018, Leon Fanourakis, and DJ Hazime bring ‘I’m a Rapper’. The artists pen verses about grabbing the mic and bathing in the spotlight. The producer arranges a beat that pumps with raw energy.
Released: October 22, 2025
I’m a Rapper
018 | Leon Fanourakis
I’m a Rapper Lyrics English Translation by 018 | Leon Fanourakis
018 recalls his mother packing Tupperware at Yokohama port. This line translates to a mother’s care in a bustling harbor. The artist grounds his rap in these real details.
I’m a rapperI’m a rapper.
Te ni suru 1micI grab this one mic,
Kono michi wa do or diethis path is do or die,
Abiru spotlightbathing in the spotlight.
Umareta machi no ue deOver the city where I was born,
Mata koe o karashiI shout until my voice is raw again,
Hakidashite kitaspitting out everything I’ve got.
Kotoba ni nigon wa naiI never go back on my word.
Taisetsu na koto waWhat matters most
Sutaato yori endingisn’t the start, it’s the ending.
Agari tsuzukete ku eranda stageI keep rising up on this stage I chose,
03 045 ni kaketa bridgebuilding a bridge between ’03’ and ‘045’.
Oretachi ga rep shiteru machi nara big cityIf we’re repping a town, it’s the big city.
Jinsei ga ichido chansu ga ichidoOne life, one chance,
Iki ga hitotsuone breath,
Subete muda ni shinai tame no jimon jitoasking myself how not to waste it all.
Nani ga hiphop ka ikizama de suru jisshoProving what hip-hop is through my way of life.
Legend to gousei ni nokoshite ku sessionLeaving a session in style with a Legend.
Kane ni kuruma jewelry yori skillSkill over money, cars, or jewelry,
Uso itsuwari nai kotoba haite ikiruI live by spitting words with no lies or fakes.
Mukashi kimeta koko de shinu kakugoI resolved long ago to die right here.
Nemuranai machi no ue tomenai actionNon-stop action over the city that never sleeps.
Scratch[Scratch]
I’m rapperI’m a rapper.
Kono kuchi chopperThis mouth is a ‘chopper’,
Nara pop outso I pop out,
Tobasu tsubaspittle flying,
Ato nani ikita kotobaand whatever living words remain.
Toki ni wa sou nervousSometimes, yeah, I get nervous,
Toki ni aru baasasusometimes there’s a versus battle,
Mune himeru purposea purpose hidden in my chest,
O shitomeru 1versetaking it down with one verse.
Minato Yokohama de konketsu no mama ga meshi tsumeta tappaa oIn Yokohama port, my mixed-race mom packed food in a Tupperware,
Motte toukou shitaand I carried it to school.
Sonna toki karaEver since back then,
Nanotta i’m rapperI’ve called myself a rapper.
Tada no hezzu lover gaJust a regular ‘heads’ fan,
Kakeagaru yourunning up the ranks.
Hajimari wa itsumoIt always starts
Hitotsu no biitowith one single beat.
Hitotsu no maiku toWith one mic and
Hitotsu no waadoone word,
Hitotsu no haatoone heart,
Hitotsu no sainouone talent.
Hitotsu no passhonOne passion,
Hitori no aiboone partner,
Hitotsu no iPhoneone iPhone,
Hitori no puraidoone pride.
Suunin no ai moEven the love of a few,
Suuji janai monit’s not about the numbers.
Sui mo amai moThe sour and the sweet,
Ajiwau maidoI taste them every time.
Hitori no kanojoOne girlfriend,
To yoko ni wa my dogsand my dogs right by my side.
Scratch[Scratch]
I’m a Rapper Music Video
What does ‘I’m a Rapper’ mean? The lyrics affirm that skill defines real hip-hop. 018, Leon Fanourakis, and DJ Hazime offer this anthem in English.