MNNK Bro. Celebrates the Louis Vuitton x Murakami Reunion with “LV MURAKAMI”
In a world where art, fashion, and music increasingly intersect, it only makes sense that one of contemporary art’s most recognizable figures, Murakami Takashi, and one of Japan’s most globally relevant rappers, JP THE WAVY, would be at the forefront of that fusion. The duo, operating under the moniker MNNK Bro., has just dropped their latest single, LV MURAKAMI, a track that serves as both a tribute and a celebration of the long-awaited reunion between Murakami and Louis Vuitton—a collaboration that has left a permanent mark on the intersection of luxury fashion and pop culture since its inception in 2003.
More than just a song, LV MURAKAMI feels like a moment, or timestamp in a lineage of artistic crossover, bridging the past and the present. It arrives at a time when Japanese hip-hop is gaining more international traction than ever, and when high fashion is embracing street culture with unprecedented enthusiasm. The Louis Vuitton x Murakamicollaboration, first introduced under Marc Jacobs’ tenure as the fashion house’s creative director, reshaped what luxury fashion could be, injecting it with a playful, almost rebellious energy through Murakami’s signature multicolor monogram and anime-inspired characters. Now, more than two decades later, the return of this aesthetic finds new life not just in design, but in sound.
Announced alongside the Louis Vuitton x Murakami campaign teaser, which featured Zendaya and Murakami Takashi himself, LV MURAKAMI was met with anticipation long before its official release. Snippets of the track, produced by the sought-after JIGG, played in the teaser, giving audiences a taste of the energy Murakami and JP THE WAVY were channeling. The full song, released today via Mononoke Records, expands on that foundation—a heady mix of high-energy beats, effortlessly smooth flows, and a production style that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. The choice of BRTHR, the directing duo known for their work with Travis Scott (Butterfly Effect) and Joji (Yukon Interlude), to helm the accompanying music video only solidifies the aesthetic direction. Their signature hyper-saturated visuals and frenetic editing style align perfectly with Murakami’s surreal, superflat universe—creating a dreamlike experience that mirrors the feeling of stepping into one of his works. For those who remember the Superflat Monogram animated short—a high-concept anime film commissioned by Louis Vuitton in 2003 as part of Murakami’s first collaboration with the brand—the references in the LV MURAKAMI video will feel particularly rewarding. The video is expected to weave in elements of travel, a theme deeply embedded in Louis Vuitton’s DNA, alongside Murakami’s pop-art aesthetic, blurring the line between animation and reality in a way that feels uniquely contemporary.
For JP THE WAVY, this project represents more than just a collaboration with an iconic artist—it’s a statement about the global reach of Japanese hip-hop. The genre, which has long existed in the shadow of Western rap, has been undergoing a transformation in recent years. Artists like KOHH, Awich, and Jin Dogg have built significant followings outside Japan, and now, with acts like MNNK Bro. positioning their work within the global cultural sphere, the genre is inching closer to full-fledged international recognition. There’s a broader conversation to be had about how fashion, music, and art are shaping the global perception of Japanese creativity. With Murakami having already cemented his legacy as a pioneer in art-meets-commerce collaborations—from Kanye West’s Graduation album cover to his ongoing presence in streetwear—his direct involvement in Japanese hip-hop feels both natural and overdue. The track itself embodies this crossover appeal. It’s neither strictly hip-hop nor entirely an art piece—it sits in the space between, much like Murakami’s own work. JP THE WAVY, who has been vocal about his influences from American trap and drill scenes, brings a flow that feels effortlessly global, making LV MURAKAMI as at home in Tokyo’s club scene as it is on the playlist of a streetwear-obsessed crowd in New York or Paris.
