[BUZZ GROUP Inc.] [Interview] Today’s Most Powerful Female Rapper, MaRI, Discusses the Reality and Change Infused into Her New EP “Trophy Bitch”
BUZZ GROUP Inc. Press Release: October 25, 2025 [Interview] MaRI, the most popular female rapper today, talks about the reality and change she puts into her new EP, “Trophy Bitch” Putting our true feelings into music, we move on to the next stage MaRI’s long-awaited new EP, “Trophy Bitch,” was released on October 15, 2025. This album is a masterpiece packed with a diverse range of sounds, from powerful raps showcasing her “bad bitch” side, to feel-good tracks incorporating Afrobeats, and R&B with a strong message. Featuring LANA, who is currently generating a lot of buzz ahead of her upcoming performance at Yokohama Arena, and talented singer Illnana, the album is sure to attract new listeners as well as existing MaRI fans. This album allows you to fully experience the charm of MaRI, who continues to evolve. -Release information- Image
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–Do you decide on a concept for your work? I often talk with my producer, JAZEE MINOR, about what’s been happening recently, and when we decide on a theme that sounds good, I often start writing songs based on that. So rather than always deciding in advance, “Let’s make this kind of song,” I feel like we decide based on what sounds good during conversations. – So rather than creating songs with a specific goal in mind, inspiration arises from each other as we discuss things. That’s right. When I perform as a guest, I write lyrics based on a specific theme, so I think I probably discuss my songs a lot with my producer when I’m creating them. I have a lot of say in terms of track creation, too. There are beats that JAZEE likes, and there are beats that MaRI likes. “Not Your Mama” was *Afrobeat,” so it was a new challenge for me. *Afrobeat: A music genre that originated in Nigeria and is influenced by funk and jazz. When I heard this beat, I wanted to include LANA’s beautiful singing voice in the hook. I also wanted to try this kind of song with LANA, and it seemed like it was LANA’s first time doing Afrobeat, so it felt fresh to both of us. Considering that, we were able to create a really good song, one that will make you want to dance when you hear it.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/141380/248/141380-248-e0fc4f4a12c80e19f1e5a1375e9af65f-1280×1280.jpg – Your previous album, “PENTHOUSE,” featured impressive tracks with a heavy feel overall, but this one seems to have many songs in a different direction than your previous works. Were there any challenges or difficulties you encountered in trying out this new style? It was difficult, but I tried it out and if it didn’t work, I wouldn’t use it, and if it sounded cool, I would. So I tried out a lot of different singing styles. I really like the fifth track, “Alright,” but I wanted to show a side of myself that I hadn’t shown before, so I sang it in a slightly more melancholic way. The result was really good, and rather than feeling like it was difficult, I feel more like it was fun because I was able to discover a new side of myself. -Illnana makes a guest appearance on this song. How did this collaboration come about? JAZEE introduced me to her, and she has a fantastic voice. Since the song’s title is “Trophy Bitch,” I wanted to feature only female performers, so I thought “Nana would be perfect.” She has a captivating, soothing voice, and I thought she would be the perfect fit for this song. So I think this song will really hit home for a lot of people (laughs). Our voices are a great match, and I thought, “I’m glad I gave it a try.” –I got the impression that your range as a singer has broadened in a fundamental way. I’m happy. I like songs with heavy bass, but I’d like to try out more different beats in the future. I want to create songs that are fun for people who don’t like heavy bass while still doing what I like. – “MAGURO” seems like a song close to your previous direction. How did you create it? It feels like the next level. It’s not the strong feel we’ve had up until now, but more like “cool.” But it’s interesting, isn’t it? (laughs) Like, “MaRI, what are you talking about?” But I think if you listen to the verses properly, you’ll understand. It’s pleasant to listen to and addictive. Every time I eat sushi, I think of MaRI’s face (laughs) – The first song, “Osasashi,” was released before, but what kind of image did you have in mind when creating it? I wrote this song because I wanted a catchy chant-like hook. The “ruler” in the lyrics “That Short Ruler” also represents a person’s way of thinking and perspective, and the lower half of a man’s body. It conveys thoughts like, “Your thinking is narrow,” “Your perspective is narrow, and you have no freedom.” The lyric “I’m surrounded by fake friends” comes from my dislike of superficial people. I really think that people who approach celebrities or wealthy people just to show off are a crapshoot, so I put a message in that direction. “If you don’t know what a fake friend is, then you’re already okay” gives the feeling that if you don’t understand that, then you’re fine, and “I sympathize with your feelings” was meant to be a bit playful (laughs). The lyrics are very Japanese, and honorific language is a bit dismissive, isn’t it? It matches quite well, and I think it made for a cool hook.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/141380/248/141380-248-76d41cc6e983862dfa5c895c338fcc44-3900×3900.jpg -When do you usually write lyrics? JAZEE and I always brainstorm ideas in the studio. Sometimes I have a specific song in mind beforehand. It varies quite a bit (lol) –Do you feel like the words come out pretty fluently? Sometimes they come out, and sometimes they don’t. It varies a lot. -What do you usually do when you can’t think of anything? I don’t do anything. I spend time with my kids, go to the park to chill, play a lot, or go to a club. That’s where the lyrics and songs I want to write come from. I just listen to a lot of beats and sometimes I think, “This one’s good, too,” so it’s really all over the place. I’m quite moody (laughs). –Was there a song on this album that was difficult to write lyrics for? That might be my favorite, “Alright.” It was difficult because I wasn’t used to it. But I think it’s the best. Because it’s a new me. -Is there a verse that you particularly like? “The meeting place is the nearby Apita, now AK and Yokohama Arena.” “I’ve resounded Dear Mama all over the world, now I can say it’s okay.” I guess it’s this place. The Apita in my neighborhood is about 10 minutes from my house, and it was a place where I would hang out with friends when I was in elementary and high school. I would listen to music there, and whenever I went there, there would always be someone there. I had no money or anything, but now I’m standing at Yokohama Arena with AK, and I even sang “Dear Mama,” a song about my late mother. I was able to convey a message to my mother to everyone, and the song means that I’m okay now. I also really like the second verse. “There are so many things I don’t need to experience, I can’t even count them on my two hands.” “In the game of life, I’m at a disadvantage, but the pain of that day is my weapon.” If you’re experiencing misfortune or hardship, you can use it as a weapon. I always feel encouraged when I hear this part. – I think one of the main themes in your work is portraying a “strong woman,” but in reality, I think there are many women who are unable to live a strong life. How do you view this reality? That’s right. Sometimes you listen to music alone, and sometimes you listen to it with others, and I think the songs you choose change depending on your mood and the situation. When you’re alone, you sometimes want to listen to something more somber, and I think “Alright” is a song that really resonates with you at times like that. I’d be happy if people who listen to this song think, “I won’t give up” or “It’s okay even when it’s tough.” I’d also like them to think, “Even someone like MaRI can do her best, so I should do my best too.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/141380/248/141380-248-9c3d1508cf9c4b01c9b2e4b793824b97-1698×2048.jpg – Artists must face many challenges before they even get on stage. What do you think about that? It was seriously tough. There were shows with no audience, too (laughs). It was really tough, and although it wasn’t short, I’m glad I had that period. At first, I only released club bangers, but now I’ve broadened my horizons and can sing songs about mothers and songs that people can relate to, so I’d like to continue doing that. -What are the moments in your daily life when inspiration strikes you? When I’m a mom or doing housework. Or when you fall in love? Everything in life is connected to my expression. I also often include things I want. When I put what I want into my lyrics, I often actually get it. It’s surprising. I think that power is incredible. -Is there a stage you would like to perform on right now? I’ve made a lot of guest appearances, but I don’t have many songs of my own, so I haven’t done many solo concerts. So, one of my goals is to rent out a venue like Zepp or Budokan and do a solo concert. But ultimately, I’d like to go global. However, I don’t think it’s right to go all out in one go. I want to move forward step by step. -With those goals in mind, where do you see this EP? It’s definitely a step up from my previous EP, and I think it’s an EP that a wide range of people will listen to. Thanks to releasing “Dear Mama,” I feel like I’ve become able to express my true feelings along with these sentimental songs.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/141380/248/141380-248-b7f6c94656fb4805a604f1522dae4373-3900×2600.jpg -Until now, I think you felt like you had to portray the image of a “strong woman,” but now, conversely, do you feel like you’ve become able to show a more candid side of yourself? Yes, I think I’ve always had the image of being a “strong woman who never seems to cry.” However, I always thought there was no way I could write a song about my mother just a few years after she passed away, and no way I could sum up all my feelings for her in one song. I’d always told JAZEE about this, and since AK’s mother was also ill, we’d often talk about it in our dressing rooms, crying. So we started writing a song, but it was my first time recording such a sentimental song with AK. But once I realized that MaRI could also write songs like this, I felt a lot more at ease. I’d like to stop trying to summarise everything into one song and just release them little by little. -Based on all of that, what kind of things do you want to create in the future? I’m the type of person who wants to try a lot of different things, so I don’t know exactly what I want to do. But I would like to properly convey the real things that are happening in my life from now on.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/141380/248/141380-248-3aa39ccae8578419fea16e319dfc27e8-3900×3900.jpg Trophy Bitch / MaRI Release date: October 15, 2025
https://music.apple.com/mt/album/trophy-bitch-ep/1841697327 1.Osashi 2.MAGURO 3.Safada 4.Not Your Mama(feat.LANA) 5.Alright(feat.Illnana) ＜MaRI Profile＞
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/141380/248/141380-248-6b70e8d1d561bf0ab6c13e0081b9754a-2000×2000.jpg A female rapper from Gifu Prefecture with Brazilian roots. Her 2021 release of “BUM BUM” became a club banger hit, quickly catapulting her to stardom. 2023年4月には男が耳を塞ぎたくなるような過激なリリックを駆使し、まさにビッチアンセムになるであろう1st EP「PENTHOUSE」をリリース。 また、AK-69、Yellow Bucks、DJ
RYOWなどシーンを代表するアーティストとの客演を果たす。さらに大ヒットした「Bad Bitch
美学」や「チーム友達(東海REMIX)」にも参加するなど、フィーチャリングクイーンとしての存在感も発揮している。2024年にはNEWシングル「不良外国人 feat. MIYACHI & AKLO」がスマッシュヒット。 8月より全国20を超える都市でのCLUB
TOURを開催するなど、今最も話題と勢いのあるフィメールラッパー。 LIVEブッキング：株式会社BUZZFACTORY 大井 080-4430-3008 hijiri@buzz-factory.info 問い合わせ先：株式会社BUZZ FACTORY 加藤 090-6949-0774 kato@buzzfactory1.com Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/maa_queeen TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@maa_queeen YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@mari_maa_queeen X https://x.com/maa_queeen
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