English words and phrases have been a part of the Japanese MC's arsenal since hip-hop culture began making inroads here in the early to mid-1980s.
"Bilingual rap," however, became a more prominent style when seminal rap group Buddha Brand came out in the mid-'90s with lyrics that heavily incorporated American slang.
After spending time in New York, the four-piece made its debut in Japan in 1996 with the single "Ningen Hatsudensho" ("Human Power Plant"). The track's free-spirited, punchline-heavy lyrics and mellow, jazzy beat made it a bona fide Japanese hip-hop classic. Buddha Brand, whose member Dev Large (aka D.L.) passed away earlier this year, was hugely influential in opening up the domestic scene to more diverse styles.
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