Anime fans who don't listen to hip-hop music and hip-hop fans who don't watch anime might be surprised by just how extensive the crossover between fandoms can be, but rap lyrics these days are filled with anime references. The hard-earned aspirational victories in anime storylines are frequently a source of inspiration to hip-hop artists. Here are some of the most notable examples of rappers who regularly reference anime; some of them have even made music specifically for anime!
Open Mike Eagle
Open Mike Eagle's interest in anime is obvious right from the title of his latest album: Anime, Trauma, and Divorce. The songs on this album heavily reference the likes of Neon Genesis Evangelion ("Headass (Idiot Shinji)") and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure ("Bucciarati," "I'm a Joestar (Black Power Fantasy)"). As Matthew Ismael Ruiz writes of the album for Pitchfork, "[Mike's] theory that Black people, inheritors of generational trauma, need anime the most, suggests its fanciful depictions of power and heroism provide an escape from Black America's grim realities."
Kanye West
Love him or hate him (or both!), Kanye West's passion and influence in the world of hip-hop can't be denied. One of his favorite movies of all-time is the 1988 anime classic Akira, a fact he made obvious in the music video for his song "Stronger." Reenactments of scenes from Akira along with Japanese subtitles show just how much Kanye loves the movie and pays tribute to it in his art.
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino is the musical alter-ego of Donald Glover, the star of shows like Community and Atlanta. He's also experienced in voice acting in animated movies like The Lion King and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, so it's unsurprising he loves anime as well. He references Goku from Dragon Ball Z in the 2011 song "My Shine" by singing "Honesty, I'm rappin' 'bout everything I go through / Everything I'm sayin', I'm super sayin' like Goku."
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams is one of the world's most instantly recognizable rappers thanks to his endlessly catchy hit "Happy," guest judging on The Voice and his signature big hat. But Williams is also an avid anime fan and paid homage to it in the music video for his 2014 song "It Girl." The video was produced by none other than legendary Japanese designer Takashi Murakami, who founded the superflat art style.
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean is one of the most critically acclaimed rappers over the past decade and made several anime references on his classic 2012 album Channel Orange. His biggest reference was to the Dragon Ball Z villain Majin Buu in the song "Pink Matter," with lyrics that go "This great grey master/ Sensei replied, what is your woman? Is she just a container for the child? That soft pink matter/ Cotton candy, Majin Buu."
Soulja Boy
OK, best anime references might be pushing it on this entry, but Soulja Boy is certainly responsible for some of the most infamous anime references. Best known for his 2007 megahit "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," his song "Anime" incorporates a ton of references to his favorite anime, including Pokemon, Case Closed and Cowboy Bebop. In addition to the "Anime" song, he has a track called "Goku" and did a Death Note mixtape.
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RZA
The leader of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan has done it all as a rapper, producer, filmmaker and author. RZA is so passionate about anime (as well as Eastern action cinema in general) that composed the music for the anime Afro Samurai and its movie sequel called Afro Samurai: Resurrection. Not only does he reference anime in his lyrics (the Wu-Tang Clan is regularly compared to Voltron), but in his philosophical book The Tao of Wu he writes that "to me, Dragon Ball Z ... represents the journey of the Black man in America."
Currensy
The rapper Currensy is best known as a founding member of the Lil Wayne label Young Money Entertainment. His song "Full Metal" primarily features references to Fullmetal Alchemist. He even sampled a heartbreaking line from the English dub of the series about the tragic relationship between Alphonse and his brother Edward. Currensy's music video for the song "Flying Iron" also has features clips from the 1983 anime film Golgo 13: The Professional.
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Denzel Curry
Denzel Curry incorporated a ton of anime references in the song "Dark Tournament," with lyrics that go "Killer, killer, killer, hit list or that Death Note Autographed by Justin Bieber, the future like HR Giger left hollow like Ichigo, Grim Reapers, and Soul Eaters." The video to "Dark Tournament" references tournament scenes from Yu Yu Hakusho. Curry was also featured in the song "One Punch Man" by the Higher Brothers and performed two rap numbers for the anime series Carole & Tuesday.
