RAPSTAR 2026 Raises Winner Prize to 10 Million Yen, Highest Ever
The prize increase from 3 million to 10 million yen signals a major escalation in the program's investment in discovering new hip-hop talent.
Reporting from 1 sources: KAI-YOU.
The next-generation rapper audition project RAPSTAR 2026 has been announced with a winner's prize of 10 million yen, the highest in the program's history. Applications open June 1 through June 12. The finals will be held December 29 as part of the STARZ 2026 event. Beat makers for the audition videos include Chaki Zulu, D3adStock, and others.
The prize money for the RAPSTAR audition program has more than tripled. The winner of RAPSTAR 2026 will receive 10 million yen, up from 3 million yen in previous editions. Applications opened June 1 at 5:00 PM and close June 12 at 11:59 PM. The finals will take place December 29 at the STARZ 2026 event. Seven beat makers have been announced for the audition videos: Chaki Zulu, D3adStock, GRADIS NICE, krynX, Lion Melo, Neetz, and rxl. The program, planned and organized by rapper and music producer RYUZO, started in 2017 as Rap Star Birth! and has run eight times. Past winners include ¥ellow Bucks, Ralph, Kohjiya, Siero, and Sonsi. Last year's winner was 19-year-old Pxrge Trxxxper.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.