From the streets of Iwata City, Shizuoka to the world, GREEN KIDS takes the cultural stereotypes bull by its horns. This 6-member hip-hop group has become a voice of the people in its journey of pioneering a fresh and holistic perspective on identity matters in a world that unjustly labels people based on an ancient and archaic generational approach. KCrush America magazine had a conversation with GREEN KIDS to better understand their journey.
What’s the story behind’s the birth of GREEN KIDS and why the name “GREEN KIDS”?
Before the GREEN KIDS group was formed, they were separated by age into two “groups” in the apartment complex. One group had a Peruvian national, ACHA (the group leader), and the other had Flight-A, Swag-A, BARCO, and the only Japanese member, Crazy-K. Flight-A, Swag-A, and ACHA all went to the same elementary and junior high school, and as they grew older, they started playing together in the same complex, which brought them closer to one another. Around the same time, BARCO moved from the neighboring town of Fukuroi to the Higashishinmachi apartment complex. Crazy-K still lives at Asaba in Fukuroi City.
While we were all playing together, we started to get into music. “Since we’re all here, let’s make music together!” was something we mutually agreed on. ACHA and the members who are no longer with us decided on the group name “GREEN KIDS”, and everyone immediately agreed! As for the origin of the group name “GREEN KIDS”: We grew up in a public complex surrounded by rice fields and greenery. So we named the group “GREEN KIDS” in the hope that we would not forget our childlike spirit even as adults.
What is that core issue or message that GREEN KIDS sheds light on?
We write songs based on what we have actually seen and felt. In other words, we sing about the discrimination, poverty, and environmental differences we have experienced in Japan. As we sing, we represent the feelings of the many foreigners who are unable to express their feelings at school or at work, even though they are bullied and discriminated against. Discrimination and bullying isn’t limited to just Japan, being something that exists in all countries, but our songs appeal to the desire that we can eliminate it someday.
The Flight album has been creating ripples in the entertainment arena with tracks starting from “Start From Nothing”, to “SHAKE THAT ASS”, and other hits before wrapping up with the “Don’t Give Up” hit. What’s your lyrical creation process like?
The songs “Start From Nothing” and “Don’t Give Up” were created with the following thoughts in mind:
- We had absolutely nothing when we formed the group, so we started from scratch. Anyone can achieve something if they don’t give up.
- We know people who have committed suicide because they were bullied or tired of life. We hope that there may be one less victim like this.
We want to provide songs that can help those with negative thoughts become a little more positive. Flight-A often receives messages from people who listen to our songs.
“I’m listening to that song and will do my best today!”
“I look back on my life that I almost gave up on and try to be more positive.”
When we hear those kind of responses, it makes us happy that we wrote such a song! We want to continue to create songs that encourage people.
Who were your biggest musical influences while growing up?
When I was a kid at home, I used to listen to Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. But by middle school, it was Anarchy and AK-69.
There have been a lot, but I’d say those two were the artists that inspired me the most.
You have had several live performances so far. What is the most embarrassing or funniest moment you’ve had on stage?
There are many funny things that happened, but if I had to pick just one: it would be a drunken member of the band sleeping behind the DJ booth. The most embarrassing incident was when I fell off the stage while singing into the audience along with the speakers, and the sound stopped😅.
You wrote two track songs (“Jailbreak” and “Don’t Give Up”) for the revolutionary “Familia” 2023 movie where even Flight-A was cast. How did all this opportunity unfold and how does it relate to your lives or career?
It all started when the film staff came to see our live performance in Tokyo. The lyrics had a lot in common with the movie, so we were invited to audition. But on the day of the audition, all the members were late. We all thought we failed, but Flight-A was the only one who passed the audition and got to appear in the movie.
If you could change one thing about the rap industry what would it be?
If we could change one thing, we would like to change people’s bad impressions of the rap industry. HIP HOP is amazing and we think music has the power to change the world. We want to continue to send music into the world where there are so many problems like poverty and discrimination.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced during your music career and how do you deal with them?
We have had bad experiences both in our life and in our music career! We’ve had people make fun of us and say things like, “You can’t make it!” and “You’re not good enough!”. Some people probably still think this way. But we don’t succumb to negative thinking when we hear it; we turn it into a positive force. Even when we have a bad day, we are able to stay positive thanks to the support of our friends who are always around us.
Your musical pieces, including “Great Party” and “Enjoy Life” are pumped with hypnotizing and energetic beats fused in complementary rap. Which member of GREEN KIDS is most likely to accidentally start a dance party in a library?
Flight-A and Swag-A are twins, and although they fight every day, they always go everywhere together! BARCO is the quietest and smartest, and is considered a bit eccentric by those around him. He is also probably the one who has played the most pranks among the members!
ACHA is the oldest of the rappers and the most calm and well-spoken. He was a key figure in creating GREEN KIDS.
DJ PIG is one year older than ACHA and is from the same hometown (Asaba) as Crazy-K. He used to be an EDM DJ, but he was invited by the members of GREEN KIDS to become GREEN KIDS’ exclusive DJ! He’s a real lady-killer.
Crazy-K is the only Japanese member of GREEN KIDS, but he is often mistaken for a foreigner. He’s probably the craziest out of all the members, but he cares for music and his friends more than anyone else! Although he may not be popular with women, he is loved by the people around him the most.
As your lives are constantly busy, how does each member take time to relax and enjoy time away from rehearsals and performances?
When I am not performing or working, I like going out for BBQs and drinks in my hometown. I also spend time with my family and meet up with friends and seniors that I don’t normally get to see! We often chat over drinks.
What advice would you give to other artists with similar backgrounds who are trying to find their place in the music industry?
No matter how bad the circumstances are–even if you don’t have family or your family is far away–it is important to have a dream. We know there can be a lot of hardships, but there are also a lot of fun things, so if you keep looking forward and keep working hard, you will surely see the light! It’s with this belief that we continue to fight on.
What does the future hold for GREEN KIDS?
We will be releasing our work on GREEN KIDS in May or June of this year. Also, stay tuned as we begin a national tour! We will be releasing new songs and music videos, so be sure to check them out!
Thank you GREEN KIDS for your time and for such a deep dive into helping our readers learn more about you.
—-Makena Mwenda
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