STUTS explained that sampling a piece of music that already felt complete presented an interesting creative challenge. The process required him to reshape the original material into a new instrumental that could support G PLANTS’ performance while retaining its own musical identity.
The result also produced an unexpected coincidence. G PLANTS’ verse came to exactly 64 bars, matching the format of the series. Neither artist initially knew that the recording would become the 64th installment when they were working on the track.
The connection between the number of bars and the episode number gave the release an additional layer of significance.
Why Tom Misch’s “The Journey” Matters
Sampling is a central part of hip-hop production, allowing producers to reinterpret existing music and introduce it to new audiences.
Tom Misch’s music draws from elements of soul, jazz and contemporary production, providing a different musical starting point from the harder-edged sounds associated with parts of Japanese street rap.
By reworking “The Journey,” STUTS creates an opportunity for those contrasting musical identities to meet. The instrumental serves as the foundation, while G PLANTS supplies the lyrics and delivery that give the track its character.
The collaboration also demonstrates how Japanese hip-hop continues to engage with musical influences beyond its domestic scene without abandoning its own language, experiences and artistic perspectives.
Rather than presenting the sample as a simple reference to another musician, the production process turns it into part of a new performance designed specifically for the 64 Bars format.
Red Bull 64 Bars Keeps the Focus on the MC
Red Bull 64 Bars is built around a straightforward concept: one rapper, one microphone and 64 bars delivered over a beat. The stripped-back setup makes the rapper’s writing, flow and musical choices the main attraction.
The format has become a platform for artists to demonstrate their abilities without relying on a conventional music video’s narrative or elaborate visual production. It also allows producers to build distinctive instrumentals around the personality of each featured MC.
G PLANTS’ appearance follows that tradition while adding a connection to the series’ history through STUTS’ return. Their collaboration brings together an artist establishing a solo identity and a producer who helped launch the Japanese edition of the project.
The release arrives at a moment when G PLANTS is rebuilding his musical momentum. His recent singles and new collaborations suggest that he intends to remain active and develop a body of solo work rather than treating his return as a brief appearance.
STUTS has also continued to pursue his own projects, with a solo career anniversary performance scheduled for November 7, 2026, at Nippon Budokan.
A New Chapter for G PLANTS
“GET GLUE 64 Bars” is more than a guest appearance on a well-known hip-hop platform. It gives G PLANTS an opportunity to present his writing in a format that leaves little room for distraction, while STUTS supplies a production approach shaped by both sampling and the demands of the performance.
The collaboration’s significance lies in that meeting of perspectives. G PLANTS is working to define his direction as a solo rapper, while STUTS brings experience from both the early history and current evolution of Red Bull 64 Bars in Japan.
With the video released on October 22 and the single following the next day, the collaboration gives Japanese hip-hop listeners a fresh performance to examine as the month draws to a close.
For G PLANTS, the next challenge will be turning this renewed activity into a sustained solo career. For STUTS, the release reinforces his continuing role as a producer capable of bringing different musical ideas into the Japanese hip-hop landscape.
