Genres
20 hip-hop DJ events observed in Tokyo, centred on Shibuya, Jimbocho and Asagaya. Featured venues: RECORD BAR JBC, club bar FAMILY and DJ Bar Azumaya.
MUSIC / GUIDE
Rap, sampling and a beat you can feel: hip-hop DJ events let you enjoy both the tracks and the way a selector connects them. A night of familiar records can feel very different from a beat showcase or a party built around new releases. Look beyond the genre label to find the kind of session you want.
WREP’s first-Saturday session brings together DJ K.DA.B, DJ JUSTY, and DJ FUJIMARU. The music spans hip-hop, R&B, reggae, Latin, and afrobeats. It is an early-evening entry point into a broad Black-music-focused dancefloor.
This special celebrates Pleasure’s 29th anniversary and Nicchome’s ROOTS & BALLADS release. A 180-minute Nicchome set anchors a bill of rappers, live acts, guest DJs, and resident DJs. It is a long, community-driven hip-hop gathering at club bar FAMILY.
Fuckin' JAY's Groove Heaven spans hip-hop, R&B, soul, funk, disco, and jazz. Seven DJs join food vendor Aro to Pan for the evening. It is a Saturday OTO session for drinking and dancing around the groove.
NON-FICTION brings guest DJ theoretic to RECORD BAR JBC in Jimbocho. DJ CELORY, YOKE aka DJ REDBLOOD, ENO, and SOMEKEN join a program spanning hip-hop, R&B, disco, and soul. It is a compact record-bar night built for settling into a deep groove from early evening.
B-Boy Drinking Session takes place at RECORD BAR JBC in Jimbocho. DJ CHORI, DJ Shinichi, DJ GANE, and DJ KINOKO are among the announced DJs, playing from 19:30 to 23:30. It is a weeknight gathering that pairs DJs and drinks in an intimate record-bar setting.
UPTOWN FRIDAY begins after midnight on the second floor of Shibuya's OR. Guest Liberty arrives from Osaka for a night spanning dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, trap, R&B, soca, and afro. It is a bass-forward dance session built to run deep into the night.
A one-night-only MIDNIGHT EAST event marking ten years since the release of juzzy 92’. KEIJU (Young Juju) will perform material from the release, alongside artists and DJs recreating the atmosphere of that night a decade ago. The anniversary program spans Spotify O-EAST and AZUMAYA.
EN TO DANCE is built around Zton's release live for the second album, RAP GAME, at Asagaya DRIFT. Live acts 64DX, Hawk-I, and Daigaku Chap join a DJ roster that includes andrew of TREKKIE TRAX. It connects rap performance and DJ sets into a concentrated evening party.
The fourth edition of Ban Yu In Ryoku gathers seven DJs at OTO. A Japanese rap intro quiz adds a participatory element to the music-focused night. It is an early Sunday session for sharing enthusiasm around Japanese rap.
vivid Friday comes to the 7th floor of R-Lounge in Shibuya. Fatty appears as guest, @ISM_FH performs a birthday live set, and residents including TVS, SANGA, and SKYE join a broader DJ lineup. It is a Friday night driven by birthday energy across live performance and DJ sets.
A promoter-led event at RECORD BAR JBC in Jimbocho. The bill includes Esosa Vee, noted in connection with Rapstar, and DJ LEAH, who has competed internationally through THE ONE. It brings an adult-oriented lineup into the setting of a Jimbocho record bar.
THE ALCHEMIST returns to Japan for his first performance in roughly three years. The late-night MIDNIGHT EAST program features THE ALCHEMIST with further performers to be announced. It is a large-scale hip-hop night spanning Spotify O-EAST and AZUMAYA.
Lyricist Lounge Vol.4 is scheduled at club bar FAMILY with TKda Kurobuchi appearing. The available announcement does not confirm door time or price. Watch for follow-up information from the venue or performer.
Brooklyn rapper and producer Kota the Friend makes his first Japan headline appearance at Daikanyama UNIT. The Tokyo date arrives with his latest album, JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE!, as part of the tour's Japan visit. It is a chance to hear the artist's independent musical world in a live setting.
The fourth Asagaya Cypher welcomes participants, spectators, and DJs at Asagaya DRIFT. Microphone use is available, and beginners are explicitly welcome. Under-22 guests enter for the cost of one drink, making it an easy way into a local hip-hop gathering.
GIANT Vol.114 is a late-night hip-hop party at Shibuya club bar FAMILY, opening at 23:00. Guest live acts KIN DA SHER ROCK and hI-sO are joined by guest DJ WATMAN BEGINZ. The bill combines live performance and DJ sets for a dense night of hip-hop energy.
FILBOS brings seven artists including Bungo, Haneul, and Ryuju Tanoue to Azumaya late at night. The announcement points to house, techno, bass music, and hip-hop, creating a meeting point for several dance-music contexts. It suits those looking to spend a deep Shibuya night with broad musical range.
UMB REVENGE is scheduled for RECORD BAR JBC. It is announced as an MC battle event connected to UMB. The available notice does not confirm performers, price, or schedule details.
DJ KRUSH brings his latest album, TOKYØHUM, on a nine-city Japan tour. Its Tokyo date is scheduled for December 27 at Daikanyama UNIT. Further details are to be announced, while the show points toward a DJ KRUSH live set shaped by the world of the new album.
Low Beat Circle brings hip-hop and drum-and-bass to ZUBAR at year-end. Guest DJ Calorie joins SYZZY SALYK and five further DJs. Starting at 18:00 and running to midnight, it is built around bass-weighted rhythms for the final days of the year.
