Rap and Cook
Japanese rappers, tattoos, curry, loneliness, and the raw words thrown into an unstable world
I found a fun cooking program called “Kan’s Kitchen” on YouTube.
MC Kan, one of the legends of Japanese rap, invites rappers who usually do not speak casually in public and cooks with them while chatting.
I noticed that many of the rappers had tattoos, even on their necks and faces. It made me think that rap culture may be one reason tattoos became more common among young Japanese people. These are not traditional ukiyo-e-style irezumi, but more Western-style tattoos without the same meanings or restrictions.
Most of the guests on the program were men. They say they don’t cook, seem uncomfortable wearing aprons. It was funny and even cute.
AK-69 (pronounce as ei-kei-sixty-nine) started rapping at the age of 17. He was arrested then and spent two years in a juvenile correctional facility, and dropped out of high school in Aichi Prefecture. After leaving the institution, he began his career as a rapper.
Interestingly, he was one of the few guests on the show who could actually cook well.
YZERR (pronounce as “wiser”) from BAD HOP proudly represented his hometown of Kawasaki, an area known for its rough image in Kanagawa Prefecture. After he was arrested at 14 and sent to a juvenile correctional facility where he started writing lyrics and corresponds to his twin brother to form a rap duo and a group BAD HOP later on. Their lyrics often describe poverty, crime, arrests, and rising through rap music.
On the cooking show, YZERR cooked terribly and nearly set the kitchen on fire.
Some rappers don’t have tattoos.
Creepy Nuts is a duo made up of R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga. R-Shitei (meaning R-rated in Japanese) won major freestyle rap tournaments three times in a row, while DJ Matsunaga became an international DJ champion. Together, they are an exceptionally skilled pair.
R-Shitei seems completely devoted to rap. Surrounded by gangstas and rappers with criminal records, he was called a “rap otaku,” someone obsessively focused on rap. Although “otaku” once described people seen as socially awkward and obsessed with anime, games, or niche hobbies, the word has recently taken on a more positive meaning. Despite being an otaku, he has earned respect because of his skills.
In the cooking video, he clearly showed his one-track mind. He could not cook and talk at the same time.
SKRYU (pronounced “screw”) worked at a bank after graduating from Ehime University. But he could not give up rap, so he quit his job and moved to Tokyo. His rap flow is unique and honestly a bit slimy.
In the cooking program, he was scolded by MC Kan throughout the show because he did not know how to cook. In the end, though, he made a rap using the theme Kan gave him and somehow made it work. It may have looked like bullying, but it was actually a typical Japanese senpai-kohai (senior-junior) style of harsh playful teasing.
DOTAMA worked as a salaryman in Tochigi Prefecture for ten years before quitting to pursue rap seriously. Unlike many rappers, he continued wearing suits and ties during rap battles, which made him stand out among the rough street fashion around him.
He did not appear on the cooking program, but I simply liked him for his clear and fierce delivery. I also admire his willingness to take on new challenges: battling female rappers, joining reggae mix style rap battles, and making songs that criticize our own culture under the guise of political commentary.
Sonsi is a new star. He is socially withdrawn and lives on his disability benefits and his grandmother’s pension in Kagoshima Prefecture. He is tall, with long hair and a quiet presence.
People say his appearance on “Kan’s Kitchen” was quickly deleted once because he explained that his stage name “sonsi“ originally came from the Japanese word guru.
It immediately reminded many Japanese viewers of the leader of Aum Shinrikyo, the cult responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack. It was considered too sensitive for broadcasting. Now removed that part, the video is back online.
He cooked a special curry inspired by his song. The curry was made by his grandmother, whom he calls “BBA” (pronounced “bi-bi-ei”), a newer rude slang term in Japanese for an older woman.
I translated his lyrics into English. The flow is different from the original language, but I hope the vibe still reaches you.
BBA Spice
[Intro]
This shitty-smelling town is where it all began
Skipping baths fit me perfectly
Throwing on clothes I hadn’t washed for days
In my friend’s Prius, driving through town
[Chorus]
“Are you eating at home tonight?”
BBA is calling me
Good food every day
Feels like a reward to me
Swag and my disability card
Equipped on my body
My fragile mentality
Like a broken shoji
Crying quietly
Behind thin sliding doors
BBA was always there
Right beside me
Cleaning up my room
Keep feeding me
With BBA’s spices
The pain drifts out of me
[Verse 1]
Like a roach in the house, that was me
Only thing high was my height, low key
I’m the home security
Destruction and rebirth
Over and over till I finally find happiness
Dropped out of high school
Jumped ship from driving school
Getting PayPay handouts, a wimpy
Forever staying in the house
Social recluse
Maybe now I can break out, ayo
[Chorus]
“Are you eating at home tonight?”
BBA is calling me
Good food every day
Feels like a reward to me
Swag and my disability card
Equipped on my body
My fragile mentality
Like a broken shoji
Crying quietly
Behind thin sliding doors
BBA was always there
Right beside me
Cleaning up my room
Keep feeding me
With BBA’s spices
The pain drifts out of me
[Outro]
BBA spice in my veins
My day one always stays by my side
Maid and boss of the home
She gets mad sometimes, that’s on me alone
Original lyrics in Japanese: https://genius.com/Sonsi-bba-spice-lyrics
Live Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DznBr5sBEF0&list=RDDznBr5sBEF0&start_radio=1
Beneath the tattoos, slang, and noise, the rappers were throwing raw words up into the air, while the listeners tried to catch the vibes. That’s the way we keep the shape of this divided world together.
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