When I originally planned to speak to Tokyo-based rapper JP The Wavy, I was supposed to be in Japan to do it in person. Thanks to travel restrictions, I had to settle for a video chat instead.
Still, I can't help but think that an interview done over Zoom is more "of the moment" than one done in the office of JP's record company, and if there's one way I would describe JP The Wavy, it would be "of the moment."
Like many young Japanese entertainers, JP refuses to tell me his real name. This could be because, as a millennial, he's fiercely selective when it comes to what he shares about his life. Or, as a millennial, he's fiercely protective of his brand. Either way, he's been pretty successful at keeping his true persona out of the spotlight.