Japanese rapper MAEENARAE calls out The Weeknd & Bruno Mars for pandering to Japan while the country sleeps
This track is by MAEENARAE, an underground Japanese rapper who doesn’t get mainstream attention — probably because of exactly what this song is about.
The song roasts foreign artists (The Weeknd, Bruno Mars) who perform “Japan love” purely for promo, while calling out Japanese people for eating it up. It also takes shots at the government, the declining yen, and the general numbness of Japanese society.
Added note: 👇
What I really wanted to say was how deeply frustrated I am by how Japanese people blindly praise big-name foreign artists and major rappers without even understanding their lyrics.
My track was a diss to those Japanese rappers who have no real technique, write hollow bars, and don't actually understand Hip-Hop.
It's hard to bridge the gap between Japanese and English lyrics, but I love Conscious Rap and I absolutely hate Gangsta Rap. I wanted everyone overseas to know that there is a Japanese artist out here who takes lyricism this seriously.
But I get it now—it seems my message won't hit home no matter where I go.
So, I'm sorry, everyone……
Lyrics with translation:
The Weekend のリップサービス
The Weeknd’s lip service
寿司に芸者と、とにかく賛美する
Sushi, geisha — just praising everything Japan
ジャパニーズにゴマすってるだけ
Just sucking up to the Japanese
くちづけはしないの そうおクチだけ
No real kiss — all mouth, no substance
コニチワ、ジローは告知の為
“Konnichiwa, I love Jiro ramen” — it’s just promo
ドンキで踊る極貧の民
The broke masses dancing in Don Quijote
本気で踊るご機嫌の神
The gods dancing for real, in high spirits
ブルーノマーズ、潤うはず
Bruno Mars — he must be cashing in
ミーハーな日本人は乗っかるバズ
Trend-chasing Japanese jumping on the buzz
ラッパークチにする俺がナンバワン!
I’m number one for calling out these rappers
まるで突っ立ってるだけの南原
Like Nambara — just standing there, useless
Like Nambara — just standing there, useless
(Nambara = one half of the legendary Japanese comedy duo “Uchannanchan,” once huge in the 90s — now just kind of… there.)
オカミ(政府)に迎合キバなしオオカミ
Wolves with no fangs, bowing to the government
ガイジンヘイトで気晴らしドーパミン
Getting your dopamine hit from hating foreigners
富裕層の靴磨く未来が見える
I can see the future — polishing the shoes of the rich
毎日磨くスニーカーとスキル
Polishing your sneakers and your skills every day
マジで媚び売るご病気サナエ
Genuinely sick with ass-kissing — that’s you, Sanae
トップ10もトップ10もトップ10もトップ10も
トップ10もトップ10も 大キライなの
Top 10, top 10, top 10, top 10
Top 10, top 10 — I hate all of it
トップ10もトップ10もトップ10もトップ10も
トップ10もトップ10も 興味ないの
Top 10, top 10, top 10, top 10
Top 10, top 10 — I don’t care about any of it