LAMP EYE is resurfacing after years in the underground with a new chapter in their career. The group will release "UP HILL BATTLE" on June 26, marking their first new material as they commemorate 30 years since dropping their seminal work "証言" (Testimony) in 1995-96.

MC RINO framed the comeback poetically, describing LAMP EYE as "slowly rising from the deep sea" after an extended period away. The new single arrives ahead of a major event called "熱帯雨林" (Tropical Rainforest) scheduled for August 8 at Club Citta' in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.

The festival will reunite three pillars of Japan's early hip-hop scene: LAMP EYE, King Gidra, and Rhymester. All three groups shaped the Japanese hip-hop landscape during its formative years in the 1990s, and this marks a significant gathering of those pioneers. RINO emphasized that while decades have passed and the music landscape has transformed, the commitment to hip-hop remains unchanged. "The words and sounds we've accumulated since then are still here," he noted.

Tickets for "熱帯雨林" are on sale through e-plus, with pre-order access already underway. DJ YAS, the group's production partner, echoed the sentiment, stating they want to deliver music that stays true to who they are while bringing something fresh for 2026.

The timing is notable—three decades since "証言" established LAMP EYE as innovators in Japanese-language rap, the group is stepping back into the spotlight not through nostalgia alone, but with new material that reflects where they've traveled creatively. For longtime fans of Japanese hip-hop and those discovering the genre's roots, this reunion represents a rare opportunity to witness the generation that built the foundation.