My recent favorite Japanese Hip-Hop songs (in no particular order)
1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZlfnTfuQkU
Hannya- やってやる - Hannya is probably the best rapper in Japan out right now, he has an unorthodox style. Actually, the rapper he resembles the most is Eminem, his songs are always what they call "gag" rap, but don't let that turn you off, he can rap in just about any style, especially when you hear his freestyles, he absolutely rips it. His flow is ridiculous, he murders the second verse with crazy rhymes and flow.
2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB2MBo44F2U
Taboo-1 ft. Kan - ILL BROS. - First of all, this beat is ridiculous, sounds like a beat that El-P would make, it's produced by DJ Baku, one of the best producers out there, it's just dark and gritty, simplistic but yet complex at the same time. Of course, both the rappers kill it. Now Taboo held his own but of course Kan just murders this track and just about everything he gets his hands on. This song is from Taboo's album Life Style Masta, one of the best Hip-Hop albums of 2008.
3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVYh6E8Um0w
Anarchy- A Better Tomorrow - This track is from his album Dreams and Drama, but I always skip everything else and head straight for this track. This sample is just beautiful, if anyone can tell me what this sample is it would be appreciated it. The lyrics are soulful, a very NY-style Japanese Hip-Hop track, lots of storytelling about playing in the park, shooting hoops. Awesome music.
4.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ1rl...5B762D0C549004
Ski Beatz - 24 Bars to Kill - This seems to be a famous Japanese rap song, ok I don't know how many Japanese people listens to Japanese rap but there are lots of comments for this one. Everyone is talking about how Kan, the third rapper, completely demolishes this track, and he does, the first time I heard his verse was just crazy. The beat, produced by Ski Beatz, is hard as hell, makes you wanna punch somebody.
5.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JbXDTOtw5c
Zeebra - The Untouchable (prod. DJ Premier) - This is an old Japanese track, but it's produced by DJ Premier of all people, he chops up this piano laced sample for one of the best Japanese rappers Zeebra. I would say Zeebra was probably the pioneer for Japanese Hip-Hop and making it what it is now.
6.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00RpNcuMIgM
Zeebra - The Original Rhyme Animal - I just heard this album a week ago, and it's already a classic, and this song right here, Original Rhyme Animal, is without a doubt one of the best Hip-Hop tracks I've ever heard, it's easily up there with any classic US rap in my opinion. The beat is amazing, Zeebra delivers one of his best performances, and just demolishes this track. The lyrics are literally
7.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcugxt9Nlyw
Hunger - Before the Game - All you need to do is listen to the first 5 seconds of this song and you will already know this is a classic Japanese Hip-Hop track. Hunger completely devours this amazing, old-school, hard-hitting piano beat. Man what I listen to this beat, it's like this is what Hip-Hop is missing these days, rugged beats like this.
8.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gMVM...eature=related
鬼 － 言葉に出来ない - This song brings me joy and sadness at the same time, amazing what a simple beat like this can do. Oni is a good rapper, he has his own original style, sometimes he does spoken word, sometimes rap, but when he blends them both together it's amazing. This track right here, a great soul-reflecting song. Definitely a soothing Hip-Hop song.
9.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o6asJfW1Xo
BIG JOE - Freedom Flight - This track is produced by DJ Seiji, another very accomplished producer in Japan. However, this beat sounds eerily familiar to the song "Worst Comes to Worst" by Dilated Peoples. I wonder if it's the same sample? It definitely sounds similar. But whatever, I don't care, I like this version better. I seriously can't stop playing this.
10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz44mzhQO3Q
SLACK - But This is Way - One of the best Hip-Hop tracks of 2011, bar none. I couldn't stop playing this when I first heard it, because this song is dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the Tsunami in Japan. Hell, out of all the "dedication" tracks, this is probably the best. SLACK is amazing, one of the best rappers out right now, his poetic lyrics does this track justice:
whats good 眠るハニーの隣/夢でみたよな現実 サイレンがなり/押し寄せる津波、押し寄せる現実/夜が来るたびまた振り返る経験/なーマジ、くらうな、もう無理か/よーく考えな、こんな毎日のはずさ/鎖が外れたら不安がおとずれた/目の前かすれ またloveが溢れだす/I want 飛ぶw※※dとbeer、もうどうにもならないような日/死ぬ前の感覚に、つかの間の涙/Yellow Power気づきな、魂うずきだす/なぁまだまだイケるぜMen/ネガティブに奪われるなよ、お前のlife/お前のプランの続きを見せてみ/何はともあれ、お前は生きている /今一人なら 時間あるから/普段しないこと考えてみな/あ、笑えてきた 先があるから/人間としての本能割る腹/赤の他人も気付きな/忘れてるなら彼女にキスしな/終わりじゃない、これからが始まり /愛すべき家族、仲間、日本の血