During Anime Expo 2024, we had the incredible honor to speak with rapper, gamer, novelist, and anime fan Logic. Logic continues a decades-long tradition of weaving different artforms, in this case anime and hip hop, together, following in the footsteps of groups like Wu-Tang Clan. This tradition was the foundation of our conversation; there’s great value in dissecting what it means to learn about anime and hip hop both individually and at the same time. Logic spent ample time making it clear what anime means to him, how long it’s meant so much to him, and what his perspective is on it and hip hop in general.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Q: You’ve mentioned and referenced some classic anime like Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Ball Z, Akira, and Trigun in your music. Can you talk about what the discovery of anime like Cowboy Bebop looked like for you?
Logic: Hell yeah, I can. Hey, but you just reminded me of something. Tremaine [a member of his group], please write down and make sure I get a Trigun tattoo. I don’t have one. Everything you just said, (points at tattoos) I got that, I got this, I got them all, but I gotta get that. How did the discovery look like?
Well, I’ve been telling this story because it’s true. I grew up—in my household it was a lot of killers and drug dealers and murders and robbers and wild stuff. It’s funny because when I answer these questions back to back, it almost sounds robotic, but I’m being quite honest with you. And discovering anime was incredible, and in particular, Cowboy Bebop, because it was the first real anime that — I mean, obviously, we have Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon when I was a kid and sh*t like that.
But when you’re there in those formative years—I was 11—it was an escape. It was a genuine escape from the toxicity of my home, my household. You know what I mean? It allowed me to almost feel like I was a different person, like I was in the Swordfish with Spike or on the Bebop with the rest of the crew. And nowadays, it’s not an escape, it’s an enhancement because I made it out of that treacherous place that I was born into and I’m so happy to be here now. So it was a very much needed discovery that let me know the world is so much bigger than just the negativity that I was surrounded by.
Yeah, that makes sense.
Logic: F*ck yeah.
Q: East Asian art, as I’m sure you know, has been a basis of inspiration for hip-hop for years. You have Wu-Tang Clan, all kinds of kung-fu movies, inspiring things. Can you talk about some of the groups or artists you looked up to when it came to finding examples of working that kind of art into rap music?
Logic: Lupe Fiasco, giant, big one. You gotta love Lupe, especially on the gaming front as well. Obviously, Wu-Tang Clan. I mean, I discovered hip-hop through Kill Bill because the RZA did the soundtrack for it, you know what I mean? And that was crazy. So I discovered Wu-Tang, I discovered The Roots, but I would say those two. Obviously, and then there’s Deltron, you know, Deltron 3030, so Del the Funky Homosapien with all that and vibes of art and space and this and that. And then, I mean, even Gorillaz, you know what I mean? Clearly, this animation group. But it all comes back down to the Wu-Tang Clan, fo’ sho.
Q: For a given anime, what are the qualities and characteristics it needs to have for you to see it and think, “I want to work this into a song?”
Logic: Oh, wow. Damn, what a good-a** f*cking question. Damn. It’s got to take me to a completely different place. It has to be fantastical. It has to be unbelievable and yet grounded with truth at the same time. You know, I reference these things all the time. I think I got — I reference Trigun. I reference Bebop. I’m trying to think of the… I got so many songs in my head, I don’t know which ones are what. But that’s what it is, you know. Even like my whole motto is peace, love and positivity. Who does that sound like? Vash the Stampede, you know what I mean? (as Vash) For love and peace, peace and love! (in normal voice) And yeah, that’s what it’s all about. So, yeah, I would say those characteristics of something being extraordinary and yet also grounded in realism. And true storytelling because that’s what inspires me to want to then tell my story.
TOKUMA SHOTEN – VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN LTD.
Q: Have any recent anime hit that mark for you?
Logic: I really f*ck with My Hero [My Hero Academia], you know. I know sometimes it’s like some — I don’t know. Some people don’t like it. I think it’s f*cking awesome. I like it. It’s fun. And that does that for me too because I know what it felt like to be the kid who wished that he was special and I know what it felt like to feel extremely weak and wish that I had the power of All Might. And so now to have grown into that man I’ve always wanted to be due to learning and keeping good people in my circle, you know, it’s things like that that set a standard for me on how I relate. So even when I discovered it, you know, and really started to get into My Hero in like 2018, it hit that chord and almost taught the inner child in me certain things that even then I still hadn’t come to terms with or understood about myself. So sh*t is deeper than just anime or nerd stuff. And I’m quite the nerd. It’s a way of life, man, you know what I mean? That’s why I’ve been doing these cons because it’s like, sh*t, Logic. What the f*ck is Logic doing at a con? But it’s like, Logic — look at my shirt [a shirt from Logic’s Cowboy Bebop collab]. Like, this is what — it’s real.
And you know, you can sniff out somebody who’s bullsh*t, you know what I mean? Or just here for the check or some rapper that’s like, “Yeah, anime, whatever, give me the money,” you know what I mean? It’s like, get the f*ck out of here. So I’m very happy to be a part of this incredible unit of human beings known as nerds. It’s great.
Seeing the mass of people in the registration line got me. So many people who are likeminded in the same spot.
Logic: Yeah, and they’re all sweet and nice, you know what I mean? I mean, we got jokes and we’ll be clowning people and people-watching and sh*t like that. But, for the most part, there’s just genuinely kind people. And that’s why I love the cons, because I think it gives [something to] the people who are in many ways kind of the outcasts, and I’m like king of the outcasts. I’m like — Black dude looks white. What the f*ck? You know what I’m saying? It’s like a whole thing. Feel like you never fit in. And these cons are a place for all of us to feel safe and welcome. And that’s how I model my live shows. And you know, when I perform and fans come to see me, you know, there’s no f*ckery allowed.
Q: It’s getting to become a lot more common and normalized for rap and anime to mix nowadays. Do you feel like the genre is helping to popularize anime and vice versa?
Logic: Yeah, for sure. It does. But I also think the word hip hop is such a broad statement, you know, because it’s like what really is hip hop? Some people say hip hop is 90s rap and sh*t like that. Some people say it’s turn up, you know. And you can look at somebody like Uzi Vert who loves anime and I think really blends the worlds together. And I genuinely consider myself a pioneer of that in hip hop because it was at a time when nobody was really doing it on a giant mainstream level. And I was getting picked on for it or whatever the case may be. But I still stayed true because as I like to say, you can’t stand out and fit in at the same time. And it’s a beautiful thing to see. Yeah, I think they do promote each other. And I think but it’s the type of hip hop, you know what I mean? I don’t really see somebody who’s watching Naruto listening to a rap song about like, “I’m gonna kill this motherf*cker, beat his b*tch.” Like what? You know what I mean? Like, no, they’re gonna listen to Logic, you know what I’m saying? And that makes me very happy. And other positive, peaceful artists like that. So yeah, I think it’s really awesome.
Q: How do you feel that shift is affecting Black anime fans specifically?
Logic: I think it’s really great. Because I know that a lot of Black anime fans definitely feel like outcasts and sh*t. You know what I’m saying? It’s like, “Oh, you ain’t Black. You watching cartoons and sh*t.” And it’s like, “F*ck you. First of all, how are you going to tell me I’m not Black? That’s like telling Carlton Banks he ain’t Black just because he rich and live in Beverly Hills. F*ck you.” You know what I mean? So I think it’s wonderful. I think it’s great. And I think it’s an all-encompassing force of love and inclusion. And that’s all I’m about. Don’t get me wrong. There’s parts and places in hip hop, just like on the internet, just like in the world, just like walking into a high school lunch situation. And then you got the cool kids and these kids and those kids. But like, man, who the f*ck would want to hang out with somebody who would make Black folk feel bad anyway for enjoying art? What?
So I hear you and I think it’s wonderful. And I think especially in the Black community— y’all are awesome. It don’t make you any less Black. It makes you more cultured, more a part of the universe, more open, more happy than just being like, “Oh, sh*t, I’m Black. I guess I got to just eat chicken and watch Friday.” Like what kind of sh*t is that? You know what I mean? It’s like, no, do whatever you want. And I feel like we’re really at that place. I mean, look how much color you see walking around. It’s crazy. And it’s it’s really important. Anyway. That’s how you know I’m mixed. I be code switching real quick.
Q: Can you talk more about your streetwear collaboration with Crunchyroll?
Logic: So one thing that I’ve been talking about, because it’s so true, is how incredible of a partner they’ve been. You know, for me to be able to do whatever I want, work with these incredible artists, and make sure that we’re on the same page. Because they could have ideas, but I’m like, “Oh, that might not fit my brand.” And I could have a couple of ideas that might not fit their brand. But to be so open-minded on both ends of just…art. I mean, it’s the dopest collab I’ve ever done. It’s insane. It’s literally Logic and Cowboy Bebop. When you look — look (gestures at shirt), you know, the original artist. I’m drawn on this sh*t. It’s crazy, man. So I just want to say, it’s been an honor working with this company and working with this artist and a true dream come true. (rapping) A true dream come true.
I mean, think about it. [ . . . ] All the stuff I just told you about being able to escape? I mean it.
I’m not just bullsh*tin’. I mean, that’s what anime means to me. And that’s what Bebop means to me.
So all these years later, 34 years old. Oh sh*t, I could cry. Damn it. (tearing up) I’m serious, man. Sh*t is beautiful to see. That little boy now as a man surrounded by his heroes. That’s how I feel. Drop the mic, motherf*ckers. There it is.
We’d like to thank Logic for giving us the chance to be a part of such an incredible conversation. His perspective on anime is truly a unique one and he’s done plenty to help popularize melding anime references into rap music. If you’re interested in Logic’s streetwear collaboration with Crunchyroll, you can find more details about how to pick up some merchandise here. For more from Logic, you can find him on Instagram.
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