A new season of ABEMA’s hip-hop audition show “RAPSTAR Tanjou” is currently in progress.
The popular show, which had its first season in 2017, aims to uncover the next rap star. It offers an alternative to Japan's many freestyle-focused competitions, instead having contestants focus on presenting more polished lyrics and performances
that highlight their unique style. Each season, well-known producers are called upon to create beats that are unveiled to the public, and the contestants must choose a shortened version of one to rap over, sending in a video of themselves performing as part
of the application.
Applicants who are selected will compete in various challenges, including live performances and completing a full song using the beat from their application video. The winner receives 3 million yen to use for their future music activities.
Past winners of the audition have included
Leon Fanourakis,
¥ellow Bucks and
ralph, and the winner of the latest season, which took place in 2023, was
ShowyVICTOR.
Beatmakers who contributed to the upcoming 2024 season include
Chaki Zulu,
Homunculu$,
JIGG,
KM,
Lil’Yukichi and
VaVa. The six beats they created can be streamed on the audition's
official website. The application
period ended on January 28th, and videos that were selected from the 5,785 submissions are gradually being unveiled on "RAPSTAR"’s X (Twitter) account at the moment to drum up hype for the new season. However, it has been noted that not all of the applicants whose videos are being shared were actually
selected to appear on the show.
While "RAPSTAR" does not allow artists who have had a major debut or who are currently signed with a label or agency to apply, more established independent artists are welcome to take part. Some familiar faces who submitted videos this year include
Tokyo’s
who28 and
kamui and Ehime’s
Frankkiss (a former contestant from the "BAZOOKA!!! High School RAP Championship" under the name
Loco).
You can watch their application videos below, and many more videos from aspiring artists are available on "RAPSTAR"’s official
X (Twitter) account.
who28, using
VaVa's beat:
kamui, using
JIGG's beat:
Frankkiss, using
Chaki Zulu's beat:
