Japan is living in the year 2050 – at least, that’s how the viral saying goes. Yes, the Land of the Rising Sun might have robot waiters and trains that move faster than a speeding bullet, but, existing as one of the most homogenous societies on Earth, its treatment of ethnic minorities and archaic gender norms still has a lot of catching up to do. Enter: Japanese-Nigerian rapper 3Li¥en, whose recent viral rise is challenging both of these prejudices.
“I speak Japanese but they see colour first, judging me on my looks and never my talent,” the self-described ‘lil Blasian gyal’ raps in her “Blue Bird” freestyle over an anime OST-meets-Lil Uzi Vert type beat. Born and raised in Tokyo, yet constantly regarded as a foreigner in her own city, the track speaks to an experience that is also partially manifested in her pseudonym – a portmanteau of her birth name, Elianna, and the English word ‘alien’.
“It’s actually funny, I used to work at a TV-video graphic company, and my boss gave me that name because apparently I look like an alien and I be hustling money,” she laughs, clearly having developed a thick skin over a lifetime of being labelled by her appearance. Still, these experiences have had a profound impact on the person she is today.
“️I was born here not understanding why I was the only Black kid in my school,” 3Li¥en recalls. “I would straighten my hair and dress like a so-called ‘regular Japanese girl’, but eventually I had to get it through my head and accept that no matter how much I mimic the way they dress I’m never fully gonna be one of them. So I stopped giving a fuck. At the end of the day, I’m just Eli.”
Anyways, 3Li¥en isn’t just here to be pigeon-holed – she’s here to make money. Later, she tells Dazed that she no longer speaks to her former boss because “he was acting real goofy on me”. It’s a boss bitch energy that is writ large across 3Li¥en’s uploads, having debuted in an all-girl remix of legendary Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba’s (FKA. KOHH) hit record “Team Tomodachi” last year.
Featured alongside rappers Renée Couto and Charlu and appearing in the video twerking in front of a 7-Eleven in Shibuya, the track is unique for its celebration of female empowerment in Japan. One egregious Japanese saying describes women as Christmas Cakes – “no good after the 25th” – while female voices are criminally underrepresented in the country’s otherwise flourishing hip-hop scene.
“To be honest, I didn’t really see biracial female rappers in Japan, so I couldn’t get too inspired by other artists,” explains 3Li¥en, who instead drew on vocaloid virtual artist Hatsune Miku and western rappers like MC Lyte and Lil’ Kim to create her own identity. “I just wanted to have the best of both worlds, I guess.” Best of both worlds, indeed – 3Li¥en is rapping for a bright future in which Japan has both robot waiters and social inclusion.
Below, viral Japanese-Nigerian rapper 3Li¥en speaks on her mixed-background upbringing in Tokyo, her time spent in Nigeria, and her favourite Tokyo haunts.
How did the “Team Tomodachi Gals Remix” come about?
️3Li¥en: Ah, this one nah wahala, the story is real insane. First of all, “Team Tomodachi Gals Remix” was the first ever song that I wrote in Japanese and it was also the first ever song I published. The people that I collaborated with – Renée Couto and Charlu – all met at a live [show] two days before the recording and shooting. We just clicked instantly and they were mad dope so it got me excited but, at the same time, I was basically shitting myself because I had no experience and that made me stupid nervous.
Also, we had recorded the song and shot the video the same day, so it was pretty stressful at first but, not going to lie, it made me think I could do anything, so I’m super grateful for the outcome.
There are criminally few female rappers in Japan. Do you feel like you’re challenging gender norms in your music?
3Li¥en: Lemme not front, I didn’t really think about my gender as a rapper.
I just kept being myself. I just brainwashed myself thinking that even though I’m still early in my career, I’m the best one out there. Being delulu was my solulu.
Elsewhere, “Blue Bird” details some of your experiences growing up with mixed Nigerian and Japanese heritage in Japan. Could you explain a bit more about this?
3Li¥en: ️I was born here not understanding why I was the only black kid in my school. People would touch my hair and act like I’m gaijin (‘foreigner’) even though I spoke perfect Japanese and did everything like other kids in school but, just because I didn’t look like them, people treated me so differently. They still do [laughs]. The song “Blue Bird” talks about how society made me become who I am – not only negatively but also positively.
Given that Japan is such a homogeneous society, have you suffered prejudice because of your skin colour?
3Li¥en: ️Even though some people outside Japan might consider me lightskin, I’m still very black in Japan and they still treat me like I don’t even speak Japanese. It’s always wild to hear ‘Oh my God, your Japanese is so good!’ while I’m born and raised speaking native Japanese.
School was a bit tough because kids prey upon anyone who looks different. I would straighten my hair and dress like a so-called ‘regular Japanese girl’, but eventually I had to get it through my head and accept that no matter how much I mimic the way they dress, I’m never fully gonna be one of them. So I stopped giving a fuck. At the end of the day, I’m just Eli.
Do you think this is changing?
3Li¥en: ️Yes! It’s not that people here are racist, they just don’t have too much knowledge about Black people or coloured people. Even the mixed kids as well.
As Japan is becoming diverse with foreigners coming and living here, I feel like people are starting to get educated about race. There is more acceptance now, hopefully people like me representing and educating others in Japan is definitely making small changes in people’s minds.
Do you have much connection with your Nigerian side?
3Li¥en: I lived in Nigeria for almost seven years and that was the best decision my parents made. I’m very thankful that I had the experience of living and exploring my roots. I hope I can make other mixed kids like me in Japan be curious about going back to their roots. I started doing music in a Nigerian church and school so, without this experience, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
What’s your favourite hangout spot in Tokyo?
3Li¥en: ️Bloody Angle in Shibuya. Love the music, the atmosphere and the people. You can just hop there anytime to catch a vibe and meet new people.
When will you know you’ve ‘made it’ as an artist?
3Li¥en: When I perform at the BET awards.
Who’s your dream collab?
3Li¥en: Nicki Minaj, Hatsune Miku, Lil Uzi Vert.
