Netflix's "Badly in Love" season 2 has quickly become one of the internet's latest obsessions, and the show's newest host, Awich, is attracting almost as much attention as the contestants themselves. Widely known as the "Queen of Japanese hip-hop", the Okinawa-born rapper has built a career defined by ambition, resilience and fearless self-expression. From discovering hip-hop as a teenager to overcoming unimaginable personal tragedy and becoming one of the biggest names in Japanese music, here are five things to know about Awich

Her stage name has a hidden meaning

Photo: Instagram @awich098

Born Akiko Urasaki, Awich derived her stage name from the phrase "Asian Wish Child", which also reflects the meaning of the Japanese characters in her given name. She first came up with the name when she was around 14 years old, translating the essence of her name into English before turning it into a distinctive stage persona. The phrase reflects both her Okinawan roots and her ambition to bring Asian culture to the world stage. She later even used "Asia Wish Child" as the title of her 2006 EP and her 2007 debut album.

Okinawa shaped both her life and her music

Photo: Instagram @awich098

Awich was born and raised in Naha, Okinawa, where American culture has long been woven into everyday life. As an elementary school student, she attended English classes at a US military base, an experience that exposed her to the language and introduced her to American culture from an early age. Everything changed when she discovered Tupac Shakur's "All Eyez on Me" at 13. Fascinated by his storytelling, she began writing lyrics of her own and even taught herself English by studying his songs. By the age of 14, she was already performing as a rapper.

She studied in the United States before returning to Japan

Photo: Instagram @awich098

After graduating from high school in Japan, Awich moved to Atlanta at the age of 19 to study business and marketing while immersing herself in the city's vibrant hip-hop scene. During her time there, she met her future husband and later welcomed her daughter, Toyomi. Returning to Japan eventually marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career, and in 2017 she became the only female member of the influential hip-hop collective Yentown. Those experiences helped shape the distinctive sound that continues to define her music today, blending Japanese, Okinawan and American influences.

She earned the title of the queen of Japanese hip-hop

Photo: Instagram @awich098

Over the years, Awich has established herself as one of the most influential figures in Japanese hip-hop. Following the success of her critically acclaimed album "Queendom" in 2022, she became the first female rapper to headline a solo concert at the Nippon Budokan and later expanded her international presence through collaborations with artists including RZA, A$AP Ferg and Joey Bada$$. Her songs, including the viral hit "Gila Gila", have introduced her music to a global audience, while her appearance at Coachella in 2024 further cemented her status as one of Japan's biggest hip-hop stars.

Her life story is more dramatic than fiction

Photo: Instagram @awich098

Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of Awich's story is the adversity she has overcome. While living in the United States, she and her young daughter survived a shooting at their home, an experience she later recalled during Badly in Love season 2. Her husband, who had spent years moving in and out of prison, was eventually shot and killed after his release. Returning to Okinawa as a single mother, Awich channelled her grief into music and gradually rebuilt her life. Those experiences also allow her to connect deeply with the complex backgrounds and emotions of the people appearing on the show.

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