By HiphopTokyo Staff | June 3, 2025 K-Pop and hip-hop have long shared a complex, intertwined relationship—one where admiration often risks crossing the line into appropriation. That line was tested again this April when Julie, a member of the rising K-pop group Kiss of Life, held a birthday livestream themed around “old school hip hop.”…
Tokyo–London, February 20, 2020 – Known for melting minds as the bassist and vocalist of psychedelic noise-rock band Bo Ningen, Taigen Kawabe is now exploring brand new sonic dimensions with his solo project: Ill Japonia. Trading in distorted riffs and feedback for crisp trap production, Taigen steps fully into the world of experimental rap. His…
Tokyo, January 7, 2024 – Japan’s beat wizard Sweet William is set to return with a powerful new statement. His upcoming album “SONORAS”, dropping January 31, promises to be a genre-bending exploration of rhythm, culture, and collaboration. Coming three years after his critically acclaimed Beat Theme, SONORAS represents a bold evolution—an intersection of lo-fi soul,…
Tokyo, February 8, 2023 – One of Japan’s most powerful voices in hip-hop, Awich, continues her hot streak with the release of two major singles via Andmusic: “Remember” and “Longiness Remix.” These collaborations bring together some of the scene’s finest talents, including KEIJU, Chico Carlito, and SugLawd Familiar. Both tracks made waves during Awich’s striking…
Published: May 20, 2025 | Culture Move over mainstream — Japanese rap is writing its own rules, and nowhere is that more clear than at Pop Yours, the country’s biggest rap-only festival. Held at the sprawling Makuhari Messe arena, the event has become a mecca for fans of Japan’s ever-evolving hip-hop scene. With 30,000 people…
