Discover Creepy Nuts
If there’s one Japanese duo that rose to viral stardom, it is Creepy Nuts. Their popular anime songs, “Bling-bang-bang-born” and “Otonoke,” topped the country’s biggest music charts and also made a huge impact worldwide.
This article answers some of the most commonly asked questions about Creepy Nuts.
- Anime Fan? Learn about every anime song by Creepy Nuts
Table of Contents
Who is Creepy Nuts?
Creepy Nuts is a Japanese hip-hop unit, featuring rapper R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga. Formed in 2013, they made their major debut with Sony Music in 2017.
Over the years, the duo has gained popularity in the Japanese music scene with their witty lyrics and catchy music. In 2020, their song “Katsute Tensaidatta Oretachie” (loose translation: “to us who were once geniuses” helped catapult them to fame.
Their talents are not only in the music world; they have been featured in commercials, dramas, and other media. They were previously active as radio show hosts for a weekly, late-night program. These activities outside of their music highlight the duo’s versatility, which has only helped to grow their fanbase.
Who are the members of Creepy Nuts?
Creepy Nuts was created by two members: DJ Matsunaga and R-Shitei, both of whom have impressive backgrounds. Learn more about each member below.
DJ Matsunaga
Born in Niigata prefecture, DJ Matsunaga (DJ松永) is the DJ, trackmaker, and turntablist of the duo.
Matsunaga is an internationally renowned DJ. In 2019, he won the world’s largest DJ competition “DMC WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIPS.” He also participated in the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
Known for creating memorable, addictively catchy melodies, DJ Matsunaga has helped Creepy Nuts’ music become popular with mainstream audiences. He participates in many activities outside of the unit, including a regular serialization in the Japanese monthly literary magazine, Bungakukai.
R-Shitei
Born in Osaka Prefecture, R-Shitei (R-指定, translated to “R-Rated”) is the rapper of Creepy Nuts.
He is well-known for his incredible rap skills. In his home prefecture, he has won “ULTIMATE MC BATTLE,” a prestigious Japanese rap battle tournament, a total of 5 times. Even more impressive, he holds a unique record of achieving a three-peat at the national level “ULTIMATE MC BATTLE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP,”. To this day, he is the only rapper with this record.
Fans enjoy his impressive rap skills and creative play of words in lyrics, evident in his freestyle rap performances. Outside of Creepy Nuts, he is also active in many activities, including as a member of the hip-hop group, UmedaCypher.
How was Creepy Nuts formed?
While Creepy Nuts was officially formed in 2013, the R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga had first met many years ago. In a guest radio appearance, R-Shitei shared that the two met at an event in Osaka that brought young rappers and DJs around the country together. Both of them were teenagers at the time.
The two quickly became friends, and over the next four to five years, they occasionally collaborated on their individual projects. Their decision to form a unit together arose rather casually when they decided to try something new together. Over a decade later, the success of this decision is clear.
Is Creepy Nuts popular in Japan?
While known more recently for their anime collaboration by overseas listeners (or, perhaps, their collab song with YOASOBI’s Ayase and Ikura), Creepy Nuts has already been widely successful in Japan.
Since their formation, the duo has released many hit songs with hundreds of millions of streams. They have also held concerts in some of the biggest stadiums in the country.
- Learn about Bling-Bang-Bang-Born’s global success.
Why is Creepy Nuts popular?
While there are many reasons for the duo’s popularity, three notable reasons are mentioned below.
Impressive skillset
As mentioned above, R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga are award-winning artists who comprise some of the top individuals in their respective fields. Together, this high-level skillset is made even more apparent. The fusion of DJ Matsunaga’s tracks and R-Shitei’s rap skills creates music that resonates both rhythmically and emotionally, making Creepy Nuts an all-powerful musical duo.
Memorable music
The originality of their music further heightens Creepy Nuts’ appeal. R-Shitei’s lyricism combines seamlessly with DJ Matsunaga’s experimental tracks, producing innovative, unique compositions. Many fans comment that songs from Creepy Nuts are earworms, lingering in one’s head long after the song ends. This addicting quality helped their music garner larger mainstream acclaim, reaching many who are new to hip-hop music.
Check out this performance of their popular song, “Nobishiro,” for a glimpse of this magic.
Great personalities
Beyond their music, the members’ good personalities have also contributed to their popularity.
Their charismatic personas came to light during their radio show hosting days. From DJ Matsunaga’s interesting talking points and R-Shitei’s witty retorts, it’s evident the duo are good friends from their entertaining talks. Their radio show revealed a funny side to the duo, which makes them feel more relatable to fans. The duo continues to make many guest and media appearances.
What is Creepy Nuts’ radio show?
Creepy Nuts were the previous hosts of the late-night radio show, “All Night Nippon Series.” Beginning their regular series in 2018, they hosted the program once weekly for nearly five years.
Check out the song Santora (サントラ), a song they created in collaboration with actor, singer, and former All Night Nippon radio personality, Masaki Suda.
Where can I follow Creepy Nuts?
Keep an eye on their website and social media channels below!
Official Website:
Social Media Links:
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