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Deprive Profile

Deprive is a rapper out of Japan who reps Chicago. Why would a Japanese artist be representing Chicago? The 29 years old rapper has so far given Chicago 12 years of his life, having moved there at the age of 17.

His determination and motivation was given a respect to him by his brothers, the friends who supported him. Deprive spent his childhood moving all around Japan because his father was often transferred for work. After he entered high school, he began hip hop dance and also rap.

Around that time, Deprive felt a strong desire to "start over again”. He had never had any close childhood friends or any real hometown due to his family’s repeated moves. He felt that there was no real place for him in Japan.

Even though he couldn’t speak a word of English, Deprive left Japan for America with the simple goal of creating a place for himself. Although he did attend a high school there, that wasn’t the main reason for his move. Also at this time, Deprive began questioning the phixion (fiction) which is present in all poetry and verse.

When he moved to U.S.A. he first lived in San Francisco and went to a local school. His school life began smoothly, or as smoothly as could be expected for someone who didn’t speak much English. Then Deprive suddenly quit his San Francisco school.

He had heard that there were no Asians in Chicago. Even though the source of this information was unreliable, he took off for Chicago because he wanted to live somewhere where there weren’t any Asians.

Deprive also went to school in Chicago, and in Chicago he experienced many new things. Compared to life in San Francisco, life in Chicago was unpleasant and difficult. There are many poor people and the crime rate was high. Deprive was sometimes doing bad things, and experienced poverty that he had never tasted in Japan. He also experienced fear.

However, Deprive was quickly accepted by his new neighbors in Chicago. He released his 1st album “Nonpxion”, soon followed by his 2nd Album “You like?” (“You like” was recorded using only live instruments, no sampling). These first two albums were produced in Japanese. They became big hits among only people of maniac in Japan, causing him to reflect on himself. The fact that he could only express himself in Japanese began to make him re-consider his life.

Japanese don’t understand that Chicago life is rough. In Chicago, there are guys with guns everywhere, there are homeless people on the street who look dead, there are drug dealers working to support their families. There are many kinds of people in Chicago, creating conflicts and friendships. There’s nothing like it in Japan.

Deprive also noticed a big difference between the way music is listened to in Japan and the U.S.A. Regardless of the quality of beats and flow, main emphasis was always placed on the lyrics in the States.

He began to write English lyrics. Deprive’s biggest source of inspiration at this time was his friends. Though they didn’t always understand his words, they approved. They began to see his talent, often scrambling to get a copy of his newest song, and they always had a smile ready for him.

He started to feel more confident, and his motives changed. Deprive’s music became popular among his friends, downtown homeless people and black people during his second year in Chicago. His friends asked him to make a compilation representing Chicago. With incredible determination, motivated by a desire to repay their kindness, he was able to fulfill their request the next year.

He thought no one would want to hear his music, but when his friends listened to it although they said nothing they reacted with a smile. Obviously this made him want to continue with his work. He re-produced his 1st and 2nd albums, which had only achieved popularity among people of maniac in Japan.

The relation ship of trust between him and his friends deepened steadily, and he continued to experience conditions not found in Japan. There was always crime and trouble on the streets (he was put in jail twice), and he found himself face to face with death many times.

He expressed this reality in Japanese and English in his lyrics. An increasing number of fans began to feel his style. These days there is hardly anyone in the downtown Chicago area who doesn’t know his name.

Nonphixion (nonfiction) is his obsession. He always speaks truth, and his lyrics are like a diary. When his rap begins you can feel the excitement of his presence. He’s always searching for reality, nothing less. Real experience, real life. He has amazing powers of description, his songs don’t contain even the slightest hint of falsehood.

All the friends he’s won, and their trust and expectations. Without a doubt he will be attracting more attention in the future in the States.
Deprive’s straight, positive lyrics and his hard core sound will carry you away. Genuine hip-hop, from Chicago to the world.