Hiroi Sekai (Worldwide) – J $tash, KOHH & Young Sachi (Andy Milonakis)

“貧乏なんて気にしない” Official Video [Translation: I don’t mind if I’m poor]

Japanese rapper KOHH has been making waves in the international hip-hop scene for quite some time now. After joining up with rapper J $tash’s Relax Gang for the track and comedian, former TV star and social media star Andy Milonakis. KOHH’s Riverside mixtape goes beyond the highly catchy, viral song as he dives into American street rap and trap music on tracks like “NBA” with his semi-frequent use of the “N” word, and a club-ready “definitely goes hard” remix of his “Hello Kitty” by Watapachi.

The second track has KOHH reminiscing on his upbringing in the streets of Japan. Kohh explains this is where he saw plenty of drug use, violence, killings and other aspects of growing up in rough neighborhoods that most Japanese people are never even exposed to. KOHH said in an article in Public Radio International he “lamented the fact hip-hop culture is seen as strange in Japan. But he hopes to change that…” His breakout-single “Hiroi Sekai” is making waves on Youtube, WorldStarHipHop, Vimeo and many more sites as are his mixtapes on illMixtapes and HotNewHipHop.

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[Original Article from UK Complex: 25 Japanese Artists You Should Know]

Chill Instrumental Beats from Japan / Evisbeats

Ambient Hip-Hop / Electronic – 水曜日のカンパネラ『ミツコ』

Want to know about more Japanese rap acts, like a Japanese woman who raps about Finaru Fantaji (Final Fantasy), the Edan-reminscent Issugi from Monju, or hip-hop and ambient instrumental producer Evisbeats (reminscent of Pharcyde, Flying Lotus, or even Nujabes. Check out this blog post from the UK version of Complex for more great Japanese acts:

25 Japanese Artists You Need to Know About (UK Complex)