Kokujin Tensai: An American from Memphis raps in Japanese (Video)

This entry is about the American rapper Kokujin Tensai (Black Genius) and his group. According to Watashi to Tokyo, he was a monolingual American rapper until he met a female Japanese exchange student who came to his high school and fell in love with her. As a result, he started studying Japanese, and he has recently started rapping in Japanese. Kokujin Tensai has some video and audio of his songs on his Myspace Profile, which you should check out if you’re interested. The site dotlinecircle has also uploaded the following two videos to YouTube:

Here’s a video of his song “Dansu”

A self-introduction video:

After announcing that he is going to explode next year [this video may have been recorded in 2006], he introduces his friends. They aren’t as proficient in Japanese as Kokujin Tensai, but they can say their names and one of them can shout that he is “dangerous.” They then demonstrate some of their dance moves and lyrics. They’re definately different from the average Japanese language rappers.

According to Dotlinecircle, Kokujin Tensai will be giving a concert in Tokyo next month. Here are the details:

ketsutobi production presents
Kokujin Tensai Japan Tour Tokyo Show
3/11(sun)@ Shibuya O-nest
open18:30/start19:30 adv\3000 door\3500
ticket:LAWSON(Lcode 38679),O-nest 03-3462-4420

Anyone planning to see their performance?

Claytonian

I give him props for not only learning the language and rapping in it, but also for convincing his friends to learn.
ponta

Kokujin tensai is okay , especially his rap in Japanese was interesting. I hope he will “explode” in Japan.
But Japanese have that kind of stereotype about black people already.
I hope Denzel JWashington Jr type of black people will also come and “explode ” in Japan.
Tadashi

But who will wipe away all the intestines?

And what needed parental advisory about listing your family members? Maybe the words on the cover are the reason.
http://relaxedfocus.blogspot.com Rob

Yeah, props on learning Japanese, and apparently getting booked at a place in Tokyo, but the thugz, drugz, bitchez and ho’s nonsense is played and tired…
Aux

Yeah, why can’t he just teach English?
Johnston

Why’s it got to be black this or that? He couldn’t just be Tensai? As far as the performance, what’s that old saying? Those who can’t do… try to do in Japan? I hope the girl dumped his ass.
http://www.photokyo.com Chris

Hey I know this guy! He frequented my website while I was still in Japan, and always hit me up on msn etc. Obviously loved Japan, and looks like he is following through. Good luck man!
http://tofusando.blogspot.com Akoua Doffou

Hey! I saw his myspace. Rapping in Nihongo, hmmm…
http://www.forkullet.blogspot.com Daniel B

pretty wack rapper! I love southern rap, and I am a big fan of japanese rapmusic too, but this seems weak. There are many japanese rappers rapping about being thugs and so on, that does it quite well. No need for kokujin tensai.

BTW, a danish rapper called Nat Ill, did a song in japanese. He studies japanese, and actually did it a decent job. The song was available for free download, but I can’t find it anywhere now though.
http://troubledyouth.org noahT

Drugz, hu? I hope he means E and yea, otherwise he is in for a surprise when he gets deported for dro.
WujouMao

nice middle finger ther on his website, and im sure he might want to change the word ni**er word too or everyone will start saying it eps after the gaijin crime file scene. [i know the blacks call each other by that, and its not offensive. only offensive if whites say it. but japan says the word is not racist in Japan. its a racist word in every country] jus my opinion, and im British, so maybe i’ll be told to butt out
http://drunknanpa.com nanpa boy

I was embarressed to watch this video. Regardless of the fact that he tries to teach his friends Japanese, none of them as far as I can tell have shown any ability to rap in even their native language, much less Japanese. Good for him if he can make some money, but I have to say he blows as far a rappers go. word
adams

So he has picked up some Nihongo and imparted some upon his cohorts; not too uncommon. But it is good that he is learning another language. I just wouldnt suggest pinning it on meeting just one girl. wakaru?
I dont care for the title or lyrics much. I agree, the theme(s) are so redundent and stereotypical of rap/hiphop…reducing his efforts to a lower level in my opinion. I believe he would shine much more if it was more…not intellectual….but positive in a vernacular way without the common denotation of ‘black/blackness.”
Rap about global issues, inter-cultural differences, history, or the struggle to learn Nihongo.
http://www.tofusando.blogspot.com Akoua Doffou

I agree with Adams.
http://oidhudiufd doopusoosu

lol. this shit is fuckin HILLARIOUS!! i cant believe hes playing this week at shibuya O LOLOLOL!! they musta thought he was comedy instead… kanchigae shitennda
http://www.mutantfrog.com/ Adamu

The guy’s waruguchi sensei song is classic BITCH HO MOTHERFUCKER THIS TRICK THAT BITCH HO SLUT DICK
Pingback: Kokujin Tensai performs in Shibuya! (Video) » Japan Probe
mm

I was born in Memphis and most of my relatives live there. A friend sent me this youtube clip.. All I can say is that it’s embarrassing. –an African-Amercian English professor at a Japanese university who’s fluent in Japanese.
http://www.myspace.com/scooneyj S co

Awww did we hurt your feelings professor? You need to jump on the bandwaggon
A. Purnell

Hey. I just stumbled upon this post but I’m an African-American recent college grad looking for work in Japan. If ever you return to this post (which is unlikely) can you shoot me an email with your email. I’d just like to know how you ended up teaching at a Japanese university. It sounds like a path that might be right for myself. Thanks.

-
Aderaidou

Props to ya people. I’m studying Japanese too and I’m not as good as ya yet however, seeing ya’s Ashimoto video, it makes me wanna be fluent faster!
Nouarashi

lol. It’s funny to look back on this video. Didn’t think it would stir so much controversy, then again, I didn’t ever see the latter half till it was posted.

Long story short, it was done for fun. How many people can say they performed concerts in a foreign land in another language and actually have fans……

Kokujin Tensai: An American from Memphis raps in Japanese (Video)

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