Discover Awich
Awich’s global stardom is only beginning. The Okinawan hip-hop star has built her queendom of empowerment in the male-dominated industry. With her international debut in 2024, she is now taking on the world.
This article answers commonly asked questions about Awich.
Table of Contents
Who is Awich?
Awich is a rapper, singer, and songwriter from Okinawa, Japan. Her interest in hip-hop began during her teenage years, building popularity following her career in 2018. Her fans refer to her as “nee-san” (姐さん), meaning older sister in Japanese
In her own words: Awich delves into her journey and values in “Queendom,” the title track in her 2022 album.
What is Awich’s full name?
Awich’s full name is Akiko Urasaki (浦崎 亜希子).
What does Awich mean?
Awich is short for “Asia Wish Child,” derived directly from the characters in her first name, Akiko (亜希子).
How do you pronounce Awich?
Awich is pronounced, “ay-witch”, with an emphasis on the “ay” (/ˈeɪwɪtʃ/).
Where is Awich from?
Awich was born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.
Growing up with the U.S. military bases in Okinawa gave her a paradoxical exposure to American culture; amidst heavy anti-militarism, she developed an interest in hip-hop from a young age. Her deep ties to her Okinawan roots remain a core theme throughout her music.
In her own words: Check out her song “TSUBASA”, dedicated to the children of Okinawa.
When did Awich begin making music?
Awich’s musical journey into music began with a transformative moment at thirteen years old, when she stumbled upon Tupac Shakur’s album “All Eyez on Me” at a local record shop. In one interview, she shared, “it was just so different to anything I’d listened to before.”
Inspired by Tupac’s music and way of life, she became interested in making her songs. By the time she was 14 years old, she was featured in a local hip-hop compilation album.
She released her first EP, “Inner Research,” in 2006.
When did Awich move to the United States?
After releasing her EP, Awich moved to the United States in the same year to pursue her education. During her time in America, she met her husband, got married, and welcomed their daughter, Toyomi Jah’mira, into the world. However, their plans to relocate to Okinawa as a family were shattered when her husband was murdered through gun violence.
Devastated, she returned to her hometown with her daughter and came face to face with immense grief. Awich credits the support and strength she found in her Okinawan heritage, stating that “the power that my father and all my ancestors in Okinawa gave me” helped her navigate the pain and anger she experienced.
Through great introspection of the tragedy she faced, she developed a deeper understanding of life and love. She transformed these emotions into poetic lyrics, using music as her most profound form of expression.
What launched Awich’s music career in Japan?
While Awich has been creating music throughout her life, her journey in the Japanese music industry reached new heights when she joined Yentown.
She acknowledges kZm, a member of the group, for the pivotal moment in her career. Despite being relatively unknown at the time, kZm recognized Awich’s immense talent and potential. This led to an introduction to Chaki Zulu, the leader and producer of Yentown, who was equally impressed by her work.
She joined Yentown as their first female member and released “8” in August 2018, almost a decade after her initial album. She continued to produce new music, including her album “Peacock,” steadily gaining momentum and recognition within the Japanese music scene.
When was Awich’s major debut?
Awich made her major record label debut with Universal Music Japan in July 2020, with the song “Shook Shook.”
Check out the music video below.
One month later, she released her first major EP, Partition. In an interview, she revealed the concept behind the EP’s title. She shares, “I thought about how there’s this trend of dividing things in the world, but within myself, I believe everyone is united in some way, so I ironically named it after that.”
What Makes Awich Special?
As the self-proclaimed Queen of Japanese Hip-Hop, Awich reigns strong for several noteworthy reasons.
Music
Awich’s music embodies a rare blend of strength, sensuality, and profound depth. Her repertoire includes powerful tracks that showcase her raw power to vulnerable pieces that reveal her emotional range.
She seamlessly transitions between Okinawa, English, and Japanese as she raps, further contributing to her distinctive style. She also collaborates with talented people in the industry, showcasing her ability to work across different creative styles and genres.
Her ability to navigate different themes, languages, and artistic styles adds layers to her distinctive and captivating music—making her a standout artist in the industry.
In her words: Check out “Bad B*tch Bigaku (美学) Remix”. The original women’s anthem features popular female Japanese rappers, NENE, LANA, and MaRI. The remix takes the powerful song even further, with verses from renowned singer-songwriter Ai and popular comedian Yuriyan Retriever.
Vulnerability
Awich embraces vulnerability in her music by delving into personal experiences, emotions, and struggles. Through embracing her own struggles, she encourages her fans to embrace their paths with authenticity and resilience. As she shares in one interview, “If you can start changing what’s in your head, then you start changing your reality.”
In her words: Check out “THE UNION,” the title track for her 2023 album. In this song, she candidly reflects on her next chapter after performing at the esteemed Nippon Budokan. As indicated by the song’s title, she urges everyone to unite and move forward together.
Empowerment
Furthermore, her bold and unapologetic style challenges conventional labels, encouraging people to unapologetically embrace their full selves. Rejecting constricting labels, she emphasized in an interview, “You can be a mother and you can be sexy, you can be outgoing and intelligent, you can be creative and erotic. You can be all of these things.”
In her words: One of her popular songs, “GILA GILA,” captures this message of self-empowerment. When speaking about the hit song, she expresses, “I’m telling people to look at me because I’m shining. It’s having that confidence to back yourself.” The title comes from the Japanese onomatopoeia for “bling-bling.”
Identity
Awich is deeply connected to her Okinawan heritage, which has been ingrained in her since the early stages of her musical journey. Inspired by Tupac’s positive impact on his community, she shares, “I dreamed of doing something for Okinawa and started looking more into my own roots.”
Over the years, her deep ties have cultivated immense pride in her homeland. In her song “Queendom,” she raps, “Okinawa is my home.” This has also strengthened her desire to share Okinawa’s rich culture, within Japan and internationally. Whether rapping in Okinawan or collaborating with fellow Okinawan artists, she celebrates her Okinawan heritage.
Her commitment to promoting Okinawan culture goes beyond music. After returning from the United States, she founded a marketing and production company, CIPHER CITY, to actively promote local Okinawan resources. She also established her brand of habu sake, or Okinawan snake wine, called HABUSH. Indeed, she is dedicated to boldly honoring her cultural roots.
In her own words: Check out “RASEN IN OKINAWA,” a collaborative song with fellow Okinawan rappers Tsubaki, OZworld (previously known as R’kuma), and CHICO CARLITO.
What is Awich’s first anime opening?
“Frontiers” is Awich’s first anime song and the second opening theme for season 2 of Shangri-La Frontier. This Awich anime song was released on January 5, 2024.
In her official comment, Awich shared that the song was created with deep empathy for Shangri-La Frontier’s worldview of exploring unknown territory and overcoming challenges. She writes “The attitude of Sanraku and the others, who push forward without fearing challenges, overlaps with my own way of life as an artist.”
The lyrics pose the question, “What you wanna be?” Awich explains this through the song’s message: “How do you carve out your own future?”
Awich hopes the journey and trajectory of growth portrayed in Shangri-La Frontier, and the real challenges each listener faces, will “connect to a new dimension through this song.”
Does Awich perform overseas?
After announcing her global expansion for 2024, Awich has been taking the stage overseas, in locations such as Los Angeles, Seoul, and New York City.
In 2024, Awich performed at Coachella 2024 as a part of the 88rising Futures stage, bringing NENE, LANA, MaRI, and Yuriyan Retriever to perform “Bad B*tch Bigaku (美学) Remix.”
She was also on the lineup for 88 Rising’s Head in the Clouds Music Festival lineup in New York, an opportunity that has helped introduce acts like YOASOBI and ATARASHII GAKKO to larger global audiences.
She has shared her excitement for her international performances and collaborations—and fans are eagerly anticipating how her career will continue to shine on the global stage.
Where can I follow Awich?
Follow her queendom through the links below.
Official website:
Social media links:
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