MSC’s PRIMAL Unveils “Nostalgie”, His First Album in 12 Years

May 1st , 2025 | Tokyo, Japan | Team RJHH

PRIMAL, an iconic figure of the Shinjuku-based rap group MSC, has just released his new album “Nostalgie“, his first in 12 years, and has unveiled the music video for the track “Toraware no Mi” (囚われの身). This track is produced by DOGG, a.k.a. DJ PERRO, one of the leading producers of the album, on which PRIMAL raps about the theme of captivity. The music video, directed by Daiky (TOSATSUMA FILMS), was shot in Sapporo. This new album, “Nostalgie“, marks PRIMAL’s solo return.

He moved to Hokkaido about 10 years ago. It is his third and first album since “Proletariat,” released 12 years ago. The majority of the thirteen tracks on the album were produced by producers from the Hokkaido region, including DOGG, a.k.a. DJ PERRO, Michita, Halt, and Nagasaki Takeshi. Yusaku Arai, known for his collaborations with GOODMOODGOKU, also contributed to the album. Featured artists include YAS I AM, an MC based in Hokkaido, reggae DJ MAD KOH, and longtime collaborators such as KAN a.k.a. GAMI, BES, SAW, and RUMI. Listening to PRIMAL’s raps over these bluesy instrumentals reveals his current reality. Sapporo, Otaru, Kushiro, family, work, aesthetics, melancholy, inner conflicts… Life as perceived by PRIMAL, once nicknamed “the sleeping man,” now that he has left urban life and aged, manifests through his rap. Although the work exudes an overwhelming solitude, PRIMAL’s underlying philosophy is consistent and refreshing.

“I don’t see despair, I burn with passion / I don’t need an approximate ILL” – rhymes that seem to contain 12 years of life. Are you ready to immerse yourself in this dark nostalgia alongside PRIMAL?

PRIMAL – Nostalagie: album information

• Artist: PRIMAL (プライマル)
• Title: Nostalgie (ノスタルジー)
• Label: 鎖GROUP
• Release Date: April 25, 2025
• Format: Digital (download/streaming)

The album includes 14 tracks, with collaborations from YAS I AM, MAD KOH, RUMI, SAW, BES, and KAN a.k.a. GAMI. Production is mainly handled by DOGG, a.k.a. DJ PERRO, Michita, Halt, Nagasaki Takeshi, and Yusaku Arai.