J-rap

J-rap, a subgenre of Japanese hip-hop, is characterized by its eclectic fusion of traditional and modern elements. Born in the 1980s, j-rap evolved from the country's underground hip-hop scene, influenced by American rap and local styles like enka and J-pop. By the 2010s, j-rap had gained mainstream popularity, with a new wave of artists blending rapid-fire flows, jazz-infused instrumentals, and introspective lyrics. J-rap's cultural significance lies in its reflection of Japan's urban youth culture and its intersection of traditional and modern identities. While sharing similarities with Western hip-hop, j-rap is distinct in its incorporation of Japanese instrumentation, such as shamisen and taiko drums, and its lyrical focus on social issues and personal struggles. The genre's versatility and experimentation have led to a unique sound, blending genres like jazz, rock, and electronic music, and setting it apart from other international rap styles.

Latest J-rap Release
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All Pain 4 Me
Album - 14 Tracks - Released March 21, 2025
Top Artists Spotify Logo
CHANMINA
BAD HOP
¥ellow Bucks
Awich
KEIJU
LEX
Top Playlists
The Sound of Japanese Pop Rap 111 J-rap artists
The Sound of Japanese Old School Hip Hop 100 J-rap artists
The Needle / Japan 48 J-rap artists
The Needle / Japan - Current 27 J-rap artists
The Sound of Japanese Dance Pop 23 J-rap artists
The Needle / Japan - Underground 18 J-rap artists

RecentMusic users are tracking 518 J-rap artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 8,722 releases .

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Get Started Browse Arists
  1. March 21, 2025
  2. March 19
  3. March 19
  4. March 14
  5. March 7
  6. February 28
  7. February 28
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    Agari
    1 tracks
  8. February 28
  9. February 26
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  15. February 21
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    1 tracks
  16. February 21
  17. February 19
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  20. February 15
  21. February 14
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  23. February 12
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    Over
    2 tracks
  24. February 12
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  26. February 11
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    SSS
    2 tracks
  27. February 10
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    1 tracks
  28. February 9
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  38. February 3
  39. February 3
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    TO ME
    5 tracks
  40. February 1
  1. March 21, 2025
  2. February 19
  3. February 12
  4. February 5
  5. February 5
  6. February 3
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    TO ME
    5 tracks
  7. February 1
  8. January 31
  9. January 31
  10. January 29
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    2b2t
    4 tracks
  11. January 29
  12. January 29
  13. January 29
  14. January 28
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    B&B
    7 tracks
  15. January 24
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  17. January 22
  18. January 1
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    Crush
    7 tracks
  19. December 26, 2024
  20. December 24
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    7
    5 tracks
  1. March 19, 2025
  2. March 19
  3. March 14
  4. March 7
  5. February 28
  6. February 28
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    Agari
    1 tracks
  7. February 28
  8. February 26
  9. February 26
  10. February 26
  11. February 26
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  13. February 26
  14. February 21
  15. February 21
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    1 tracks
  16. February 19
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  18. February 15
  19. February 14
  20. February 12
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    Over
    2 tracks