Writing about danchi made me reflect on danchi culture. There’s a rich tradition of anime and manga set in danchi, and countless artists from danchi backgrounds have created amazing works. One of the most important examples is the song Friends by KOHH, who grew up in a danchi in northern Tokyo.
KOHH is Yuki Chiba's former stage name. He overcame a really tough childhood, and that experience gives his music a rare brilliance. Many of his tracks are intense and avant-garde, but Friends is one of his most lyrical and sentimental songs. It features his half-brother, Lil KOHH, and the interplay between Lil KOHH’s childish voice and KOHH’s deeper tone is truly striking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QFH0h4tzjI
友達とキャッチボール いつもみんなで遊ぶ 女子のことが好きな松田 神田川は超エロいやつだ こびつもめっちゃエロいやつだ 吉田はわかんないやつだ 俺は最近彼女が出来たけど 友達みんなで集まる 他の友達も呼んで 馬場遺跡公園 みんなサッカーで遊んでる けど俺はキャッチボールしてる たつきのあだ名はゴールディ 久能のあだ名はメッティー LINEで連絡取ってる 豊田とスミスも元気 みんなでずっと遊ぼう みんなでずっと遊ぼう 大人になっても一緒に遊ぼう みんなでずっと遊ぼう スタジオでレコーディング 金が生まれる遊び イケてる友達が多い こんな人生超いい 環七と明治通り 裏道庚申通り 東京都北区王子 後輩いっきとモニー スカッシュスクワッドかスモーク 俺らのボスりょう君 クラブでお酒を飲む そのあとは女の子と踊る みんなでステージの上 刺青だらけの腕 学歷とかないけど気にしない 毎日の遊びが夢 みんなでずっと遊ぼう みんなでずっと遊ぼう 大人になっても一緒に遊ぼう みんなでずっと遊ぼう 格闘家になりたいゆう 勉強ばっかしてるすず サッカーのコーチやる江州 やりたいことを好きにする 接客が好きな高木 レーサーになりたい浅りん いつの間にいのちゃんはパパになった 時間が過ぎんの早い きょうじとまあ君もパパ りゅうじとりゅうたろうもパパ 腕っぷしなら立山 またいじられてる中沢 野口君はおまわり オラオラようたは五丁目団地 最近太ったいさむ ノムと勇太が懐かしい ぶっ飛ばされて飛んだやつ 自殺して死んじゃったやつ いろんな人生がある いつかはどっかでまた会う | Playing Catch with Friends Always hanging out together Matsuda, who's curious about girls Kandagawa, the super naughty guy Kobitsu, also a really naughty guy Yoshida, the one nobody really understands Recently, I got a girlfriend But I still get together with all my friends We call up some other friends too At Bamba-Iseki Park Everyone’s playing soccer But I’m playing catch Tatsuki’s nickname is Goldie Kuno’s nickname is Metty We keep in touch on LINE (a messaging app widely used in Japan) Toyota and Smith are doing well too Let’s keep playing together forever Let’s keep playing together forever Even when we’re adults, let’s still hang out Let’s keep playing together forever Recording in the studio A game that makes money I’ve got lots of cool friends Life like this is just awesome Kan-nana and Meiji Street The back road, Koshin Street Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo Younger friends Ikki and Moni Squash Squad (a hip-hop group name to which KOHH belonged) or Smoke Our boss, Ryo-kun Drinking at the club After that, dancing with girls Everyone up on stage Arms covered in tattoos No education, but who cares Every day’s fun is my dream Let’s keep playing together forever Let’s keep playing together forever Even when we’re adults, let’s still hang out Let’s keep playing together forever Yuu wants to be a fighter Suzu is always studying Goshu is coaching soccer Everyone does what they love Takagi loves customer service Asarin wants to be a racer Before I knew it, Ino-chan became a dad Time really flies Kyoji and Mah-kun are dads too Ryuji and Ryutaro are dads too If it’s about strength, that’s Tateyama Nakazawa’s getting teased again Noguchi-kun is a cop Yota from Gochome Danchi, always tough Isamu’s gotten fat lately Nomu and Yuta, I miss them Some got knocked out and flew Some sadly took their own lives Everyone’s got their own story Someday, somewhere, we’ll meet again |
Needless to say, we can't meet someone who has passed away. And honestly, even if we're still alive, there's no guarantee we'll ever meet again. Yet KOHH ends the lyrics with this beautiful line: "Someday, somewhere, we'll meet again." I couldn't love this song more.
I am surprised you're into rap! Some rap songs do have really touching lyrics.
I’m not very familiar with rap, but since I listen to music from all kinds of genres, I have special songs in each one. Discovering new music is a lot like meeting new people — sometimes I fall in love with a song right away, while other times it takes a while for me to appreciate its value.