K Dub Shine, born Kōta Kagami on 8 May 1968 in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, is a Japanese rapper who emerged from a challenging childhood marked by frequent hospitalizations and an early departure from formal schooling. After a brief stint in the United States, he returned to Japan and began exploring hip‑hop, initially rapping in English before switching to Japanese at the suggestion of a peer. In 1993 he co‑founded the hip‑hop trio King Giddra with Zeebra and DJ Oasis, establishing a foothold in Japan’s underground scene. K Dub Shine’s solo career launched with the album Genzai Jikoku on 10 December 1997. The 2000 album Ikiru broadened his audience, the 2004 double release Riyū and Riyū SPECIAL EDITION solidified his discography. He collaborated with Soul Scream and appeared on AKLO’s "RGTO." In 2011 he performed a charity concert with King Giddra following the Tōhoku disaster.
