JP the Wavy is in his own space right now in the re-energized, buzzy Japanese Hip Hop scene, and he’s owning it. Last year Wavy was number 13 on the LiFTED 50, but he’s had a great 2023 and 2024. This year he rockets straight up to number 2. He’s the most interesting rapper in Japan right now, with the possible exception of this year’s number one, AWICH. Yes, he released some new heat, like last summer’s ‘What’s Poppin’ Feat. LANA and his recent R&B surprise ‘Just Like Dat’ with the boy band Psychic Fever, which has definitely opened him up to a much wider audience. Also, his take on the From the Block YouTube series, ‘Okay’ was a flaming arrow straight to the dome.

It was really his collab with the smiley-face god himself, artist Takashi Murakami, that has cemented his status as a creative force to be reckoned with. Wavy has long styled and creatively directed his videos, but now his line of cartoony bling jewelry includes the world-renowned smiley-faced flowers, and the two artists have collabed on a theme song for Murakami’s first exhibition in Japan in eight years called Takashi Murakami: Mononoke Kyoto. We understand that there is more to come from this unlikely but so perfect dynamic duo. Regarding the studio experience with Murakami, Wavy said, “Usually, I incorporate my own image into the lyrics, but this time, I worked on incorporating Murakami's vision. I went to the studio with Murakami several times to work on it, and each time, I felt like I was being allowed to do something amazing. It made me realize once again the depth of Murakami Takashi's art and the passion he puts into each piece.”

Wavy went on, “It all started with a sudden message on Instagram, and before I knew it, I was in Takashi Murakami's studio creating music together. We're not stopping at just making the tracks; we have a lot more ideas in the works. Expect to see JP THE WAVY & Takashi Murakami showing up together regularly, not just as a one-time collab, but as a long-term unit.

It’s one thing to make hot tracks and spit crazy bars, but to collab with one of the true Dons of the art world…that’s JUICE.