Japanese hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts have wrapped up their first solo concert in Hong Kong. Comprised of three-time rap battle champion R-Shitei and 2019 DMC World DJ Champion DJ Matsunaga, the pairing is a deadly combination of two masters in their respective fields. The stage in Hong Kong’s Kitty Woo Stadium didn’t host a mere concert; it ignited an eclectic hip-hop carnival. Despite the intimate, packed venue and the inevitable language barrier, the energy within the concert hall was electric right from the start. Kicking off the show with “22nd year of junior high school,” the opening track of their latest album, LEGION, the duo set an immediate standard for a high-octane night.
The intensity immediately ramped up as they launched into a succession of high-energy tracks, moving seamlessly from the hard-hitting techno-dance of “Doppelgänger” to the Jersey drill-esque beat of “Biriken.” R-Shitei’s signature rapid-fire verses, backed by DJ Matsunaga’s pumping bass lines and catchy beats, instantly captivated the eager crowd. The rapper, tasked with carrying the emceeing and crowd engagement, also quickly won the audience over, mixing English, Cantonese and Japanese phrases to express his genuine joy and excitement.
Hiroya Brian
Hiroya Brian
Hiroya Brian
Hiroya Brian
The enthusiasm from their audience in Hong Kong serves as a snapshot of Creepy Nuts’ breakout into the mainstream consciousness beyond their home country. When asked if the international recognition, spearheaded by hits like “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” has altered their creative processes, R-Shitei confirms: “It definitely did, especially when it comes to writing lyrics. We got a lot of inspiration and experiences from doing shows overseas, and naturally, those experiences have influenced my new lyrics.”
For DJ Matsunaga, the change is more subtle. “In terms of my creative mindset, I don’t think there’s any notable change. I still write whatever I like at an instance,” he explained. However, the international experience now factors into his production: “I started noticing how the audience moves and reacts to our songs… I also started to consider how they might dance or engage with our music. This is something that I think about when producing and experimenting with new sounds.”
The fluidity of their sound is exactly what defines the duo. When asked to articulate what constitutes a Creepy Nuts sound, R-Shitei settled on a single word: “distortion.” He elaborated that this means “breaking the rules of stereotypes for various musical genres and styles.” The duo views this change as a creative strength, with R-Shitei noting, “Our songs are almost completely different during every era, but that’s what makes them fun too.”
“Our songs are almost completely different during every era, but that’s what makes them fun too.” – R-Shitei
Evident in viral hits like “Otonoke,” the duo has a knack for crafting unforgettable anime theme songs. While they may appear to have cracked a viral formula, their creative approach is rooted in deep sincerity. R-Shitei revealed his lyrical strategy: “I generally write lyrics about myself, so what I do when we’re creating a theme song for an anime is to draw on themes, characters, objects or phenomena from the series and find what would overlap with something personal to me.” DJ Matsunaga, meanwhile, aims for surprise: “I always want to create a sound that people wouldn’t expect to hear in an anime as its opening or ending theme.”
The crowd’s passionate reaction was conspicuous for all the anime-related tracks, starting with the jazzy “Daten” (from Call of the Night), which brightened the venue as fans sang along. The intensity reached peak levels with a blistering, consecutive run of “Japanese,” “Chxxai,” and the inescapable “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born.” For new listeners, R-Shitei suggests delving into the new album: “We’ve put everything we wanted to show right now in our latest album, LEGION, so we really want new fans to listen to every single track thoroughly,” specifically highlighting the lyric-driven “Japanese” and “Emmanuelle.”
“Chxxai,” another standout track from LEGION, offers a glimpse into R-Shitei’s writing process. The song name, he explained, was actually inspired by a vulgar online slang he randomly discovered. “The lyrics were the source of inspiration, but I also incorporated the scenery I saw while walking alone in Kabukicho and Shinjuku late at night,” he said. This lyrical snapshot of Tokyo’s red-light district is brought to life by DJ Matsunaga’s dark-trance-type beat, which perfectly captures the jumble of faint sounds emanating from the area’s underground clubs and bars.
Hiroya Brian
Hiroya Brian
Hiroya Brian
Hiroya Brian
While R-Shitei commands the mic, DJ Matsunaga lets his elite skills do the talking. Instrumental breaks throughout the night offered glimpses of the World DJ Champion’s world-class technique, packed with meticulous turntabling and scratch improvs. Sometimes, even subtle vocal elements in their songs are his work, as R-Shitei pointed out: “The voice-like part in the intro to some songs, like the tongue-clickings, are in fact DJ Matsunaga’s voice and not a digital effect.” Matsunaga added that he also sings the looped motifs for “Nemure,” their latest single and the ending theme for Call of the Night Season 2.
The night’s most memorable highlight was the unplanned encore. Returning to the stage after minutes of incessant cheering, the duo admitted they hadn’t prepared a second set. R-Shitei initially suggested playing “Otonoke” again, but the crowd’s clear demand for the fan-fave, “Joen Dan’yū-shō” (Best Supporting Actor) was impossible to ignore. They delivered, treating Hong Kong to an exclusive rendition of the hidden gem, topped off with a special freestyle verse — a genuine, unforgettable love letter to their audience at their first Hong Kong solo concert.
“I always want to create a sound that people wouldn’t expect to hear in an anime as its opening or ending theme.” – DJ Matsunaga
Even for a duo of champions, the live show carries its own pressure. R-Shitei’s biggest challenge isn’t any single track, but the setlist itself: “If I have to perform one intense track one after another without breaks, it’s a little hard to breathe.” For DJ Matsunaga, it’s the instrumental breaks: “I find it hard every time since there’s pressure to deliver something spectacular,” he admitted.
As Creepy Nuts look toward their Coachella performance next year, their message to international fans is simple: experience the music freely. R-Shitei hopes fans can “just feel it as they listen,” whether they wildly dance to it or listen attentively. DJ Matsunaga agrees, adding, “I’d be happy if you put in the effort to look up the meaning of the lyrics… but I’ve tried to make it as enjoyable as possible even if you just listen to the audio.” After such a successful and demanding night, which earned R-Shitei the craving for Yakiniku and DJ Matsunaga the urge for Tonkatsu to recharge, the duo is energized and ready for the next phase of their tour.
