KOHH

KOHH is a Japanese rapper and producer from Tokyo who emerged in the early 2010s as one of the most influential and idiosyncratic voices in Japanese hip-hop. Rather than following the boom-bap or gangsta-rap templates that dominated the scene before him, he built a raw, melodic, often confessional style that drew on trap, cloud rap and pop sensibilities, frequently producing his own beats and singing as much as rapping.

He rose through a series of mixtapes under the YELLOW T△PE banner before releasing full albums such as Monochrome, Dirt and Dirt II, tracks that blend street narratives with surprisingly tender, introspective lyrics about family, poverty and identity. His willingness to mix Japanese and English, and to sound vulnerable rather than purely tough, set him apart from his peers.

KOHH's reach extended well beyond Japan: he collaborated with international artists including Frank Ocean, T.O.P of Big Bang and OG Maco, and his track «Dirt boys» reportedly caught the attention of Western hip-hop figures, helping introduce Japanese rap to a wider global audience. He remains a touchstone for the current generation of Japanese rappers who cite him as an influence.