Artist Profile
KANAMESouthOsakaSquad is a driving force in the South Osaka hip-hop scene.
One of its initial members is Kaname.
In the early 2000s, Kaname was shocked by US hip-hop and began his career as a rapper, appearing at numerous events in his hometown of Osaka as a member of the 5MC unit MAGNITUDE, winning many MC battles and achieving good results.
In 2005, he participated in the compilation album Kansai Wrapple and several mixtapes. He also performed as bonsai mc at the legendary B-boy park event held at Hibiya Music Hall.
In 2006, he released a compilation album
SOUTH OSAKA SQUAD (SOS), which he produced independently with MCs from South Osaka. The album was highly acclaimed on the streets, and the CD is now hard to find and sold at a premium.
He then began his solo career under the name KNX in 2018, he released the Jason X-produced EP I AM WAY and has been actively performing and producing music.
In 2025, he was released from prison after serving four years for violating the Marijuana Control Law. His demo work NANKAI DEMO, which he had been working on while on parole, was distributed on Instagram and received a great response. He is currently resuming his activities with his friends in his hometown Sakai, Osaka. With his well-honed skills that show no sign of his long absence and his unique style, he is expected to shake up the scene in the future with new releases.