Kick The Can Crew

One of the most influential groups to ever emerge from Japan’s mainstream hip-hop scene, Kick the Can Crew was formed in Tokyo in 1996. Consisting of Kreva, MCU, and Little, the trio made their official debut in 2002 with the album Vitalizer, which reached Number 3 on the Oricon charts thanks to singles like “It’s Not Over” and “Lifeline.” Their next album, 2003’s Magic Number, peaked at Number 2 and was certified double platinum. That same year, the compilation Best Album 2001–2003 took the top spot on the Japanese charts. Shortly after issuing their third studio album Good Music in 2004, Kick the Can Crew went their separate ways to focus on their respective solo careers. Kreva, the driving force behind the group’s artistic endeavors, went on to become one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed artists in the Japanese rap game, releasing a total of six albums and over thirty singles between 2004 and 2013. A reinvigorated Kick the Can Crew reassembled in 2017 and delivered a fourth album titled Kick!, which climbed to Number 3 on the domestic charts. Subsequently, their Top 5 hit “Christmas Eve Rap,” originally released as a non-album single in 2001, re-entered the Japanese Top 200 in 2021 at Number 115.