Shurkn Pap

Born in 1997, Shurkn Pap is a rapper proudly hailing from the city of Himeji. In addition to his solo work, he is part of a crew called MaisonDe that he formed with childhood friends from his hometown. His unusual stage name is a combination of “shuriken” (ninja throwing star), which he chose to give it a Japanese feel, and a shortened version of “paprika”.

Shurkn Pap’s music is particularly notable for its catchiness and versatility, effortlessly fusing modern hip-hop with influences from genres such as '80s pop, funk, soul, R&B and rock. He credits his music-loving father for instilling this appreciation for a wide range of genres in him as a child.

Although he wanted to be a rapper for many years, he began his music career as a DJ in 2013, performing under the name DJ Koody, due to lacking confidence in his freestyling abilities. However, after spending time travelling overseas and being inspired by the confidence and ability to take action he saw in the people around him, he decided to pursue rapping seriously in 2017. The song Road Trip from his first EP Various, released in 2018, was a surprise hit, kicking his career off in earnest.