Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-

WARNING: There may be spoilers ahead.

Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- (ヒプノシスマイク-Division Rap Battle-) is a Japanese multimedia project, based off rap and hip-hop, created by King Records under their EVIL LINE RECORDS label. The characters were designed by Idea Factory under their Otomate label, with Yuichiro Momose as the main scenario writer. The project had started on September 2, 2017.

The project was initially based around four rap teams, Buster Bros!!!, MAD TRIGGER CREW, Fling Posse, and Matenro. In September 2019, two new teams, Dotsuitare Hompo and Bad Ass Temple debuted.

The franchise has since grown to include manga adaptations, a live stage production, a mobile game, and an anime adaptation.

Synopsis

The history of H was eradicated by the Party of Words. Under them, all conflict, small or military-scale was replaced by the use of a special device mesmerizing the psyches of the people, named Hypnosis Microphone. The lyrics channelled through this microphone affect people's sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, making it possible to alter one's state of mind.

Outside of the Chuohku District, men live in the Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Yokohama, Osaka, and Nagoya Divisions. Groups of MCs representing their division would fight over territories with the power of music, with the loser of a rap battle having to hand over a part of their territory to the winner. In this world, where words, not weapons, became tools of power, a legendary rap crew took over most of Japan, behind only the Party of Words, only to mysteriously disband one day.

The Party of Words now, has gathered members of this legendary crew and some related to them to fight with pride, not for territory or war anymore, but for honour and prestige, at Hypnosis Mic - Division Rap Battle.

Story

In the wake of the Third World War that eradicated the fifth of humanity, the government of Japan was overthrown and replaced by the Party of Words, using Hypnosis Mics. The Party of Words had split the country into so-called "Divisions", the only parts of the country where men were allowed to live, with the Chuohku District as the centre. That's how the H Era began.

They handed out the mics to the men, allowing them to participate in the rap battles for the territory, which had almost started a turf war to rule the country. Around that time, the legendary rap group, The Dirty Dawg, consisting of Ichiro Yamada, Samatoki Aohitsugi, Ramuda Amemura and Jakurai Jinguji rose. They took over the entire country, being right after the Party of Words, however, one day, the group disbanded and former friends turned into enemies.

Years later, the Party of Words organized the Division Rap Battle, the grand championship between Divisions' representatives where they can fight each other for money, territory, and prestige. The former members of The Dirty Dawg had formed their own teams to represent their respective home Divisions:

Ikebukuro Division's Buster Bros!!!, consisting of Ichiro Yamada, Jiro Yamada, and Saburo Yamada.
Yokohama Division's MAD TRIGGER CREW, consisting of Samatoki Aohitsugi, Jyuto Iruma, and Rio Mason Busujima.
Shibuya Division's Fling Posse, consisting of Ramuda Amemura, Gentaro Yumeno, and Dice Arisugawa.
Shinjuku Division's Matenro, consisting of Jakurai Jinguji, Hifumi Izanami, and Doppo Kannonzaka.

Eventually, they were joined by the two new teams, led by former members of a crew Samatoki Aohitsugi was a part of:

Osaka Division's Dotsuitare Hompo, consisting of Sasara Nurude, Rosho Tsutsujimori, and Rei Amayado.
Nagoya Division's Bad Ass Temple, consisting of Kuko Harai, Jyushi Aimono, and Hitoya Amaguni.

Characters

v • d • eCharacters
Main Divisions
		Ichiro Yamada • Jiro Yamada • Saburo Yamada
		Samatoki Aohitsugi • Jyuto Iruma • Rio Mason Busujima
		Ramuda Amemura • Gentaro Yumeno • Dice Arisugawa
		Jakurai Jinguji • Hifumi Izanami • Doppo Kannonzaka
		Sasara Nurude • Rosho Tsutsujimori • Rei Amayado
		Kuko Harai • Jyushi Aimono • Hitoya Amaguni
		Otome Tohoten • Ichijiku Kadenokoji • Nemu Aohitsugi • Honobono Keitoin
Other Divisions
		Kazusato Doan • Ryozan Kokuri • Kenei Saragi
		Jinpachi Ho-Zuki • Masamune Komagata • Doshiro Yogo
		Haru Takanashi • Hirotaka Watamoto • Ryotaro Akanegakubo
		Danjyo Oogumo
		Ibuki Yagasaki • Seigen Arima • Jyobu Jikuin • Rindo Akune
Other Characters

Cast & Staff

For all actors, track makers and staff members, working on the Hypnosis Mic, see here.

Music

Music
Division All Stars	4 Divs.	Division Rap Battle • Division Battle Anthem • Hoodstar • Alternative Rap Battle • Survival of the Illest • Rhyme Anima • Rhyme Anima's Mixtape • Bonds
Division All Stars	6 Divs.	Division Rap Battle + • Division Battle Anthem + • SUMMIT OF DIVISIONS • Glory or Dust • Survival of the Illest + • Hang out! • Hoodstar + • CROSS A LINE • Hypnotic Summer • Bonds + • RISE FROM DEAD • Next Stage • Dream Rap Battle
Solo Songs	Buster Bros!!!	I Am Ichiro • This Means War • New star • Break The Wall • School of IKB • Requiem • HIPHOPPIA • The H Era Reformation • Sunshine • Scarlet Summer
	MAD TRIGGER CREW	G anthem of Y-CITY • Bayside Smoking Blues • What's My Name? • Gangsta's Paradise • Uncrushable • 2DIE4 • Move Your Body Till You Die! • Rinka • Backbone • Awake • NO WAR
	Fling Posse	drops • Scenario Liar • 3$EVEN • Pink-Colored Love • Calyx • SCRAMBLE GAMBLE • Yume no Kanata • One and only • Lies • God in the Dice
	Matenro	Labyrinth Wall • Champagne Gold • Tigridia • You Are, Therefore I Am • Don't Stop The Party • BLACK OR WHITE • Positive is my life • Pomp and Gallantry • The Last Song of the Beginning • Andante
	Dotsuitare Hompo	Tragic Transistor • Own Stage • FACES • Comedian Rhapsody • Under Sail • Count the Money • Laughin’ hope • On My Way • The World Is Yours
	Bad Ass Temple	Sougyaran BAM • Moonlight Shadow • One and Two, and Law • Young Gun of The Sun • Violet Masquerade • If I Follow My Heart • Akuma no Hana • Terminus • Continued • Heartache
	Party of Words	Just do it • No Pain, Not to be Strong • Independence day • Omamagoto • Mic rewrites the ending • Get Freedom • Do the right thing
Group Songs	Buster Bros!!!	IKEBUKURO WEST GAME PARK • Good Morning, Ikebukuro • RUN THIS CITY • 3 Seconds Killer • Re:start!!! • IKEBUKURO WEST BLOCK PARTY • Bring it on
	MAD TRIGGER CREW	Yokohama Walker • Shinogi (Dead Pools) • RED ZONE (Don't Test da Master) • Bayside-Suicide • HUNTING CHARM • Scarface • Jingi (Pay Respect)
	Fling Posse	Shibuya Marble Texture -PCCS- • Stella • SHIBUYA GHOST NIGHT • JACKPOT! • Black Journey • Kizuato ga Kizuna to Naru • Anyway, Get on the Floor • AN IDOL
	Matenro	Shinjuku Style ~Don't Make Us Laugh~ • The Champion • Papillon • WELCOME U • Fallin' • TOMOSHIBI • Synchro City • Dive in
	Dotsuitare Hompo	Ah, Osaka Dreamin' Night • Naniwa Paradise Sake • Wara Osaka! ~What a OSAKA! • Fate -ENISHI- • New World
	Bad Ass Temple	Bad Ass Temple Funky Sounds • R.I.P • Kaigen • Hella Awesome Banquet • SANITY
	Party of Words	Femme Fatale • Verbal Justice • WINK
	Others	T.D.D LEGEND • Love Dimension • UNITED EMCEEZ – Enter the HEXAGON • We go with the flow • PUMP IT UP • FIGHTER'S ROAD
Battle Songs	First Rap Battle	WAR WAR WAR • BATTLE BATTLE BATTLE • DEATH RESPECT
	Second Rap Battle	Joy for Struggle • Light & Shadow • Reason to FIGHT • SHOWDOWN
	Anime	D.R.B Rhyme Anima -1st Battle- Buster Bros!!! VS MAD TRIGGER CREW • D.R.B Rhyme Anima -2nd Battle- Fling Posse VS Matenro • D.R.B Rhyme Anima -Final Battle- MAD TRIGGER CREW VS Matenro • D.R.B Rhyme Anima -EX- The Dirty Dawg VS Secret Aliens • BATTLE ANIMA + 01 • BATTLE ANIMA + 02 • BATTLE ANIMA + 03 • RELIEVE
	Stage	Rule the Stage -1st Battle- Buster Bros!!! VS MAD TRIGGER CREW • Rule the Stage -2nd Battle- Fling Posse VS Matenro • Rule the Stage -Final Battle- Buster Bros!!! VS Fling Posse
Other Songs	Stage Songs	Gimme The Mic • Counterfeit Busters • Trigger Off • We Are North Bastard • Don't Pass The Mic • Trap of Fling • Blast Wolf • Asakusa Bounce • Crush Your Mic • Osaka's 24K Gold Magic • B.A.T Strike Back Against • Fight 4 Your Pride • Champions in Da House • Battle of Pride • Hypnosis Delight + • Rule the Stage wiz 6 mic • Guess Who's Back • School Rap • Blessed World / Sticky Web • Shout Out to the Revolution • Let It Bleed • Bright & Dark • Three Hearts as One • Rep Squad -MAD TRIGGER CREW Ver.- • Rep Squad -Fling Posse Ver.- • Rep Squad -Matenro Ver.- • Rep Squad -Bad Ass Temple Ver.- • Rep Squad -Dotsuitare Hompo Ver.- • Rep Squad -Buster Bros!!! Ver.- • Rep Squad -Rule the Stage Original Ver.- • Battle of Pride 2023 • The Tribe of BATTLE EMCEEZ • QUEEN's Precepts • Rhyme of Revolt
	Duets	Nausa de Zuiqu • BB's City • Wrap&Rap ～3 Minutes Vibe Cooking～ • LESSON • Private Time • Once Upon a Time in Shibuya • Respect each Brother • Murder at the House of Magic • Double Trouble • NuruSara’s Division Rep Battle • Birthday • We Are Untouchable • HOT GAME • Double Barrel • Laugh Back! • Rivals! • Maido! Ikitaro kai! ~OSAKA Big Up~ • Get busy • Shiro to Kuro • Viva la liberty • Closer • Bounce Back! • Noctiluca
	Remixes	IKEBUKURO WEST GAME PARK (Boyz Sunshine remix) • Yokohama Walker (Triple Trippin’ remix) • Shibuya Marble Texture -PCCS- (Candy Dazed remix) • Shinjuku Style ~Don't Make Us Laugh~ (Nerve Rackin’ remix) • EZ DO RAP • D.R.B VS D.B.A + HYPSTER MASHUP • 2nd D.R.B NON-STOP DIVISION MIX
	Others	The Three Musketeers Mic Relay • Uptown Anthem • Cross Dimension

Drama Tracks

More details: List of Drama Tracks

The story of Hypnosis Mic is mainly told through the audio drama tracks included with each CD release (except MAD TRIGGER CREW VS Matenro, Straight Outta Rhyme Anima, Buster Bros!!! VS Matenro VS Fling Posse and Turn up the Stage) beginning with the current divisions getting together and continuing the plot from there.

Manga

There are seven different series of manga adaptations of the series. All of the scenarios are written by Yuichiro Momose. Some limited editions of manga also include exclusive songs and drama tracks.

Hypnosis Mic -Before the Battle- The Dirty Dawg, illustrated by Rui Karasuduki. The first issue was released in the January 2019 issue (released December 17th).
Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- side B.B & M.T.C, illustrated by Kanie Tetsuji. The first issue was released in the February 2019 issue (released December 26th).
Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- side F.P & M, illustrated by Kiiko Jou. The first issue was released in the February 2019 issue (released December 28th).
Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- side D.H & B.A.T, illustrated by Kikou Aiba, The first issue was released in April 2020.
Hypnosis Mic -Before the Battle- Dawn of Divisions, illustrated by Rui Karasuduki. The first issue was released in January 2021.
Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- side B.B & M.T.C+, illustrated by Zaurus Umami. The first issue was released in January 2021.
Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- side F.P & M+, illustrated by Kiiko Jou. The first issue was released in January 2021.

Stage

A series of stage productions that feature various divisions within the Hypnosis Mic franchise, titled Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Rule the Stage, was announced in September 2019.

The first production, titled -Track.1-, featuring Buster Bros!!!, MAD TRIGGER CREW, and North Bastard, ran from November 15, 2019, to December 1, 2019
The second production, titled -Track.2-, featuring Fling Posse, Matenrō, and Onigawara Bombers, ran in August 2020.
The third production, titled -Track.3-, featuring Dotsuitare Hompo and Bad Ass Temple, ran in October 2020.
The fourth production, titled -Track.4-, featuring Buster Bros!!!, MAD TRIGGER CREW, Fling Posse, and Matenro, ran in 2021.

Game

A mobile rhythm game, titled Hypnosis Mic -Alternative Rap Battle-, developed by Otomate and published by Idea Factory, was released in March 2020.

A turn-based RPG, titled Hypnosis Mic -Dream Rap Battle-, developed by Dazed Co. and published by Odd No was released in November 2024.

Anime

An anime adaptation titled Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima released in October 2020.

Battle Season

Battle Season is a project requiring user participation to vote for teams that battle it out on their respective albums. Those that buy the first press edition of the CDs or purchase select official merch are eligible to vote via the website using a code that comes with the merch.

First Rap Battle
- Winner: Matenrō
Second Rap Battle
- Winner: Fling Posse

Live Shows

Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: 1st Live at Ikebukuro (2017)
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: 2nd Live at Shinagawa (2018)
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: 3rd Live at Odaiba (2018)
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: Welcome to Our Hood: 4th Live at Osaka (2019)
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: SIX SHOTS UNTIL THE DOME: 5th Live (2020)
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: 2nd D.R.B: 6th Live (2021)
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: SUMMIT OF DIVISIONS: 7th Live (2021)

Other

Live Streams

After ending the streams on NicoNico, the live stream series, named -HPNM Hangout!- moved to YouTube. Subaru Kimura, Haruki Ishiya, and Kohei Amasaki host the show with DJ U-ICHI serving as the DJ. They usually invite other seiyuus to talk about the series, as well as others aspects of hip-hop culture, such as DJ-ing, graffiti art and breakdance.

Radio

From October 2019 to March 2020, Tokyo FM was hosting radio show titled Hypnosis Radio on Spotify, featuring Hypnosis Mic characters answering fan questions and interview with composers. Daichi Yajima served as the MC.